Getting started as an Interim Manager

First and foremost, don't rely totally on interim providers to find your first assignment. Interim management providers tend to use a 'trusted' number of interim managers who they know will represent their company in a professional manner. By all means register with companies like ours but you must also go on the self-promotion offensive at the same time. Start by making up a list of companies and people you have worked with over your career. If you are lucky you might have 100+ names of people who may have an interest in your skills and experience. Contact these people by telephone or by a well constructed letter. Explain what you can offer in a precise and factual manner. Try and get a face to face meeting. If they are prepared to make time to see you it means that they are potentially interested in what you have to offer. If the situation proceeds to a point where they are contemplating giving you an interim assignment make sure you don't alienate them by asking for a day rate beyond their means or a length of assignment the objectives don't warrant. Find a sensible compromise on both. Remember the old adage- it is easier to find a job when you are in a job. Once you have your first interim assignment it will be easier to find a second and then a third as your reputation and credibility builds. That's the time when interim providers can really help!

Days rates holding up

I was slightly concerned that the credit crunch and dramatic changes in fuel costs would have an immediate adverse effect on the number of interim assignments and consequently the day rates interim managers could expect to achieve. However all indications thus far would indicate that the market for interim managers is still buoyant and client organisations confidence in using professional interim managers has not wavered as the added value benefit of using an interim manager outstrips the cost. We have even had clients coming back to us I recent weeks wanting to extend the duration of contracts with their interim managers. Long may it continue for all parties concerned? On a more cautious note, I believe it would be sensible at the moment for interim managers to speak with their clients and interim management providers slightly earlier than they normally would as they are coming to the end of their assignments regarding looking for other opportunities, additional objectives etc as at some point the difficult trading conditions may bite leaving the supply of interims outstripping demand. Of course when one door closes another opens, some interim managers, particularly those engaged in business recovery and turnaround may find work in plentiful supply whilst other generalists may find project work drying up. Be sensible and plan ahead now.

Become an Interim Manager for the right reason

I would say that we get about 30-50 interim management candidate registration forms each week from people wanting to become interim managers. However when you sort through them a lot of the applications are from people who have been lured into the interim management arena by the attraction of high day rates and tales of gold at the end of the interim rainbow. This may well be true for a small number of well qualified, exceptionally talented individuals but for most aspiring interim managers the early days can be very hard and extremely challenging.

I know a number of people which have had very successful permanent careers but failed to transfer that success to their interim management career. Why I hear you ask?

Oh, there are many reasons. I have listed some of the more common ones below that I have come across:

Ø Self-Marketing – the inability to market your skills and abilities in a down to earth, common sense way

Ø Arrogance – some people expect clients to be falling over them, it doesn’t work like that, you get out what you put in

Ø The Professional Qualification Brigade – some people assume that because they have lots of initials after their name that this is what clients want when in reality in my experience clients actually want interim managers who have hands-on practical skills to help them make a difference. This needs to be coupled with strong people management skills and profound common sense.

Ø Hard Work – not prepared to put the time into networking, writing letters, making telephone calls etc

Ø Family & Geography – not prepared to travel or stay away from home. It is very likely this will be a fixture of your interim career.

Ø Multi-tasking – you need to be able to cope with marketing, sorting your taxes out, paying VAT as well as being self-sufficient in a whole host of the tasks

Ø Loneliness – Some people miss the cut and thrust of daily office life in a corporate organisation

Ø Between Jobs – Likes the idea of interim as a safety net until that magical permanent role comes along

I firmly believe that if you are attracted to interim management for the right reasons, you work hard and show a degree of flexibility you will ultimately succeed but understand that it will not be any easy path until you are established and have some credibility in your chosen field.