At this point, many of us are finally adjusting to our new situations. In addition to those of us who are doing our jobs at home, the companies that employ us are also adjusting in their methods of finding employees. Many employers have switched from a face to face application and interview process to more of an online oriented approach, and according to Forbes, this may become the workplace way of the future. Jeanne Meistar writes in her article The Impact of Coronavirus on HR and The New Normal of Work that “With the growth of the digital economy, our ‘always on’ way of working, the stresses in managing work-life integration, and now dealing with the coronavirus, assisting workers with their wellbeing has never been more important.” If we are in a period of true transition, then employers, employees, and applicants alike are going to have to become more familiar with online recruitment and meeting tools, and we have to be ready for the changes that many employers may implement when this is over.
One change that many employers and applicants have noticed since quarantine began is that there is often more flexibility on both sides. As both sides of the employment spectrum are most likely working from home, it provides a more flexible schedule for interviews to occur. Additionally, virtual interviews also allow for more convenient times to meet and make it easier to make sure that you’re on time. The understanding of new technology and communication software is critical for both employers and applicants during this time and potentially in the future as well if employers find virtual interviewing and conferences more efficient than the traditional method. The New York-based real estate news site Brick Underground has stated that many people trying to buy and sell property in New York City have been considering transitioning to virtual deal closings rather than having deals fall through, and many employers seem to be moving in this direction as well.
Interpersonal communication can also go a long way in the current climate. Both employers and applicants appreciate consistent communications from the other end. Kristen Ribero, director of enterprise marketing at Handshake says “Checking in on people or sharing brief status updates can go a long way in building trust, they’ll notice little things, such as using their first name and sending a small personal note rather than something that reads like an email auto-response.” Communicating with an employer or an applicant is a great way to build a foundation for a professional relationship and a way to assure the other party that you are open and available during this time of uncertainty as well as reassuring them that you are committed to furthering the relationship. If you do find yourself hired during this time, many employers are allowing employees to work from home, but they may also consider introducing you to your new workplace and coworkers via a virtual meeting or virtual office tour to help them acclimate before they truly enter the workplace for the first time.
If we are looking at some changes being made to the recruitment process, there are things we will have to learn about the new way of doing things. Luckily, we have a few tips to help you get a jump on the new landscape.
Get Familiar with Your New Tools
Many employers will have a preferred program to use when conducting an online interview, and luckily most of these programs are free and easy to use. That being said, it can be a huge benefit to any applicant to familiarize yourself with the program you’ll be using. Whether it be through online tutorials, program FAQs or simply just messing around with it in your spare time, making sure that your time using the program goes as smoothly as possible will only be to your benefit.
Choose the Right Location
The last thing you want to happen during your interview is for your potential employer to get distracted during the meeting. To make sure that this doesn’t happen, make sure that you choose a room that doesn’t have a whole lot going on in terms of decor. The US Chamber of Commerce suggests any room with a single color background and good lighting will make for the perfect interview setting.
Dress for Success
If you’re anything like me, working from home has presented you with the irresistible urge to work in your pajamas (or on some days if you feel like dressing up, sweats). When you interview from home, however, it’s a good idea to dress the way you would in a face to face interview. While it may be tempting to just put on a nice shirt and hide your undressed legs underneath your computer, many experts agree that dressing for a traditional interview not only leaves a good impression on the employer but also puts you in the right mindset for the professional setting.