A Guide To Hiring Seasonal Staff For The Holidays

The holiday season is one of the busiest times of the year, and many businesses cope by hiring temporary staff. With the holidays quickly approaching, hiring and training people early is essential to prepare for the season.

It’s also important to remember that other businesses will be looking for temporary workers during the holidays, so you need to start the process sooner to attract the best talent. This guide can help you take the proper steps when hiring seasonal staff for maximum success.  

Identify Your Needs

Your business needs can vary depending on the type of organization you run and your holiday goals. Deciding what areas you need help with will enable you to narrow down your search and recruit specialized staff. Finding new staff to perform essential tasks will be easier once you’ve determined their responsibilities.

Once you’ve identified your needs, hire a recruitment agency to simplify the process. A recruiter can find you the right candidate for your company as soon as possible, saving you the time and hassle of sifting through applications. Holidays are already a busy time, so delegating the hiring task to a professional will allow you to focus your attention on other tasks while gaining access to top talent. 

Set Realistic Expectations

All applicants need to know what they’re signing up for when they apply for a position in your company. When writing job descriptions, be clear about whether you need temporary, part-time, or full-time help. This will ensure that you hire the right people and save them from surprises.

You should also clearly mention what tasks you expect the seasonal staff to complete. It’s important to be detailed about this because if their responsibilities differ from the points mentioned in the job description, you may notice high turnover, requiring you to spend time and money on replacements.

Have An Onboarding Procedure

An onboarding procedure typically includes orientation, mentoring, and goal setting. It will allow your new hires to get familiar with the workplace and their colleagues and learn how to use the tools and resources provided to complete their tasks efficiently.

Without an onboarding procedure, it can be challenging for new hires to perform their best, resulting in potential losses for your business. You can also assign mentors from your existing workforce to help the new hires.  

Offer Reasonable Compensation

The holiday season requires employees to juggle multiple tasks and perform them efficiently. They’re likely to feel unmotivated to work without reasonable compensation, which can hinder their productivity and your business’s success.

Offer reasonable compensation, bonuses, and non-monetary incentives for working with you during the holidays. These incentives can motivate them to work harder and apply for the job again when they need seasonal staff. Hiring the same people next year will save you the time and resources required to hire and train new staff as they are already familiar with the process.

Make Them Feel Valued

Lastly, it’s important to make your temporary staff members feel valued at your workplace. Build a positive environment and recognize their efforts. You can also retain valuable talent and add them to your part-time or full-time team. When it’s time to let your seasonal staff go, say goodbye with gratitude.