In our last talent trend spotlight, we showcased agility, and here we continue on this theme by exploring the concept of fractional support in talent acquisition (TA).
What is Fractional Support?
As a start-up business, we’ve been exploring the benefits of “fractional” support available to businesses like ours. While we are in the process of hiring full-time talent research experts, there are other skill sets crucial for our new business, such as marketing or accountancy, for which we do not yet require dedicated full- or even part-time team members. Currently, we access this support on an ad hoc or flexible basis. However, it’s imperative that the individuals we collaborate with deeply understand our business, grasp our strategy, and grow their support for us organically and consistently as we scale.
This is where fractional support comes into play. Instead of employing a permanent employee with extensive experience on a full-time basis, businesses gain access to senior-level support from experts with proven expertise on an as-needed basis. Their level of contribution can evolve with the business, aiding in cash flow management and helping to avoid costly or ill-timed hiring decisions.
An article from Start-up Resources explains the origin of fractional support:
“While this hiring innovation might sound like a new discovery, fractional hiring has its roots embedded deep in the halls of academia. Professors have been living the fractional life for decades, balancing their time between teaching classes, conducting research, and consulting. This approach fosters collaboration, allowing professors to engage with students while pursuing research or gaining industry knowledge. It’s a win-win-win model now making its way into the fast-paced world of start-ups.”
Although not entirely novel, fractional support differs from traditional freelance or interim support. It’s less about hiring an expert for a one-off project or to complete tasks and more about having a dedicated and engaged resource involved at a strategic level, growing with and becoming an extension of the in-house team over the long term.
Fractional Talent Acquisition from Luminos
This concept prompted us to consider fractional TA and its alignment with the solutions we offer at Luminos. Many businesses may not see investment in a recruitment function as a priority, leading recruitment to become an additional task for existing employees who may not have the required skill-set or time. Others may have small TA teams that struggle to manage increased workflow or require additional insight before initiating the hiring process. Fractional support enables these businesses to access highly skilled TA professionals on a flexible, “pay as you go” basis, as and when needed.
At Luminos, we pride ourselves on our flexibility and our ability to support clients in an agile and cost-effective manner. Fractional talent acquisition isn’t just for start-ups; it’s beneficial for larger organisations as well. Whether they are scaling quickly, experiencing peaks and troughs in activity, or require expertise for a specific project, fractional support offers a solution.
Our fractional TA support services include:
- Candidate management
- Interview support
- Candidate screening
- Talent outreach
- Talent identification
- Preparing for hiring
We are fortunate to have clients who engage with us on an ongoing basis, allowing us to provide immediate support whenever they require extra resources or specific expertise, ultimately saving them time, money and the hassle of traditional hiring processes.
Get in touch if you are looking for expert and flexible talent acquisition support!
