10 Questions to Ask When Sourcing Seasonal Employees

10 Questions to Ask When Sourcing Seasonal EmployeesSeasonal hiring is in full swing. Target and UPS are already well on their way to acquire over 230,000 seasonal employees, according to CNBC. Both companies, along with Amazon, Kohls, and various others, are upping the ante with higher pay and perks to attract seasonal employees in a tight labor market.Just as attracting seasonal employees takes a unique approach, so does sourcing them. Their differing job timelines and duties require talent acquisition professionals, like you, to craft specific questions to determine the best fit. Even though seasonal employees are with your company for a limited time, theyre employed during one of the most chaotic and critical periods.To help you successfully push through the thick of seasonal hiring, weve broken down 10 questions thatll reveal the best seasonal employees1. How do you define customer service?Customer obsession and bias for action are just two of Amazons 14 Leadership Principles. R ecruiters suggest even seasonal employees familiarize themselves with these values before interviewing for a role.Your kollektiv should also be pre-equipped with a strong definition of values, such as customer service. Top candidates will have their own meaningful explanation of what customer service means.Compare responses to the companys values. Then, follow-up by asking how they demonstrate those customer service values. Listen for cues of empathy to show how theyll respond to stressed-out customers this holiday season.2. How would you handle a situation when a customer approached you at the end of your shift?Unless you have a specific company policy on this situation, there really is no right or wrong answer to this question so long as their response is respectful and appropriate. They could immediately assist the customer, contact a manager to help, or even seek approval to not clock out until the problem is solved. The goal is to understand if and how the candidate will probl em-solve when caught off-guard.3. What do you hope to learn or gain from this position?The majority of seasonal employees arent seeking permanent employment after a few months. Still, its crucial you understand their what and why behind the role. Whether they need extra money for the holidays, are on winter break, or need something to supplement until they find something more permanent, encourage honesty.Keep your eyes out for candidates who note specific skills and experiences they want to gain from this short-term employment. These will likely be the most dedicated and determined seasonal hires.Look for seasonalhires who want to learn from their experience.Click To Tweet4. What are your professional plans after the season ends?In some cases, a perfectly strong, long-term fitting candidate may be down on their luck in the job search. Theyre looking for seasonal employment to make ends meet until something permanent opens up.Some of these unique candidates will further explain their plans for ongoing education or list prospective companies or roles theyll apply to. Listen for information describing the schriftart of roles they have their sights tischset on so you know exactly where they fit in your talent pipeline.5. What motivated you to apply to this specific position?Motivations for applying to seasonal roles differ from the responses you expect from long-term employees and thats OK. Those who are transparent about wanting discounts on products or extra spending cash for the holidays will likely be the ones you can trust over those candidates who gloss over their rehearsed responses.This question is important because it helps you set up follow-up questions. For example, if a candidate admits they are just looking for employee discounts you may need to dig a bit deeper to see how they connect to the products. There is a reason they chose your company.6. What is more important to you spending quality time meeting one customers needs or serving as many custom ers as quickly as possible?The right answer to this question must be determined internally. It could change or vary depending on the role or current company goals or it might be consistently rooted in your company mission and values. For example, your focus may revolve around the life-long loyalty of extremely satisfied individual customers. Or maybe theres a major push to serve as many people as possible to accomplish year-end goals.Watch for candidates who take a moment to consider this question and respond with what is really important to them. Use their responses to gain deeper insight into their personality and work ethic.7. Which of our company values do you align with most and why?This question digs below the surface of seasonal hires. Many seasonal candidates have not even considered this factor, knowing they wont be part of the team for the long-term. If theyre unfamiliar with your values, dont hesitate to share them and give candidates a moment to think. Their candid respo nses will give you a closer look at their genuine connections to the company and customers.Company values are just as important with seasonalhiring as they are with any other hiringprocess.Click To Tweet8. How will you provide value to our team and contribute to our company mission this season?Seasonal employees are critical to the success of a company. They have the potential to make a lasting impact on end-of-the-year numbers and customer satisfaction. This question helps them step back from their immediate need for employment and consider their goals as seasonal employees.While they may not have your mission memorized, those who are confident in their skills and dedicated to contributing to a great cause will show their value with little prompting.9. What product on our shelves do you like/use most often? Tell me about itSeasonal employee roles are often people-facing and these hires have little time to become experts on your products. This means they should step into the role al ready having some knowledge of your products and be passionate about their impact.Ask this question to understand their thought process and see how they may answer customer questions. For example, will they tell you about the actual product? Will they tell you what they use it for? Will they just gush about how much they love and recommend it?10. What would cause you to apply or not apply here for a future open role?Seasonal employees can help you build up a talent pool for future seasonal openings or even full-time roles. Their answer to this question can reveal something of their commitment to the company if they were ever offered a job again.Would they apply again because they just love telling people about garden tools? Would they not return if they werent offered enough money or time off? Are they looking for a permanent position? If so, what type of role are they interested in?