Quick! Count the number of times that the letter F appears in the following sentence:
“Finished files are the result of years of scientific study combined with the experience of years.”
—
How many did you find?
If you counted 3, look carefully, the answer is 6.1
Re-thinking Recruitment
Not everything we see is as it appears. If you’re not asking, “what else am I not seeing?” you are at risk of using old maps to navigate a new terrain in recruitment. It should come as no surprise that companies that can successfully balance automation with a human touch are going to lead the recruitment race. We must learn new ways of making assessments and selections in an online world. This will demand the ability to detect and sustain moods that predispose us to collaborate, co-invent and commit to each other. Too often there is a tendency to focus on role descriptions rather than understand business goals. Recruiters need to grow from just “providing candidates” to helping customers win in the marketplace.
Assisting clients in the hiring process means understanding the challenges business leaders are facing today – from managing cost all the way to innovation and customer service. Working strategically to master those challenges is going to be the real added value needed to journey together through the hiring process.
It’s wise to remember that people can be champions, but organisations win championships.
People, Purpose & Profits
Integrating people, purpose and profits are what will enable success in the marketplace. Make sure to have a genuine focus on employer branding that shifts the communication from fancy office amenities to demonstrating authentic support for your employees and customers during times of crisis.
Management will also need to find the balance between automation and a human touch. Patty McCord, the iconic former chief talent at Netflix, shares valuable lessons in her TED original Series videos. Patty says, “The job of management is not to control people but to build great teams”2. She goes on to share that people can be ambassadors for your organisation even after they leave. A lesson worth paying attention to since trends are showing that there are shorter time frames for employees to stay with companies.
Virtual Interview Preparation
Virtual recruitment has become the new reality and like any time of transition, the uncertainty around effective hiring has gone up a notch. Gone are opportunities to read body language in person, feel the atmosphere in a room or conduct in-person, competency-based tests.
Here are practical tips to help set you up for interview success. Whilst these few suggestions might seem pedantic the difference between something good and something great is attention to detail.
- Get familiar with the technology – Download the app ahead of time.
- Whilst you are at home, your home is on show – Unless you have a clutter-free environment, take advantage of digital backgrounds that keep your personal environment private.
- Eliminate Distractions – Pause calendar and app notifications.
- Mind your camera – Make sure the camera is well positioned and there is enough lighting in your room.
- Pay attention to the audio, select an appropriate headset. We tend to pay more attention to how we look rather than how we sound.
- If you’re the candidate – make sure to dress as close to the company culture as possible.
- Speak naturally, and don’t be afraid to repeat yourself if the WIFI connection is poor.
- Double-check the time zone of the meeting.
- Do a test run with a friend or family member.
Finally, take a few minutes to get to know the person on the otfliher screen, beyond role descriptions and candidate CVS are human beings wanting to take care of what is important to them. The ability to care, empathise and connect is a critical part of building trust and trust is at the heart of every successful relationship.
Do you want to know more about our capabilities in strategic resourcing, hiring process or are looking for a staff augmentation partner? Please contact us at [email protected]. For more information, articles and updates follow us on LinkedIn.
Sources
1 Brain Exercises and Brain Teasers. 2020. #6. Brain teaser: can you count the Fs in this sentence?. https://sharpbrains.com/blog/2006/09/10/brain-exercise-brain-teaser/
2 TED. (2021, February 9). 8 lessons on building a company people enjoy working for | The Way We Work, a TED series. Patty McCord. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBa9EoEbb38
