Need Seasonal Help for Your Small Business? 4 Things to Look for When You Hire

Check these items off your list when hiring seasonal employees.

If you own a small business, you may be used to a pattern that involves things really picking up around the holidays. This especially applies if you own a retail store, because late November and December are when you're more likely to have customers coming in to purchase gifts.

Of course, extra business during the holiday season isn't a bad thing. And your checking account might appreciate that added revenue.

But if things tend to get busy during the holiday season, your best is probably to bring in extra help so you can manage that uptick and also offer customers the solid service they deserve. And in that regard, you'll need to be careful. You don't want to hire just anyone for the season. Instead, it pays to look for these specific qualities when hiring workers for the holiday rush.

1. A pattern of consistent employment

You may only be looking to bring in extra help for a month or so while the holiday shopping boom kicks in. But it's still important to find workers who will stick with you during that time and not jump ship.

As you review resumes, be mindful of applicants who have a history of jumping from one job to another in a very short time frame.You may want to focus on bringing people on board who have a history of consistent employment. After all, if you need seasonal help for five weeks, the last thing you want to do is spend a week training a new employee only to have them leave nine days later when a better offer comes up (or when they just plain get tired of putting in those extra shifts).

2. The right experience

There are certain job skills that can transfer from one role to another. But it's a good idea to find seasonal workers who have at least some relevant experience to the work at hand.

So, let's say you operate a clothing store and want extra hands on deck for the month of December. You don't necessarily need to find someone who's worked in a clothing store before. But you should at least find someone who's had a customer service role before, even if it was in a different industry.

3. Flexibility

When things get busy during the holidays, you never know if you might need to keep your business open late, or to extend your weekend hours. It'll help to hire seasonal workers who are willing and able to be flexible with their schedules. That's something you can ask about in an interview.

4. A willingness to stay on beyond the holidays

Some small businesses hire seasonal workers only to realize they could use the extra help all year round. It could pay to choose seasonal employees who indicate that they're open to staying on board beyond the holidays in case you end up wanting that.

You may end up pretty reliant on your seasonal help to keep your small business running smoothly during the holidays. Aim to check these items off your list as you go about the hiring process. You may, at this point, be in a bit of a rush to bring extra workers on board, but taking the time to look for these qualities could prevent you from making a big mistake.