The Power of Incentives: Effective Strategies for Hiring Salon Professionals
When it comes to incentivized hiring strategies for salon professionals, utilizing incentives can be a powerful tool to attract top talent and build a strong team. However, not all incentives are created equal.
In this blog post, we will explore what works and what doesn’t when it comes to using incentives for recruiting hair stylists. By understanding these key points, an owner can devise effective strategies to incentivize potential hires and create a thriving salon environment.
Incentives Rule # 1: Motivation in Salon Employment
Hair stylists are moved by emotion. You can have the best job description, be on all of the salon owner job boards and make big promises of your salon’s success.
Salon culture, work life balance and opportunity is what a great hairstylist is seeking. Getting the right talent is a learning process.
Salon recruitment is a science. Visit cosmetology schools and ask the students what their dream team looks like. Strategies for Hiring Salon Professionals can be learned by talking to the future of our industry.
Tapping into today’s workforce demands will help you recruit hair stylists. Salon employment and the industry are always evolving.
How do I get people to work in my salon?
Getting people to work in your salon is similar to speaking to someone’s heart. Speaking their language, or understanding the terminology and the decision making process helps to hire the right talent. There is a fine line between too aggressive or seeming desperate to hire new stylists.
What is the most appealing aspects of your business to discuss when recruiting hair stylists? Lead with your why and mention the happy other professionals in your business.
Evoking feelings goes farther than a job ad. Find out what your candidate wants out of their career and make interview questions about their dreams.
Reaching professional goals, the ability to gain new clients and working for the right person are the top motivators in the beauty industry. During the interview process with your salon manager, ask job seekers about expectations of you as a salon owner.
You may have the perfect candidate who works with all hair types, and has stellar technical skills. If your job description doesn’t match up to what experienced stylists are looking for, you will always be on the hunt for fresh talent.
Download our free guide: Strategies for Hiring Salon Professionals
Salon Owners who offer Hiring Sign-On Bonuses: Beware of Desperation Signals
While sign-on bonuses may seem appealing, they often attract desperate beauty professionals or those who are not looking for long-term commitments.
Offering sign-on bonuses can inadvertently signal that your salon is desperate to hire. This potentially diminishes the quality and longevity of the candidates you attract.
Instead, focus on creating a positive work environment and offering other forms of incentives that align with long-term growth. New stylists who may have just graduated beauty school may be more motivated by a quick financial win.
Salon owners want potential candidates to align with their mission. Offering sign on bonuses is a temporary solution to a long term need of attracting quality professionals to your hair salon.
When visiting local cosmetology schools to recruit hair stylists, leave the sign on bonuses out of the detailed job description. Your Strategies for Hiring Salon Professionals starts at the beginning of stylist’s careers.
What is the motivation for your potential candidates?
Motivation for salon professionals to find a new salon to work in typically means something went wrong in their salon. During the interview process, ask hair stylists if a sign on bonus is what brought them to your salon brand. Job postings on social channels should include expectations of work ethic, necessary qualifications and long term incentives like ongoing training opportunities.
Instead of offering a cash sign on bonus, consider what a new stylist would want in your business. Health insurance, tons of potential clients and supportive constructive feedback will grow any staff member.
Because stylists are driven by feelings, take advantage of today’s digital age and tell your story. If you are not comfortable with Instagram or TikTok, empower a team member to handle this for you.
Utilize your salon website and salon window to serve as the signal to who you are to attract the best talent. Demonstrating who you are to a hair stylist will be far more effective in the hiring process than financial incentive in a job ad.
Rewards for Attracting an Experienced Hair Stylist: The Power of the People in Your Salon
Your current salon team can be a valuable resource for finding new talent. Strategies for Hiring Salon Professionals starts within your business! Encourage your staff to share job opportunities on their social media platforms and express their satisfaction with working in your salon.
Their positive testimonials can reach a broader audience within the salon industry and attract like-minded professionals who value the work environment and culture you have created.
Employee referrals through social media, cosmetology schools and outside networking events are powerful! There isn’t a job posting or paid ads you could create that will outweigh a personal recommendation from stylists.
Ditch the job description
Unless you have a very unique salon brand, a job description is wasted space. If you are focusing on a detailed job description, consider outlining what stylists will GET when they work for you.
The hiring process is different for a salon owner vs other industries. If you are posting on job boards, make your salon stand out with an invitation to hair stylists.
The magic is in your offer
How many stylists do you think want a prestigious job title? Stylists want opportunity and to be happy where they work!
If you are recruiting hair stylists, they need to know what’s in it for them. Your offer is the opportunity stylists have in your salon to be happy and thrive.
Living the happy salon life with fulfilled hair stylists speaks for itself. Let the world see who you are and what potential candidates will enjoy when working for you.
Take and post videos, photos and stories about what it’s like to work with you and your team. This readies your team’s referrals by showing stylists who you are, upfront!
Empower your team!
Potential candidates that come from the inside- an already happy hair salon employee, booth renter or client will make your salon stand out, immediately. Ensure your hair stylist promoters have what they need to recruit for you.
Work with your staff to help them understand and verbalize the benefits of working with you.
Putting the highlights of your offerings into words for your staff will help them know what key points to focus on. It’s one thing to say “working here is really great”.
Details on why they love working in your business will outweigh any job posting, anywhere!
Attract qualify professionals by highlighting things that your staff enjoys. Aspects like work life balance, flexible schedules and overflow of clients to build their business are great tools for recruitment.
Printables are great for recruiting
Consider printing a fabulous rack card or pamphlet for a stylist to keep in their car or take with them to industry events. Tools like Canva can be excellent ways to create a great one page recruitment flyer.
Conversations need to be followed up by something tangible a stylist can hand out. Cards, flyers, pamphlets all should include your web address, social accounts and a QR code for easy application.
If your staff is reluctant to help you recruit, this is an opportunity for brand discovery. A new stylist may not feel comfortable helping you recruit, but and experienced stylist who loves where they work, should.
If motivating your staff to help you recruit is a challenge, your salon may benefit from a coach. Explore consultants, coaches and mentors who can help! Because Salonspa Connection is invested in YOU, we created a list of the best talent the beauty industry has to offer.
Discover a great consultant, mentor or coach today by browsing our free list. Search consultants on this page.
Recruit hair stylists with your hair stylists
Stylists are connected. If you want to recruit hair stylists, look to the people you know, first. Incentivize not through a job ad but from within. A stylist will listen to another stylist or other professionals in the beauty industry they know and trust.
Opening your salon owner mindset to better recruit hair stylists is a crucial part of ongoing success. Always be open to potential employees by showing who you are on your social media presence.
Referrals from hair stylists often check Instagram FIRST before they even walk in your door. Extend your Strategies for Hiring Salon Professionals to online efforts to see great results!
Successful Salon Professional Acquisition-Social Media is POWERFUL, use it to your advantage.
Ask your stylists to share what they love about your work environment on social media. Tap into friends from their local cosmetology schools- stylists stay in touch after graduation.
If potential candidates can see your salon culture, this will outweigh any job description you could craft. Your dream team may be closer than you think! Take a break with your job ad and speak to the people that know how wonderful your salon business really is.
Click HERE to boost visibility for open positions in your salon, spa or barbershop.
Incentivize Clients to Refer Hair Stylists
Clients can play an active role in the hiring process by referring potential salon professionals. Make it known in your salon that you offer incentives, such as cash rewards or service credits, to clients who successfully refer a new hire that stays with your salon for over six months.
This not only motivates clients to actively participate in the recruitment process, but also ensures that the referred professionals align with the culture and values of your salon. Fresh talent can be found in existing client’s network.
Your network is your net worth! Recruiting skilled salon professionals.
Most people know a hair stylist, nail tech or massage therapist. Conversations inside your business can lead you to the right talent. Attend networking events where you are surrounded by people who may have access to potential candidates.
Gain a wider audience with your friendly demeanor- salon owners are the best advocates for your business.
Your Personal Network | Salon Owner Engagement
Hair stylists talk, therefore you want to be included in that conversation. Your closest friends and family members may meet quality professionals or get compliments on their hair from other hair stylists.
There is a lot that goes on outside of social media and in people’s every day lives. Your loved ones attend social and networking events. They meet a wide variety of people, just in their every day lives. When this happens, make your salon business part of the conversation.
People may love your business but not understand the power of their own ability to help you recruit hair stylists. You may tell people you need to hire but they may not see the opportunity to help. In every conversation with your biggest fans, mention you are looking for hair stylists and that you will reward them for referrals.
Tap into Friends and Family Networks
People often have connections to the salon industry through friends, family, or acquaintances. Encourage your current staff and clients to refer individuals they know who are connected to salon professionals. Offering incentives for successful referrals can expand your network and attract talented individuals you may not have been directly connected to otherwise.
If you aren’t talking about your salon business, don’t expect people to assume. Take every opportunity to let people know how amazing your salon is and how you support the salon professionals that work for you. NO ONE wants to be that annoying person who is always self promoting but NO ONE wants to go out of business.
Need help with getting your social media recruiting and incentivizing for you? Check out this social media resource, specifically designed for the salon industry.
Click here to become and expert on incentives that work with our recruiting course.
What qualities would you look for when hiring a salon professional?
Qualities to look for when hiring a salon professional are: adaptability, friendliness/ can talk to people, on time, motivated, someone who fits the salon’s vibe and is willing to learn.
This also largely depends on your business model. If you are an employee based salon, spa or barbershop, qualities like loyalty and customer service are very important.
Booth rental or studio suites require a responsible hair stylist. Paying rent on time and taking care of their space to stay compliant with state boards are essential qualities to have.
How can I build my salon clientele fast?
Hiring motivated and money hungry staff is how to build the salon’s clientele, fast! If your team or booth renters aren’t motivated, they won’t build on their own.
Marketing- paid ads, search engine optimization on your website and networking are the fastest ways to get more clients.
What qualities would you look for when hiring a salon professional?
This largely depends on your business model. If you are an employee based salon, spa or barbershop, qualities like loyalty and customer service are very important.
Booth rental or studio suites require a responsible hair stylist. Paying rent on time and taking care of their space to stay compliant with state boards are essential qualities to have.
How can I build my salon clientele fast?
Hiring motivated and money hungry staff is the first step! If your team or booth renters aren’t motivated, they won’t build on their own.
Marketing- paid ads, search engine optimization on your website and networking are the fastest ways to get more clients.
What factors contribute to salon success?
Successful salons are those who create an environment people want to work in! The best salons to work in are constantly evaluating themselves, and adding to their offerings.
Ensuring clients and team members are happy multiples success. Asking people in your business what they would like to see will empower them to be contributors.
When people feel like they are part of something, they invest in your success.
You Get Back What You Put Out in Networking
Network, Network, Network!
Don’t underestimate the power of networking. Attend industry events, seminars, and conferences to connect with professionals who may be seeking new opportunities or know someone who is.
By actively engaging with others in the salon industry and sharing information about your salon’s job or booth rental opportunities, you increase the likelihood of receiving valuable referrals.
Conclusion
Incentives can be a valuable tool for attracting and hiring salon professionals. However, it’s essential to approach incentives strategically to achieve the desired outcomes.
While sign-on bonuses may not yield long-term results, focusing on team engagement, client referrals, leveraging personal networks, and actively networking can generate more fruitful results. By implementing these effective strategies, salon owners can build a talented and dedicated team that contributes to the success and growth of their salon.
