February 9, 2010 – The Wall Street Journal – New York, NY, US
As the economy eases into recovery mode, more companies are temporarily filling holes in their work forces before making permanent hiring decisions these days. But with the right moves, a temporary employee can make that job permanent.
Jody Miller, chief executive of Business Talent Group, a Los Angeles interim-executive placement firm, says she saw a 50% increase in requests for temporary talent in 2009 over 2008, with a significant bump in the second half of 2009. At least 19 publicly traded companies have appointed interim CEOs or CFOs since Jan. 1, more than half from within, according to recent news reports.
But successfully removing interim from your title isn’t always easy. “If you were the primary candidate, they would have just named you to that position,” says Joni Lindquist, president of KHC Executive Coaching in Overland Park, Kan. Assertive action, she says, can help move you to the top of the list.
