Despite the lowest unemployment rate in 16 years, the proportion of Americans participating in the workforce still lags behind prerecession levels, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and filling empty positions can quickly eat up hiring managers' time and resources. During the fall, the drain of young workers headed back to school can make the process even tougher.
“We do struggle with that seasonal worker and really try to plug in those holes,” says Brian Dixson—foodservice manager at Geisinger Shamokin, a hospital in Coal Township, Pa.—who says his operation will post certain open positions for a week and not get a single application. To combat this, Dixson has to get creative. Here are three ways he and other operators work to get a steady stream of seasonal applicants.