The demand for contingent technicians is growing. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, companies are discovering how contractors can make their businesses more resilient during difficult times. And this isn’t exclusive to one industry — retail, manufacturing, IT services, and managed services alike benefit from a contingent workforce model.
As the need for contingent technicians increases, though, so does the need for a solid vetting process. Many companies are just now establishing their talent pools, so they haven’t put much thought into measuring their contractors’ expertise. Here are our insights into what you should be looking for when vetting technicians for your next global IT deployment.
Why Is Vetting Important?
The contingent technicians you hire to complete a project might be the only people your customer comes into contact with face-to-face. They’ll be representing your company throughout the project, so you want to know they will do so well. You also want to rest assured they’re qualified to do the job. You want to ensure they are following all necessary COVID-19 guidelines and taking proper precautions.
How to Properly Vet Field Technicians
Once you’ve found technicians who are available during the project’s timeline and have the skill set you’re looking for, it’s time to vet them. The very first thing you want to do is interview them. Ask them about their precise skills, professional experience, and level of qualifications — especially as it relates to the global IT deployment at hand. If you find they aren’t a good fit for a specific project, retain their name and contact information for any future projects that might fit their skill set.
In this interview, you’ll also get a sense of who they are and how they act in general, which can help you form an idea of how they’ll represent your company. After all, if they don’t represent themselves well, they’re unlikely to represent you well. You can also ask for and reach out to references at this point to see how people who hired them previously speak about them.
Also, because of the current pandemic status, you’ll also want to ask about any potential exposure to coronavirus, as well as confirm they have adequate personal protective equipment (PPE). If they don’t, you’ll need to make sure they have PPE before performing any work on your behalf. Explain any regulations and procedures your company has in place regarding COVID-19, like a self-temperature scan prior to work, and ensure they follow them.
The Kinettix Process
Here at Kinettix, we have created a Global Alliance of skilled, qualified technicians. Using this network, we’ve been able to support global IT deployments in over 90 countries around the world. Our success has come, in large part, from our extensive vetting process to ensure that our clients and end customers are happy with the work that is done.
When companies partner with us, we leverage this Global Alliance to find qualified technicians who meet the project’s unique criteria. Once we find a match, we vet the technician more fully through interviews to ensure they are the right person to fill the position and get our clients the results they need. We also have project managers and coordinators who are available to support our clients through this process and ensure it goes smoothly.
Kinettix carries specialized business insurance designed to protect its customers from errors and omissions while the technician is on site. This coverage extends across all field personnel, whether contracted or by the direct employee, and creates further transparency for subcontracting activities.
Our technicians are not only held, by contract, to the same standards as our full-time employees, but Kinettix also takes full and complete responsibility for the performance and behavior of the technician while that technician is on-site and in transit to and from the site. Because of this business model, Kinettix is uniquely qualified to meet all training requirements and local and state codes where they exist.
Finally, our vetting process relies heavily on both solicited and unsolicited feedback from our internal team and external clients. For every engagement, our project coordinators rate the field technician on five primary factors that depict the individual’s capabilities, strengths, and weaknesses. The rating system is weighted based on factors Kinettix deems necessary as a means to improve our selection process of matching technician capabilities with customer requirements.
If you’re ready to find qualified contingent field technicians for your next global IT deployment, let Kinettix help. We’ll bring our years of experience and our extensive Global Alliance to get the job done right. Reach out to us now to learn more and take the first step.
