These two platforms offer much more than just the one-way screening interview. They are jammed packed with features.
Assessing Candidates
The software will assess your candidates and rank according to the answers to questions you provide, and the time taken to answer.
Here is an example from Vervoe’s website:
“We use a set of algorithmic models that measure the quality and interaction of a candidate’s responses against millions of other similar responses and actions.
If you’re hiring a Call Centre Agent, you might be looking for someone with skills like attention to detail and empathy.
Our models process thousands of responses quickly looking for certain words, sentiments and actions that reflect these values accurately. Candidates that display more of these are graded higher”.
A Lower Priced Alternative
In my research I came across a highly user-friendly alternative, with awesome ratings by their customers.
Our business could not function without it because we are a remote, online business.
We use a dozen or more cloud apps to manage our clients’ finances and our own Team.
Technology, specifically cloud-based software has revolutionized our productivity.
Our clients do not print, sign nor mail cheques. It is all online, done with mouse clicks. (It is also more secure than physical cheques).
Now for the kicker…
Anything, as you all know, that has a light side, has a dark side.
The dark side of technology is that thing stuck to your hand, in your pocket, in your car, next to your computer, on the dining table…your obliquitous cell phone.
You Become The Sum Total of These Five People
There is a saying that claims you become the sum total of the 5 people you hang out with most.
Here is a variation of that one: “May you be covered in the dust of your rabbi.”
The challenge is this – most of us spend more time online reading stuff that is not what I would call high level thinking.
Most of us do not want to be covered with the dust of the people we meet on social media.
The distractions of the cell phone, social media, and the website itself can take us away from productive work.
What is the solution?
Media Fasting
Take extended breaks away from social media, messaging, and internet surfing.
As I have mentioned in these Blogs before, I use an app called Freedom. Great name, isn’t it?
With Freedom, you can set it to block websites that you may be addicted to.
Yes, addicted.
To find out if you are actually addicted, think of your favorite dessert.
Let us say it is chocolate brownies with vanilla ice cream.
Would you rather give up 1 week of social media, including the internet, or one month of your favorite dessert.
I bet most would choose the dessert!
I use Freedom to block certain news sites that I have a habit of going to throughout the day. The app blocks them on all my laptops and my cell phone.
I use it to block messaging (WhatsApp and Telegram) form 9pm to 7am daily.
I turn my phone off before bed.
Increased Productivity
All this extra time you have claimed can now be used to grow your business. To focus for at least two 90-minute blocks per day, with zero distractions.
All this messaging and internet scrolling is destroying our ability to sustain focused attention on ONE thing.
To test this, try reading a classic novel for 90 minutes straight.
Hard, right?
Two Articles from Freedom to Help You Out
Please check out these two short blogs from Freedom to explore this theme more:
This pandemic has forced a lot of people to work from home…but…wait…why…is…this…happening…
I took an in-depth look at recruitment ads over the last few weeks.
There are a lot of companies looking for Controllers, Senior Accountants, and bookkeepers.
The shocking thing is how many want someone to – still, in these days – drive to work.
At best, I have seen the words, “temporarily remote”. Huh?
Is this a control thing? Or “hey we have such an amazing culture; we want you to come to our office and share in the joy” thing?
A lot of work has to be done away from home, at a workplace. I get that.
But accounting?
We have been working for over 20 years, “in the cloud”, virtually, without paper. It works better. It is more effective, and our Team produces better results working in a comfortable home space.
There are so many benefits to working from home. Let us look at 3 types. For the worker. For the business. And for the environment.
Benefits for The At-Home Worker
No commute. This can be a huge amount of extra time for your family or just to get more done.
No dress code. You can work in your housecoat, or whatever you prefer.
No lunches out. This can save a lot of money, time, and eating at home can be much healthier!
No commute means less wear and tear on your car, and no gas. Maybe you now only need one car. Now there is a savings!
Coffee or tea or snacks when you want with no one watching. Coffee is always better when made at home.
Flex-time. Often you can work different hours – sleep in and work late.
You can take your kids to school and pick them up.
Working from home is definitely much better for your kids in every possible way!
Benefits for the Business
Happy workers means less turnover. The savings here are amazing. No re-training costs. No severance pay.
More productive workers. Happy workers, creating their own unique at-home bubble, will get more done.
Giving a benefit that people really want will increase loyalty.
Benefits for the Environment
No driving to work. This clearly is a positive impact on our planet! Less emissions, no clogged roads.
Paperless – at our company, we do not print cheques, or use paper. Everything is online, virtual, and paperless. Less trees to cut down to make paper is a good thing. Ask a tree.
Less chance of bad accidents when weather conditions are grim. Hey, this is Canada, with ice and snow, and it can get slippery out there.
In Summary
Kindly consider your people – who in your business is a knowledge worker? Consider that they will get more done at home, be happier, and stay with you longer. All this is not only good for them, and saves you money, the earth will love you for it!
I just read a good Blog from Regus (the global shared office company). Actually 2 blogs.
The first talked about 5 boundaries to set working from home. And who is not working from home (at least part-time), these days?
One idea is a new one for me. Our Team has been working from home for over 2 decades. I have not commuted in 23 years.
What the Blog suggested was a Fake Commute.
Most people hate their dreaded commute. Hours stuck in traffic every day. What is there to like?
Well, the commute was your time!
Now that you are at home, you need to reclaim your commute time. You do this with a walk around the neighbourhood in the morning before work! Great idea.
The other Regus Blog was about trust. As a leader you must trust your remote workers are productive.
I have written about this before. At ControllershipPLUS we trust our people. Our Team members flex their time. Yet they are super-productive. They get more done working from home.
