Whether your retail business is preparing for the holiday season or the back-to-school rush, the way you approach seasonal hiring can have a big impact on the bottom line.
In today’s highly competitive retail landscape, successful seasonal hiring has become more crucial than ever. With consumer spending patterns becoming increasingly concentrated during peak seasons, businesses that excel at temporary staffing can dramatically boost their revenue and customer satisfaction during these crucial periods. However, a poorly executed seasonal hiring strategy can result in lost sales, damaged customer relationships, and unnecessary strain on permanent staff.
The early bird gets the worm and the same is true for retailers getting a jump on seasonal and holiday hiring. Getting a head start will help you not only attract the best candidates but also ensure you have enough time to more fully understand the scope of your hiring needs, conduct thorough interviews, and properly train your new team members.
Job postings for seasonal and holiday hiring should be as specific as possible about the qualifications required and skills desired. The job description should detail the day-to-day responsibilities of the position. (Check out this blog post for an overview of duties that retail sales associates typically handle.)
It’s also important to highlight that the opening is for a temporary seasonal position. As for timing, include the start and end dates, and if there is an option to extend the engagement or transition to a full-time role.
For seasonal and holiday hiring, it’s also critical to be clear about what hours and days these employees will be expected to work, especially if it includes holidays or off-hours. For example, if you need staff to work Thanksgiving night to prep for Black Friday, include that in the job ad. While being expected to work a busy crunch time might seem obvious to you, it may not be as clear to all seasonal job candidates.
Lastly, make sure to include any job perks such as discounts or end-of-the-season bonuses.
One of the most common mistakes a retail business can make is throwing seasonal and holiday hires on the sales floor without proper training. Regardless of their “temporary” status, these workers are representatives of the company. Set them up for success by prioritizing the training and onboarding experience. After all, customers will remember poor service no matter if it comes from your full-time team member or temporary holiday hires.
Seasonal and holiday hires should be treated with the same respect and consideration that your full-time staff receives. Ensuring they have a positive work experience can be beneficial in many ways. Building this relationship can help you re-recruit these same people as regular seasonal hires, and also lead to positive feedback about their employment experience on review sites.
As you wrap up a busy season, consider taking the following steps to continue fostering a positive relationship with seasonal and holiday hires.
24 Seven has more than two decades of staffing in the retail space. Our specialized recruiters can do the legwork for you to help ensure you go into any busy season equipped with the skilled retail talent you need to succeed.
The success of your peak seasons doesn’t have to rest on chance. By partnering with 24 Seven, you’re not just filling positions – you’re investing in your business’s ability to capitalize on your most profitable times of the year. We’ve helped countless retailers transform their seasonal rushes from challenging periods into opportunities for growth and excellence.
Contact a recruiter today and let us help you build out your seasonal and holiday teams.
This post was updated on October 31, 2024.