Increase in interim management assignments: junior managers are increasingly in demand

Traditionally reserved for senior profiles and experienced executives, the job of interim manager is becoming more and more democratic. Faced with the sharp increase in demand, the missions are multiplying and junior profiles are now joining the profession. WAYDEN tells you more.

 

What is the job of an interim manager?

An interim manager is an experienced external professional, who stands out for his leadership qualities, his in-depth sector expertise and his exceptional interpersonal skills. He generally has an international career to his credit in positions of high responsibility.

He intervenes for a company for a given period, which generally goes from 6 to 18 months, in order to help the latter respond to a specific problem: Crisis management, Change management, A managerial urgency, A period of strong growth, A restructuring, A relay management mission (for Replacing an absent executive or manager at short notice).

Thanks to its great ability to adapt, its immediate operational excellence, its hindsight and its results-oriented methodology, it facilitates the passage of a decisive milestone and quickly secures a strategic change project.

 

Interim management: a fast-growing market

In recent years, interim management has been booming. According to a study by France Transition and Xerfi, the interim management market, valued at €800 million in 2023, has seen its turnover increase by more than 16% per year between 2019 and 2023.

There are many reasons for this increase. Firstly, the shortage of talent in many sectors under pressure, such as aeronautics, encourages employers to outsource their skills needs to experienced professionals and qualified. In addition, the acceleration of technological, regulatory and economic changes is giving rise to a large number of new specific needs requiring targeted expertise (digital transformation, deployment of AI, ecological transition, CSR approach, etc.).

 

Junior interim managers are increasingly in demand

Historically, interim management mainly concerned senior profiles, with 15 to 20 years of experience. Today, between the increase in demand and the democratization of self-employment, we are witnessing a strong diversification of the profiles sought: Junior managers are therefore increasingly in demand. They usually have between 5 and 10 years of experience. One of their great strengths is their in-depth knowledge of new tools, agile methodologies and the latest technological innovations.

In addition, outsourcing to a junior interim manager is a more attractive cost than outsourcing to a senior profile for the company.

Calling on a junior interim manager can therefore be very relevant for companies wishing to benefit from modern expertise, perspective and methodologies, in tune with the times and for a lower investment.

As with a senior manager, the junior manager can be called upon in different contexts, for all types of missions: digital transformation project, crisis management, managerial strengthening, turnaround, etc. Their profiles are also very varied: top manager, middle manager, PMO, supply chain manager, etc.

 

How to choose your interim manager?

Choosing the right interim manager is imperative to guarantee the achievement of tangible results, within the given deadlines, and to ensure the proper integration of the professional within the company.

Here are the main criteria to take into account when choosing your interim manager:

• The sector of activity : to ensure that your needs and the particularities of your company are fully understood, choose an interim manager with solid experience in your sector of activity (Aeronautics, Industry, luxury, retail, e-commerce…) ;

• The function: the interim manager can also position himself or herself in a specific business function (HR, finance, marketing, sales)…). Depending on your needs, be sure to mobilize a professional with a proven expertise in the business function you wish to entrust to him/her;

• The level of seniority : depending on your needs, your budget and the culture of your company, choose an interim manager with an appropriate level of seniority (beginner, junior, advanced, senior, etc.).

• Interpersonal skills : human and managerial qualities also play a central role in the success of the transition mission. Indeed, a sense of leadership, charisma, listening, adaptability, flexibility and empathy are some of the soft skills essential during a transition mission. Make sure you identify an expert with the qualities you consider essential for his or her successful integration into your company and the success of the project.

To ensure the success of the mission, the safest thing to do is to call on an interim management company. Indeed, it is the guarantee of benefiting from the support of a professional whose skills have been rigorously validated beforehand. It’s also a great way to easily identify A profile that meets their needs : seniority, level of seniority, duration of the mission, type of mission, function, sector of activity, etc.

 

Are you looking for a junior or senior interim manager to overcome a strategic milestone in your organization?

Our interim management company WAYDEN identifies and assigns, within its large network of highly qualified professionals, an interim manager whose expertise perfectly meets your challenges, and whose know-how and interpersonal skills have been the subject of a strict selection process, based on criteria of excellence.

 

Contact us to find out more.