#BeKind - By Sarah Hanan
Quite rightly the #bekind sentiment has been prolific across social media during the last 12 months. The hashtag was originally devised to create awareness around the terrible increase in suicides believed to be caused by bullying, either cyber or real life and both equally as traumatic and unacceptable. However, since the start of the Pandemic, it’s usage widened as the impact of isolation, uncertainty and fear took its toll on the world’s mental health in general. Forgotten acts of kindness were reborn as communities rallied to support the vulnerable, we re-connected with somewhat neglected friends and family and work social events moved online (with varied success!).
So why, in these especially difficult times, do employers still not fully appreciate the importance to also #bekind in their recruitment processes? Still behaviours exist that I don’t believe you would ever use in your personal life or professional lives with colleagues or clients. The impact of these behaviours may seem insignificant to the employer but for the candidate they are hugely important, and even more so when the once-normal is now completely abnormal.
If you’re recruiting directly without the support of an agency, here are just 3 points I believe can go a long way to making the hiring process far more helpful for the candidate. It’s nothing revolutionary or even difficult, it’s simply about communication.
Give Feedback - even if just 2 sentences. If a candidate is not progressing, there is a reason so please try and be as candid as possible to help them improve
Stick to your word - if you say you are going to give an update on Friday, do it even if the circumstances are that there is no update. Another weekend of uncertainty is no fun.
Pay it forward - if the candidate is not right for your organisation, do you have connections somewhere who you think might provide a better fit.
At Wander it was decided early on to put the candidate first rather than the other way around. Hardly groundbreaking I know, but putting the humans whose lives we’re helping to shape first instead of relentlessly following the money feels like the right thing to do.
Sarah.
