How to Simplify Seasonal Staffing with SMS

As the seasons change, so do the staffing needs of many businesses. Whether it's the holiday rush, summer vacations, or harvest time, seasonal hiring can be challenging and time-sensitive. Finding and recruiting the right seasonal workers quickly is essential for maintaining business operations and delivering exceptional customer service during peak times.

In this blog post, we will explore how to recruit seasonal employees effectively with mass texting  – a powerful tool that can maximize seasonal hiring strategies and help you find the perfect candidates. We will discuss the benefits of using SMS (Short Message Service), best practices, and actionable steps to make hiring seasonal workers a breeze.

The Power of SMS in Seasonal Recruitment

Seasonal recruitment poses a unique set of challenges for employers and recruiters. Time constraints, multiple job openings, and the need for streamlined communication make the power of mass texting crucial. Here are some of the benefits of using SMS for seasonal hiring.

Instant and Direct Communication

SMS allows you to reach job seekers instantly, increasing the chances of a prompt response. It's a direct channel of communication that most people check regularly.

High Open and Response Rates

SMS messages have remarkably high open and response rates, making them an effective way to get your job openings in front of the right candidates.

Cost-Effective

Compared to traditional recruitment methods, sending SMS is cost-effective and can help you save on advertising expenses.

Wide Reach

SMS can reach a vast audience, ensuring that a large number of potential candidates see your seasonal job opportunities.

How to Start Recruiting Seasonal Employees With SMS

To effectively recruit seasonal employees with SMS, it's essential to follow a structured approach. Keep these crucial considerations in mind.

1. Build an SMS Talent Pool

Begin by creating and maintaining a database of potential hires for seasonal work. Collect contact information through various channels such as your website, social media, and even in-store sign-up sheets. Organize this information for easy access when sending out seasonal job alerts.

2. Craft Compelling Messages

When sending SMS messages, ensure they are compelling and persuasive to those seeking seasonal positions. Here are a few elements to focus on when hiring seasonal employees.

• Personalization and relevance. Address candidates by name and tailor your messages to the specific job roles they might be interested in. This personal touch can significantly boost response rates.
• Clear calls to action. Include clear and concise calls to action in your SMS. Encourage candidates to take the next steps, such as applying or requesting more information.
• Use of keywords and shortcodes. Use specific keywords and shortcodes that make it easy for candidates to apply for a job by simply sending a text.

3. Streamline the Application Process

One of the significant advantages of SMS recruitment is the ease of application. Make sure to provide a user-friendly application process through SMS. Here are some best practices:

• Keep the application process concise, collecting only essential information.
• Provide links to more detailed job descriptions or online application forms if necessary.
• Use automated replies to acknowledge receipt of applications and provide further instructions.

4. Track and Measure

Tracking and measuring your campaigns can help you make sure your recruitment efforts are successful. Here are some tips on how to effectively monitor your campaigns:

• Monitor response rates and engagement metrics to gauge the effectiveness of your texts.
• Keep track of the number of applications received via SMS and other channels to assess the performance of your CTAs.
• Utilize key performance indicators (KPIs) to evaluate the overall success of your SMS recruitment strategy.

5. Integrate With Other Hiring Tools

To further streamline your seasonal hiring process, consider integrating your SMS recruitment efforts with other hiring tools, such as applicant tracking systems (ATS) or job boards. This integration can help you manage and process candidate information efficiently.

Best Practices for Recruiting Seasonal Hires With SMS

It’s crucial to follow mass texting best practices to maintain a positive candidate experience and maintain legal compliance while recruiting. Here are a few of the most important ones.

The Dos and Don'ts of SMS Communication

It’s essential to strike the right balance between engaging candidates and respecting their privacy, preferences, and time. Here are a few dos and don’ts to consider when messaging seasonal candidates.

Do:

• Obtain candidates' consent before sending text messages
• Personalize messages with candidates' names and interview times/locations if applicable
• Tailor your messages to be relevant to the pool of candidates you're communicating with
• Use a clear call to action
• Include opt-out options
• Respond promptly
• Use mobile-friendly links
• Follow-up after interviews

Don't:

• Send unsolicited or non-relevant messages
• Spam your contacts
• Send messages during late hours
• Use abbreviations or jargon
• Send lengthy messages

Potential Roadblocks

As with any tool, using SMS for recruitment brings up a few potential roadblocks. Here are some of the most common roadblocks and strategies to effectively resolve them.

Higher Than Expected Response Rates
Roadblock: A high response rate is definitely a win when using mass texting for recruitment. However, receiving many responses all at once can overwhelm your team and slow down the hiring process. 
Solution: Set up automated responses in advance. These auto-replies can acknowledge receipt of applications, provide additional information, or set expectations for the next steps.

Scheduling Interviews Efficiently
Roadblock: Coordinating the schedules of both interviewers and candidates can be time-consuming, especially when dealing with a large candidate pool. Offering interview slots to different applicants simultaneously may lead to scheduling conflicts as multiple individuals vie for the same time slot.
Solution: Use scheduling software or tools that allow the candidates to select interview slots based on their availability.

No-Show Candidates
Roadblock: Some candidates who express interest in a position may not show up for the appointment, which results in wasted time and resources.
Solution: Send reminder messaging using a mass texting application. These reminders help reduce the number of no-shows.

Scaling for Fluctuating Hiring Needs
Roadblock: The number of seasonal hires you need most likely varies from season to season and also depends on the state of the industry.
Solution: Create a strategic hiring plan and use a mass texting service. Don’t lock yourself into a contract to give yourself the ability to change course at any time. At Text-Em-All, we don’t require any of our customers to sign a contract. Plus, we offer flexible plans where you can pay based on usage.

Read Recruiting Via Text: How To Improve The Candidate Experience

Start the Seasonal Hiring Process With Text-Em-All

To make the most of your SMS seasonal hiring strategies, consider using a platform like Text-Em-All. Text-Em-All provides tools to monitor the metrics crucial to your campaigns' success. With a reliable SMS service provider, you can simplify seasonal hiring and ensure you staff your business appropriately during peak seasons.

To get started with Text-Em-All, create your free account and start texting today. If you have more questions and would like an overview of our platform, request a demo to talk with one of our account managers.