Aussie firms hire experts as Christmas casual hiring intensifies

Australian retailers and hospitality businesses are enlisting behavioural experts to tackle challenges in the Christmas casual hiring market.

Since July, there has been an 11% surge in Christmas casual roles, reaching their highest level in 12 months. This resurgence follows a period of decline, pushing businesses to face unprecedented challenges in staffing for the holiday season.

The Australian job market remains tight, with the country's unemployment rate steady at 4.2% as of August. This situation is compounded by the increasing use of AI-powered job application tools, providing new challenges for employers.

"It's a whole new ballgame," says Scott Taylor, Founder and CEO of Praesidium Risk and Resilience. "With candidates using AI tools like ChatGPT for resume and interview preparation, it's harder than ever for employers to identify applicants with the right intent and integrity."

Taylor, trained alongside world-leading behavioural experts, including former FBI personnel, is pioneering new approaches to seasonal hiring. He promotes a return to face-to-face interviews that prioritise situational and emotional intelligence.

"Businesses must select the best people to represent their brand and values over the Christmas peak," Taylor explains. "The best way is to conduct in-person interviews that go beyond the standard questions."

Some of Taylor's strategies for effective hiring involve asking probing questions about conflict resolution, observing candidates' body language, and discussing organisational culture and values.

Taylor warns of "red flags" during interviews, noting that "people speed up when they don't want to talk about something." Conversely, "green lights" are seen when confident candidates display open postures and relaxed demeanours.

For job seekers, demonstrating confidence through body language and posing questions about company culture are recommended.

As the holiday rush approaches, the stakes for retailers are higher than ever, with minimal time for due diligence. Taylor underscores the importance of the initial interview, stating, "Retailers need to base everything on that first meeting. You're bringing someone in who will protect your reputation and brand. It's worth taking the time to get it right."

This move towards a nuanced, people-centric hiring process may reshape the traditional quick-hire approach of the Christmas season, benefiting both businesses and employees.

The competition for quality seasonal staff is intensifying. In this evolving landscape of AI-assisted job applications and behavioural assessment, it is evident that the dynamics of Christmas casual hiring in Australia are changing.