Interim managers ‘open to return to permanent roles’

Nick Elvin

Many candidates who choose to work via interim management roles would be prepared to return to corporate life, according to research by Executives Online.

The recruitment firm says the results of the survey dispel a myth that once a candidate chooses to take the interim path they never go back to a permanent role.

Andrew MacAskill, commercial director of Executives Online explained: “Our data on over 100,000 managers and executives shows that candidates can be open to taking a permanent role despite declaring they are only interested in interim roles upon registration.

“Interestingly, candidates who are open to both types of roles are more successful at winning opportunities of all types; being flexible has its rewards.

“We see that executives seeking a new role are open to multiple opportunities, as 36% of candidates registered for both interim and permanent roles. Our research reveals 60% of interim placements and 53% of permanent placements were of candidates who showed that flexibility, which means they are disproportionately successful at winning either type of role, compared to candidates who only registered for one type.”

Executives looking for a new challenge should consider the opportunity rather than the label of role or longevity of contract, MacAskill added.

“The reality is that many factors work together to create an ideal opportunity: compatibility with the line manager and company leadership, relative autonomy in the role, and the firm’s competitive advantages relative to its peers, to name just a few.”

MacAskill also believes hirers and candidates should keep an open mind about how talent may best be identified and applied through an interim role or permanent employment.

“Sometimes the candidate with the most relevant experience may be the person who said they would never take a particular type of role,” he added.