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Seasonal Hiring: Preparing for Your Busy Season
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Billy Giordano . 2 minute read
Employer

Seasonal Hiring Done Right: Preparing for Your Busy Season

For hospitality businesses, peak season can make or break annual revenue. Whether you’re a beachfront bar ramping up for summer or a ski resort preparing for winter crowds, seasonal hiring in hospitality is key to maintaining service quality and maximizing profits. But finding, training, and keeping temporary staff is a challenge. A strong seasonal hiring strategy ensures you have the right team in place when business booms.

1. Forecast Your Hiring Needs Early

The first step in seasonal hiring in hospitality is planning ahead. Analyze past seasons to determine how many additional employees you’ll need in key roles like servers, bartenders, kitchen staff, and front desk associates. Consider factors like local events, holiday surges, and industry trends that could impact demand.

According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, businesses should start recruiting at least 60-90 days before peak season to attract the best candidates.

2. Optimize Your Job Listings for Seasonal Roles

A well-written job posting can make all the difference in attracting quality candidates. Highlight the benefits of seasonal work, including flexible schedules, industry experience, and potential for long-term employment. Be transparent about job duration, expected hours, and any perks like staff discounts or end-of-season bonuses.

Using clear keywords like “seasonal bartender” or “temporary hotel front desk agent” in your job titles helps your listings rank higher on job boards and search engines.

3. Streamline the Hiring Process

A slow hiring process can lead to losing great candidates to competitors. Implementing an efficient applicant tracking system allows you to review applications, schedule interviews, and communicate with potential hires quickly.

According to SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management), companies that reduce their time-to-hire by even a few days see higher acceptance rates and better retention.

4. Train and Onboard Effectively

With a short runway before peak season, training must be quick and effective. Create standardized onboarding materials, such as training videos or shadowing programs, to help new hires get up to speed faster. Pairing seasonal staff with experienced employees can also improve retention and performance.

5. Retaining Your Best Seasonal Employees

If you find standout seasonal workers, consider offering incentives for them to return next season. Referral bonuses, performance-based raises, and off-season opportunities can increase loyalty and reduce the need for rehiring.

How StaffedUp Can Help

A strong hiring strategy ensures you’re ready for peak season without the last-minute scramble. StaffedUp simplifies seasonal hiring in hospitality by offering a seamless applicant tracking system that helps you recruit and manage top talent efficiently. Whether you’re hiring for the summer rush or the holiday season, our platform streamlines the process so you can focus on running your business.

Ready to hire smarter? Visit StaffedUp.com to get started today!

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