Bringing in the Best
How to Hire the Right Seasonal Staff
The busy season has officially arrived for lawn care companies — which means your workload is increasing and you are likely in need of extra staff. As you look for seasonal workers, remember that you have a business to run and a reputation to uphold, and your staff is a huge part of that. Below, we are going to outline some good practices to follow when hiring seasonal workers.
Look Close to Home
You know that old saying, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree? Spread the word to neighbors, friends and current employees that you trust and see if they have any recommendations. Maybe they have a brother, cousin or friend that would make a quality member of your team. This also means they will feel more responsible for this employee’s success which is good for your business.
Versatility is Key
Sure, you want someone who has lawn care experience, but what you might not look for are people who can do much more than that. If you search beyond the obvious, you might find someone who can keep your books, spray pesticides or even kick-start your social media presence.
Connect with Local High Schools and Tech Colleges
Many high schools and colleges have internship-like programs that connect students to local businesses to present potential career opportunities whether it be long-term or just a summer job. By staying connected through job fairs, employment outreach programs or even bulletins you might be giving them an option they didn’t even know they had.
When in Doubt, Take a Chance
In the lawn care business, you can’t always get an accurate feel of a person’s work ethic and trustworthiness off an interview alone. If your intuition is telling you that they have potential, but you aren’t quite ready to commit, give them (and yourself) a probation period to see if it is a good fit. It is also a good idea to have a specified check-in period whether it be two weeks or 30 days down the road. A good employee will be looking for ways to improve your company beyond the day-to-day work.
If you’ve been in the lawn care business awhile you might have already found a system that works for you. If you are just beginning, don’t worry — you will eventually develop your own way of finding great employees. But if you start with these tactics, you will be well on your way to hiring a good summer workforce.
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For more information about LebanonTurf, our products or how to improve the quality of your turf, visit our website.