7 Seasonal Hiring Strategies Guaranteed to Attract Employees

Retailers, warehousing, logistics, and hospitality industries are well aware of the preparation needed to support these high seasonal demands. Now is a hard time to hire as the great reassessment and the gig economy thrive onwards. Here are some effective strategies to attract top seasonal talent and stand out in the hypercompetitive hiring process.

1. Build a strong employer brand

It’s become standard practice for candidates to look up an employer online before applying to open positions. Audit your brand’s digital identity and look for any weaknesses. You want to be attractive to potential employees and offer a work environment they can imagine fitting into seamlessly.

Does your careers page tell a story?  Does it give candidates a good impression of the work atmosphere they’ll spend long hours in? Today’s seasonal workers want to know if they’ll be treated well and will spend time researching your brand to find flaws or red flags.

Systemic cultural or pragmatic issues have a tendency to show up on company review sites like Glassdoor and can be remedied by addressing the problem. If you still feel you’re still not attracting the candidates you seek, explore what more you could be doing to present your brand invitingly, rethink your social media strategy, and create a positive buzz around your company. Socially responsible businesses with effective branding strategies have a better chance of withstanding today’s seasonal hiring challenges. 

2. Hire ahead of time

You’ve left it too late to hire for the winter holiday season at the end of November. Many of the biggest brands start interviewing interim holiday staff in October, ensuring they have time to schedule interviews before the peak period hits. You may need more time if your employees need skills and training. You may find all the best seasonal employees have been snapped up if you leave it to the eleventh hour.

3. Be where the talent is

Aberdeen Group research found that 73% of millennials found their last position through a social media site. Post your ads on as many relevant platforms as possible. Remember, your previous employees and prospects may still be following you. The right incentives may attract them back into the fold. Optimize your job ads for the audience you are targeting. Use seasonal work-specific job boards. Join career fairs, give back to the community, and advertise locally to reach local talent. Taking your time pinpointing the right places to advertise will help improve your chances of attracting candidates looking for seasonal work and ready for the challenge.

4. Incentivize employee referrals

Your current employees are working for you for a reason. If you appreciate their work ethic, skills, and talent, you should also trust their judgment. Offer incentives to employees who recommend and share openings with their friends and family. Paying incentives for successfully hired employees makes them much more likely to let others know about any vacancies within the company. Also, good workers know other good workers. If you trust your employees and appreciate their work, those they refer to you will likely display similar characteristics.

5. Cherry-pick from your top customers

Your most loyal customers are already advocates of your brand. They love what you sell and are happy to make purchases regularly. One of the perks of employment is, of course, the staff discount you get. Your top customers are already familiar with your brand and keen on the idea of enjoying a discount on their favorite products. Take the time to share vacancies with your customer base via email newsletters, in-store advertising, and even word-of-mouth via your current staff where appropriate.

6. Offer unparalleled perks and incentives

Seasonal employees are looking to make extra cash for the holiday period. Some may be looking for a future full-time role, but many simply want to boost their income. Incentives such as Earned Wage Access (EWA) can differentiate your company from the market. With Payactiv, employees can get paid for the hours they’ve worked ahead of scheduled payday in just a few taps on their phone. It allows employees to get paid for holiday shifts and access their earned wages in real-time so they can benefit from the extra holiday cash. The Payactiv Visa® Payroll Card* allows employers to include all their employees on direct deposit. Combined with on-demand pay, it gives employees access to their earned wages every day.

7. Create a flexible and engaging working environment

Seasonal workers recognize they’re signing up for shift work and they may be willing to swap and change to satisfy their financial and personal needs. The Payactiv Connect platform is ideal for offering employees access to additional shifts. Employers benefit from efficiently organizing the schedules and quickly filling any empty shifts. Seasonal employees often seek to maximize their earnings, so access to additional shifts and, therefore, more money is a bonus.

Most seasonal employees are considered part of the deskless workforce, with no set station for their working day. This can make workplace communications and the social side of work more difficult. All people crave connections with those around them, and the 2.7 billion deskless workers worldwide are no different. Connecting with seasonal and shift workers can be tricky because you may rarely cross paths which is why tools that enable you to do this are invaluable for bringing the team together. Payactiv Connect allows you to share company announcements and set up DM and group chats for professional purposes and fun and socializing.

You need seasonal employees you can rely on. Advertising is the first step in your seasonal holiday hiring plan. You must be the best employer and offer attractive seasonal employee benefits to attract the best seasonal employees. Providing them with a work environment they enjoy and enticing incentives, and the chance to boost their earnings.

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*The Payactiv Visa Payroll Card is issued by Central Bank of Kansas City, Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. Certain fees, terms, and conditions are associated with the approval, maintenance, and use of the Card. You should consult your Cardholder Agreement and the Fee Schedule at payactiv.com/card411. If you have questions regarding the Card or such fees, terms, and conditions, you can contact us toll free at 1 (877) 747-5862, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.