Feeling like it will be impossible to recruit a new member to the team during the lockdown? You really need that extra assistance in the business but feel it will just be too hard to recruit and onboard the employee right now? Let us reassure you that many companies are still recruiting and taking on staff during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Customer service is our raison d’etre at Situations and that focus will never change. Yes, our working lives are different now; our interviews may be via video conferencing tools, but our service is still the same. We are still taking the time to get to know our candidates thoroughly, to ensure the perfect fit for our client companies.
Are companies interviewing?
Our clients are doing the same; interviews are still happening for every job level, just in a different way these days. First, second and third stage interviews are being conducted by video call and job offers are going out without the employer or candidate ever having physically met, but successful staff placements are still being made. Companies are adapting to the current situation and carrying on with their resourcing needs in more flexible ways. Of course, video interviewing can have its challenges, especially if you are working from home. Dogs barking, children interrupting - not the usual issues to deal with in an interview! So, both sides need to give each other some leeway and understanding.
How to undertake all the needed due diligence?
With the increase in technology, both candidate due diligence and onboarding processes continue. For instance, a Basic Police Disclosure can now be obtained online, with forms being completed and sent electronically along with ID, as well as PDF photos of qualification certificates now being accepted for pre-screening instead of originals being viewed. References are still being requested with candidate permissions being obtained via e-signature software. Also many online screening checks such as Worldcheck, Sanctions, Media and Credit checks are as efficient as ever, which can assist in the process too.
How can you undertake inductions without being in the physical office I hear? Well don’t just hear it from us, hear from the experts at Resolution IT on how this is still possible.
How are new joiners being onboarded?
Resolution IT had already committed to taking on three more staff members when the coronavirus crisis struck, with Guernsey’s lockdown signalling everyone had to work from home. As part of their business continuity plan, they already had robust induction and training plans in place which they were easily able to adapt to a virtual learning environment.
Having had company laptops dropped off at their homes, new hires were welcomed into the business via video meetings on Microsoft Teams and had one-to-one training sessions with staff who through Teams, are easily able to share their screens and talk new staff through a variety of tasks, policies and procedures.
Through Teams, new hires have had access to shared company documents which they’ve already collaborated on. They’ve been included in regular video team and individual meetings and apart from not knowing how the coffee machine in the kitchen works, they’ve had pretty much the same introduction to Resolution IT as if they had been physically in their offices. They’ve even been included in the company’s first Friday night virtual team quiz!
However, Resolution IT, much like many multi-jurisdictional businesses, was already digitally connected to do business remotely; communicating, collaborating and sharing this way with its second offices in Dubai. The team feel lockdown should not be a barrier to doing business- It certainly isn’t for people who normally choose to be remote workers.
If you’re not a natural remote worker and miss the daily human interaction with your work colleagues, consider running your webcam throughout your working day so you can dip in and out of those spontaneous office conversations you miss. Constant and good communication is key and Resolution IT firmly believe Microsoft Teams and all the Microsoft 365 apps which come with it, is key to its ‘business as normal’ attitude to our current working situations.
Guernsey’s small land mass has perhaps detered businesses from having to think about the digital alternatives to doing business. Now we’ve been forced into this situation, rather than hitting the pause button and waiting for things to get back to ‘normal’, businesses should instead embrace the fantastic digital connectivity opportunities already available and make this their new ‘normal.’
So, whether you are looking for your next perfect candidate or need some IT assistance with onboarding new staff contact us and Resolution IT today.
For more information about Resolution IT click here.
Email- info@resolution-it.co.uk
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