1st Annual Interim Management Survey
1st Annual Interim Management Survey Winter 2011
An introduction from Danny Hodgson, Partner, Interim Management For the first time we have a meaningful analysis of the Australian interim market provided by those closest to it. Our inaugural survey of over 250 interim executives provides a valuable insight. It reveals a mobile and flexible workforce driven by a firm belief in the growth of the market, targeting not just ‘gap’ management but delivering specialist skills and change for clients across a broad range of sectors. Interestingly the most popular reasons for new assignments were the provision of ‘specialist skills’ and ‘change management’, not simply the gap or interim line management which has traditionally been associated with short-term staffing in Australia. The survey reveals a workforce dominated by people from the ‘Baby Boomer’ generation for whom the provision of their skills on a more flexible basis is the real motivator. Highly mobile, most have worked away from home on assignment and nearly all would seriously consider it.
Perhaps surprisingly, using interim to find or audition for a permanent job ranked very low in priority compared to working as an interim for the variety of tasks, businesses and to have a more flexible working pattern. Practically everyone surveyed felt that clients were either open to the concept of interim, have some experience of it or were existing users with only a tiny group of people believing they remain to be convinced and the overwhelming sentiment was of a market set for steady growth over the next twelve months. With two dedicated partners, we are committed to supporting the growth of interim management in Australia and developing the interim community. We look forward to further developing the market and interim ‘concept’ in 2011. Danny Hodgson Lead Partner - Interim Management, Watermark Search International.
Our Survey of 254 Respondents Q1 - Your gender?
Male: 80.9%
Female: 19.1%
Q2 - Your age? 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20%
49.6%
31.7%
10%
16.7%
2.0%
60+
30-39
0% 50-59
40-49
Q3 - How committed to interim are you?
Will consider a permanent job: 30.1%
Very committed it’s my career choice: 25.7%
Really only considering interim until a permanent job comes up: 10.0%
Looking for either permanent or interim work: 34.1%
Q4 - How long have you been looking for an interim job? 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20%
35.3%
30.3%
10%
17.4%
17.0%
12 months+
6-12 months
0% 2-5 months
Less than a month
Q5 - Have you worked away from home on an assignment? 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20%
74.4%
10%
25.6%
0% Yes
No
Q6 - If not would you consider it?
No: 15.7%
Yes: 84.3%
Q7 - What is your target (or current) base day rate?
$1500+: 29.1% $750 - $1000: 19.5%
$1000 - $1500: 46.2%
Less than $750: 5.2%
Q8 - What level do you typically work at?
CEO or Board Director: 14.6%
Project/Programme Manager: 14.2% CEO 13.0% Technical Specialist: 5.2%
General Manager: 47%
Other: 5.2%
Q9 - Which functional levels have you worked at? (top three selected ) 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20%
65.1%
52.0%
44.0%
41.3%
34.1%
Turnaround
Operations
Finance
10% 0% Board & General Project & Management Programme Level Management
Q10 - Which sector have you most recently worked in?
Public sector: 19.1%
Private ASX Top 10: 16.3% International SME: 13.1%
Private large: 20.3% Other: 5.7% Private SME: 25.5%
Q11 - Why are you considering interim? (top three selected) 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20%
79.1%
71.1%
57.4%
49.4%
34.9%
Work with different businesses
For the variety of jobs on offer
To work flexibly, even part time
To stay employed
To look at permanent opportunities once in post
10% 0%
Q12 - What is your view on the growth of interim in Australia?
Demand will remain the same: 32.9% No real apetite: 7.6%
Set for steady growth over the next 12 months: 49.4%
About to take off: 6.8% Shrinking demand: 3.2%
Q13 - How well do clients generally understand the concept of interim? 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20%
43.4%
41.4%
10.8%
4.4%
10% 0% Need to be Have some convinced, open experience, not to the concept consistent across the business
Comfortable with Not open to the the concept and concept and do use them not understand it regularly
Q14 - Do you think interim management poses a serious solution to the looming leadership skills gap?
Yes, the availability of interims is the only answer: 15.9% Partially, combined with other methods: 73.4%
No, it will only be used sporadically: 10.7%
Q15 - Are you currently on assignment?
Yes: 47.8%
No: 52.2%
Q16 - If ‘off assignment’ how long has this lasted?
Less than 1 month: 28.3%
1-5 months: 36.5%
12 months+: 19.5%
8-11 months: 15.7%
Q17 - How long did your last assignment last? 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20%
40.3%
30.5%
20.6%
8.6%
12 months+
1-5 months
6-11 months
Less than 1 month
10% 0%
Q18 - What were the reasons for your last assignment? Change management: 27.8%
A ‘gap’ assignment: 14.1% Coveting a newly created job: 6.2%
Specialist skills: 46.1%
Added resources: 3.7% Other: 2.1%
Q19 - What day rates have you worked at (or are you considering)?
$1500+: 27.0%
$750 - $1000: 21.0%
$1000 - $1500: 46.0%
Less than $750: 6%
Q20 - How important are recruiters in sourcing work? 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20%
43.9%
38.2%
12.2%
5.7%
Critical part of the networking plan
A helpful complement to my own networks
Rarely used own networks prevail
Would not be in business without them
10% 0%
Q21 - If gaining work through own networks, how are they sourced?
Face to face networking: 25.2% Online networking: 5.0%
Prior job contacts: 58.8%
Friends and family: 4.6% Job boards: 4.2% Other: 2.2%
Danny Hodgson, Lead Partner - Interim Management [email protected] Caroline McAuliffe, Partner - Interim Management [email protected] Watermark Search International Level 1, 350 George Street Sydney NSW 2000 T: (02) 92 331 200 www.watermarksearch.com.au
An introduction from Danny Hodgson, Partner, Interim Management For the first time we have a meaningful analysis of the Australian interim market provided by those closest to it. Our inaugural survey of over 250 interim executives provides a valuable insight. It reveals a mobile and flexible workforce driven by a firm belief in the growth of the market, targeting not just ‘gap’ management but delivering specialist skills and change for clients across a broad range of sectors. Interestingly the most popular reasons for new assignments were the provision of ‘specialist skills’ and ‘change management’, not simply the gap or interim line management which has traditionally been associated with short-term staffing in Australia. The survey reveals a workforce dominated by people from the ‘Baby Boomer’ generation for whom the provision of their skills on a more flexible basis is the real motivator. Highly mobile, most have worked away from home on assignment and nearly all would seriously consider it.
Perhaps surprisingly, using interim to find or audition for a permanent job ranked very low in priority compared to working as an interim for the variety of tasks, businesses and to have a more flexible working pattern. Practically everyone surveyed felt that clients were either open to the concept of interim, have some experience of it or were existing users with only a tiny group of people believing they remain to be convinced and the overwhelming sentiment was of a market set for steady growth over the next twelve months. With two dedicated partners, we are committed to supporting the growth of interim management in Australia and developing the interim community. We look forward to further developing the market and interim ‘concept’ in 2011. Danny Hodgson Lead Partner - Interim Management, Watermark Search International.
Our Survey of 254 Respondents Q1 - Your gender?
Male: 80.9%
Female: 19.1%
Q2 - Your age? 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20%
49.6%
31.7%
10%
16.7%
2.0%
60+
30-39
0% 50-59
40-49
Q3 - How committed to interim are you?
Will consider a permanent job: 30.1%
Very committed it’s my career choice: 25.7%
Really only considering interim until a permanent job comes up: 10.0%
Looking for either permanent or interim work: 34.1%
Q4 - How long have you been looking for an interim job? 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20%
35.3%
30.3%
10%
17.4%
17.0%
12 months+
6-12 months
0% 2-5 months
Less than a month
Q5 - Have you worked away from home on an assignment? 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20%
74.4%
10%
25.6%
0% Yes
No
Q6 - If not would you consider it?
No: 15.7%
Yes: 84.3%
Q7 - What is your target (or current) base day rate?
$1500+: 29.1% $750 - $1000: 19.5%
$1000 - $1500: 46.2%
Less than $750: 5.2%
Q8 - What level do you typically work at?
CEO or Board Director: 14.6%
Project/Programme Manager: 14.2% CEO 13.0% Technical Specialist: 5.2%
General Manager: 47%
Other: 5.2%
Q9 - Which functional levels have you worked at? (top three selected ) 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20%
65.1%
52.0%
44.0%
41.3%
34.1%
Turnaround
Operations
Finance
10% 0% Board & General Project & Management Programme Level Management
Q10 - Which sector have you most recently worked in?
Public sector: 19.1%
Private ASX Top 10: 16.3% International SME: 13.1%
Private large: 20.3% Other: 5.7% Private SME: 25.5%
Q11 - Why are you considering interim? (top three selected) 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20%
79.1%
71.1%
57.4%
49.4%
34.9%
Work with different businesses
For the variety of jobs on offer
To work flexibly, even part time
To stay employed
To look at permanent opportunities once in post
10% 0%
Q12 - What is your view on the growth of interim in Australia?
Demand will remain the same: 32.9% No real apetite: 7.6%
Set for steady growth over the next 12 months: 49.4%
About to take off: 6.8% Shrinking demand: 3.2%
Q13 - How well do clients generally understand the concept of interim? 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20%
43.4%
41.4%
10.8%
4.4%
10% 0% Need to be Have some convinced, open experience, not to the concept consistent across the business
Comfortable with Not open to the the concept and concept and do use them not understand it regularly
Q14 - Do you think interim management poses a serious solution to the looming leadership skills gap?
Yes, the availability of interims is the only answer: 15.9% Partially, combined with other methods: 73.4%
No, it will only be used sporadically: 10.7%
Q15 - Are you currently on assignment?
Yes: 47.8%
No: 52.2%
Q16 - If ‘off assignment’ how long has this lasted?
Less than 1 month: 28.3%
1-5 months: 36.5%
12 months+: 19.5%
8-11 months: 15.7%
Q17 - How long did your last assignment last? 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20%
40.3%
30.5%
20.6%
8.6%
12 months+
1-5 months
6-11 months
Less than 1 month
10% 0%
Q18 - What were the reasons for your last assignment? Change management: 27.8%
A ‘gap’ assignment: 14.1% Coveting a newly created job: 6.2%
Specialist skills: 46.1%
Added resources: 3.7% Other: 2.1%
Q19 - What day rates have you worked at (or are you considering)?
$1500+: 27.0%
$750 - $1000: 21.0%
$1000 - $1500: 46.0%
Less than $750: 6%
Q20 - How important are recruiters in sourcing work? 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20%
43.9%
38.2%
12.2%
5.7%
Critical part of the networking plan
A helpful complement to my own networks
Rarely used own networks prevail
Would not be in business without them
10% 0%
Q21 - If gaining work through own networks, how are they sourced?
Face to face networking: 25.2% Online networking: 5.0%
Prior job contacts: 58.8%
Friends and family: 4.6% Job boards: 4.2% Other: 2.2%
Danny Hodgson, Lead Partner - Interim Management [email protected] Caroline McAuliffe, Partner - Interim Management [email protected] Watermark Search International Level 1, 350 George Street Sydney NSW 2000 T: (02) 92 331 200 www.watermarksearch.com.au
