The Internet along with other technologies has made remote working a reality for employees and has completely revised the way businesses operate in the today’s modern world. But this change is also one of our greatest competitive strength. We can hire talented people from any part of the world.
We live in a connected world so, connected that we don’t even need to leave our comfort zones and still get the work done on fingertips. Modern day jobseekers and businesses all over the world are adopting the same in the form of virtual teams.
So, before learning how to manage virtual teams let’s first understand what it is?
Virtual teams are teams entirely consist of remote workers. A virtual team is a group of individuals or employees who are geographically scattered across different locations locally or globally and different time zones sharing information and cooperating in real-time using various technology tools like online communication, cloud applications etc. Managing virtual teams has its own set of challenges and benefits, but overall the benefits outweigh the difficulties.
Here are few tips on how you can manage your virtual employees
Choose right communication tools
Communication is one of the tops challenges for virtual teams. It requires a plan to drive it. Since teams aren’t together in a co-located office, everyone needs to be dynamic in creating a communication schedule. Discussion that takes place in an office can sometimes be immensely helpful and productive, generating new ideas that might not have come to light in another context. Email, in particular, is a solid tool for conversation, Skype or Google Hangouts are great for quick instant messaging. Virtual phone systems centered on cloud technology can be used for quick calling and task management. Also, Project management tools can help you keep your communication in a lot more organized manner and you can refer to it whenever you want. It also helps new people when they join, as they can refer to the previously discussed points. Also, using screen sharing tools like TeamViewer, join.me etc. comes handy when you want multiple people to see the same screen in real time.
Promote remote team building
Remote team building won’t happen naturally and it’s not an overnight process, it requires constant efforts on your part as a virtual team manager, also from your team members. Some easy ideas for team building are a daily video standup, a weekly meeting where the team can share about their personal life along with professional thoughts like what they did over the vacation or weekend. Additionally, setting professional goals contributes to being systematic and puts people in the right mindset.
Track working hours
In a flexible environment, it’s becomes difficult for a manager to actually find out how many hours team members are working or even if they are working at all. In this case you need to track work hours by using software to make sure that your team members are working on the tasks at hand, few software can help you see what projects are being working on, which websites team members are visiting, applications being used, and even time spent working and time on breaks in real time.
Make expectations clear
Simply telling verbally someone to do a task is usually not the best way to go about managing teams. Put your expectations into writing exactly what you expect from your virtual employees including work deadlines, work hours, availability, and response times. Also include small details that are specific to your business which can cause trouble when working with virtual employees.
Build trust
It is important for the executive team to cultivate and encourage an environment of trust and give team members the benefit of the doubt. This should go without saying. Leaders are still bringing the idea that remote work does not mean less work. Build trust in your colleague’s by giving them space to speak openly to discuss individual ideas without ridicule or judgment. Employees should feel comfortable while having conversations where they can be honest and frank with each other as this will help build strong relationships not matter which part of the globe they are located.
Over Communicate.
More communication means more trust-building, less confusions and misunderstanding and better teamwork. Also, not to mention, it is one of the key components which adds to the broader success of the organization in long run. Effective communication can the solve the problem of many employees who feel isolated working outside the office. The individual may overthink about the quality of their work judged or just feel out of the loop. While communication is essential for remote teams, overloaded information can quickly become a problem where no one understands anything.
Rewards & Recognition
Have you heard of the saying “no good deed should go unrewarded”. Make sure you set up a reward system to keep your team motivated and its better pinpoint the team members that can take on more responsibility. You do get up personally and praise your employees and probably pat on their back when they do something good. Remote employees work just as hard as employees based out at an office. And they need the occasional praises to stay motivated just as much, if not more.
With time, teams are becoming more and more spry and less constricted to a physical location. Managing a remote team is fun and challenging at the same time. Ultimately it has proved to be rewarding for many companies across the globe. If you want to remember anything from this post, it is to bump in with your remote team frequently, and make sure everyone gets the time they need. If you’re planning to build a virtual team, then keep the above tips in mind and arm the tools you need to be successful.
When recruiters are looking for quality hire, there is more than a way to reach out to the potential candidates. Apart from LinkedIn and other social media site, email is an excellent tool to reach out to the potential candidates and urge them to apply for the job. If you are thinking that email is an outdated method, the statistics says otherwise.58% professionals never fail to check their email, and if you are counting the hours, they spend an average time of 2.5 hours a day checking their emails.
Email marketing serves a targeted method of sourcing candidate. You must have been using email as a source of communication. But when you take up email marketing as a recruiter, there are few tips than can help you make the right candidate reply to your email.
Surf for the best automation email marketing service/ platforms
When the goal is to reach out to qualified candidates, you must look for a few important features while selecting the most suitable email marketing automation platform. Here are the checkboxes you must tick while checking the feature.
Segmentation
social media integration
A/B testing
Personalization
Performance monitoring through data analytic
smart content
Some of the best emails marketing automation platforms are Customer.io, Contact solution, Hubspot. If you are looking for marketing solutions, do not forget to visit our website.
Segmentation is inevitable
Another significant factor which decides the efficiency of your email marketing strategy is segmentation. Segmentation of your email compliant list can be based on several factors such as job roles, active and passive job seekers, and experience in the industry or in the same domain. The main aim of segmentation is to pick the list of email recipients who are qualified and interested in the job vacancy you are offering. A pre-defined job role and expected experience can help you in the segmentation, so you don’t shoot emails at people who are not at all interested.
Simple and Clear Content with every required information
A complicated and vague content won’t help you in the success of email marketing. The email should contain the following details in clear and simple language (better to avoid jargons).
A few lines about your company (backed with your website link)
Job description of the vacancy
Expected qualification requirement
Benefits of the job like flexibility of working hours, health insurance, free trainings etc.
Expected or starting salary with the scopes of increment
A clear call to action
When a person opens his inbox, he scans through the mail first and then opens the one that catches his attention. So never forget to add suitable subject to your mail.
Personalizing attracts attention
Personalized emails get a better click rate than non-personalized email. As a recruiter, when you are enlisting the name of the recipient, you can create a connection and urge him to read through the whole mail. Your email compliant list contains a section of passive job seekers, you can increase their engagement and enhance their chances of conversion through regular newsletters or blog posts related to their professional skills, tips on job interviews or some programs or courses to upgrade their skills.
Visible Call-to-Action
The primary purpose of email marketing for recruiters is to pool application of qualified professionals fitting well in the vacancy. So, if you miss out to convey a loud and clear call-to-action, you may end up getting 5 applications per 100 emails. Either opt for an integrated ‘Apply Now’ or clearly state where the applicants can send their CV. You may also enlist the contact number of the recruiter so that the applicants can clarify any query related to the job. In order to lure job seekers for prompt action, you may use infographics to draw their attention to the lines or button of call-to –action.
Email marketing is an evergreen strategy that can help you get the desired response if used correctly. As a recruiter, you can definitely make your job of sourcing candidates less hectic through effective email marketing. The above mentioned tips can help you to kickstart or redefine your email marketing for recruiters.
What were the pain points of your marketing strategy? Let us know in the comment section below
Whether you are just out of college and looking forward to start your career or an experienced professional with many years in the industry, your resume is the passport to your new career journey and exciting fields of endeavour. Thus never underestimate the powers a resume possesses.
So here are expert tips to draft a brand-new resume or turn your old dusty retro resume into a high-powered personal marketing tool for winning interviews in today’s competitive job market.
1. Keep Your Resume Updated
Regardless of the time you may have spent being in your present job position, you constantly gain new skills and experience. Waiting for too long between updates could result in forgetting to add these experiences to your next renewal. Also, with the unpredictably of the job market, you never know when you might need your resume. Hurrying around to add new content because you are suddenly out of work typically leads to a mediocre document which certainly won’t help you land a job. By keeping it current, you will be less rushed should the unexpected happen or an intriguing opportunity to advance your career presents itself.
2. Make Sure Your Resume Speaks To The Intended Audience
For those who have many years of work experience, it is likely that not all experience will be apropos to positions that interest you. A ‘one size fits all’ approach rarely works well if this describes you. While some experience will certainly cross over, such as a marketing professional looking to move into a consulting domain, your ‘great closing percentage’ will be of little help to the company needing a new admissions officer.
3. Seek Professional Advice
No one knows your career better than you do. This may seem like a no-brainer to some, but believe it or not, there are still those who prefer on going alone when it comes to this vital piece of career strategy. However, binding that information together to create a perfect resume that will blow away your competition may require some tailoring by an expert who knows how to strategically balance content based on your professional goals. At the very least, if you are committed to write it on your own, you should research professional resume writing books to guide you in current resume development methods.
4. Don’t Add On To An Existing Document
Have you ever seen an old worn out car with a brand-new bumper? The new addition to the old car typically only makes the rest of it look even worse. The same is true for a resume with addition of some new content here and there. Spend some time to rebuild your resume completely when there is the need to add in new experience. Keep in mind that the new information should be integrated well and become a part of the bigger and better picture – not an afterthought.
5. Don’t Embellish Your Expertise
Try to be as honest as possible while drafting your resume. Don’t try to overcome certain shortcomings of your career by over-highlighting your abilities. This will only lead to disappointment for all involved. Remember, no matter what your potential employer have advertised as a requirement for the position, these requirements are just a wish list in most cases. Your skill set might not line up perfectly, but it should be closer enough than anyone else who has applied. Be brave to take a chance. It is always better to lose honestly than to win dishonestly.
6. Don’t Over think About The Length
Too often professionals are overly sensitive about the length of their resume. The number of pages usually has no impact on employers looking to fill a position. The key to stand out is in making sure the information is clear, concise, and lines up with the needs of the employer.
Think about any book you read recently. If the story was captivating from start to finish, did you concern yourself with the number of pages it took to tell the story? Of course not. Your resume is no different. No HR professional will ever turn away a job seeker just because the resume is too lengthy, especially if it proves to be the best-qualified candidate for the job.
Conclusion
Your resume is usually the first a potential employer will see of you. A great resume ultimately means a very good first impression and often the difference between an interview and the waste can. Your aim is to design an impressive document that displays your experience, accomplishments and skills that make you the perfect candidate for the job.
Recruiting the foremost effective talent isn’t as easy as several people want to assume. An employee hasn’t had a lot of choices throughout the work search. Public and personal sector organizations face similar talent shortages and more and more deploying ingenious ways in which to draw in and retain high performers. However, for organizations with tight budgets like cause-based nonprofits, state & native governments, and academic establishments, competitive against the non-public sector supported compensation alone is troublesome to try to.
With a powerful job market, employees prefer companies with smart cultures, competitive pay, and advancement opportunities. Giving employees what they need will assist you to induce and keep the top talent.
With these few tips techniques and strategies, you can put into play in order to cut through all of that noise and attract more candidates.
Company’s mission and values
According to LinkedIn’s work Culture Report, eighty-six % of millennial would take into account a salary cut to figure at an organization whose mission and values align with their own. Establish the foremost vital skills and values for your company. Then fill positions around those desires rather than simply hiring one worker to exchange another.
It ought to be obvious for anyone who’s hung out in metallic element that employees do not solely wish to understand however their work ought to get done and the way it’s being measured, but also, that they perceive however those efforts align with the future mission, and vision, of their various employers – and why those efforts refer the business.
Employee Happiness
No, this doesn’t merely mean telling candidates what proportion you price worker satisfaction. Once the corporate culture is formed upon the principles of advantage, it reflects on the retention levels of the organization conjointly.
Think of your current workers as walking, talking billboards. Also, you already assume your current workers are talented mean, and productive. This army of workers members can facilitate to not solely rave regarding your culture and boost your employer’s name however in addition to expand your reach and broadcast your hiring must their own webs of contacts.
Employer Brand Advantage
For brands with operations unfold across geographies, or for conglomerates with several businesses below them, ‘one size fits all’ approach doesn’t work. It’s not necessary that the story a whole desires to speak is that the same all told the regions.
When you consider promoting a business, you seemingly consider selling your product or services to consumers. However, if you’re progressing to attract the proper talent to your organization, you ought to place even as a lot of stress on promoting your brand.
Change goes to come back. It’s up to you to confirm your employees go together with it.
It’s important to keep your talent pool full of high-quality candidates as being a leader you wish to grow your company or your team. Also, you never know when people might leave your organization suddenly for some reason.But being prepared would definitely help as you would not want to waste 3-4 months for your next hire.Engaging top talent will shorten your recruitment cycle and is a good way to stay ahead in the fierce combat for talent.
Building a robust talent pool might seem difficult to accomplish, but with little bit of your continuous efforts, it’s easy enough and the results will surely be worth doing it. Make it a part of your routine, reserve time slots in your calendar and make it a point to meet new people within your industry.
Here are four hacks for you to build up your talent pipeline and foster your relationships with passive candidates:
Leverage Your Networks
Collegiate and other professional collaborations can be a great way to fill your talent pipeline. These affiliations will open doors to intellectual discussions and help you build relationships, as you already have something in common. Don’t limit this to just your own network, make sure your team is also on look out within their own networks. Setting up great referral program is best way to make it worth it.
Direct Outreaching
Use social media platforms like LinkedIn or Twitter to target some of your top prospects. For higher-level or technical position, many of the candidates will have their presences on LinkedIn and GitHub for sure. Upgrade your LinkedIn account and connect to relevant groups, this will allow you to send in-mails or have access to their contact information. However, avoid the hard-selling part and instead consider sharing an interesting article or ask them a question. This will open the lines of communication and you can further engage them about open opportunities at your organization.
Personalized Messaging
Rather than tormenting prospects relentlessly through labour-intensive conversations, try to stay on top of their mind. Have a real reason to reach out to someone – for example, you can send an article that reminded you of a conversation or a work anniversary congratulations message. Encourage your team also to brand themselves and personalize their messages.
Host Events to Engage your local industry to find passive candidates.
Best way to develop strategy to build your talent pool is to engage them on a personal and genuine level. You can consider organizing happy hours or open house and invite your area professionals into your organization and publicize the event by using social media platforms and a curated email list. Other great events that can be considered to attract talent might include inviting speakers, hack-a-thons and other industry meetups. These events will allow others to get a peep into your company and its culture. Also, do not forget to do your research on the attendees so that you can introduce them to the right people within your organization. Also encourage your team mates to attend the event.
Final Thoughts
Consider your talent pipeline a community, not just a database. Put continuous efforts to keep your pipeline warm and deliver what you promise. Building talent pipeline for your hiring needs might seem of obvious importance but, with so many priorities on your plate, it is easy to run out of time and you may forget to keep in touch. To avoid this send yourself calendar reminders to stay connected.
Create one “source of truth” to keep your all your teammates on the same page. Use it to keep track of your metrics over time, so you can be sure that your efforts are producing results and never sacrifice speed for quality.
