Temp-to-Hire — The Interview that Never Ends

After years of recruiting, I believe that temp-to-hire gigs are a waste of time for serious candidates. Here is my take on this common hiring practice.

Employers say they like temp-to-hire because it allows them to try before they buy. I say, “If you want to kick tires, buy a car. People are not for sale. They are not to be tried on to see if they fit like a pair of shoes.

Temp-to-hire is a cop out. It is a sorry excuse for lousy hiring practices. It is a sad replacement for employers actually knowing what skills they need and how to assess whether or not candidates possess the right mix of experience and characteristics to do the job. It is often more about budget than anything else.

Serious candidates, the ones with solid talent and steady personalities, won’t waste their time with temp to hire gigs. They won’t want to miss opportunities by being tied up on a temp job that may or may not turn into a full time, permanent position. Employers who go the temp to hire route will hire B players. It is mediocrity attracting more of the same. Temp to hire is a joke. I’m not laughing.

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