The automotive industry, as one of the engines of the Slovak economy, is also an environment for the growth of experts and innovation in the field of human resources. The dynamic production environment requires highly qualified professionals who can adapt production to changes and at the same time optimize the required performance quickly and convincingly, minimizing both time and financial losses. The answer to these challenges, not only in the automotive industry, are interim experts.
Interim expert – the brain and driving force of the production process
We most often characterize them as professionals who are assigned to a project for a specific period of time. They bring their knowledge, skills, innovative ideas and a much-needed distance from the established system, and thus a new perspective on the situation.
Pavol Tkáč has been involved in quality management since 2014 and has worked on several projects and positions as a quality consultant or quality department manager within interim projects.
Initially, he worked as a consultant at SAS automobile in Devínská Nová Ves, later he moved to ZKW in Topolčany when they expanded production in 2020 and he provided assistance in optimizing the production process. He currently works at Eurostyle in Wurzburg, Germany, which deals with interior design and development for premium vehicle brands. All his interim projects were covered and arranged in every way by our consulting company. All he had to do was pack up and leave.
But what should an interim expert meet in order to be successful as an external expert in a project?
One of the biggest challenges, but also opportunities, is the ability to adapt to a new project. We have to quickly learn new processes, procedures and integrate into a new team,” says Pavol. “That’s why the ability to adapt is key to successfully managing a project.“
However, he immediately adds that “one of the most interesting aspects of working on interim projects in general is their diversity. We work on production processes, implementation of new technologies, quality management and in other areas according to the client’s requirements.” According to Pali, “it is necessary to have management skills and be able to switch on the executive mode. If necessary, be able to switch it to the management mode immediately, exchange the suit for overalls and be a full part of the team”. The work pace is naturally fast, because the interim is included in the project for 6-12 months depending on the situation, complexity of the problem and solution time.
The daily income of an interim consultant is usually 500 euros.
The effectiveness of the skills and knowledge of an interim expert reflects the financial savings of the company that hires him, as well as the salary he receives from the project.
In the current job offer, we have particularly interesting positions for quality engineers, process engineers or project managers. We include positions in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and mainly Western Europe. The average daily wage starts at 250 – 300 euros. For management positions, the rates are many times higher. Pali, who has been working as an interim expert for 10 years, says: Money plays an important role, “but it is equally important that a person does not stop thinking and does not allow his mind to become stunted, which often happens automatically in the environment of long-term employment that he already knows well.”
The job market is constantly evolving, with the opportunity to travel for a career, the demands of professionals on job offers are also growing, and vice versa. The work of an interim expert is suitable for those who like everything new, are not afraid of challenges, and want to constantly work on themselves. Getting to know new people, corporate processes, culture, and earning above-standard income worldwide are other added values of interim employment.
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