Jonathan Kelley October 21, 2020 With the recent pandemic sweeping the globe, our economy has faced seismic adjustments, leaving many workers furloughed, or worse, unemployed. For some businesses, this is make or break time, and those who are able to adapt and use the skills of their employees are those that are thriving. This shift has caused a great deal of unrest, but it has also opened up opportunities unlike any we’ve ever experienced. Technology means that we can provide more services online than ever before, and this increase in service will inevitably mean you’ll need an increase in your workforce. If you’re looking to expand your company, strengthen your workforce or change the way you provide your services, this article can help you stay on top of the most effective ways to recruit during this pandemic.
Be clear about who you want to employ, and the specific skills that you need.
With so many people facing redundancy, there is more of a competition for new jobs than ever before. As an employer, you will likely be faced with an increase in applications for any jobs you advertise for, meaning that whilst you’ll have more work to do sorting through them, you will also be faced with the cream of the crop. If your advertisement is clear about the skills and qualifications that you require, it will be much easier to highlight those for whom the job will be most suited, and from these you can ensure your workforce consists of the best of the best.
Video calls are the new norm for job interviews, and the way you provide this says a lot about your company to your potential employees.
Social distancing means that a lot of face-to-face interviews simply can’t happen like they previously have. Those companies that have thrived during this difficult time are those who have embraced the digital age with both arms. Not only the way services are being provided, but the way companies are recruiting has seen this enormous shift, and inevitably, using telephone or video calls have become the norm for meetings of all varieties. It is also sensible to be mindful of the video call service you use, as it says a lot about the way you as a company work. For example, if you choose a video call provider that cannot offer useful ways of communication, such as screen sharing or a chat function, this tells your potential employee that working with your business might be difficult, compared to other companies who are embracing these features and using them to their fullest.
Going digital is absolutely the way forward, and your interviewees’ ability to navigate technology can tell you a lot about the way they can work for you.
Interviewing a potential employee via video or phone call now requires different considerations for employers, for example, it isn’t as easy to make them feel comfortable, and likewise, a lot of what we look for in the way of body language can no longer be seen. However, in other ways, interviewing via video or phone call can tell you a lot about your interviewee, especially with regards to the way they are able to use the technology. With many services now shifting to online ways of working, the way your interviewee is able to utilise the video call service can tell you a lot about how they will adapt to using technology for your company’s services. Put simply, if they can navigate the interview without any technical glitches, or can fix those that occur smoothly, you will know that they can work well with the technology you will need them to use.
Maximise your employees’ ability to work from home
Once again, social distancing is impacting the ways in which we work. Gone are the days of buzzing offices and packed commuter trains, and instead, most people are commandeering dinner tables or the box-room as a makeshift desk area. Working from home has enabled millions of people to remain employed during the lockdown, and the businesses who have been able to provide this way of working are those who have flourished in recent months. Utilising your employees’ ability to continue their work from the comfort (and distractions) of their own home allows you to continue creating or providing your services despite the lack of ability to actively get out of the house. If you’re able to provide your employees with simple and straightforward ways of working from home, you’ll continue to utilise them to the best of their ability. And who knows, if they are happy to continue to work in this way, lots of companies can reduce the amount of physical space they rent, meaning you can put this money back into expanding your business.
Look after your workforce
It goes without saying that these times are hard for everyone, both physically and emotionally. Anxiety, bereavement or ill health is rife across the globe, and as an employer, you must be sensitive to these issues. If you’re able to provide your workforce with the care, compassion, and time they need, you’ll not only retain loyal and hardworking employees, but you’ll gain prominence as a company that people will want to work for. For both employers and employees alike, that is a wonderful thing to be part of. Not only will you retain your staff, but employers that are able to care for their workforce’s well-being are those that members of the public want to know about, and whose services they want to use. We all need kindness in these trying times, and for the members of the public, companies providing just that are a shining light in this otherwise dark and strange world.
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