The task of finding and hiring seasonal employees can seem daunting, but with a bit of work, you can find and recruit more seasonal employees than you have positions for.
Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of your seasonal hires and ensure your business doesn’t miss a beat during the busy season.
Write a great job ad.
Writing a great job ad is essential for finding awesome temporary workers. A great job ad will attract awesome candidates who are excited about your business.
Be sure to clarify that the job description you are hiring for is a seasonal position. Many people, including stay-at-home moms, seniors, and college students, are looking to make extra money part-time or have flexible schedules but aren’t looking for full-time work.
Key things to include in your job ad are how much you are willing to pay for the position and what the job seeker will be doing.
Ask your full-time employees if they know anyone who might want to earn some extra money, then pursue those leads. Smiling faces and a helpful workforce make selling your products and services a hundred times easier, and the workforce makes selling your products and services a hundred times easier and will make for a healthy bottom line. Providing a referral bonus will get more leads in the door.
Make the most of the interview.
During the interview, it’s important to learn more about the candidate and help them understand what your business is all about. You can’t assume that a candidate will come into the interview to fully understand your company.
Use this opportunity to talk about how they will be an integral part of making your company successful. If you get a sense that an applicant can’t commit to the schedule you need, mark that person off your list and move on. Trying to make the schedule work usually ends up in disappointment.
Make your business a great place to work.
Once you’ve found and hired amazing seasonal employees, it’s important to make sure they enjoy their work and the environment. One of the best ways to do this is by rewarding them for a job well done.
Don’t forget that it shouldn’t be all about the money either. Consider offering team-building activities such as company barbecues, team lunches, or fun gatherings.
Delegate tasks and responsibilities as much as possible.
Don’t try to do everything yourself; there is no need. Many of your seasonal employees will be working on more than one project at a time and can take some of the workload off of your shoulders, so you can focus on the more significant issues of running the business.
Make sure they are adequately trained to do their jobs and assign them tasks accordingly. It’s always better to delegate responsibilities while keeping an eye on what everyone is doing.
Pay your staff fairly.
When it comes to hiring seasonal help, make sure you are compensating them for what they deserve.
There is nothing worse for morale than a disgruntled seasonal worker who feels like they aren’t getting paid enough for their time.
In addition, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires employers to pay covered non-exempt employees at least the federal minimum wage for all hours worked and overtime pay for all hours worked over 40 in a workweek.
Give them all the training they need.
Another crucial part of the hiring process is to be sure the seasonal staff is adequately trained. If you need a summer hire to staff the cash register, make that their job. If your storefront needs sprucing up, make landscaping your summer hire’s job. Don’t just hire someone to help out. Know what you’re hiring for.
Train your seasonal employees carefully and thoroughly before they start working. Ensure that everyone has received the same training and is familiar with all the same tasks.
Take a little time to let your new hires get comfortable with their surroundings before throwing them into the fire.
With these great tips in mind, you’ll be able to hire amazing seasonal employees in no time.