Facilitator: What is the cost of hiring?

Why hire a facilitator?

A facilitator can help guide organizations through transitions, manage large meetings or train employees, both old and new. A facilitator will know how to interact with employees in a way that makes these processes easier so that there is less tension from everyone involved.

Contributions of a great facilitator:

• Very comfortable speaking in front of a large crowd
• Can easily explain concepts or new ways of doing things
• Will keep calm under pressure

Deciding between a full-time vs freelance facilitator

Facilitators tend to work independently of organizations and are brought in when needed. For example, if a company needs all of their employees trained on a new type of technology, they would hire a facilitator to do that job, but once done, they would then move on to another project.

That said, some companies will hire full-time permanent facilitators to train different organizations in a particular area, technology or event. The company that hires the facilitator would then go to other companies and run the training or event, in the same way, each time. For example, some large-scale businesses hire companies that employ facilitators to teach employees about diversity and inclusion. The facilitators would run the training in the same way for whatever business they are addressing and represent the company they work for.

What are the different types of facilitators?

The facilitators’ main job is to help organize and manage large groups of people. There are several different reasons you might hire a facilitator, including training sessions, large meetings or events. A facilitator might do the same type of training for any group that hires them, or they might work independently and provide a wide variety of services, depending on what your company needs. The following is a list of different roles a facilitator might take on, which you should know when hiring a facilitator.

• Event facilitator: A facilitator who is hired to help run a particular event.
• Training facilitator: Will come into a business and train new and old employees on the same technology or concept.
• Meeting facilitator: Will help run a large meeting that involves all employees.
• Conference facilitator: Will help run a conference with many participants.

Where to find a facilitator

To find the right facilitator for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

• Referrals: Checking with your friends, family, and colleagues is a great way to find a facilitator. This way, you will know you are hiring someone who has the experience and is effective at their job.
• Professional associations: The International Association of Facilitators has a directory of all certified facilitators, and you can search their listings by area. This is a great place to start when looking for a facilitator near you.
• Facilitator events: When looking at professional facilitator associations, you will find that there are many events thrown for networking purposes. By attending such an event, you can find a facilitator who would have the experience you are looking for.

Post your job online: Try posting your facilitator job on Indeed to find and attract quality facilitator candidates.

Skills to look for in a great facilitator

A great facilitator candidate will have the following skills and attributes, as well as work experience that reflects:

• highly effective communicator
• personable and friendly
• expert time management skills
• can stay calm under pressure
• ability to use active listening techniques
• well organized and prepared

Writing a facilitator job description

A thoughtful description is important for finding qualified facilitator candidates. A facilitator job description includes a compelling summary of the role, a detailed list of duties and responsibilities, and the required and preferred skills for the position.

When writing your facilitator job description, consider including some or all of the following keywords to improve the visibility of your job posting. These are the most popular search terms leading to clicks on facilitator jobs, according to Indeed data:

• facilitator
• facilitation
• team training
• event facilitator
• meeting facilitator

Interviewing facilitator candidates

Strong candidates for facilitator positions will be confident answering questions regarding:

• Experiences working with difficult clients
• Successful at facilitating a meeting, training or event
• Ability to stay calm under pressure
• Having a clear communication style, including active listening techniques
• Experience establishing a safe environment for sharing

Need help coming up with interview questions? See our list of interview questions for examples (with sample answers).