Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions about IT staffing
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Is staff augmentation the same as IT staffing?
Staff augmentation is one model within IT staffing, not a separate thing. IT staffing covers every way of engaging technology professionals through a firm — contract, contract-to-hire and permanent placement included. Staff augmentation specifically means adding professionals to an existing team, often several at once, for the length of an initiative rather than filling one permanent seat. At PSCI this is delivered through project-based services.
Is staff augmentation considered outsourcing?
No. With outsourcing you hand a function to a vendor and the vendor manages the outcome, usually off site and under its own processes. With staff augmentation the professionals work inside your team, on your systems, under your direction — only the employment relationship sits with the staffing firm.
What does staff augmentation do?
It closes a capability gap without a permanent hire. You get specific skills for a defined period, the staffing firm carries the employment overhead, and you scale the team back down when the initiative ends.
What are the three types of staffing?
Contract, contract-to-hire and permanent (direct hire). Project-based team deployment is often counted as a fourth. PSCI provides all four — see contract staffing, permanent placement and project-based services.
What is IT staffing?
IT staffing is engaging technology professionals through a specialist firm rather than hiring them directly. The firm sources, screens and — in contract models — employs the professional, while they work on your team. Full explainer: what is IT staffing.
How does the IT staffing process work?
Requirement definition, sourcing from an existing pipeline, technical screening, submission and interview, onboarding, engagement management, then offboarding or conversion to permanent. PSCI covers sourcing and hiring, technical screening, onboarding and offboarding, and human resources as standard.
What are the benefits of partnering with a staffing agency?
Access to pre-screened talent, less time lost to non-income-generating hiring work, and — in contract models — employer costs and risk moving off your books. Hiring a permanent IT professional directly can cost up to 150% of the role’s salary once recruiting and ramp-up are counted.
Who employs a contract IT professional?
At PSCI, we do. IT talent remains a PSCI employee for the length of their project, which means PSCI assumes the risk and costs associated with employment — taxes, payroll, workers compensation and 401k matches.
What is the difference between contract and contract-to-hire?
A contract engagement runs for the length of the project, with the professional employed by the staffing firm throughout. Contract-to-hire is the same arrangement with an agreed route to bringing that person onto your own payroll once you have worked together.
Does PSCI staff government projects?
Yes. PSCI is a GSA Contract holder, which allows us to bid on and staff federal projects. We have provided government IT resources since 2007, including work with departments and divisions within the State of Delaware and New Castle County. See the Government IT Outsourcing case study.
Does PSCI place SAS programmers and clinical staff?
Yes. SAS programming for life sciences companies, including pharmaceutical firms and CROs, is a named PSCI competency, alongside clinical trial analytics and validated reporting for regulatory submissions. See clinical and life sciences staffing.
What areas does PSCI serve?
PSCI’s headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware serves the Delaware Valley Region, as well as the Philadelphia Metro Area, Wilmington, Dover, Eastern New Jersey, Baltimore and DC.
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