5 Benefits of Contract Recruitment in GCC

Engineering is longer just one of many industries and business types. They are now the core infrastructure of any company, regardless of industry or sector. And in this increasingly digital world in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, the key to a company’s success is to make use of smart engineering to optimise operations and to create new viable business models.
Engineering professionals with tech skillsets continue to be in high demand
The GCC are engaged in ambitious national transformation plans such as Saudi Vision 2030 and Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030. The full scale of these plans can be realized only by increasing efficiency across sectors, mainly through digitization.
A digitised economy requires a skilled digital workforce able to keep pace with the rapidly changing industry. Digital jobs have other benefits, including flexibility and project-based work models that can increase labour force participation, particularly among women. However, such digital professionals and jobs are in short supply in the GCC.
In our previous blog posts, we have debunked the myths of hiring contractors in the region. This time, we will explain the top benefits and value-add that they can bring to your business.
- The ultimate quick-response solution
Through contract hires, you can find the people with the specific skills you need, saving you the time and effort of having to train your employees. The long on-boarding process that is usually required for employees isn’t needed in this case and the employee can be expected to work immediately.
- Results-oriented
As an experienced contractor professional in engineering who has worked on a variety of projects, they have a clear understanding of what is expected from them in their role and how they can deliver results in a set timeframe. This allows them to contribute to the organisation in a way different to permanent employees who tend to focus on their long-term career path within the organisation instead of immediately thinking of the end results.
- Cost effectiveness
Recruiting a new permanent employee involves a number of costs including salary, insurance and benefits. Hiring itself could also be a time-consuming and expensive exercise as you want to ensure you hire the right fit instead of a mismatch. Outsourcing to vendors or consulting firms are also often very costly, as is the cost of maintenance. Hence, contract hires expensive than paying a full-time employee on an hourly basis but far cheaper than outsourcing and is a very cost effective way to bring in a specialist with the right knowledge and skills.
- Easy approval and internal coordination
If you have a new project which requires you to transfer an employee who is already working in another role, you may have to make a lot of internal adjustments and get approvals from various parties. Contract or Freelance hiring means that you don’t have to move people around or create new positions to recruit permanently. This makes it relative easy to coordinate internally and reduces the time it takes to find the right people within the company. Because it isn’t a permanent headcount, the cost to hire is usually tied to the project and would mean easier approval on headcount.
- An ability to bring in a third party’s perspective
As you would hire engineering professionals who already work on an outsourced basis, they would have the experience of working with companies of all sizes and types, even if the skills required may be the same. This allows you to bring in some of the best practice in the market from similar projects, as well as wider perspectives based on their experience in other sectors or industries that you may not have been aware internally.
- Possibility of switching to an employee if needed
If your project turns out to be longer than expected, it is possible with your consent to switch from a contract employment to a permanent position. You also gain new skills for your organisation if you choose to convert them. This can be far more efficient than outsourcing to a vendor or consulting firm for a long period of time, as you won’t be able to inherit the talent into your organisation.
Thinking of having contractors on your team?
The above are just a few of the many benefits of contract talent. If you are looking for an effective strategy to grow your business, please feel free to contact our dedicated team using the form below or check out our LinkedIn for daily updates on market trends, and other information around tech.