Making the Most of Holiday Recruitment Opportunities

Holidays are a time for relaxation, camaraderie, sugar cookies, and presents. For businesses, however, while this season is about festivities, it is also a time to rush to meet year-end targets, increase hiring, prepare for peak periods, and plan for the year to come.

This season makes it easy to neglect organisational goals, especially for hiring. So, some recruiters may have to make quick but quality hires.

Here are strategies on how to celebrate and unwind while achieving your recruiting objectives with style! It all comes down to balance.

Is It Wise to Recruit During the Holidays?

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Most people do not associate recruiting with hot chocolate, snowmen, and sparkling lights of the holiday season. We often assume that individuals are too preoccupied with their holiday plans to focus on job searching, leading to the belief that no quality candidates are available. However, did you know that the holiday season might be one of the best times for recruitment? Here are the reasons why!

1. More Spare Time During the Season

From November to January, many employees have work schedules that include several vacation days, plus the standard holidays and observance days when offices are closed. This means they have more time to explore job openings, apply for available positions, and attend interviews.

2. Less Competition

The holiday season presents an excellent opportunity for employers to stand out. Many companies and recruitment firms are less active or may not be hiring during this time due to staff absences or year-end budget constraints. Since the best candidates are still applying, you'll face less competition from other employers, allowing you to secure top talent more easily.

3. High Social Media Traffic

Candidates must first see your job ad to know your business. They will probably come across your job posting because they will have more time to browse their social media feeds and job board websites over the holiday season.

4. People Want To Start Their Year Right

The time between Thanksgiving and the start of the new year flies by, and January will be here before you know it, bringing a long to-do list for the upcoming quarter. Companies must utilise the holiday season to recruit top talent and gain a competitive edge for Q1. Candidates are eager to kick off the new year with fresh opportunities, and by hiring now, organisations can prioritise onboarding their new employees rather than scrambling to fill positions in January. Act decisively and set your company up for success.

What To Do During This Recruitment Period?

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Now that you understand the benefits of hiring around the holidays, you may be asking how to do it. Making job ads, selecting candidates, and setting up interviews are not always easy tasks during hectic holiday seasons. These are our suggestions for simplifying the process for both you and your prospects:

1. Update Your Job Postings

Make sure the job posting is correct and current if you are using one that has already been written. Add relevant holiday or seasonal hiring words as tags, modify the title to indicate that it is seasonal, and select job type categories related to temporary or seasonal employment. Before crafting the post content, you might want to observe an existing employee in the role to gain a real-world viewpoint. You can connect with individuals seeking seasonal jobs and contribute to lower turnover later in the season by being transparent about your expectations.

2. Create a Staffing Plan

Create a thorough staffing plan addressing everything from hiring timelines to shift schedules after you have a firm estimate. While putting employee well-being first with flexible schedules, frequent breaks, and team-building activities will keep morale high during hectic times, having precise start dates and training programmes guarantees your team is ready without last-minute rushing.

To address any unforeseen gaps, work with an offshore staffing agency or outline a backup plan with a list of on-call personnel. Due to the talent shortage, recruiting is always a fierce competition. With early planning, you can prevent last-minute issues and obtain the best people.

3. Have Strong Recruitment Messages and Job Descriptions

The key to attracting top talent during the holiday season is creating effective job descriptions and recruitment messages. Highlight special features and benefits of the position, such as opportunities for skill development and flexible scheduling. To attract suitable applicants, emphasise a positive work environment and potential career advancement options. Additionally, be sure to include relevant keywords and skills.

Ensure that your recruitment messages are clear and engaging. Clearly explain the value proposition of the position and how it aligns with the applicant's goals and passions. Use an approachable and captivating tone to attract candidates and spark their interest in the role.

4. Embrace Going Digital

Don't feel compelled to conduct in-person interviews with applicants. Scheduling becomes simpler and more convenient for all parties when the interview process is virtual. Additionally, most talents believe that video conferences are just as productive as in-person meetings, so your prospects will probably feel at ease conducting interviews in this manner.

A candidate may be busy getting ready to host guests, doing errands, buying holiday presents, and more, even if they took a little break from their current position. Recruiting around the holidays requires flexibility, so it's critical to be understanding if they take longer to respond or ask to schedule interviews after the holidays.

5. Plan for the Next Year

As a company that provides offshore talent, we understand the importance of data in forecasting future hiring needs. It's time to review the information you've collected over the past 12 months. What patterns do you notice in your hiring practices? Do you see consistent demand for certain positions at specific times of the year, or is there a noticeable spike in recruitment during the second quarter? By understanding these trends, you'll be better prepared to address your future talent requirements.

You may plan recruiting initiatives, build relationships with passive candidates, and optimise your talent pipeline by projecting your talent needs for the upcoming year. When positions eventually become available, this data-driven strategy will help you stay ahead of the game.

Get the Holiday Recruitment Partner You Need With Unient

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In summary, hiring during the holiday season offers several advantages for businesses, including less competition for top talent, increased availability of candidates, and a festive atmosphere. While there may be challenges, companies can take advantage of the unique recruitment opportunities this period presents by planning and adopting creative hiring strategies.

Do you need help with your holiday hiring? Our hiring specialists are here to assist you in attracting and securing the best candidates.

Book a commitment-free consultation to get started today.