During busy trading periods, like the summer season, hiring seasonal staff can greatly help your business’s flexibility and ability to meet customer demand effectively.
To avoid unfilled or inadequately filled positions, allocate plenty of time for hiring additional staff, especially seasonal staff. This proactive approach is especially important in sectors facing challenges in filling job openings, such as catering and warehousing.
Why hire seasonal staff?
When it comes to hiring seasonal staff, there are plenty of reasons and advantages for employers to consider.
Meet peak trading demands in your industry
Seasonal staff provide businesses with the necessary workforce during busier periods, ensuring increased workload can be effectively managed and allowing sufficient scaling to meet customer demands and maintain high standards of service.
Avoid overstaffing during low seasons when demand decreases
In contrast, seasonal staff ensures that you aren’t overstaffed when demand eventually decreases during your low periods, and you’re not paying too much in employee overhead.
Provide temporary staffing challenges
Seasonal staff fill the gaps when existing employees are away for sickness, maternity, or holiday, preventing disruption, minimising impact on operations and allowing consistent flexibility.
How do seasonal contracts work?
In this type of contract, employees are not guaranteed a fixed number of hours by the employer. They are compensated only for the hours they actually work, providing the employer with increased flexibility during periods of reduced workload or unpredictable work volumes.
Once the seasonal period ends for the staff member, the contract is typically terminated, and their responsibilities come to an end – unless they are rehired.
How to hire temporary staff during your busiest periods
Write a job description for seasonal / temporary roles
Crafting an effective job description will help you get your successful hire. Here are some key points to include:
- Relevant keywords: Incorporate terms like “seasonal” or “temporary” in the job title and highlight the start/end dates prominently.
- Specify job requirements: Clearly outline the positions you need to fill and the necessary skills for success in the role.
- Showcase benefits: Be transparent about any employee perks, discounts, or bonuses to make your job listing stand out.
How can I attract the best seasonal staff?
To attract top-notch seasonal talent, start your hiring process early to ensure a more seamless onboarding experience. Late in the season, it becomes more challenging to find talent as seasonal employees apply to multiple companies.
During the interview period, filter out candidates who may not align with your company culture by asking insightful interview questions such as time commitments or any scheduling restrictions they may have.
It’s also important to allocate sufficient time to onboard seasonal employees and offer comprehensive job training. This thorough preparation will minimise issues during the season and keep your seasonal staff engaged.
Where can I find seasonal staff?
To find the best seasonal talent, you have a wealth of resources at your disposal, including:
- Temporary recruiters – Staffing agencies can help take over the majority of your staffing process thanks to their unique resources, stringent selection processes, and more.
- Employee referrals – Your full-time employees may have connections—friends or family members—who are looking for seasonal work. Offering referral bonuses for successful hires can encourage them to recommend qualified candidates.
- Job search engines – Platforms like Indeed expose your job description to a wide pool of candidates actively seeking similar opportunities. Ensure your description is compelling, making it easy for job seekers to find and engage with your role.
Retaining seasonal staff
It’s one thing to hire your seasonal staff, but if you want to retain them for the length of their contract, you want to make sure the environment and culture is ideal. This can be done in several ways:
- Foster a sense of belonging – Treat your seasonal staff with the same respect and benefits as your full-time employees, creating an inclusive environment where they feel valued.
- Maintain open communication – Address concerns and challenges proactively to build trust and loyalty among seasonal staff, preventing issues from becoming unmanageable.
- Provide bonuses – Offering an additional pay bonus is an effective way to incentivise employees to stay throughout the season. Highlight this bonus early in the application and hiring process to attract and retain talent.
Consider the end of contracts with seasonal staff
To ensure a smooth transition and optimise future hiring, consider the following when concluding a busy season with seasonal staff:
- Explore future availability: Simply ask departing employees if they would be interested in returning for the next season. Some workers may actively seek recurring seasonal or temporary jobs that align with their needs and lifestyle.
- Conduct exit interviews: Regardless of their tenure, conduct exit interviews with seasonal employees to gather valuable feedback on successes and areas for improvement. This feedback will help streamline hiring efforts for the next season.
- Identify permanent talent: While it may not be feasible to offer full-time positions to all seasonal staff, be on the lookout for exceptional individuals who could be a great fit for permanent roles in the future.
By hiring seasonal employees, you can effectively manage operations and deliver excellent customer service during peak months without the need for excessive permanent staff.
Looking for a staffing agency to help fill seasonal vacancies?
Ready to streamline your seasonal hiring process and find quality talent for your peak trading periods? Labour 24/7 is here to assist you. As a trusted staffing agency, we specialise in connecting businesses with reliable seasonal staff.
Let Labour 24/7 help you meet the demands of your busy seasons and maintain exceptional service, so get in touch if you are looking to hire temporary employees today.