We will thoroughly check out the previous two or three contracts the candidate has had. Very important for contractors are interpersonal communication skills. Contractors are working with a lot of new people. They need to communicate well with their group and the rest of the organization and they need to be able to fit into any type of environment. Training is not a factor because we typically have hired that person for a very specific skill set that they possess so they don't need training.
Orientation is quick, concise and to the point.
Contractors are, of course, brought up to speed on a project but they have been brought in to make an impact, make a fix and do a job. So we don't invest a lot of time in orientation. Well, for example, we have been in business for 18 months and the contractors we hired on day one are still with us. If we have a six-month contract with a client and it's coming up on the fifth month, we will be looking for a new assignment for that contractor because we like to keep our relationships open. We are finding the work and the contractors are doing the work so it can be indefinite if the need is there.