Starting a new job contactlessly during the COVID-19 pandemic
Almost all at once, our fast-paced economy came to a standstill.
Businesses were put on hold, social distancing measures were put in place, and sadly, we bid farewell to our colleagues and workplace (physically, at least).
While many of us were fumbling around our house trying to find a good office space for work (and mourning the loss of our work-home divide), some of us were still on the hunt for our next job. I say this from experience, as I was in this exact position just a few months ago.
When the Singapore government announced the implementation of ‘Circuit Breaker’ measures, I thought my chances of nailing an interview would be close to zero. After all, “How can I get a job without meeting my interviewers?” Lucky for me, TalentKraft was still looking to expand their team, and they had a position that lined up well with what I wanted to do. I recall not having much expectation, since I assumed interviews had to be face-to-face (F2F) – or so I thought.
Little did I know, 5 of my fellow interns were also in the exact same position as me. They too were worried the COVID-19 pandemic would make it almost impossible to get hired. So you can imagine how surprised we were when we still managed to get an interview! The only difference was that it was held virtually – an e-interview. This is part of TalentKraft’s contactless hiring process, which hires and onboards candidates entirely through Zoom.
E-interview
I was at first a little apprehensive about having an e-interview. Mainly, my fear was that video interviews might hinder my interview performance and engagement with interviewers. But my fears were unfounded, as my interviewers and I could still see each other’s expressions and hand gestures through Zoom. So I still got a decent amount of interaction with them.
Surprisingly, I did not see any obvious difference between an e-interview and the usual F2F interview. This is a common sentiment felt by our other contactless hires as well!
“ It was a unique and interesting experience. I like that I can wear comfy home clothes. Since it was an online interview, there was much less tension in the air. However, there were occasionally some hiccups such as audio and video lag. “
Like my fellow intern has mentioned, I guess the biggest drawback of an e-interview is the occasional ‘freeze-frame’. Yes, I am referring to that staccato rhythm of cut-off sounds, and snapshots of your unglamorous face while the internet is glitching on you during video calls. Definitely not ideal for a candidate trying to impress during an interview!
Nonetheless, you can minimise such impediments by testing your camera and Wi-Fi prior to the actual e-interview. This would help reduce the likelihood of such awkward moments diminishing your interview quality. You might then wonder, “Uh okay, but what if I have already prepared and checked all my connections, but on D-day, my internet still fails me?” Ah, yes. No one is perfect, and neither is our Wi-Fi. Fret not. In all likelihood, your interviewers will be understanding enough to forgive the occasional lag. In the event of the worst-case scenario (i.e. Zoom entirely crashes on you), apologise to your interviewers. Then, either try to enter the Zoom interview again, or reschedule the interview if the same problem keeps recurring.
That said, it is of course still a huge plus that I didn’t need to travel to the office just for one interview, and potentially get lost and waste my interviewer’s time. I am sure my interviewers also appreciated the fact that they would not need to wait for me as well! It also makes it really convenient for them to jump into our interview with a simple click of a button, after having a full day of back-to-back Zoom meetings.
Welcome onboard the TalentKraft
When I received the ‘Welcome to the team!’ email, I was overjoyed. With the ease of using e-signatures, I swiftly filled up a few administrative forms (i.e. contract, NDAs). In just a day or two, I was ready to start my first day.
Arriving on my first day, fresh-faced and eager-eyed, I was greeted by a screen of friendly faces through a Zoom call. We did a round of introduction and the team delivered their project updates. From their updates, I got to know what projects were happening for the past, present and future. I then received onboarding documents that gave me a bird’s eye view of different projects happening in the company. It also gave me the essential details to get started on my project. I was then brought through all the digital platforms and programs the team used to stay productive while working from home. This included our website builder (WordPress) and team project tracker (Monday.com).
" My experience with contactless hiring has been pleasant! I do not feel that it is any different compared to the traditional hiring process. You still get all the necessary briefings, training and resources - everything required to set you up for success at the company! "
Online Training
Over the next few weeks, we went through three online training workshops: slide-writing, problem-solving and content writing.
1. Slide writing workshop –
As most of us had no consulting experience, this workshop gave us exposure to consulting slide deck-writing. We were made aware of the dos’ and don’ts’ of handling a consulting pitch. Knowing what is expected of us definitely helped us match our managers’ expectation of us for future sales pitches.
2. Problem-solving training –
Despite having limited time to brainstorm for solutions, we enjoyed the challenge of solving problems on the fly. We mainly learnt how to define problems better and generate a comprehensive list of options. Not only do these skills help in case solving, it pretty much applies to any problem in life.
3. Content writing workshop –
Going back to basic linguistics, we revisited grammar and vocabulary rules. We reviewed the right time to use different words in various instances and scenarios. We also learnt to be more concise and directive when structuring our content. These are all essential to get critical details across in the shortest amount of time – which is of paramount importance during consulting pitches.
Settling into start-up culture
Collaborative decision making
Exiting a governmental organisation and going into a start-up was quite a culture shock for me. Perhaps the starkest difference was the shift from a top-down decision approach to a round-table discussion when making strategic decisions. Everyone here contributes their ideas, thoughts and opinions, and collaboratively, we then reach the best decision for the company.
Flat hierarchy
The flat-hierarchical structure gave me the opportunity to not only propose and execute my own ideas, but I also get the chance to work directly with the co-founders. You would never even get to pitch your ideas to the directors of larger companies, let alone execute them. For instance, when I was at a governmental organisation, I didn’t even get to see my director much, let alone share my ideas with him.
“ I appreciate that the company entrusts me with large projects. It is very rare for interns to get to pilot something!”
The flat hierarchy also makes it feel like my opinions matter and that I am making tangible contributions to the company. But as we all know, with more power comes more responsibility.
Fast-paced
Everything at a start-up moves at lightning speed, so you will need to be proactive in order to keep up. New ideas, processes and content are being churned out everyday. The way we do things can be one way today, and completely different tomorrow. At start-ups, you will be challenged. You will be expected to adapt quickly to situations, and take on tasks outside your job scope. But these are precisely the things that make start-up culture so dynamic and vibrant.
Cross-functional
The cross-functional nature of work means everyone gets to learn or do a bit of everything. Above all else, be prepared to step out of your comfort zone! Without discomfort, there will be no growth. So come into a start-up with a growth mindset, and I promise you, there are endless skills you can pick up!
The TalentKraft Way
Company culture also matters. Without meeting the team physically, we miss out on a lot of opportunities to catch up over coffee, or even do simple things like have a meal together. That’s why I appreciate the online weekly meals, daily updates and team bonding activities we have to keep us connected.
Daily team updates
Daily morning catch-ups keep the team updated on the progress of various projects. It also helps us identify the problems that can be rectified immediately and those that would need further discussion. We also use this time to swiftly coordinate meeting times for the day. As such, it is very common that our team’s calendars get filled up right after our morning meetings. Nonetheless, despite our hectic schedule, everyone is always willing to lend a hand when you need it. Even while I was handling projects on my own, I always feel like I have a team to back me up!
Weekly team lunch
We also set aside time for everyone to stop work and come together to eat, share stories and just chill out with casual conversations. This gives newcomers like us a chance to get to know more about our team members, including those from other departments that we do not usually interact with.
Team bonding activity : Virtual Amazing Race
Perhaps the most iconic activity (and all our new hires agree!), was the Virtual Amazing Race we had a few weeks ago. In 2 hours, we travelled all around the world. And we didn’t even need our passports!
What kind of sorcery is this, you ask?
Well, we Zoomed around the world of course!
From Oslo to NYC to Singapore, we ‘walked’ around these locations using Google Earth and Google maps looking for clues to our next destination. The route consists of a mixture of crossword puzzles, jig-saw and general knowledge quizzes that led to further hints. We then ended the race off with a ‘group photo’ at an iconic Singapore landmark that we felt represented our team. Yes, it was a Zoom screenshot. We practiced safe distancing, don’t worry!
Starting a new job is in itself terrifying. What more if you are unable to meet your teammates and bosses. One thing that we, new hires, look forward to the most is meeting the team in person! Till that day comes, everything will continue to feel a little surreal.
I am just glad that there are so many ways to bridge the physical gap between us nowadays. Whether it be eating lunch together, playing games online or sharing project progress, I feel assured that my team will always have my back.
So if you are still looking for a job during this trying period (like I was), don’t worry too much. Just take that leap of faith, send in that application, get on that e-interview. You will see that becoming a contactless hire is not as terrifying as it seems.
Wishing you the best!
Jess.
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