Begin with a Budget.
Carve out a portion of your budget and assign it to recruitment so your team knows what they are working with and can plan strategically. A tight, reliable budget plan means you’ll keep your recruitment momentum going all year round, which is a key factor in maintaining your visibility in the marketplace. Remember, waiting until you’re understaffed is like going to the grocery store hungry – you’re liable to grab anything off the shelves!
Mix it Up!
So how do you recruit your stylists? Using a mix of the many hiring mediums out there is important to get a wide variety of applicants and hires. Try sites such as Craigslist and Indeed, in addition to direct mail, industry publications, and social media where possible. Don’t forget to keep your budget in mind also, because some of these mediums are free but some can be quite expensive. One of my top tips is to also cultivate a relationship with local beauty colleges. It makes your salon appealing to upcoming talent and puts you in pole position to hire these new grads when the time comes.
If At First You Don’t Succeed…
Try, try again! As with anything, sometimes your applicant search won’t work out for whatever reason. Don’t lose heart, because the right stylists for your salon are out there! Keep track of your results over time, tweak the ad copy if you need to and, most importantly, let momentum build. Sometimes the right hire is the very next email in your inbox.
Know Your Audience.
Who is it that you’re looking to hire? Young up-and-comers? Or seasoned pros? Think about who your target audience is and get your message “in their zone” to make sure they notice it. This is the key to landing the right stylist for the right job at the right time!
It’s also really important to have a solid understanding of your own team’s environment. Does your salon need a young stylist to fit in? Or a seasoned pro to “lead”? These personality decisions are important for both your hiring process and the success of the salon as a whole!
Your Team is Your Best Asset.
A happy stylist in a good team environment is the very best recruiter you could have! If your stylists love their job, they’ll want to make sure their talented friends get a chance to work at your salon too! Make sure you’re taking care of your team also, and consider rewarding them for recruiting talented candidates.
Stick to these tips and it won’t take you long to build a team of confident and reliable stylists who really understand and appreciate your business – as well as your customers!
