Best Strategies for Hiring Seasonal Employees

It’s that time of year again! As the busy season approaches, small businesses often need to ramp up their workforce to meet increased demand: Cue the seasonal employee. Hiring seasonal employees can be a great way to manage this influx without committing to long-term staffing. Today we’ll walk through some effective strategies to attract and hire the right seasonal talent for your business.

Plan Ahead

Start your hiring process early. It’s helpful to look at your hiring strategy from last year and use it as a blueprint (or, if it wasn’t successful, use it to guide your decisions this year). Identify the roles you need to fill and the skills required, and create a timeline for recruiting, interviewing, and onboarding. This proactive approach allows you to secure talent before the busy season begins.

Leverage Online Job Boards

Last year, employers had roughly 400,000 seasonal jobs to fill in anticipation of a bustling holiday season. Utilize platforms like Indeed, LinkedIn, and your local job boards to post your seasonal job openings. Highlight the benefits of working for your business, whether they be flexible hours, a friendly work environment, or any unique perks you offer (free lunches, or product discounts, perhaps?).

Offer Competitive Pay and Benefits

Attractive compensation is the best way to draw in quality candidates. Research local market rates and consider offering competitive pay, bonuses, or incentives for peak performance. Even small perks, like flexible scheduling or employee discounts, can make a big difference. 

Create a Streamlined Application Process

Simplify your application process to make it easy for candidates to apply. Anyone who has ever applied to a job knows that a lengthy or complicated application can turn folks off. Consider using mobile-friendly applications and online scheduling tools for interviews.

Conduct Efficient Interviews

Since you may be hiring multiple seasonal employees, streamline your interview process. Consider group interviews or structured phone screenings to assess candidates quickly while maintaining a personal touch. To expediate, you can also hold virtual interviews that allow you to tackle multiple interviews quickly.

Provide Comprehensive Training

Invest in a robust training program to get seasonal employees up to speed quickly. If you don’t have one already, it’s a good idea to create an onboarding process that can be recycled each season. Clear training materials and mentorship goes a long way in helping new hires feel confident and competent, which enhances their performance and job satisfaction. A total win-win.

Foster a Positive Work Environment

Creating a welcoming atmosphere is crucial for retaining seasonal employees—especially if you want them to return next season. Positive team dynamics have the power to lead to higher job satisfaction and better performance, and overall mental well-being for new staffers. This is an area you should be passionately focused on as a business owner, regardless of the time of year.

Maintain Communication and Feedback

Keep communication lines open with your seasonal staff. Regular check-ins can help address concerns and give you an opportunity to provide feedback. This practice not only improves performance, but it’s also an important step toward helping employees feel valued and engaged.

Plan for Future Seasons

As the season wraps up, assess your seasonal employees’ performance. Gather feedback and identify top performers you may want to invite back next season. If you’ve got a reliable pool of seasonal workers, you can save time and resources when looking to hire in the future. 

Hiring seasonal employees can be a game-changer for small businesses looking to thrive during peak periods. But hiring staff, no matter how you slice it, is going to cost you money this season. Take the financial pinch out of bringing new employees on board with a Flex Pay loan or line of credit from ARF Financial. We can get you approved in 24 hours and funded in as little as three days. Stop by today to find your local loan consultant.

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