Salon owners know that you can't have a successful salon without the right staff. Salon owners need to find qualified staff who are going to be a good fit for their environment and clientele. If you're a salon owner, hiring salon staff should be one of your top priorities.
Your staff are the face of your company. You need to find workers that will project the best possible image for your salon. An interview will tell you if they can do the job, but only the trial run will tell you whether they're right for your salon. Here are some things to consider when hiring for your salon.
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Before you set out to hire anyone, take stock of your salon needs. Write down the things that are essential to your business and the qualities you want in your staff. Make sure you're clear about what's important to you when hiring salon staff.
Having a clear idea of what you're looking for will save you a lot of time and energy when it comes to hiring. Try creating a checklist of “wants” and “needs” so you can easily check this against applications.
This helps ensure that all new hires have been thought out thoroughly before being offered positions in your salon. Here at Salon Iris, we think you should think about the skills they bring but also about how they will fit into the wider team.
Just as you expect the person applying for the job to prepare for the interview, you should also prepare what you are going to say. A poorly managed interview is a waste of everyone's time.
When you're interviewing salon staff, be honest about the position they are applying for. Tell them about your salon and what to expect from the job. Lying to make the job appear more attractive is only going to lead to high staff turnover. Instead, project an accurate image and then trust that the right person for the role will show you that they are up to the challenge.
The more organised you are during the interview process, the better chance you have of finding out the information you need. Plan your questions ahead of time and make sure you take notes throughout the interview. It's tempting to look only at portfolios when it comes to hiring new salon employees, but culture fit is just as important.
Recruitment should be an ongoing process. Always accept CVs from individuals who are interested in working in your salon as you never know when you might need to start looking. It's a good idea to keep a list of people who have expressed an interest in working with you. When the time comes to expand your team, you'll already have a stack of CVs to think about. Some of them may have accepted jobs elsewhere, but they might be tempted to leave their role if you can offer a better opportunity.
Likewise, you might not realise it's time to grow your salon until you're looking at a stack of perfect portfolios from individuals who are dying to work for you. It could be a sign that it's time to open a second site or add more chairs to your salon.
Hiring in a rush is never a good idea. If you don't feel that it is the right time for you or your business, then don't just hire someone because they're available. Look at what you need and take your time finding the right candidate for the role.
You might think that you're simply hiring someone to perform a job, but in reality, it's much more complicated than that. Your employees are not only your staff; they are adding their contribution to your salon environment. You can't afford to hire people who will damage the culture at your salon or bring down the vibe.
Customers don't just visit for the haircuts. They also enjoy the atmosphere. So if you have a stylist with poor customer service skills who cannot work well with others, this could make a trip to your salon far less enjoyable.
If you decide to offer someone a role in your salon, make sure every new employee gets the same contract and that what you expect of them is clear. Every new employee should get a contract, a copy of their job description and your company handbook. This should help to avoid any confusion about expectations. If they have any questions, they should be able to ask you.
You can't expect your staff to go above and beyond if they don't trust the salon owner or manager. An open and honest relationship with your employees is important as it will make them feel like valued members of the team. This all starts with clear contracts and comprehensive job descriptions.
