Curious how your business can plan for your seasonal employment needs? Here are five tips to keep in mind over the next few months:
- Get a Head Start
It’s never too early to plan for the busy season, be it the holiday rush of winter or the sunny festivals of summer. Both are always just around the corner. No matter your industry, trying to find and train a wave of seasonal employees all at once is a terrible headache. Starting the process of sourcing and onboarding in the down season can help relieve the pressure and ensure a prepared workforce for the business to come. The extra time will also let you select the best candidates instead of taking anyone you can get.
- Ask for Referrals
The best source for temporary hires typically come from referrals and word of mouth amongst your own employees, as you can trust their judgement to bring in competent workers seeking similar opportunities. You can even incentivize your employees by creating some kind of referral bonus or official referral system. If that isn’t a wide enough net and you’re willing to put in the extra work, hosting your own job fair can be a substantial boon of candidates, especially if you advertise through social media and local publications.
- Consider Different Demographics
The hardest thing about seasonal employment is that most qualified candidates are looking for full-time work. But there are a few demographics you should consider that part-time or seasonal work would be ideal for. College students are an obvious choice, as they’re driven, capable, and on break at the exact times you need them. One option is to create mentoring programs or internships to entice students with learning opportunities or college credit. Other demographics you might want to consider: retirees, who often return to the workforce in a limited capacity to bolster their funds or stay busy; candidates with disabilities, who may prefer or require seasonal/part-time work as opposed to full-time; and formerly incarcerated candidates, who may be looking for seasonal work to integrate themselves back into the workforce.
- Utilize Staffing Agencies
If you’re still not getting the quality and quantity of candidates you’re looking for, and the busy months are looming, there are many advantages to partnering with staffing agencies. By taking all the sourcing work out of your hands and providing a constant flow of candidates to meet your needs, you can hunker down and focus on selection and training. Make sure to do research on all the agencies in your area though, as many specialize in certain industries or may not have the quality of candidates you’re looking for.
- Build Lasting Relationships
While you may think of seasonal employees as temporary, you never know who may prove themselves to be an invaluable member of the team. When that’s the case you should foster those relationships, allowing them opportunities for growth. At very least remember that the next busy season is only a few months away, and it’s much easier to have returning seasonal employees than source entirely new ones. If you consider seasonal employees an investment instead of a band-aid for busy times, the training and opportunities you provide can create a consistently strong seasonal workforce, each year building on the successes of the last.
Next Steps
If you are in the Milwaukee area and want to start a new job, contact the team of (awesome) recruiters here at SITE Staffing. Whether you are looking for a temporary position or a full-time career, we have the network of employers and expert career coaches needed to help you make a change.
You can also check out some of our most popular and helpful career resources below!