How Technology is Changing the Way You Hire

Advancements in technology in recent years have helped improve the hiring process of many companies. Interviewers now have access to all the information they need on their potential employees with just a few clicks on their screens and that helps make a hiring manager’s job quicker and easier.

There are many ways through which this whole process has been simplified and they were all created in order to help companies make the right decisions on hiring new employees. By hiring the right people, the company is going to move a step closer to success. Here are some ways through which the hiring process has changed over time.

Accessing information is much quicker

The very first way through which technology has changed and improved the way companies hire their new employees is through the digitalization of information. While in previous years interviewers had to go through all the documents a potential employee submitted, they are now able to access all that information through individual files on their computers.

On top of this, thanks to social media platforms and search engines, it is a lot easier to verify claims the applicants might have made in regards to their studies, past employment or anything else that is considered relevant. LinkedIn is a website most professionals use and it could really help clarify and verify any claims you might be unsure that your applicant has presented you with.

Online video interviews have simplified the process

While physical interviews might be considered the best option by some interviewers, online video interviews have broken down barriers that were caused by distance and other responsibilities. Physical interviews meant that the person applying for the job had to be somewhere close to the company in order to be able to be employed.

By giving applicants the opportunity to have an online interview, the company shows that they are interested in working with remote employees. Finding skilled professionals to fit a position isn’t always possible if you’re only looking for people who will work in the same office building daily.

Interview scheduling tools have aided organization

Along with giving more opportunities for companies to interview people through video calls, interviews have also become a lot easier to schedule for all parties included. Online tools and calendars such as Google Calendar and Evernote allow their users to schedule events, create notes and set up reminders for every interview or similar event they have coming up. 

On top of this, these tools allow their users to share their notes with those involved, so they can also keep track of any changes or modifications that have been made. Rescheduling an interview and keeping track of all the dates has never been easier and this simplifies the process significantly.

Companies can manage remote workers effectively

By giving companies the opportunity to expand their horizons and look into hiring professionals from all over the world, technology has given them a way to better manage their progress in regards to their work. There is technically nothing that a manager won’t be able to do with a remote team worker, no matter the distance that separates them and that gives them the chance to not have to worry about the distance when deciding on hiring someone from a different part of the world.

Emails, video calls and online text messaging allow the team to be in constant contact without having to worry about not being able to communicate on time about anything that comes up. This way, employers can be certain that their remote workers are working efficiently and are delivering the results they should.

Potential employees can know more about their future employers

Last but not least, something that indirectly affects the hiring process for many companies is the fact that their applicants are able to have access to a lot of information in regards to their companies. Being transparent about their actions is something that will help a potential employee chose to want to work with a company, as they will seem much more trustworthy and professional.

Thanks to social media platforms, companies can easily create a good image of their brand and show the world their work ethics and ambitions in the form of daily posts and updates. As long as your company is transparent about its work-related activities, the applicants you will come across will be motivated to work hard and help the company keep its good reputation.

Making the hiring process more effective

Technology has given employers the opportunity to come in contact with people from all over the world and from different backgrounds. Finding skilled professionals to fill out a spot in a company has never been easier and it is all thanks to the various apps, tools, and services which help aid communication and organization between teams.

The hiring process has been made easier and hiring managers can rest assured that they will find just the employee they are looking for online. All they need to do is put some time and effort into getting to know how to use a few different online tools in order to make the interviewing process quicker and simpler.

Bio:

Donald Fomby is a professional translator for PickWriters and specializes in offering Japanese translation services. Showing others the beauty of learning a new language is one of his biggest passions and in his spare time he loves to travel the world and come in contact with new cultures.

Free image taken from:https://www.pexels.com/photo/ballpen-blur-close-up-computer-461077/

How Can Small Businesses Stay Relevant Today?

Small businesses are feeling the effect of major e-commerce retailers like Amazon. When consumers can one-stop shop from their smartphone or laptop, it’s hard to convince them to visit your brick-and-mortar store…or even your website. Is this the end of small businesses, or is there a way to stay relevant without going broke?

Adapting to the Amazon Era

Small businesses that fail to adapt to the way today’s buyers shop will feel the biggest pinch. As of 2019, online shopping accounts for about 12 percentof all retail sales. Even when shopping in-store, most consumers go online to find local businesses.

That means it’s more important than ever for small businesses to have a web presence. Even if your business doesn’t do e-commerce, a simple brochure sitegives customers a place to learn about services, locations, and contact information. If you are selling clothing, cosmetics, electronics, or another shippable product, a full-fledged e-commerce website can help you to grow your business’s reach and sales.

Websites aren’t effective when they’re not pleasing to look at or easy to use. Nearly half of all consumers say they gauge the credibility of a website based on its visual design. A smooth user experience matters too, and broken links or confusing navigation are enough to turn shoppers away. Don’t cheap out on this important business tool. Follow Upwork’s advice and hire HTML developers that have the right front-end and HTML coding experience to help you create a dynamic and engaging website that meets all your needs and serves your customers well. These developers should be experienced in web fundamentals (e.g., CSS, JavaScript) and in UI/UX design concepts. 

Can Free Shipping Be Affordable?

Small businesses that do have an e-commerce component have to compete with Amazon’s convenience, but they don’t necessarily have to mirror it. Fast and free shipping is important to customers, but small businesses worry it will cut into their bottom line.

Small businesses can compensate for slower shipping by providing accurate shipping estimates at checkout and emailing customers with tracking details as soon as an order is shipped. A package might take three to five days to arrive instead of Amazon’s one to two, but the prompt communication keeps customers in the loop and so they’re never left wondering.

As for shipping costs, the best approach is building them into product costs. Customers may be reluctant to pay an extra $10 at checkout, but they’re willing to spend 16 percent more on products at retailers who have superior customer experience. If you deliver in other ways, shoppers won’t blink at your slightly higher prices.

Delivering the Customer Experience

Businesses that want to charge a premium need to actually deliver on customer experience. Shoppers don’t hesitate to shun a small business when they have subpar service — one in three say they’ll stop doing business with a trusted brand after a single negative experience.

One service area where small businesses fall flat is efficiency. Consumers like shopping at small businesses for the personal touch, but they can get frustrated when they feel businesses don’t value their time. Improving order fulfillment and shipping speeds solves that problem in e-commerce, but shoppers are still dissatisfied with long wait times in brick-and-mortar stores. As tempting as it is to minimize staffing costs, an expedient, knowledgeable staff is the foundation of in-store customer service. Businesses can also show they value shoppers’ time by making returns easy and offering to ship items that are out-of-stock in-store.

Beyond speeding things up, small businesses can improve the experience through multi-channel customer service. Today’s shoppers don’t want to call for help. Instead, they prefer self-service tools like knowledge bases or social media. Hootsuite offers tips for keeping social media customer service manageable as a small business.

Your small business may never be a fraction of the size of Amazon, but that doesn’t mean you have to admit defeat. Buyers are still shopping at small businesses, but they’re growing choosier about where they spend their dollars. By delivering great service online and off, you can ensure your business stays at the top of shoppers’ lists.

Characteristics of a Successful Entrepreneur

Many people believe that being an entrepreneur is just about starting a business, but there are many other facets of the career path. Entrepreneurship is about building value for yourself, your employees, and your customers.

It takes years of hard work, accomplishments, and failures before it can pay off. Many new start ups and business ventures actually fail within the first 18 months. Starting a business is difficult, but many succeed by following some important tips.

Skills and knowledge can vary from company to company and industry to industry. It is important to have these attributes in your various niche, but other factors will make a big impact. In todays world, you need to be a technically savvy, and for certain businesses, will need to have necessary programming experience. For other companies, you may just need to be savvy at talking and interacting with people.

There are certain personality characteristics that define a successful entrepreneur. Temperament and mental fortitude are what set them apart from those who fail and the even bigger group of people who never try to start their own business.

Regardless if you are starting a law practice, a pilates studio, or a tech startup, all successful entrepreneurs share a few key personal characteristics that differentiate them from the rest.

Having a Vision

Having a long term vision is key in entrepreneurship. As the leader of your business, you will be the one who needs to cast a vision for your entire company. You’ll need to set the vision for the team, for your customers, and perhaps even for investors. This requires the ability to think strategically and long term about your companies potential in the future. It could be imagining a larger role for your company than just the service or product it provides.

Having a successful vision is motivating and will push you to perform at your best, even when times are tough.

Resourcefulness

Entrepreneurs need to find ways to scale their time and effort. They wear many hats, so you’ll often need to learn new things quickly and find ways to maximize your time. Other strategies are to rely on other people and technology to help get more done.

Use of technology is important for entrepreneurs as it enables them to find ways to reduce workload and accomplish more every day. It can also be used as a resource for quickly learning new skills or knowledge. Some great examples are automated appointment booking and reminder systems like social media marketing and automation like Hootsuite, automated appointment booking and reminder systems like Appointment Reminder, or do-it-yourself website building and hosting like Bluehost.

Decisiveness

As an entrepreneur, you’ll need to make tough decisions almost every day. The ability to quickly decide on everything from how to price your product or service to where to invest your profits or how to deal with an unforeseen crisis are critical.

It is important to find ways to quickly and easily analyze possible scenarios and make the best decision. Allowing yourself to this will allow you have to be able to move on with your day.

Sales Driven

Sales is an important factor, regardless of the type of business. Even if you’re not selling a product or service directly, you need to be able to sell your business to just about anyone. Partners, customers, clients are all important in sales. You need to be able to speak intelligently and passionately about what you do and why you do it.

Not being afraid to fail or face rejection means being able to keep composure in the face of roadblocks or tense negotiations.

Adaptability

As an entrepreneur, you should be prepared for change at all times and be ready to adapt to what comes your way and tackle new challenges. This means you also need to be willing to change your vision if you determine that it’s not viable.

There are many start ups that begin their business headed in one direction, realize that they are not hitting the need of customers, and totally redirect. It’s adapting to the environment, and what people want, even if it’s not the original vision.

Responsibility

When you are an entrepreneur, your company’s wins or losses will ultimately be attributed to your decisions and actions. Which means you have to be able to not only own that burden but also be willing to take responsibility for all your employees.

Being responsible is one of the primary roles of any entrepreneur. If you’re not taking charge, there’s no one behind you to pick up the slack.

Risk-Taking

Entrepreneurship is all about taking a bet. You’re betting on yourself, your product or service, and on your team. Whether you’re taking on loans to finance growth, putting your personal savings into the company to get it started, or deciding whether to hire another employee, you will always have risk associated with running a business.

As an entrepreneur, you must embrace risk and be driven by it. You can not be afraid. You must have confidence enough to face the risk every day and keep doing the work that needs to be done.