Remember how you stayed awake the whole night, ironed your clothes, made sure you looked presentable and even practised your introduction monologue incessantly - all of this just because it was placement week? But will students in a post-COVID world get to experience campus recruitment like this? Neha Mathur, Senior HR Business Partner, Uber India and South Asia, weighs in
Change is the only constant
The entire recruitment process has changed and evolved over time. Some of the changes were evident even before COVID as social media, digital portfolios, and phone calls to screen applicants were being employed to ease the tedious multi-visit interview process for the recruiter and the recruit. Now, the global pandemic has compelled India’s workforce to work from home and, in the process, has showcased the advantages that come with it. As a result, companies have adapted to using reliable technology platforms and virtual recruitment processes to keep moving while protecting recruiters and candidates. We envision this trend to continue even after the lockdown is lifted, as companies will be wary of the health concerns that physical proximity could bring. Virtual hiring will remain a handy tool to limit face-to-face interviews.
Online vs Offline
Online interviews and placements eliminate a lot of challenges, including the physical presence required for a face-to-face interview, expediting the entire interview and onboarding process. The process of recruiting a candidate has changed over the years. With professional networking platforms such as LinkedIn and talent scouting platforms like Naukri and Monster, recruiters have access to a targeted, easily accessible pool of candidates and with virtual interviews, the process is set to become much faster, immediate and flexible.
How to bag that job?
These are unprecedented times and as most of us have not lived through a global pandemic before, it is important to focus on our health and mental well-being. That being said, using this extra time at hand, candidates can upskill for the long run. Companies always seek individuals who not only possess the skill set for a specific role but have the motivation to learn and continually re-skill. Online courses pertaining to your industry, reading up on the impact COVID-19 will have on the future and basic tools that help one be more relevant in the workplace ensures ease during the employment process. At Uber, we expect all candidates to understand and believe in our mission and vision to transform the way people and cities move. A core component of what we look for while hiring is a good candidate and culture fit, such as displaying Uber’s core values of making ‘Big Bold Bets’ and ‘Doing the Right Thing’. We encourage them to work on unique opportunities to solve real-world problems, fostering a culture that is free-spirited and entrepreneurial at all levels.
The challenge is real
Undeniably, COVID-19 has had a huge impact on people and workplaces. The consequences of the pandemic and the economic effects are yet to be ascertained fully and before we do that, it will be unfair to comment on how this is affecting recruitment. These are challenging and uncertain times and most companies are focusing on employee health and safety and ensuring their current workforce is holding up well in order to come out of this pandemic stronger.
Here are a few courses that you could check out:
HR (Short Course), Oxford Home Study College
This free course covers three main areas of human resources: HR management; recruiting fundamentals and staff development and training
People and Organisations, MIT
This MIT course teaches the history of 'going to work' and studying how organisations adapt to stress and change
HR Management, Coursera
This course gives one a core understanding of HR and the way it is managed to get more out of the workforce
(As told to Parvathi Benu)
