Not everyone has what it takes to be a farm worker. In fact, it takes special skillsets and attributes to handle the strenuous, fast-paced work on a farm. Unfortunately, it can be challenging to identify the right candidates with only an application and an interview. This point is why it’s so important to know what qualities to look for when hiring seasonal farm workers.
Here’s a look at the top seven qualities every good seasonal farm worker candidate should have.
1. Experience
Seasonal farm workers tend to move around a lot, so it can be difficult to verify previous work experience. By asking the right questions, you can use the interview process as a tool to determine the applicants experience working on farms. For example, if you operate an orchard, you can ask the candidate specific questions about identifying good fruit, as well as picking techniques. These questions can help you determine if the applicant has ever worked on an orchard before or not. Lack of experience doesn’t necessarily eliminate the candidate, but it will give you an idea of what level of training is necessary if you hire him.
2. Dexterity
There is no doubt about it – farm work is hands-on. It’s vital that you hire candidates with a high level of dexterity and good hand-eye coordination. Poor dexterity abilities will make it difficult for the worker to meet daily goals and to succeed as a farm worker. On the other hand, finding candidates that have this one attribute alone can help to improve production rates, reduce accidents, and benefit your bottom line. There are several hands-on and online tests you can give applicants to test their level of dexterity. These tests can help you weed out candidates that might not be a good fit for your farm.
3. Physical Strength and Stamina
Any good farm worker will tell you that the job requires both physical strength and physical stamina. After all, farm workers spend long hours in the field, often performing repetitive work. Without both physical strength and stamina, no worker will last long out in the field. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to determine a person’s strength and endurance just through an application and interview. The best thing you can do is to provide the candidate with a realistic understanding of what the job entails. Be very clear about the type of work and the hours per week required. Giving the candidate this type of information upfront will encourage some candidates that aren’t suited for that type of work to reconsider taking the job.
4. Problem-Solving Skills
Unlike a factory setting where employees are within close proximity to their supervisors, farm workers are often spread out across the fields and often out of sight of their supervisor. Due to this limited direct supervision, farm workers must be able to identify small problems and determine the right course of action without constantly wasting time searching for a supervisor. Also, farm workers must be able to differentiate which problems he can handle himself and when it’s time to seek supervisory direction. Finding candidates with excellent problem-solving skills can improve efficiency, increase production rates, and reduce workplace accidents.
5. Listening Skills
Farm workers must be able to understand and follow direction without constant and repetitive explanation. It’s critical that you look for candidates that have good communication skills, especially listening skills. One of the best ways to see if an applicant has these desired skills is to review the application. Check to see if the candidate completed the application correctly and followed all the directions. You also can use the interview time to see how well the candidate listens to your questions and if he can follow simple instructions.
6. Time Management Aptitude
One of the biggest obstacles to running a farm is that most of the work must be completed in a specific period of time. This seasonal demand is the very reason you need to hire temporary workers. It also means that you must retain the right workers, who can get the job done within the timeframe you need it done. In order to do this, it’s important to hire farm workers with excellent time management skills. You want to make sure that candidates understand your expectations and feel they have the skills needed to meet both daily and weekly goals.
7. Motivation
The last thing you want to do is to hire a worker with little motivation. Since farm workers are often out in the fields alone or in a small group, they must be motivated enough to keep working at a steady pace. There are several interview questions you can ask, such as “How do you stay motivated at work?” or “What type of work environment features motivate your co-workers?” to evaluate an applicant’s motivation level. You also can look for nonverbal cues, such as does the candidate appear excited about the job, is he enthusiastic about work, and does he display a willingness to get the job done.
Hiring the wrong worker can cost your company a lot of time and money, not to mention a loss in production. It’s best to take the time to find the right candidate the first time around. Understanding what qualities to look for in a farm worker can help you filter through your applications and determine which candidates have the skills you need. Learn more about how to hire the right farm workers by contacting Agri Labour Australia today.
