Working from home isn’t as easy or glamorous as it sounds, especially if you’re a first-timer. Just like how the majority of the workforce has transitioned, as a headhunter, you also went through it. You’re learning and maximizing new tools to fulfill the needs of many companies and job seekers in moving toward the “new normal.”
To continue hitting your targets and being an efficient headhunter or recruitment agency in the Philippines, here are some dos and don’ts you should keep in mind for remote work.
DO…
Let’s start with the things you should keep on track of while working from home:
1. …have your computer and phone with you during work hours
Establishing your working hours is critical when at home. Since a lot of your responsibilities will overlap—as a parent, child, sibling, etc.—you need to set aside time for work and be faithful to it when work hours are ongoing.
As such, you should always have your laptop and smartphone with you to keep all communications flowing smoothly and reduce the number of distractions you could get within this window.
2. …invest in right recruitment technology
If you haven’t fully transitioned all your hiring strategies and management tools online, then you’re due for an upgrade. You need to plan how you can sort resumes, contact potential candidates, and set-up video interviews without a hitch. That way, you can successfully bridge that gap between a vacancy and jobseeker, fully adapted to a remote working environment.
There’s no telling when things will go back to the way it was before, and even then, various recruitment tech is poised to take over soon. Go one step further and learn all the relevant tools you need in the industry.
3. …track recruitment productivity with the right software
How can you be sure that you’re reaching your targets? You must track your productivity so you can measure your performance. In a remote work environment, it’s crucial to be self-sufficient, accountable, and independent. Keep yourself motivated in reaching your goals by setting up tracking software that lets you easily see all the work you’ve done—and the work you still need to do.
4. …set regular online meetings
Part of the perks of everything going digital is it’s still possible to do all aspects of your work no matter where you are, and that includes attending meetings. To be a successful headhunter, you need to regularly brainstorm with other professionals to see which areas in your work you need to improve on.
It’s also an excellent avenue to practice your networking and social skills. Being at home all day doesn’t excuse you from improving your interpersonal and relationship-building skills needed for your job!
5. …utilize video interviews
Know when to use the appropriate communication channel for each stage of the recruitment process. Whether it’s SMS, email, phone call, or video call, guide the applicant through every step of the way and make sure all your comms are scheduled at least a day in advance.
Video interviews are especially advantageous for interviews since you get to see the candidate in real-time as if you’re face to face. You can still have a fruitful and productive discussion over video using tools like Zoom or Google Meet.
DON’T…
Along with the best practices, you also need to be mindful of some work from home habits that you should break:
1. …work in your bed
It might be tempting, but working on your bed could lead to feelings of laziness, causing your productivity to suffer. Your bedroom is also not the best place to conduct calls and interviews. It’s best to pick a spot at home where you can focus on work and detach yourself from distractions. Allow your bed to do its job at night when you’re about to fall asleep.
2. …entertain work-related queries beyond work hours
It’s tempting to answer that work-related email or chat once you see your phone light up—but try to put down your phone and create clear work-life boundaries after you log out. Your responsibilities can wait tomorrow. Once you establish a routine that keeps you productive, you won’t need to worry about overworking or missing deadlines. Efficient time management will do wonders for recruiters like you.
This also goes both ways: respect other people’s time and schedule. If you notice that they have clocked out for the day, don’t send work-related messages via personal communication platforms. Make sure that you keep it in the set work channels and don’t expect an immediate reply beyond work hours.
3. …use the same recruitment process
Every candidate is unique—and so are the jobs they are applying for. As tempting as it sounds, don’t use a one-size-fits-all approach to make your life easier. It might result in inconsistent or inadequate selection. Don’t treat the recruitment process for an IT or tech-based job similar to a creatives role. Vary your technique so you can find the best talent, and stop work fatigue from routine work from creeping in.
In line with this, you also can’t use the same recruitment process that you used before the pandemic, such as requesting for physical copies of government documents, in-person interviews, and many more. Tweak your recruitment process to the current times, and you’ll see the difference right away.
The Search Is Always On
The pandemic has made a massive impact in the recruitment industry. Whereas some companies are having layoffs, others are experiencing higher growth rates than usual to accommodate people’s needs in the new normal. Stay up to date with recruitment trends and make sure you have a reliable remote working routine to keep reaching your work goals.
