What are myths about travel staffing for the skilled trades? In this episode, we break down 3 common myths and how travel staffing can solve your hiring challenges.

 

 

There are a lot of assumptions about travel staffing—it’s too expensive, it won’t be a good experience, or just that no workers are interested. However, those things are fundamentally misunderstandings about the model itself. In this episode, Tim and Brett discuss these myths about the travel staffing model and what the reality is for companies and workers considering it.

Myth #1: It‘s too expensive

 

Costs are always one of the first objections to any product or service, especially in this economy. But the fact of the matter is, any time you outsource, there’s a cost involved. 

However, there should always be a return that comes with that cost that is valuable to you. The same goes for staffing. There’s a cost to getting your labor needs met, no matter what model you choose to accomplish that. It’s important to ask yourself why you are spending the money, and if the return justifies the cost.

 

 

The most commonly used model for staffing is internal recruiting. In the last 10 years, many HR departments have expanded into recruiting talent. The downside for this is that that investment becomes a fixed cost that doesn’t change regardless of whether you’re actually hiring or not. Many companies expect to increase their HR spend but see little to no returns on that increased overhead cost.

Another model is a temp agency, which are generally the least expensive upfront. They can do great work for general labor positions. That being said, they generally aren’t suited to recruit for any highly specialized positions. The low upfront cost quickly becomes very expensive if they can’t get you the qualified workers you need.

 

Closely related to temp agencies is the headhunter model. This model was designed more for executive level positions rather than the trades. Since it’s suited for one-off positions and not rapid turnover/high numbers, there’s a large upfront cost with no guarantee on the back end.

 

Finally, you can utilize the travel staffing model. There are more costs involved on the surface, but it’s important to look at what you’re getting out of it for the money invested. The travel model can be tailored specifically to your needs and find the right, qualified hires from across the country. The ROI is very high compared to the other models for the skilled trades.

 

All of these models have their place for specific problems. You can mitigate your costs by making sure you’re choosing the right approach for the right situation. And while travel staffing can have a higher upfront cost, the cost of the wrong solution and not hiring and retaining the right workers is much higher.

 

 

Myth #2: It’ll be a bad experience

 

When people assume travel staffing will be a bad experience, it’s often that they’ve had a poor experience with staffing agencies in the past.

 

One of the most important aspects of a hiring model is that you’re choosing the RIGHT approach for your unique situation. 

At Skillwork, one of our core values is respecting and honoring our skilled tradesmen. We treat our Skillworkers as part of our team even though they’re working around the country. We work hard to get them good wages, certifications, training, and take care of their travel needs. This means they show up to the job ready to focus on the work, not on their job security or taking care of their families.

 

 

Bottom line: The travel staffing model might be the solution to your skilled trade shortage. 

These myths surrounding the travel staffing model are just that—myths and misconceptions. At the end of the day, the travel staffing model might be the solution you’ve been looking for. If you haven’t looked into it already, it’s worth further exploration.

 

Consider your costs not just in terms of up front payment, but what you get in return for what you spend. If you get a high value in return for your investment and it solves your issues, the upfront cost isn’t an issue.

 

Travel staffing may not fix ALL of your problems, but it may be very well suited to some of your needs. Contact us today for an obligation-free consultation and see if we can help ease the burden of your staffing challenges.