1st Annual Interim Management SurveyWinter 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 man-agement 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?

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50-59

49.6% 31.7%2.0%16.7%

40-49 60+ 30-39

Q3 - How committed to interim are you?

Q4 - How long have you been looking for an interim job?

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2-5 months Less than a month 12 months+ 6-12 months

35.3% 30.3%17.0%17.4%

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%

Q5 - Have you worked away from home on an assignment?

Q6 - If not would you consider it?

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Yes No

74.4%25.6%

No:15.7%

Yes:84.3%

Q7 - What is your target (or current) base day rate?

$750 - $1000:19.5%

Less than $750:5.2%

$1000 - $1500:46.2%

$1500+:29.1%

Q8 - What level do you typically work at?

CEO13.0%

Project/Programme Manager:14.2%

Other:5.2%

Technical Specialist:5.2%

General Manager:47%

CEO or Board Director:14.6%

Q10 - Which sector have you most recently worked in?

Q9 - Which functional levels have you worked at?(top three selected )

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Board & GeneralManagement

Level

Project &Programme

Management

Turnaround Operations Finance

65.1% 52.0% 41.3% 34.1%44.0%

International SME:13.1%

Private ASX Top 10:16.3%

Other:5.7%

Private SME:25.5%

Private large:20.3%

Public sector:19.1%

Q11 - Why are you considering interim? (top three selected)

Q12 - What is your view on the growth of interim in Australia?

About to take off:6.8%

No real apetite:7.6%

Shrinking demand:3.2%

Set for steady growth over the next 12 months:49.4%

Demand will remain the same:32.9%

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Work withdifferent

businesses

For thevariety of

jobs on offer

To workflexibly, even

part time

To stayemployed

To look atpermanent

opportunitiesonce in post

79.1% 71.1% 49.4% 34.9%57.4%

Q14 - Do you think interim management poses a serious solution to the looming leadership skills gap?

Q13 - How well do clients generally understand the concept of interim?

Yes, the availability of interims is the only answer:15.9%

No, it will only be used sporadically:10.7%

Partially, combined with other methods:73.4%

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Need to beconvinced, opento the concept

Have someexperience, not

consistent acrossthe business

Comfortable withthe concept and

use themregularly

Not open to theconcept and donot understand it

4.4%43.4% 41.4% 10.8%

Q15 - Are you currently on assignment?

Yes:47.8%

No:52.2%

Q16 - If ‘off assignment’ how long has this lasted?

12 months+:19.5%

8-11 months:15.7%

1-5 months:36.5%

Less than 1 month:28.3%

Q17 - How long did your last assignment last?

Q18 - What were the reasons for your last assignment?

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12 months+ 1-5 months 6-11 months Less than 1 month

8.6%40.3% 30.5% 20.6%

A ‘gap’ assignment:14.1%

Coveting a newly created job:6.2%

Added resources:3.7%

Other:2.1%

Specialist skills:46.1%

Change management:27.8%

Q19 - What day rates have you worked at (or are you considering)?

$750 - $1000:21.0%

Less than $750:6%

$1000 - $1500:46.0%

$1500+:27.0%

Q20 - How important are recruiters in sourcing work?

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Critical part of the

networking plan

A helpfulcomplement to

my own networks

Rarely usedown networks

prevail

Would not bein business

without them

5.7%43.9% 38.2% 12.2%

Q21 - If gaining work through own networks, how are they sourced?

Online networking:5.0%

Friends and family:4.6%

Job boards:4.2%

Other:2.2%

Prior job contacts:58.8%

Face to face networking:25.2%

Danny Hodgson, Lead Partner - Interim Management danny.hodgson@watermarksearch.com.au Caroline McAuliffe, Partner - Interim Management CMcAuliffe@watermarksearch.com.au

Watermark Search International Level 1, 350 George StreetSydney NSW 2000 T: (02) 92 331 200 www.watermarksearch.com.au