Doing your own recruitment feels natural, but it can be more demanding than you think.
Every spring, recruitment begins: ads need to be posted, the phone rings nonstop, and interviews are scheduled. Yet many farms still face gaps when the season starts. Doing your own recruitment gives you control, but it often takes more time than expected, especially when planning and production already require your full attention.
For some, working with a recruitment partner is a way to reduce workload, while for others it feels natural to handle everything on their own. For many farms, especially smaller ones, it seems obvious to manage recruitment themselves. It offers closeness to the process, you get to know the candidates, and you can personally choose who fits into the team. But in practice, the process often takes more time than expected, especially when planning, cultivation, and machinery already require full attention.
When time is short, decisions are often made too quickly: “this person seems okay, let’s go with them.” The result is often unnecessary drop-offs or misunderstandings about the work. The supervisor ends up spending more time solving problems than leading the production. According to LRF, seven out of ten farms find it difficult to secure staff on time, something most farms can relate to.
In-house recruitment or external support?
Recruiting on your own gives you full control. You choose, interview, and onboard everyone in your own way. It often feels safe, especially on smaller farms where the relationship between the supervisor and the staff is central. But control costs time. Posting ads, selecting candidates, and managing communication can easily take several working days in the middle of the busiest period of the year.
Working with a recruitment partner comes with a fee, but it can save both time and risk. You get access to pre-matched candidates, verified documents, and support with regulations and contracts. For many, the choice is not about money, but about what they want to spend their time on administration or production.
Hidden costs when doing everything yourself
Handling recruitment internally may seem cheaper at first glance, but the costs often appear in other ways. The time spent on advertising, selecting candidates, and managing communication can easily add up to 20 to 30 hours per season. When new workers arrive, it also takes a few days before the work flows fully, and that time is noticeable in the production.
If someone leaves in the middle of the season, you lose not only labor but also focus and energy within the team. And in the midst of weather, harvest, and deliveries, staffing often becomes the biggest source of stress. In the long run, a poor match can cost more than a recruitment fee, both in time, pace, and overall well-being.
When is it wise to get support?
Bringing in external support is not the right choice in every situation, but sometimes it can be the difference between a stressful start and a season that runs smoothly. If you don’t have enough time to manage ads, selection, and candidate calls on your own, a recruitment partner can relieve the workload in a way that makes an immediate difference.
This also applies when you need staff with specific experience or language skills, or when you have previously had high turnover during the season. In these cases, it is rarely about a lack of willingness, but rather that the matching and onboarding need more structure.
A partnership can save both time and energy, while giving you the confidence that all permits, contracts, and documents are handled correctly. Above all, it reduces the risk of being left without workers when the season is about to begin.
Planning for sustainable seasons
Whether you recruit on your own or work with a partner, planning ahead is the most important factor. When staffing is secured in time, there is room for a proper introduction. This creates a sense of security and helps the team function well from the very start.
It not only creates a calmer start to the season, but also a stronger overall workflow where the work runs smoothly and people enjoy their tasks. If you would like to share experiences or learn more about how we at TM Connect work with planning and matching ahead of the season, feel free to get in touch. We are happy to tell you more.
📩 contact@tmconnect.se
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