The hustle and bustle of the holiday season is about to begin. Even when it’s all hands on deck, there sometimes just aren’t enough staff members to go around. Now is the time to add temporary employees who can handle the much anticipated holiday rush and help keep business as usual – even when it isn’t.
Having enough holiday helpers in your workshop is particularly important this holiday season, as the National Retail Federation estimates that sales may increase as much as 2.3% in response to the economy’s recovery. This jolly contrast to last year’s marginal 0.4% rise and the retail decline of 2008 gives businesses the opportunity to retain loyal customers and attract new clients who may be more willing to spend than in Christmases past.
Fall is the perfect time to hire seasonal staffers
According to SnagaJob.com’s third annual survey, overall seasonal hiring is expected to increase 26 % from last year. On average, hiring managers reported planning to hire an additional 3.9 workers this year, an increase from 3.1 in 2009 and 3.7 the year before.
Industries known for brisk holiday business, such as retail sales, hospitality and delivery services, can particularly benefit from bringing on those extra staffers with time to properly train them. In fact, 47% of employers surveyed said they began hiring in September, an early gift to job seekers.
Choosing wish list candidates
It’s not too late to select the best seasonal workers for your organization. In fact, employers will find that they have their pick of candidates, due to a steady unemployment rate and willing workers like retirees and college students seeking jobs. Sorting through stacks of resumes and interviewing dozens of candidates doesn’t have to be an early lump of coal.
Here’s how to identify candidates that make for a great fit:
- Decide what you want.
- Shop carefully.
- Go for out of the box.
- Naughty or nice.
Do you need someone who’s energetic or calming? Should that person be outgoing or able to work behind the scenes? Don’t be a Scrooge with details. Hone the job description to match what personality types and characteristics you’re really seeking.
Even with a seasonal job, go for quality. It’s an employer’s market, so look for experience that suggests similar job duties and the ability to adapt quickly. Narrow your search by calling candidates whose work experience is already similar to what you’re seeking.
Recent surveys consistently list attitude as the best attribute of a seasonal worker. Conduct the interview knowing that the candidate will likely be dealing with crowds and hurried customers. Ask for creative solutions to customer service scenarios; the candidate’s answers say a lot about how he or she will handle the stress of the Christmas rush.
Your job seeker has made a list of references; it’s up to you to check it, twice. Once you’ve narrowed down your potential candidates, follow up with previous employers. Hearing what a third party has to say about your candidate’s abilities, personality, and people skills can simplify your decision.
Finding qualified employees can be a challenge, especially during busy times of the year, but following these tips will help you hire the right fit for your team this holiday season. And, if you’re short on time, utilizing a staffing company is also a great way to quickly recruit and hire top talent. Contact your local Express Employment Professionals office to help you gear up for a smooth holiday season.
As human resource consultants, we have numerous ways to handle group hiring and seasonal staffing. Realistically our clients do not have the time for extensive due diligence so we use an assessment called the SSQ (Semi-skilled Qualifier) or another called the Reliability Register. These are both inexpensive and measure reliability, integrity, and response to supervision. In addition, the SSQ compares candidates to a predefined benchmark and also provides information about their work-style characteristics. We obtain the SSW and the Reliability Register from HRDT (www.hrdt.com) and find them to be extremely effective.
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