During the holidays and the Summer, it's not uncommon for businesses to require additional staff to manage the surge in demand, and seasonal hiring can become challenging for staffing agencies. But, by using the right approach and having the right tools on hand, hiring contingent workers can be a breeze.
As a staffing agency, you want to match your clients with the best temporary workers to help them reach their business goals. Here are five simple tips that you can implement to help you attract and dispatch qualified and hardworking staff to fulfill your clients' mandates.
Stay Ahead of the Competition and Start Advertising Early
When it comes to seasonal hiring, timing is everything. Advertising as early as possible gives you enough time to match the best candidate for the right job. An early start also gives you more time to conduct interviews, check references, and onboard new staff before they're needed. Post your job offers on reputable job boards and industry-specific websites, listing all pertinent information such as a detailed job description, duration of the assignment, pay rate and any other additional benefits that will make your offer stand out in a saturated market.
Using social media can also generate additional interest in your job posting. Take the time to create an engaging post stating you're looking for seasonal temp staff, and encourage your followers to share with their friends and family. By casting a wide net, you increase your chances of finding suitable candidates for the job.
Simplify the Onboarding Process Using Temporary Staff Management Software
Onboarding new staff can be a challenging and time-consuming process. Still, ensuring your seasonal temp staff is fully trained is essential, and implementing the proper software can help streamline the onboarding process.
Leverage workforce management software such as Workstaff to verify candidate information, send important notifications or reminders via its connected mobile app, schedule training and orientation sessions, and communicate with new hires to offer them the support they need in just one click. Save time and reduce the risk of errors to ensure your new staff is onboarded quickly and wholly trained, so they can be ready to take on any job as soon as possible.
Centralize your Pool of Candidates Using Staffing Agency Software
During busy seasons, the last thing you have time for is inefficient processes that slow down your hiring momentum. Centralizing the hiring process using robust staffing agency software can help you streamline your staffing operations and manage your entire pool of candidates from one central location. A centralized system allows you to
- Track candidate information and resumes
- Post job listings
- Streamline workforce scheduling
- Communicate with candidates
- Manage timesheets and payroll
By centralizing these tasks, you can improve your visibility and control over your staffing operations and reduce errors, saving you time and money in the long run. In addition, a well-managed and efficient staffing agency will encourage current staff and interested parties to apply for future job posts.
Keep the Lines of Communication Open with your Temp Staff
Lack of communication between staffing agencies and their staff can damage the professional relationship between the two parties. It can result in confusion and misunderstandings and lead to poor working conditions for seasonal workers. In your line of work, timing is everything.
By using a variety of communication tools such as phone, email, text and social media, you run the risk of not being able to reach your pool of candidates on time. Staying in consistent communication regarding new positions and updates, timesheet reminders, and onsite confirmations using one platform will allow your team to be reachable in real time and help you to keep track of your hiring staff.
Maximize Retention By Keeping Workers Engaged
One of the best ways to keep your top performers engaged and interested in working for your agency is to re-hire them for future assignments. Through repeated mandates, you can establish a strong reputation in the industry and ensure that you always have access to the best temp staff available.
To increase the chances of re-hiring your top candidates, make sure to keep in touch with them after the assignment is completed. Send them periodic updates about job openings and opportunities for future positions. You can also ask them for feedback about their experience working for your agency and use their suggestions to improve your operations.
While high season can be challenging for staffing agencies, leveraging a comprehensive workforce management system like Workstaff can streamline your processes, save time and money and improve your overall efficiency. An organized process will attract and retain the best candidates, help you set yourself apart from the competition, and help build a strong reputation in the industry.
