Interim consultants are hired on a temporary basis to fill a business-critical role within a company for a limited period of time. This usually involves covering for a key person who is absent, or bringing in special expertise for projects or specific phases in a company's journey. What interim consultants have in common is that they often have extensive experience in their field and are expected to be able to familiarize themselves with the business and contribute immediately.
Working as an interim consultant offers a number of advantages for those seeking flexibility and development opportunities in their career. When we talk to interim consultants, they usually mention the following reasons for choosing to work as an interim consultant:
As an interim consultant, you will have the opportunity to work in a variety of organizations across different industries. An interim career therefore means that you are constantly faced with new challenges, which can be very stimulating.
Working as an interim consultant allows for a more flexible way of working than the traditional ”9-to-5” job. You get to see a variety of companies, experience different corporate cultures, different business models, and all kinds of people. Often, the situation at the company is such that it is particularly important to get the recruitment right, which means that as an interim consultant, you have a great responsibility to act in the best interests of the company and the situation. This also increases the expectation that you will quickly settle into the role and make a difference.
Interim consultants are expected to deliver quickly and often provide solutions to specific challenges faced by the client company. This may mean that an interim consultant gains access to key roles earlier than in a traditional employment situation.
Interim consultants often receive higher compensation than traditional employees in a similar role. They are contracted for a limited period of time and are expected to deliver value and results quickly. Their compensation generally reflects the high level of expertise and seniority required to succeed in a temporary management or specialist role.
Interim consultants are often hired to drive change or improvement. Many interim consultants believe that the main incentive comes from being able to make a real difference and contribute to important decisions that improve an organization.
By seeing a variety of companies and challenges, an interim consultant constantly develops new skills and learns new lessons. You also gain insight into different corporate cultures and working methods that can be applied in future roles. A career as an interim consultant means continuous development, both professionally and personally.
A recurring reason why many choose to work as interim consultants is that they appreciate the focus on results and being on site for a limited period of time to solve a specific problem. Others have reached the strategic level they are comfortable with and are more interested in broadening their skills. Often, they are also not interested in the personnel policies that employees inevitably become involved in.
