Interim agencies (also known in the trade as interim providers) spend a good deal of effort and money in establishing relationships with employers who are likely to seek outside help in running their business. These range from multi-nationals to quite small businesses. It is obviously in any provider's interest to ensure that they supply only the best person for the job because their future depends on it and they are more likely to use someone they already know to be reliable. However, individuals employed on previous assignments are not always available and in any case it is usual to put up more than one candidate to the client. There are therefore always opportunities for new candidates.

It follows that most of the top providers will take time in assessing the capabilities of each of the candidates that they take onto their books, either in face-to-face interviews or with in-depth questioning over the telephone or internet. By progressing through this assessment stage, an interim manager will know that he or she has already been placed on a shortlist.

The provider will also fix daily rates although not all of them are open about this with their candidates. Providers have another important function to fulfill. They are generally the means whereby the interim manager receives payment. It is most usual that, before the assignment commences, a daily rate is agreed and the interim manager will invoice the provider (through his limited company and backed up by signed time sheets from the client), and the provider will make payment to the limited company.

It is very important to be specific about your abilities as this will speed the database search for the right person for each assignment. Do not offer yourself as a generalist/Jack-of-all-trades. There are too many of these.  Your CV is vital so see our section on how to present yours.

The Interim Management Association has been established as a trade body for interim providers with the aim of maintaining the highest professional and ethical standards, and it has set itself up as a leading forum for industry debate and contact-point for negotiations with relevant government departments.