Your ultimate guide to Christmas recruitment

As Christmas approaches, many businesses experience a surge in demand and the need for extra hands becomes clear. Whether you’re looking to fill seasonal roles with temporary workers or recruit for permanent positions, starting your hiring process early will help you attract a wider pool of top talent, minimise competition with other employers, and ensure your new hires are trained and ready to perform before the end-of-year rush begins. Here’s how to get started.

1. Anticipate your hiring needs

To stay ahead of demand, assess the roles that need filling. Will you need extra staff for a short-term seasonal spike, or are you hiring for a permanent position?

• Determine roles and numbers: pinpoint the number of staff required and the specific roles they will fill. If training is necessary, factor in enough time to get everyone up to speed well before peak season.
• Plan for permanent roles: for permanent positions, calculate your timeline carefully. For instance, if your recruitment process includes multiple interview stages, plus a notice period and onboarding, you’ll need to act fast to have someone in place before the end of the year.

2. Streamline your recruitment strategy

Once you’ve identified your hiring needs, it’s time to put a plan in place.

• Define roles clearly: ensure the responsibilities, qualifications and skills needed for each role are clearly outlined. This will streamline your recruitment process and attract the right candidates.
• Set your timelines: timing is everything. If your hiring team has any annual leave, be sure to factor this into your recruitment schedule as delays in giving feedback or arranging interviews could cause you to miss out on top candidates.
• Partner with experts: work with a trusted recruitment partner like ourselves to access our network of candidates. We’ll help ensure your hiring process runs smoothly, even during the busy Christmas period.

3. Prepare for interviews and assessments

Interviews can be the most time-consuming part of the recruitment process, so it’s essential to be prepared.

• Standardise your process: having a consistent set of questions and assessments will help you evaluate candidates fairly and effectively. This ensures you make informed hiring decisions quickly, avoiding delays that could lead to losing your ideal candidate.

4. Optimise your onboarding

A smooth onboarding process will help your new hires hit the ground running, even in a fast-paced environment like the festive season.

• Update your onboarding process: ensure your onboarding programme is ready to go before your new staff arrive. This includes ensuring that trainers and mentors are available, even during periods of annual leave.

Partnering with a recruitment expert like us can streamline the hiring process, giving you access to a broader candidate pool and helping you fill your roles swiftly and successfully. Give yourself the gift of hassle-free recruitment this Christmas!