Blog
November 16, 2022
The term “interim staffing” is not usually associated with a type of consulting service. Instead, you might think more of temporary desk or clerical workers who come in to bridge administrative gaps. However, with qualified staff, interim staffing is much more than that—for both the organization as well as the individuals placed to sustain a client in need. We’ve previously discussed the institutional benefits of interim staffing, but what’s in it for the individual being staffed?
- Continuous Learning – With every assignment, we are learning new things. Whether it’s processes or systems, each client operates differently; so, it’s imperative that we are always ready to learn and adapt. We become well-versed in multiple systems—able to analyze, compare, and re-design processes and navigate various organizational cultures. We become experienced critical thinkers and problem solvers whose value increases with each new assignment.
- Emotional Intelligence – We work and interact with a lot more people than the average employee. We may be juggling two assignments at once, each with their own team and management, or just switching clients consecutively at a high pace. In both scenarios, we must understand people from diverse cultures with different values and personalities, learn how to build effective connections with necessary players, and resolve issues as quickly as possible to keep moving forward. This enriches our open-mindedness and takes our emotional intelligence to a new level.
- The Value of Networking – We work in a small world where networking and nurturing relationships are essential in getting the work done. Not only do shorter assignments teach us the importance of networking and nurturing, they also allow us to utilize our networks more effectively and efficiently. Whether we’re assisting a subrecipient of a former client, an existing contact at the sponsor agency, or a relationship built at a fellow consortium institution, the relationships we build and foster allow us to break through common roadblocks and shape us into our most productive selves for clients.
Interim staffing shapes individuals into emotionally intelligent, highly-connected, lifelong learners. We grow professionally and personally with every project. As we help our clients carry out their goals to further advance their missions, we become more well-rounded professionals ourselves.
Learn more
Drawing on our deep and talented pool of subject matter experts, Attain Partners helps place interim talent into your institution to ensure operations continue to run smoothly and that you receive optimal funding. We can help you fill staffing gaps with functional and technical experts who understand research administration and Federal compliance. Learn more about our services, read an interview with industry expert Mark Davis, and contact us here.
About the Authors
Amanda Seymour is a Manager at Attain Partners and has over 14 years of experience in Higher Education focusing on research administration, finance administration, and operations. Amanda is a Certified Research Administrator and was recently named a Society of Research Administrators International (SRAI) Future of the Field Honoree.
Nadia Kikilo is a Principal with Attain Partners with over 17 years of experience serving Higher Education clients within various research administration areas. She has extensive experience in major post-award reconciliation and cleanup engagements. Nadia holds an MBA and an MS in Business Technologies.
Courtney Swaney, MPA, CRA is a Principal for Attain Partners with 20 years of experience in research administration. She specializes in leadership and management of sponsored projects teams, pre-award, and electronic Research Administration (eRA).
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