Hiring seasonal employees is a great way to hire people who will help you during peak seasons without the expense of staffing year-round. Here are 6 tips for hiring top candidates:
- Define Your Expectations from Seasonal Employees
As a business owner, you should consider a few things when defining expectations for your seasonal employees. First, you'll need to tailor your job descriptions to the actual work seasonal hires will be doing. This means including a general description of the business, required skills, and what experience is needed. You should also include information about compensation, schedule, and duties in your job postings.
It's also important to keep track of how your seasonal employees are performing by tracking their hours worked and updating their job descriptions accordingly. This will help you update your expectations based on what you've learned throughout the season.
Finally, being direct and informative is key when communicating with your seasonal employees. An effective employee handbook can help share company information in one place.
- Set Clear Expectations
If you manage seasonal employees, it's important to set expectations from the start. This will help ensure that your employees understand what is expected of them and can help avoid any misunderstandings or disappointment later.
Be clear about the nature of the seasonal work - what the job entails, the hours, etc. Mentioning the possibility of longer-term work can help attract stronger applicants. Keeping communication clear and concise will help maintain a positive relationship with your seasonal employees based on trust, transparency, and respect.
- Know Where to Search
You should start your search for seasonal employees early, and try to find them through your current employees, job boards, and social media. You can also reach out to staffing agencies if you are pressed for time.
When you know the type of employee you need, post job openings on Indeed and Monster to reach a wider range of people. In the interview process, ask candidates about their experience working at your business in the past.
- Start Looking Far in Advance
The best time to start looking for seasonal employees is well before you need them. That way, you can take your time to find the right people, rather than making rushed decisions when you're under pressure.
It can be difficult to find good seasonal employees at the last minute, so it's important to start your search early. This will give you more time to find candidates who are a good fit for your business and who will be able to hit the ground running when they start work.
If you wait until the last minute to start looking for seasonal employees, you may end up hiring someone who is not a good fit for your business or who is not as productive as you would like. Starting your search early will help you avoid these problems and ensure that you find the best possible candidates for your business.
- Focus Efforts on Students or Retirees
Seasonal employees are typically young or older people who don't have school obligations. This means they likely have more time to devote to a seasonal job and can be more flexible with their schedule. Retirees offer a wide range of skill sets and experiences that younger workers might not have had exposure to yet.
This can be beneficial for businesses that are looking for a specific skill set during the off-season. College students and retirees can be great seasonal employees but beware of the rush at the end of the season when everyone is trying to find a job.
Retaining top talent is hard, so focus on students and retirees who are likely to stay for the duration of the season. Let employees know they can come back next year if they're a good fit so they feel valued and appreciated. Seasonal employees are a great way to attract and keep customers during the off-season when business is slow.
- Create a Strong Training Program
It's important to train your seasonal employees well so that they can be productive and provide great customer service. Your training program should cover all aspects of the season, including how to handle special events or high-volume traffic.
It's also important to provide feedback on employee performance throughout the season so that they can be recognized and rewarded.
- Keep in Touch
It is important to stay in touch with seasonal employees to set the tone from the start and ensure that they are clear about your expectations and culture. Always be truthful and direct in your communication and consider using an employee handbook to help keep them informed about restaurant policies and important holiday or special event information.
- Offer more than the Minimum Wage
In today's job market, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find and retain good employees. Offering a higher wage than minimum wage is one way to attract and keep the best employees. In addition, offering more than minimum wage is important to attract and retain seasonal employees.
Seasonal workers are often attracted by the highest wages being offered, so it is important to ensure that your rates are competitive while also being fair and reliable. By offering more than minimum wage, you will be able to attract and retain the best employees for your business.
Conclusion
Whether you're looking for summer help or winter assistance, it's important to follow a few guidelines when hiring seasonal employees. By following these tips, you'll be able to find the best candidates and avoid any potential problems down the road. Check out our guide on how to hire the perfect seasonal employee and get started enjoying your holidays without any issues!