How technology changed the HR industry
Can you imagine having to buy a newspaper or to search from company to company looking for your next job? Actually, this is how your parents had to do it, not that long ago. In the times before the internet, people had to choose companies that were located close to their homes, and had to go and talk face-to-face with the employer. Resumes and CVs were hand written or machine typed. On the other hand, employers had to advertise their career opportunities in the newspapers, trade journals or the local Labour Office, and had limited access to the quality professionals they were seeking.
With the evolution of the internet all of those processes were improved dramatically. Today, if you want to take next step in your career your new opportunity might be just few clicks away, posted on one of your local job boards. You can even find it while waiting in line in the supermarket browsing from your smartphone.
Applying for a job
Using computer technology the application process has improved and individuals can personalize their applications with the help of virtual portfolios, sharing examples of their professional experience. Nowadays there are plenty of websites where everyone can find a job according to their skills and interests. There is no longer any need to walk miles to apply; you can do it all from the comfort of your sofa.
Greater access to information
Using simple internet searches you can find plenty of information about your potential future employer, allowing you to make an informed decision whether to accept a certain job. In turn this has led companies to take more care of their online presence and online reputation. On the other hand companies can also do research on their applicants very easily by getting in touch with previous employers for example. Thanks to the internet this can be achieved very quickly.
Finding talented employees
If you are looking to recruit new talent, according to this article the recruitment process brings better results thanks to online boards like LinkedIn. These give you access to a world wide variety of professionals in your field. Thanks to online boards companies from Varna can get in touch with talented professionals from Sofia for example and vice-versa, which increases the size of the talent pools available. We have to point also that at the same time this increases the competition between companies since they are not competing on a local level any more.
Communication
With the growth of online messaging services we can now get in touch with people really quickly just by sending a message or giving a call. The potential response time is very quick, and maybe even happen in real time. You don’t have to be in the same city, or even the same continent, to interview someone that may be a valuable addition to your team thanks to the apps that can connect you with people worldwide.
No more file rooms
The tracking of applications for employment has become “as easy as pie” with the development of ATS platforms (applicant tracking system). These also help companies stay in compliance and keep documented records. Some companies are creating their own ATS systems that are designed for their specific corporate needs. In addition, ATS systems allow companies to keep a record of previous applicants, so they can check if anyone suitable is available before advertising for new candidates.
Home based jobs
If you are not an office person you have the choice to earn money from the comfort of your own home as a freelance employee. A lot of employers offer this type of work, and in some cases the employees don’t need to be in the same city or even the same country. A great example of this is how the company Automattic (owner of WordPress.com) employees were given the chance to decide to work from home or from the office. The end result was that they closed their office in San Francisco since most of their employees just weren’t coming to the office anymore.
By simplifying all of those processes, the development of computer technology drastically improved the efficiency and accuracy of job seeking, recruitment, payroll etc. With the development of AI (artificial intelligence) we can only imagine what the future might bring, but for sure it’s going to be very exciting.