Staffing During a Pandemic

The spread of the COVID-19 has forever impacted the world, various companies and most of all, the recruiting process. Many businesses have switched from in-person interviews at their office to video interviews hosted at their kitchen table. This begs the question: how do we get across to candidates that our company culture and perks are more worthwhile than another company’s?

  1. Get creative. We have to switch our usual recruiting tactics because we’re facing unusual times. You can change a lot but a small update can make all the difference. Instead of sticking to the tried and true “Hi [name], are you in the job market?” ask if they’re open to “exciting new opportunities”. Always keep the door open even if they’re not! Also, there’s the opportunity to be more agile and adaptive. If your candidates will respond quicker to a text than an email or call, try it out!
  2. Give examples. Candidates love to hear about real work scenarios especially ones relating to how your company will treat them. If you know a candidate that you’ve hired has enjoyed anything specific about a client, use it as an example in discussing why the environment is worth applying to. It pays to be transparent about expectations because overselling may lead to under delivering!
  3. Show interest. A recruiter that genuinely cares about their candidates will always have the upper hand. Try seeing if there’s anything on the candidate’s resume that stands out and ask them about it –maybe they were a member of a sorority or fraternity that you may know something about, or they may have mentioned that they enjoy music or fishing (it’s more common to add that to a resume than you may think!). It helps to remember that on both sides of a conversation is a person, so treat them like one.

What are some of your staffing tips for the pandemic?

COVID Testing In Richmond

We’re proud to announce Astyra is providing free COVID-19 antibody testing!
 
If you’re interested, be on the lookout for announcements of our future designated testing days then come visit our internal office at your scheduled time.
 
We will have a registered nurse onsite who will administer a finger prick test. The results are rapidly collected and typically available within 15 minutes.
 
We’re happy to provide this service to our community and plan to continue offering it throughout the pandemic.

Applying for Job in a Pandemic

While remote jobs have been an option for a while, many of us are still learning to navigate the virtual world whether it’s operating a Zoom meeting, switching to working in a home office or even applying for a position with a fully remote company. Some of us may wonder if we’re choosing the right business to apply and eventually work for. While there isn’t a surefire way to know, there are options to help you evaluate the company.

  1. Network with employees. Prior to applying, try to set up a quick call with someone who is in the department you hope to work in to discuss the pros and cons of the company.
  2. Research the company. Be sure to check out their reviews on various platforms such as Google Reviews and Glassdoor.
  3. Take your time if you can. A rushed job search could put you in a less than ideal situation. If you have the option to, look into what other companies are offering in comparison for the same job and industry.

How are you going about applying for jobs during the pandemic?

Three Ways You Can Make A Change

Our Account Manager, Mary Alice, stitched homemade masks.
Our Account Manager, Mary Alice, stitched homemade masks.

With businesses still in the process of opening, many who regularly volunteer in their community are left wondering how they can continue to make an impact. The good news is that virtual work is becoming more popular as technology continues to grow. In addition, short-term opportunities arise frequently based on events and happenings nearby.

Here are three ways you can continue to make a change today:

  1. Apply for a contact tracing position with Astyra.
  2. Stitch homemade masks and give them away.
  3. Virtually teach students.

If none of these meet your skill set, a great resource to find other virtual volunteer opportunities is https://www.volunteermatch.org/. Have additional ideas? Comment them below!