Strategies for Reducing Time to Hire in Your Organization

The speed of talent acquisition can make or break a company’s competitive advantage in today’s fast-paced business environment. Top independent contractors have their choice of clients they work with, which means an inefficient hiring process can be a major drawback.  

Hiring delays can lead to a negative reputation among independent contractors, as well as lost productivity, increased workload for existing team members, higher recruitment costs, and potential project delays. Don’t lose the best talent to more agile competitors—here are five ways your company can reduce hiring time. 

1. Focus Your Job Description

Your job or project description is the first thing independent contractors will see. A well-written job description can act as a filter, attracting the right candidates from the start. Make sure your job description title clearly describes the role. In the body of the description: 

• List project requirements clearly and succinctly 
• Specify deliverables and timelines 
• Include a rough budget, if possible 
• Describe desired skills or background 
• Highlight features or policies that are attractive to independent talent (for example, professional development opportunities or networking programs) 

2. Leverage Technology and Automation

Modern technology offers many solutions to reduce the time spent on hiring. AI-powered screening tools can significantly reduce initial review time, allowing hiring managers to focus more on evaluating top candidates. Video interview platforms can also save time, especially if independent contractors will be working remotely.  

Online marketplaces are another helpful way to post jobs and connect with independent contractors. Companies tend to find talent 30% faster when using a marketplace. Contractors can create a profile and then apply to jobs they are interested in or be matched with those that align with their skill sets. Marketplaces like MBO’s can be particularly helpful because we ensure talent meets compliance requirements and automate much of the onboarding paperwork, helping to maintain compliant relationships and faster all-around onboarding. 

3. Standardize Your Evaluation Process

A consistent evaluation framework will help to eliminate unnecessary deliberation and conversations around who to hire while speeding up decision-making. To create a standardized evaluation process: 

• Develop clear skill assessment criteria 
• Use a standardized scoring system 
• Implement quick technical or portfolio reviews 
• Define timelines for making a final decision—and stick to them 

4. Optimize Your Standard Contract

A contract is an important part of the hiring process. It not only provides legal protections, but it also helps to define worker status and detail the scope of a project. A well-written, concise contract can help to speed up hiring by avoiding a lengthy back and forth between your company and the contractor. 

A contract should clearly describe: 

• The tasks that the contractor will perform 
• The responsibilities of both parties 
• A change order process and termination conditions 
• Clear deadlines and deliverables 
• Success metrics 
• Key performance indicators 
• Payment terms 

A template contract that can be quickly customized for the project and individual contractor can be helpful. 

5. Rehire Proven Talent

Rehiring independent contractors who have previously worked with your company is another great way to speed up the hiring process. These contractors are pre-vetted, which means they require less training and administrative overhead. They have already proven their expertise, understand your company’s expectations, and have built trust among team members.    

If you’re interested in learning more, check out MBO’s Source of Talent offering. We can help you interpret data and profiles in your existing network of talent to recruit the best professionals for your needs. Our workforce solutions deliver a 35% cost savings per engagement compared to traditional staffing companies.  

As you evaluate and adjust your hiring process, remember that reducing time to hire isn’t about cutting corners. It’s about creating an effective and efficient process to bring top independent contractor talent to your door.