The holiday season is a critical time for the retail and logistics industries. Last year, despite economic challenges like inflation and high interest rates, the holiday season exceeded expectations, with consumers spending a record $964.4 billion. The five-day Thanksgiving shopping spree saw over 200 million people participating in Black Friday and Cyber Monday, surpassing the previous year’s figures.
As we look toward the 2024 holiday season, the need for strategic hiring of seasonal workers becomes even more apparent. Retailers and warehouse managers are preparing for another busy season, and having the right staff in place will be key to meeting demand. Here are three essential tips for hiring seasonal workers this year.
1. Begin Your Hiring Process Early
Large retailers and logistics companies kickstarted their seasonal hiring in early September last year. The trend indicates the importance of beginning the recruitment process well in advance. Starting early allows you to tap into a pool of eager seasonal workers who are ready to take on the challenges of the busy holiday period.
Early recruitment also gives you ample time to thoroughly screen resumes, assess candidates’ qualifications, and conduct necessary background checks. By onboarding and training new hires ahead of the rush, you can ensure that they are fully prepared and integrated into your team before the holiday orders and shipments begin to pile up.
2. Create Impactful Job Postings to Secure Top Seasonal Workers
To attract the right candidates for seasonal roles, your job postings need to tell the right story aka they should be clear, detailed, and optimized for search engines. Start with a precise job title that accurately reflects the position. The job description should clearly outline the responsibilities, the duration of the role, and the day-to-day tasks involved. This helps potential applicants understand exactly what is expected and whether they are a good fit.
Include specific requirements such as necessary certifications or skills to filter out unqualified applicants. Additionally, provide a brief overview of your company, including its mission, values, and any benefits offered to seasonal workers to share a taste of your organization’s corporate culture to standout in a competitive market.
Once your job posting is ready, ensure it reaches the right audience. Leverage email and text campaigns to quickly engage with several candidates at once. Nexxt has more than 10 million candidates who have opt-ed in to properly receive text messages about employment opportunities.
3. Develop a Retention Strategy for Seasonal Staff
Retaining seasonal staff throughout the holiday season is just as important as hiring them. And recent data that has shown that job security is a priority for job seekers, a retention strategy that treats seasonal employees with the same respect and consideration as full-time staff is key. Provide them with the necessary resources, encouragement, and even performance bonuses to keep them motivated.
Maintaining open lines of communication between management and seasonal staff can help address any issues that arise during busy periods. This can significantly reduce turnover and ensure that your team remains stable and productive throughout the season. Additionally, keeping in touch with seasonal workers by making them members of your talent community after the holidays can be beneficial if you need to rehire for future peak periods.
By starting early, crafting targeted job postings, and focusing on retention, you can ensure that your seasonal hiring process is smooth and successful, setting your business up for a prosperous holiday season in 2024.
Nexxt is a recruitment media company that uses today’s most effective marketing tactics to reach the full spectrum of talent – from active to passive, and everything in between. Learn more about hiring with Nexxt.