Tour Leader Recruitment Made Simple

Leverage Your Ideal Staff Avatar

One of the most powerful tools in your recruiting arsenal is your ideal staff avatar. This is a detailed profile of your perfect guide, including their demographics, hobbies, interests, motivations, and more. By getting crystal clear on who you’re trying to attract, you can laser-focus your recruiting efforts and get your job ad in front of the right people.

For example, let’s say you run a family-focused mountain bike tour company in Banff, Alberta, Canada. Your ideal guide, Billy, is a 21-year-old college grad who lives for hitting the trails. To reach candidates like him, you might:

• Post flyers at popular trailheads
• Partner with local bike shops and outdoor gear stores
• Join relevant Facebook groups and Reddit communities
• Advertise on job boards and sites frequented by outdoor enthusiasts

The key is to go where your ideal candidates are already hanging out and get creative with your outreach. The more targeted and proactive you are, the more likely you are to attract a deep pool of qualified applicants.

Tap Into Employee Referrals

Another often-overlooked recruiting tool is employee referrals. Your existing team members can be an incredible source of top talent, as they’re likely to recommend candidates who not only have the right skills but also fit your company culture.

To make the most of this resource:

• Offer meaningful incentives for successful referrals
• Make the referral process easy and fun
• Communicate clearly about the program details and payout timeline
• Celebrate and thank team members who participate

By engaging your staff in the recruiting process, you can speed up your hiring timeline and build a stronger, more cohesive team.

Focus on Quality, Not Just Quantity

While it’s important to aim for a deep candidate pool (our golden rule is at least 3-5 qualified applicants per open position), it’s not just about volume. The most successful tour operators often have a ratio closer to 10:1, because they know that the deeper the pool, the more likely they are to find those true gems.

So don’t be afraid to invest time, energy, and even a bit of your marketing budget into your recruiting efforts. Some tactics to consider:

• Leveraging your existing network of clients, partners, and past guests
• Mentioning your open roles in every relevant conversation
• Placing targeted paid job postings on industry-specific sites and boards

The payoff – in the form of an incredible team of guides who will stick with you for the long haul and become ambassadors for your brand – is well worth the investment.

Get Creative and Cast a Wide Net

At the end of the day, building your dream team starts with attracting the right candidates. And that requires getting creative, thinking outside the box, and casting a wide net.

Some additional ideas to try:

• Partnering with local colleges and universities to reach students studying relevant fields
• Attending industry events and job fairs to network with potential candidates
• Leveraging social media to showcase your company culture and open roles
• Offering unique perks and benefits that appeal to your ideal staff avatar

By diversifying your recruiting efforts and always keeping an eye out for top talent, you’ll be well on your way to assembling a group of superstars who will take your tour business to new heights.

Your Dream Team is Waiting

Building an incredible team of guides who can deliver unforgettable experiences and drive your business forward is no easy feat. But by leveraging your ideal staff avatar, tapping into employee referrals, focusing on quality over quantity, and getting creative with your outreach, you can supercharge your recruiting efforts and attract the rockstars you need to thrive.

So don’t settle for a shallow candidate pool or a revolving door of mediocre guides. Invest in your recruiting process, get proactive, and watch as your dream team takes shape.
Your future self (and your bottom line) will thank you.