MightyRecruiterAs you are hiring seasonal workers, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. No matter how long your employees are going to be working for you, you need to make sure that they have the skills and personality necessary to make your business grow. By taking the interview process seriously and abiding by a few simple rules, you will be able to hire the best seasonal employees around.
Be Upfront That This is Seasonal Work
You do not want someone coming in for an interview who believes that this position is year-round. You need to make it very clear that the job is only until the holidays are over. This could potentially discourage some people from applying, but it is better to get those individuals out of the way when you are hiring seasonal workers. If someone comes on board expecting a full-time position only to figure out later it is temporary, their work ethic could drastically drop, and you will find yourself in a serious bind. However, you should mention if there is a possibility that permanent work will open up. You may need 10 or so extra hires, but once the New Year starts, you may require a couple more people on staff permanently. If you mention this, then it could incentivize the employees who are actively seeking yearly work. Only talk about permanent positions if it is a real possibility.
Call First
Depending on the type of store you run, you might get a ton of people applying for a few positions. Although you should start the interviews for seasonal work early on, it can still be beneficial to call people first just to make sure they have the basic skills to succeed. You should be able to tell right away if someone lacks the ambition or experience to be an asset. You can eliminate them from the running right off the bat instead of having to waste time in an in-person interview.
Pay Attention to Personality
A particular candidate may have the retail experience you are looking for, but you should also see if they have a warm, compassionate personality. During the holiday season, your store might get customers who are stressed out and can become difficult in a heartbeat. You want to hire employees who will be able to effectively handle difficult customers and promote an overall positive atmosphere. As you are hiring seasonal workers, you should ask questions during the interview related to times when the applicant had to deal with a difficult situation.
Incentives
If a job candidate is applying for a position at your company, then you can be reasonably certain that he or she is applying to other jobs as well. You do not want to lose out on a great employee because you were not the most desirable organization. Therefore, it can be beneficial to offer certain incentives in order to attract the best workers around. During the interview, you should bring up if employees get any kind of discount at the store. You should also mention if a holiday bonus is in the cards for seasonal workers.
Contact References
Many employers make the mistake of treating seasonal employees somehow differently than regular workers. As you are hiring seasonal workers, it is important to go through all the same steps as if you were interviewing someone for a full-time position. That includes contacting references to get a better picture of how a candidate is as an employee. Previous employers will be able to give you valuable insight into a worker’s true work ethic and character.
Tailor Your Interview Questions
For the most part, seasonal employees should be asked the same basic questions as anyone else. However, you should definitely inquire about the aspects of the job that a temporary worker is going to come into contact with. For example, you should definitely ask how they would handle an angry customer and to talk about a time where they had to deal with a stressful situation. Your store hours may change during the holiday season, so you also need to ask if they are willing to work weekends, nights and early mornings. As you are hiring seasonal workers, it is important to keep in mind that they are going to be part of your corporate family. During the interview process, they should be treated like anyone else. If things go well, then you have viable candidates for permanent positions that open up later. For more tools to help you with interviewing job applicants, check out more resources that Mighty Recruiter offers.