Interim profile
Candidate ID: 1302350
Year became an Interim Manager: 2003
Functional Focus: Supply Chain Management
Corporate Career Summary:
Manufacturing and Supply background within the Electronics Industry starting with Racal as a manufacturing engineer and then finishing with 3Com as Head of Supply for the small business division.
“What made you decide to become an Interim?”
Stumbled into interim work when I was made redundant from 3Com. Options to either continue developing career or do something different. Did something different - set-up a limited company to do some work with the Institute for Manufacturing at the University of Cambridge. The aim was to then develop the business providing supply chain consulting to companies in East Anglian region. I was then approached about an interim opportunity with MFI and that was what got me into interimming. I did some more research on Interim Management and what it entails. This is now a core service that I provide.
“Any regrets?”
No regrets being an interim manager.
“What are the upsides to being an Interim?”
- Independence
- Variety of work and environments
- Focus on delivery and the sense of satisfaction in making a difference
“What has been the high point of your Interim career so far..?”
- Getting to a point where I feel I can avoid feast and famine
- Being asked back by clients
“And the biggest challenge?”
- Managing my time and all the other activities associated with running a limited company
- Going into a role where you feel undervalued and underutilised, mainly because the client doesn’t know how to make the best use of an interim manager
“What do you enjoy most about being an Interim?”
- Very focussed on delivery
- Able to avoid office politics
- Seeing different companies, cultures, and ways of working
“And least?”
- There is much more to do that the day job e.g. marketing, selling yourself, and finances. I have found it challenge to keep on top of all this. The key for me is ‘keep it simple’. When you are with a client 5 days a week you don’t always feels like doing the other very often important things within the business e.g. finances, visibility and marketing
- My guidance here would be little and often
“Contractual must do/must have”
“Any strong words of advice on contractual ‘must do/must have’?”
- Make sure payment terms meet your requirements
- Typically standard contracts are provided by companies. Don’t be afraid to question and ask them to be amended to meet your requirements.
“How do you cope with the ‘feast and famine’ nature of interim work?”
Always need to maintain visibility in the market place. Develop good strong relationships with interim providers and ensure that they are updated regularly on your situation. It’s important to develop a network of contacts. I use LinkedIn and see myself using it a lot more in the future to make sure contacts know what you are up to.
“What networks would you recommend that keep you in touch and are useful to you?”
LinkedIn, InterimConnect, Cambridge 100 (for those in the Cambridge area)
“What is the ‘buzz’ that keeps you interimming?”
- Knowing that you can make a difference in the time you are on assignment
- Looking forward to the next opportunity and challenge
- Being independent
“How do you set a day rate?”
This is always a challenge and I often feel I under sell myself in the market place. My assignments will typically extend 9 to 12 months and more, as a result I base my day rate on what I feel is sustainable in the market for that length of time. I do keep an eye on interim opportunities and market rates and discuss with Interim Providers regularly to assess where my current day rate sits in relation to the market at that moment in time.
“What top tips would you give an aspiring interim manager?”
- Look at it as a business
- Keep it simple
- Develop a system that enables you to keep on top of delivery for the client, whilst still marketing yourself and maintaining visibility in the marketplace
- Plan your time effectively
- Be selective about your networking and think about the value it will bring to you
“What basic housekeeping things are important (set up as a Ltd company, get PII, find a good accountant, business cards etc.)?”
- Keep on top of finances and keep them as simple as possible
- Get a good accountant
- Plan – make time to ensure visibility in the market place
- Insurance - PI