When you need to hire barn help, do you find yourself dreading the task? Finding good barn help is a notoriously difficult task, so it makes sense that you aren’t looking forward to the process. But finding good help doesn’t always have to be a struggle. Consider how these tips can help to make the hiring process easier, so you find the quality help you need to keep your barn running at its best.
Find Ways to Offer Perks
Before you advertise your job, think about how you can make it appealing to those quality workers you want to reach. Some barn jobs have downsides, like low pay, sporadic hours, and the necessity of working in all weather.
Try to see things through the eyes of a job candidate and think about what would make your opportunity more appealing. Can you offer a higher pay rate or provide a bonus or raise after a certain amount of time? Can you include discounted or free board for a horse? Can you provide mentorship or apprentice opportunities that can help your staff to advance in their careers? Are you able to offer housing, health insurance, or paid time off? These types of perks can make your job more appealing, so you’re more likely to receive applications from quality candidates.
Get Online
Even if you’re not super internet-savvy, it’s important to advertise where the workers are, and for many, that’s online. Create a detailed ad or job description and share it on platforms including Facebook, Twitter, and your local Craigslist or town’s job board. Consider joining equine groups on Facebook and LinkedIn – there are even some equine employment groups that can help you to connect with potential candidates. Don’t overlook the power of your regional equine Facebook groups, too. These groups just may get your post in front of great candidates who wouldn’t have otherwise seen it.
Make it easy for others to share your job post, too. Be sure that your post is set to public and that you enable sharing permissions when applicable. Consider creating your job post as a photo to help make it stand out as users scroll through their feeds.
Network
Sometimes the best barn help doesn’t come to you through a response to an ad that you’ve posted, but rather through a mutual network connection. Reach out to fellow barn owners, your vet, your farrier, and other industry connections to let them know that you’re looking for good help. Your equine network can be a valuable source of referrals to great workers, and your connections may just know of someone looking for the type of opportunity that you have to offer.
Use a Staffing Agency
Hiring is a time-consuming process, but staffing agencies that specialize in the equine industry can help to minimize the time you need to invest. For instance, Equistaff not only offers job posting and database search options, but also provides recruiting and consulting services to help with the hiring process. A staffing agency can help you to get your opportunity in front of qualified candidates.
Hiring takes time, but it’s worth putting in the extra effort to ensure that the person you bring on is the right fit. What are some of the challenges that you’ve faced in finding and hiring quality barn help?