If you’ve been a strong employee in your first seasonal role, getting your next one is going to be a lot easier.
You now have a proven track record of lasting the season, a reference, and a better resume. The last thing you need to do is leave your job well and don’t burn bridges on the way out. This of course works both ways and employers should keep reading to the end of this post.
These are the things you should do in the last few days of your contract:
- Don’t check out early. Work that last shift with as much enthusiasm as your first.
- Thank your boss in person for the opportunity they have given you.
- Ask if you can use your employer as a referee for your next gig.
- Ask for feedback about your performance
- Clean out your locker and employee housing. The last thing an employer wants to do is remove your week old pizza from the fridge.
- If you aren’t coming back, but know someone who would be interested in replacing you, let your boss know.
- If your employer uses SEE YOU NEXT SEASON, give them a positive review via your My Profile portal. This will help them with next season’s hiring.
- Request a quick review to help you find your next seasonal gig. See what an employee review looks like on the profile thumbnail when an employer hovers over the thumbs up icon.
Now for employers. When you make a good last impression, your ex-employee will become your advocate, and advocates really matter. They will spread the word around to their friends and siblings that you’re a good person to work for.
When an employee leaves on bad terms expect to be sh!t-canned far and wide. The perfect example happened in Australia this winter. Employees were dismissed much earlier than expected due to poor snow conditions and given 48 hours to leave employee housing. This left a carless non-English speaking couple, in an area with minimal public transport, homeless. The online backlash was swift and it will have consequences for next season’s hiring.
These are the things employers should do in the last few days of the season.
- Thank your employee in person for the service they have given you. Preferably at an end-of-season party.
- Make sure any end-of-season bonus is paid before they leave
- Conduct a brief leaving interview to see how you could improve the employee experience.
- Offer to be a referee for your employee when they are applying for their next role.
- Consider a small thank you gift or assistance for their big move.
- Log in to SEE YOU NEXT SEASON and send in a quick referral so we can add that to their profile and help them with their next job search.
- Do a follow up call when you start hiring again. You may get a “returnee” or your ex-employee may know someone who will fit into your team well.
Leaving on good terms is good for business and employees.
Further Reading: Please see our Mutual Obligations post outlining what employers and employees need during the season.