In the June edition of InfoWorld, Tom Yager wrote an article titled The tech worker’s contract to nowhere, Agencies that promote contract-to-hire positions put everyone else at a disadvantage. Tom’s claim was that the CTH method is a scam and that employers will get less than capable consultants that rarely lead to a full-time hire.

ProtoTest has experienced quite the opposite. In fact, the Contract-to-Hire model has worked extremely well for both our customers and consultants for a variety of reasons. Many of our customers don’t have the manpower or time to locate, screen, interview and hire their QA and test staff. They often need testers with specific skill sets in a tight timeframe. ProtoTest can perform the recruiting activities to find qualified candidates quickly. In addition, the candidates are well screened and put through a robust interview and technical profiling process.

The CTH option gives both the customer and the consultant an opportunity to determine if the fit is right. In our experience, it is rare for a CTH situation not to result in a full-time position for the consultant. But, the CTH option provides the customer a guaranteed way to hire testers. In the rare occasion that the candidate doesn’t fit in with the culture or prove to have the necessary skill sets, ProtoTest will find another candidate for the client at no cost. Similarly, the consultant can ensure that the culture and environment is a fit for them and that the work is challenging before accepting a full-time position. Because our process is thorough, the result of a CTH situation is almost always a happy customer and happy consultant who accepts a full-time position.