How Has Covid-19 Changed Hiring

Many people will agree that COVID-19 has greatly shifted life as we know it. From doing our daily routine, socialising with others, and to conducting our businesses – everything was re-envisioned to include precautions against the virus.

In the field of recruitment, companies and businesses have come up with various ways to keep their businesses afloat and find the right people for the jobs that they have open.

But, how exactly did hiring practices change during the pandemic and what should you do to get the job you are applying for at this time? Here are the ways on how the pandemic changed recruitment and what you can do to improve your chances of being accepted.

AI Technology

Even before the pandemic, companies and businesses that can afford AI technology are using the innovation to the make candidate search, screening, and assessment much faster than traditional means.

AI technology can be programmed to screen thousands of applications from various job sites and pick those which hit certain criteria or keywords. When prospective applicants are selected, the same technology can be used to schedule interviews and even tackle their assessments.

To make sure that you catch the attention of the AI technology, you need to make sure that your resume fits the job opening you are trying to apply for. Your credentials must be written clearly and free from any vague or misleading information that can be flagged down by the company’s system to sort applications.

As far as the interview scheduling is concerned, you must specifically indicate in your application the time you are available and the time zone you are in. This way, you can prevent having mishaps with the technology as this will eventually inform the interviewing officer assigned to your application.

If you will be taking an assessment exam, the best way to prepare for it is to practice using similar problems from the internet, select the appropriate answers based on your knowledge, and take it seriously.

Video Interviews

Recruiters and hiring officers still do fielding phone calls when it comes to sorting out the candidates they want to evaluate and interview as their initial recruitment step. Some are more comfortable scheduling interviews via video calls directly so they can see the interviewee. Video interviews are becoming more popular these days as traditional interviews in the work site are being limited. It can imitate a personal interview that most companies cannot do right now. This will also give employers a better picture of their prospective employees and the opportunity to talk and discuss with them on screen.

If you will be interviewed through a videocall, here are some points to remember:

• Practice the technology that you are going to use. Check your web camera and microphone and make sure that everything is working before your scheduled interview. Also, close other programs while having the interview to avoid getting interruptions and distractions as this will look unprofessional.
• Always look at the camera not at the screen to maintain direct eye contact with your interviewer.
• Prepare for the technical parts of the interview by researching possible questions that they will ask you and practice it with a friend. This way, you can be more at ease in front of the screen.
• Dress professionally as you do in a personal interview from head to toe (or at least from head to waist!) as professional dress code is always expected. Smile and observe your body language too.
• Lastly, prepare your surroundings before the interview. Choose a quiet place without an elaborate backdrop or distractions so that the employer will stay focused on you.

Adaptability

With the pandemic, employers are also going to search for potential candidates who can be flexible with their terms. If there is a need for you to work remotely for the first 6 months of employment, are you willing to do it? If there is a requirement for you to travel to other places once a month, will you be okay with that?

With constant changes due to the lockdown restrictions and mandatory regulations, employers will be looking for candidates that are ready to adapt to these new circumstances. Your future employers will also want to know if you are scalable and flexible during these uncertain economic times so they can easily move you to another position or role in the company.

Conclusion

It is still unknown when this pandemic will end, but these new changes to hiring practices are surely going to stay. As a potential applicant, you must be able to adjust to these changes because if not, you may find yourself unable to keep up with your other candidates and clinch that job offer you are after.

If you are a fellow recruiter, check out these articles:
Worst Interview Stories by Recruiters & Managers
The Difference Between A Recruiter, A HR And A Hiring Manager
Interview with a Recruiter

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