By Neal Glatt

If you’ve already started to think about how you’ll hire all of the seasonal snow employees you’ll need this winter, you’re not alone.  Every major snow company has been advertising their job postings for weeks online.  Fortunately, most of the players are making some critical mistakes that you can use to stand out.  For starters…

Advertise the Mission

Most job postings I see for snow work do a terrible job of advertising the mission of the company.  Snow management often requires long hours working in the cold, usually in the dark, doing a lot of tiring work.  It’s a difficult sell compared to most jobs and can be tough to stand out from the big companies that offer better benefits or pay.

But there is one key way to shift the tables.  When we can connect the mission and purpose of our companies to individual jobs, interest, safety, and retention skyrockets. Stand out by incorporating marketing language into job postings such as:

“We help people get access to groceries, prescriptions, and their place of work safely by clearing snow and ice at supermarkets, pharmacies, and offices.  Working with our firm allows you to make a difference in your community no matter what mother nature brings this winter.”

Studies have shown that mission-driven companies which advertise the purpose of their organization in job ads receive a boost in job posting interest and quality equal to that of offering a 30% higher wage.  There is simply no better or more affordable way to increase recruiting effectiveness.

Develop Your People

Of all the things that employees are seeking in jobs today, the top priority is an opportunity to learn and grow.  Seasonal positions in snow and ice are often treated by employers as transactional and rarely are the employees that hold them given developmental opportunities.  This is the biggest mistake companies repeat to cause turnover.

The reason why most companies don’t invest in their seasonal employees is that they are concerned about the time and money commitment to do so.  But Gallup studies have proven that teams which strongly agree they have had opportunities to learn and grow at work are 10% more profitable than those who do not.  Plus, with advancements in online learning, employee training has never been easier.

Consider Snowfighter’s Institute Virtual Bootcamp.  For only $49, 10 employees can experience two weeks of onboarding completed in short, on-demand video segments.  By teaching employees a holistic approach to snow and ice management, they see the larger picture of the company and industry while feeling valued and invested in as team members.  No wonder they have higher levels of commitment and involvement as a result.  Sign up now for our October 5-15 Bootcamp by clicking here!