When it comes to filling short-term roles, most companies move fast. That’s the point. A project’s picked up speed, someone’s called in sick, or you’ve got a backlog to smash through.
But in the rush, we’ve seen even the most experienced teams waste money without realising it.
Here are three places we regularly see good companies lose money, and what you can do to avoid it.
Hiring too late – waiting until the pressure is on before asking for help.
We get it. No one wants to overhire. But waiting until the job is on fire means less choice, less time to properly brief someone, and a higher chance of churn or mismatched skills.
Fix it by starting the conversation early. Even if you don’t need someone today, give us a heads-up. We can line up options, hold availability, and make sure someone is ready to hit the ground running when you need them.
No brief, no plan, no productivity – bringing in short-term help and expecting them to read your mind.
If there’s no task list, no point of contact, and no idea what tools or safety gear they’re meant to use, they’ll waste their first few hours or worse, be sent home.
Fix this by holding a 5-minute rundown. Assign a site contact. Tell us in advance what gear they need. Make sure there’s an actual job ready for them, not just a “we’ll find something” shrug.
You’re not just paying for labour. You’re paying for productive labour.
Choosing the cheapest option then paying twice – Going for the lowest hourly rate, without asking why it’s so low.
Cheap often means less experience, or no site-ready paperwork. It might cost $3/hour less, but if they need constant supervision, or get pulled off-site for non-compliance, you’re not saving anything.
Fix this by looking at the total value instead of just the base rate. A well-vetted and reliable worker who works hard and leaves the site better than they found it will always be the better deal.
Short-term hiring is meant to save you time and money. But if it’s rushed, unclear, or price-driven, it often does the opposite. If you’re unsure what kind of hire would be best for your next job, ask us. We’ll give it to you straight.
This post first appeared in Hire Wire, our free monthly newsletter on smarter hiring and all things in construction, engineering and manufacturing recruitment. Subscribe here or get in touch if you want to talk through anything you’ve read.
