Beyond temp agencies: alternatives for agile staffing

When looming deadlines or sudden project pivots strike, the reflex is often to “call the temp agency.” It's a familiar solution; it's fast, simple, and it puts someone in the seat. But when the work demands more than just basic coverage, traditional temps fall short. You don't need a placeholder. You need a problem-solver. 

Enter graduate business student workers. 

These aren't the interns you'd expect to be fetching coffee or doing basic data entry. As graduate students, they are trained to think strategically, analyze data, and deliver real impact from day one. Think of them as agile consultants-in-training, ready to plug into your business and drive forward the projects that truly matter. 

This article will break down why graduate interns are a smarter, more strategic alternative to traditional temp hires. You'll learn how they are prepped to contribute immediately, the types of high-impact projects they can tackle, and how other companies have leveraged them to meet complex business needs without the overhead of a full-time hire. 

When to call in temporary staffing 

As a hiring manager balancing shifting priorities and tight timelines, you've probably turned to a temp agency more than once. It's the fastest way to cover parental leave, bridge a hiring gap, or support a short-term contract. Temporary staffing offers speed and flexibility: someone fills the role, the immediate work gets done, and operations keep moving. 

The challenge is that while temp agencies are effective at filling seats, they're not always effective at filling skill gaps. Most temp workers are generalists, focused on maintaining day-to-day output rather than driving results. The traditional temp model often falls short when projects call for specialized expertise, strategic thinking, or deep business knowledge. That can result in missed opportunities, slower execution, and limited long-term impact. 

Temporary staffing can keep you afloat in the moment. But what if you could address short-term needs while also advancing your strategic goals? 

That's where graduate student workers come in. 

How graduate students might be your best temporary staff 

Let's rethink the word temporary. It doesn't have to mean “just getting by.” In fact, when you tap into the talent pool of graduate business students, temporary staffing can become a strategic advantage. 

Graduate student workers are ideal for short-term staffing needs that require specialized skills, strategic thinking, or project-based execution. They are not a replacement for administrative temps who handle routine office tasks.  

Here's why graduate students make a smarter short-term hire: 

• You need specialized expertise: Graduate students come ready with the exact skills you need in finance, analytics, marketing, or strategy, so they can tackle complex projects without missing a beat.
• You want high-value contributions: They deliver measurable results while staying cost-effective compared to traditional temps or contractors. 
• You want motivated team members: Graduate interns are eager to apply what they've learned, bringing fresh energy and innovative ideas to your work.  
• You need someone ready to hit the ground running: With structured program support, they require minimal onboarding and quickly integrate into your team.

Business schools, like Northeastern University's D'Amore-McKim School of Business, offer structured experiential learning programs that make it easy for employers to hire talented graduate students for meaningful, temporary roles. As a leader in global experiential learning, Northeastern's program provides a smarter, more strategic approach to addressing short-term staffing gaps. When you hire a D'Amore-McKim graduate student, you're not just getting a basic temp; you're gaining a professional who can apply classroom skills to solve real-world business problems. 

“What is particularly impressive about D'Amore-McKim's full-time MBA students are their innovative and entrepreneurial mindsets. They consistently think outside the box, exploring unconventional solutions and leveraging technologies like AI to drive growth.”  

Camille Super, Senior Consultant at Accelare.  

The D'Amore-McKim Graduate Career Center is your trusted partner, providing a wide range of resources to simplify the hiring process. Beyond simply connecting you with talent, the center helps you build your brand on campus and enrich your talent pipeline with critical thinkers. You'll even receive a comprehensive employer manual to guide you through the process, and you can post job openings, manage recruiting efforts, and engage with grad students through various events and mentorship opportunities. 

D'Amore-McKim's graduate students are primed to tackle complex projects, bringing fresh perspectives and a global mindset to help you stay agile in a fast-paced market. They're a cost-effective way to accelerate your business objectives without the long-term commitment of a full-time hire. This program has a proven track record, helping you gain a low-risk way to assess talent and reduce hiring risk before making full-time offers. 

If you're looking for someone who can do more than hold down the fort, someone who can actually move the needle, graduate interns might be your best-kept secret. As Alex Angstrom from Genuine puts it:  

“We were pleasantly surprised by the abundance of high-caliber applicants. The opportunity to collaborate with graduate students provided us with a resident boasting a more advanced skill set than we've experienced with other traditional interns.”  

When to call in grad students for temporary staffing 

Graduate students bring skills, insight, and immediate impact. Through graduate co-ops, corporate residencies, and team-based consulting projects, they tackle real challenges while keeping your team on track. 

Flexible ways to hire graduate students:

These are low-risk, high-reward ways to explore new markets, test new ideas, or generate data-driven insights without the long-term commitment of a full-time hire. 

Corporate residency

Well-suited for projects that require leadership, functional management, or interim coverage while hiring, these full-time opportunities allow MBA students to step into significant roles for three, six, or 12 months.

Graduate co-op

Perfect for projects that need skilled hands quickly or for filling temporary staffing gaps, these opportunities let students put classroom learning into action during an 8–12 week summer placement.

Community Impact Initiative

Ideal for advancing mission-driven initiatives or bringing fresh perspective and expertise to your work, these placements pair your organization with a team of highly skilled graduate students for 8–12 weeks.

“Our graduate co-op started her role at a critical time after a team member had recently left the company. We needed time to find the right new hire and fell behind on essential projects. She brought us up to date on our projects and ensured a smooth transition for our new hire.”

Sylvia Konopka, Accounting Manager at Trillium Flow Technologies 

For certain business needs, a graduate student isn't just a good option. It's the ideal solution. Here's a look at the scenarios where these programs are the best fit for your business. 

• When your project needs immediate, focused attention: Bring in a corporate resident, graduate co-op or a student consulting team to drive results on time-sensitive initiatives. 
• When you have a critical hiring gap: A grad student worker can step in full-time to keep operations moving while you search for a permanent hire. 
• When you need to test a new idea: Graduate student workers can help gather insights, evaluate new ideas, or explore strategic opportunities. 
• When exploring an unclear role: A corporate resident or graduate co-op can help define the position, assess demand, and make the case for a full-time hire, allowing you to reduce your hiring risk. 
• When you're building a strategic talent pipeline: Corporate residencies and graduate co-ops let you evaluate a candidate's skills, fit, and potential on the job, helping you recruit top talent with confidence. 

D'Amore-McKim graduate students have a track record of making an impact through short-term work assignments: 

“The availability of top-tier student talent from D'Amore-McKim empowers us to maintain agility and resilience as a small company, equipping us with the resources needed to tackle diverse challenges and seize growth opportunities.”

Alex Angstrom, Associate Director of Strategy at Genuine 

How to be effective with graduate student workers 

Bringing graduate students on board can deliver immediate strategic value but setting them up for success ensures your organization and the student benefit. Start with a clear project scope, provide onboarding and support, and set measurable milestones to keep work on track.  

You can explore practical strategies for helping graduate students contribute effectively and maximize their impact while on assignment. Spot a rising star? Consider extending the engagement or making a full-time offer to turn a short-term hire into a long-term asset. 

“Our recent corporate resident brought a wealth of knowledge and skills acquired through her MBA coursework. Her fresh perspective and proficiency with the latest tools and techniques allowed her to propose innovative solutions and streamline processes, ultimately driving innovation and productivity within our organization.”

Bryan Carr, Vice President, Funding & Liquidity Senior Manager at Citizens 

Take the next step

Let's recap: when your team is stretched thin and important work can't wait, graduate business students offer more than temporary coverage. They deliver results. They bring specialized skills, strategic thinking, and fresh energy, all backed by structured programs that make onboarding smooth and outcomes measurable. 

Whether you need extra hands on a critical project, want to test a new role before committing full-time, or are building a pipeline of future leaders, D'Amore-McKim's experiential learning programs provide flexible, high-impact support tailored to your business.  

Reach out today to connect with the Graduate Career Center team at Northeastern University's D'Amore-McKim School of Business. Your next strategic hire might already be in the classroom, and ready to make a difference in your business.