A Guide on Hiring Summer Staff

Summer is known for its hot temperatures, high traffic and vacation seasons, making it necessary for businesses to find additional help with managing their workflow. Hiring employees during this becomes a balance between acquiring more help and choosing the right individuals to fill these temporary positions. This requires careful planning, communication, and selection.

Here's a few essential tips to guide you on hiring seasonal staff this summer:

1. Plan ahead:

Start your hiring process well in advance to avoid last-minute rushes and ensure you have enough time to find the right candidates.

2. Be clear:

Clearly outline job descriptions and responsibilities. This helps applicants understand what is expected and ensures you attract candidates with the right skills.

3. Use various recruitment channels:

Try different recruitment channels such as online job boards, social media, newspaper ads, universities or even referrals from fellow staff for a diverse pool of applicants.

4. Screen thoroughly:

Conduct interviews and background checks before hiring to assess candidates’ skills, experience, and reliability. Consider using behavioral-style interviews to gauge staff in specific situations.

5. Offer competitive incentives:

Even though positions are temporary, offering competitive pay and benefits helps attract the best individuals and reduces turnover.

6. Provide training and orientation:

Invest time in training new hires and familiarizing them with your workplace policies, safety protocols, and job-specific tasks so they know the expectations of the job.

7. Promote a positive work environment:

Create a warm and welcoming atmosphere where your staff feels valued and motivated to perform their best.

8. Plan for succession and keep in touch:

Keep in touch with summer recruits by creating a community space, i.e. newsletter or Facebook group. Maybe consider whether any summer staff could potentially transition into full-time roles or return in subsequent summers. This can create continuity and reduce hiring costs.