Seasonal hiring doesn’t leave much room for a slow process. If filling a position takes three weeks of applications, phone screens and callbacks, a holiday hire may start just as the busy season ends. On-site express interviews take a different approach: you meet candidates in person, interview them the same day and make offers while they’re still interested.
These tips can help you get the most out of an express interview day.
1. Know exactly what you’re hiring for before you start
Before interview day, decide how many people you need, which shifts you need covered, what each role pays and when new hires have to start. That way you can make a decision on the spot instead of reviewing your notes later. It also helps you answer candidates’ first questions right away.
2. Write a job posting that does some of the screening for you
A clear posting brings in more of the right candidates. List the schedule, physical requirements, pay and how long the seasonal job is expected to last. Workforce Solutions can help employers write skill-based job descriptions that attract applicants who match the job’s requirements.
3. Check your pay against the local market
During the holidays, many employers are trying to hire from the same group of job seekers. If your offer is below what similar jobs pay nearby, candidates may accept another job before yours. Workforce Solutions provides current wage data that can help you see how your pay compares.
4. Interview where the candidates are
You don’t need to clear out a break room or rent space. Workforce Solutions offers employers a quiet, professional place to hold interviews at its career offices across the 13-county Gulf Coast region. Choosing an office near your worksite can also bring in candidates who live close enough to make the commute.
5. Keep the interview short and focused
For most seasonal roles, a 10- to 15-minute conversation about availability, reliability and the basic duties of the job is enough. Save longer evaluations for roles that need them. Shorter interviews let you see more candidates in a day.
6. Ask for pre-screened candidates
If you’re hiring a large number of people, a pre-screened group can save hours. Workforce Solutions offers pre-screened referrals designed to shorten time-to-hire and improve candidate fit. For a larger hiring push, it also sponsors customized hiring events that connect employers directly with job seekers who are ready to work.
7. Have onboarding ready to go
Fast hiring doesn’t help if paperwork, background checks, or training schedules hold up a new hire’s start date. Line up your onboarding steps before interview day so new hires know when and where to report.
8. Stay in touch with strong candidates you couldn’t hire
You may meet more good candidates than you have openings. Ask whether you can contact them later. Seasonal workers sometimes leave partway through the season, and someone who has already interviewed with you can start quickly.
Get support for your seasonal hiring
Workforce Solutions offers recruitment support to employers at no cost. To set up interview space at a career office, plan a hiring event or post seasonal openings, visit your nearest Workforce Solutions office or call 1-888-469-JOBS (5627).
Explore in-demand careers and connect with top employers at upcoming Workforce Solutions hiring events. Register today to secure your spot and access career-building resources.
