Thanksgiving will be here before we know it, which signals one thing: Official Holiday Shopping Season. Which, for many small business owners, means it’s time to hire some extra help now. If you’re planning on hiring temporary help for the holiday rush, today’s Tools and Tips article offers some tips on how to build a great staff:

• Start looking now: Starting the process sooner will not only give you plenty of time to fill your hiring needs, but it also will give you a chance to snag the better employees before your competitors hire them.


• Hire as if it were permanent: Your new hire might be there for only a few weeks, but your company will be around long after the worker leaves. You don’t want a temp’s sloppy work to cause problems after he or she is gone.


• Look for jolly workers: It is the season of good will, so you want both your permanent and temporary staff to reflect that.


• Train creatively: Make cheat sheets or index cards that temporary staff can use not only to learn about your business quickly, but also to answer customer questions.


• Keep everyone happy: You’ve gone to the trouble to hire top-notch seasonal help. Now make sure the workers stay and do their best.