RECRUITING THE PERFECT TEAM

Your salon success rests on the skills, attitude and personality of the team you assemble for your workplace. The NHBF team explains how to source the right staff

Attracting and recruiting the right team will make all the difference to the future prosperity of your business.

Find the team member your salon needs

When faced with a vacancy, don’t assume you need to replace “like with like”. For example, if a senior member of staff has resigned, you may have an existing team member who is ready for promotion. This leaves you free to decide who you need to help take your business forward. Are clients asking for services you don’t currently provide? Can you see a gap in your local market? Do you need more cover for evenings or weekends? Don’t forget that many highly skilled candidates will be looking for part-time work.

Once you are clear about your vacancy requirement, you can start to put your job ad together.

Advertising your vacancy

Make sure your job advert is clear, concise and will grab people’s attention. You’ll need a short, snappy heading that sums up the vacancy, strong imagery representing your brand and business culture, and an accurate summary of the job, including the level of seniority, qualifications required, and primary responsibilities. You’ll also need to state the hours of work and pay and be clear about how people can apply. There are several ways to advertise your job vacancy, including:

• Word-of-mouth – ask your team to spread the word, and find out about job fairs, local employer events and networking events

• Placing the job ad in your salon window or by the till

• Posting the job ad in local shops and colleges

• Online job sites – some are free or low cost. You can use filter questions to save time on shortlisting later, but you may still get many unsuitable applications

• Via your social media channels – more effective if you are already active online

• Through your salon website

• Local newspapers.

You could also consider using a specialist recruitment agency that knows the industry. Agencies can help with all aspects of the process, from writing job ads to interviewing.

Employment contracts for salon and barbershop recruits

Make sure you both sign a formal contract of employment. The NHBF provides members with free contracts and staff handbooks for employees and apprentices.

Since April 2020, a new employee must be given a written statement that includes all the terms and conditions of their job on the first day of their employment.

The NHBF’s contracts and staff handbooks, free to members, include all the necessary terms and conditions. It’s good practice to send out the contract for signing with the offer letter in advance of day one.

Taking on an apprentice

Taking on an apprentice is your chance to offer someone a great opportunity and pass on your skills and experience to a new generation. It’s also an excellent way to grow your loyal workforce to suit the needs and culture of your business. Training an apprentice is also more cost-effective than hiring pre-skilled staff.

The NHBF offers business support services for beauty salons and chair/ space/room renters, from legal, employment and financial guidance, to expert advice for managing people and boosting your business. Find out more at nhbf.co.uk

Join the NHBF before the end of September 2021 and quote PRBS25 to get £25 off your membership fee.