In light of the current events going on in and outside of the business world, it’s important to look at ways we can adjust our business plans (and lifestyles) to be able to move forward regardless of the questions still on the table. This article, with tips on how to rebuild your business during our current crisis, comes from Entrepreneur.

5 Tips for Hiring and Team Building Remotely

The entire world changed in a few short weeks this spring. A global health crisis catalyzed an economic recession, and uncertainty began impacting entrepreneurs and startups everywhere. Founders, business leaders, and entrepreneurs alike have seen firsthand the importance of finding innovative ways to adapt your business to new situations, while continuing to have a “people-first” mentality.

For anyone fortunate enough to be hiring right now, you’ve probably discovered that recruiting and onboarding on new talent is a whole new reality, with a whole new set of considerations.

Here are some ways you can pivot your interviewing and hiring process to be fully remote:

1. Invest in your people first

From both a hiring and retention perspective, supporting your existing team is a strategic function of your business. While every startup’s needs are different, you can — and should — prioritize creating a positive experience for current and potential employees to attract the best new talent.

2. Utilize shared resources

Companies across the world are dealing with change at an unprecedented pace. One estimate places the number of laid-off startup employees at more than 30,000 since March 11 — and that’s just at startups. With so many people looking for work, regular reports are issued about companies still hiring during this outbreak. If you’re hiring, reach out to relevant outlets to see how to add your company to these lists.

It’s also important to personally connect with your community, whether that’s with your peer network, other companies in your city or checking out community boards. Doing this can help you crowdsource new resources, like opt-in layoff lists for talent, and give you an outlet to share challenges.

3. Acknowledge (and adapt to) the human toll of this moment

People are dealing with tremendous challenges, from parents juggling childcare responsibilities alongside full-time remote work to the general anxiety that prolonged isolation can bring. Rather than gloss over those realities, openly acknowledge them in interviews and onboarding.

Studies on organizational transformation have found communication is the most important factor for success. Communicating right now may look different, but it’s critical. Share regular updates with candidates and employees, early and often, even when you don’t have all the answers. Candidates are now frequently asking how companies are dealing with COVID-19. Proactively share your organization’s policies, so candidates feel a greater sense of certainty about your business. Encourage two-way dialogue, empowering people to ask questions and share concerns.

4. Create new experiences tailored for virtual life

It’s impossible to fully recreate an in-person experience virtually, so it’s important to adjust accordingly. Experts are noticing heightened “video-call fatigue,” a feeling that virtual meetings are more exhausting than in-person meetings due to nonverbal overload. If you can extend your interview process over a few days to give interviewers a break, do it. Scheduling is easier now, as commute times and overbooked conference rooms have evaporated. To add a welcome atmosphere, consider having a candidate’s recruiter join their video interview for a few minutes early to help test out their technology and answer any logistical questions, similar to how someone might greet them at the door if they were interviewing in-person. Make sure candidates meet a group of their future coworkers — since no matter where you’re working from, it’s the people who truly define company culture.

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