SEVEN TIPS FOR SEASONAL HIRING IN 2022

‘Tis the season—UGH! Unfortunately, the most wonderful time of the year is not so wonderful for those in the retail recruitment game. The Great Resignation has not ended, and competition for hourly employees is fierce.

Finding new employees at this time of the year could put you on the naughty list before you know it. We gathered some tips from our team here at Cadient that we hope will have you fully staffed and ready for the 2022 holiday season in no time!

1. Look Within

Start with what (and who) you know—your current employees! Ask them if they know anyone looking to make some extra money over the holidays. They might even know a student who needs a temporary job while home for the holiday break. The key here is to start early before someone else has the same idea.

Read more about the value of an employee referral program.

2. Hire Students

Again, most college students are on break from the start of December until the 2nd week of January… and most want to work! If college students are part of your customer base, post signs in the window and at the register to let them know your organization is hiring. Or go directly to the source! Schedule a college job fair on campus. Be sure to get there in early fall to secure the best candidates.

3. Pull Out Old Files

Was there anyone you interviewed that did not seem qualified at the time, or maybe they were looking for part-time work, and you didn’t have an opening? Low-hanging fruit is sometimes the best place to start.

Consider calling back employees you had to let go at the start of the pandemic. You can also reach out to employees who left voluntarily to see if they’d like to return. You never know – they might not be happy in their current situation.

4. Create Positive Experiences – For ALL Employees

Nothing travels faster than a bad reputation, especially with today’s technology. One bad manager, disgruntled employee, or scheduling dispute could blow up on Facebook or Instagram. It doesn’t matter if the employee was 100% at fault, either. Once the word gets out, it’s tough to change public opinion. Take care of your employees; over time, the word will get out, and you’ll have people begging to work for you!

Read more about employer branding.

5. Hire Retirees

Most retirees have a lot of time on their hands and could use some extra funds around this time of the year. You may also bring someone on board with years of experience who could help everyone in your company—you just never know! Some retailers make this a focus and prefer a more mature employee.

Learn more about other creative sourcing strategies.

6. Get Social

This may seem like an easy decision, but this is probably one of the reasons you created social profiles. If you have active social media accounts and a decent following, now is the time to take advantage. You can BOOST your job posting temporarily on specific social platforms. This helps you reach more people in your area or across several areas if you have multiple locations.

Read more about social media recruiting and recruitment marketing.

7. Send an All Call

If you have an active talent pool and a texting application, you can mass text them all at once. Send out texts informing the pool about current or upcoming job openings. Text them invitations to job fairs or other hiring events.

Read more about text recruiting.

We hope these tips will help you look outside your usual hiring strategy this holiday season.

If you have any suggestions or success stories—please send us a message or contact us via social media—we would love to hear from you!

Get more tips, strategies, and ideas for improving talent acquisition – Visit our Resources Section.