Is it more effective to hire during the slow season, allowing ample time for thorough training while accepting the risk of reduced working hours for new team members, or is it better to focus on hiring quickly during the busy season to meet immediate demand but potentially sacrifice the depth of training?
What factors, such as employee retention, operational efficiency, and service quality, should be prioritized in making this decision?
Hey Peterz3g,
We’ve found it works best in our case to hire during the slow season whenever possible. (Small landscaping business.) It gives us time to properly train new team members without the pressure of that peak demand. And while hours might be lighter at times, it pays off with stronger retention, bonding our team, better service quality, and a smoother workflow when things get busier for us.
Hiring mid-season can fill immediate gaps we have pop-up, but it often comes at the cost of rushed training and long-term consistency. For us, it’s about building a solid team who can put out consistent, quality work.
Great question.
I totally agree with hiring in the slow season. Depending on your industry, having enough time to properly train new hires is critical. I always underestimate both how long on-boarding takes and how little time I'll have during busy season, so hiring in slow season really helps. You just have to make sure that you have the cash-flow to cover the added wages!
Thats the million dollar questions. I try to hire before I need an employee but am getting close. From interview to orientation to finishing training for us it is 3-4 weeks. Having to hire in a rush means you often skip over some yellow flags because your schedule is full. We are primarily a cleaning business. I am always very honest about what their schedule cold be and never over promise hours.
I find that I approach hiring with an all the time mentality now. I am always on the look for the next employee when Im out and around. We have successfully head hunted a few amazing people who were not being treated well where they were employed. Wherever possible I am hoping to hire and train these people in the off season but if I find someone amazing I will usually try to bring them in asap.
I also live by the hire fast fire fast motto now and it has helped a lot
