TalentMinded

Temperatures are heating up, and winter clothes are being packed away in storage. Yes – summer is almost upon us. And while it probably feels like you just started your summer hiring, it’s already time to plan for back-to-school and the Q4 holiday push. So, how do you prepare for seasonal hiring before you’re hit with an immediate need?

While seasons come and go, seasonal hiring requires attention for a large chunk of the year. And though seasonal employees are only temporary, you still must develop a recruitment strategy that will keep your business running smoothly during those busy times. Get started with these four tips:

4 Seasonal Hiring Musts

1. Hold group interviews. Interview in groups, and hire in groups. Not only does this save you time during your seasonal hiring bouts, it also gives you the opportunity to see interaction between potential future coworkers. You may also take advantage of things like open houses and other seasonal hiring events to grow your talent pipeline.

2. Fish in the right ponds. With seasonal hiring, you have to fish where the candidates swim. And while traditional recruiting methods may still be effective, this is your chance to try other tools, like niche job boards. Part-timers and seasonal employees frequent these spots, so make sure you have a presence.

3. Don’t cut corners. While it may be tempting to cut corners for the sake of time during a busy season, you should follow the same procedures as you normally would. For example, if you normally run background checks, avoid future problems by doing the same for your part-time, seasonal workers.

4. Plan ahead. Realistically, seasonal hiring starts well before the season is in reach. Be sure to get started early so you don’t get left with the job seekers other companies have already turned down.

 

Have you started planning your recruitment strategy for the upcoming seasons? Share your seasonal hiring tips in the comments.

 

Image: photologue_np/Flickr