How can retailers hire the right temporary staff quickly?

The number of UK employees working on temporary contracts is rising because of uncertainty in the job market and an increase in people wanting flexibility. No industry understands this better than retail, which relies on this talent pool, especially during busy periods.

Steve Girdler, managing director EMEA at HireRight, says: “Productivity, profitability and reputation can all be damaged by hiring people who cause harm deliberately or because they don’t have the right skills to fulfil their role.

“Using efficient processes for hiring temporary staff is essential, but this shouldn’t mean cutting corners, which may have repercussions in the long term.”

With preparations for the festive season and Black Friday under way, how can employers ensure that their process for hiring seasonal short-term staff is effective?

The first step is to make sure that the job role is understood from the outset. Wasting time considering candidates that are not aware of the details of the position slows the process down unnecessarily.

Interviewing potential candidates, even briefly over the phone or by video, provides the opportunity to assess that a person has the appropriate attitude and will be able to get up-to-speed quickly.

Despite it being a temporary role, hiring decisions should always be informed – as it will cost more to re-hire for the position and inevitably take longer.

A strong induction programme can also reduce the time it takes to get new starters up and running, so it is well worth the investment.

“Keep your hiring process simple but structured and make sure that it is well understood by everyone involved,” says Girdler.