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“Are you still hiring?” “How are you doing interviews?” Over the last few weeks, many people have asked the Hubert Burda Media recruiting team how the company is handling job applications. So we asked our colleague Florentina Malaj for some first-hand information. As Head of Recruiting, she and her team are responsible for finding talented people to join Burda and creative ways to digitalise recruitment processes.
Can I apply at the moment?
Of course! As before, we are searching for talented new colleagues (m/f/d) to fill our current vacancies and look forward to receiving online applications. At the moment, for example, we are hiring for Jameda, Germany’s largest doctor/patient portal, and for the Netdoktor health portal. Companies such as BurdaNews and BurdaSolutions have vacancies too. In light of the Covid-19 outbreak, however, we ask applicants to understand that there may be delays in the application process.
Are interviews and assessment centres still being held?
Unsurprisingly, the coronavirus crisis has turned our established application processes upside down. But our recruiting team has quickly found new solutions that allow us to safeguard the health of our diverse colleagues and applicants. Interviews are now being held via telephone or video call. We will give applicants plenty of notice as to how exactly this will work and the technology required. We have even found a digital solution for our assessment centres so that we can fill our trainee positions as planned. There is no disputing that the current situation is challenging every single department. But it’s also fun to try out new formats and discover that not only do they work, they also have their benefits.
How is the company as a whole coping with this situation?
Naturally, we are aware that we have responsibilities toward the people we employ. We adhere strictly to the recommendations of the official authorities. We are constantly adjusting the relevant measures in our individual departments and locations to accommodate the latest developments. At the moment, this means that employees can work from home where appropriate. Even before the coronavirus, many of our employees were able to choose where they worked, so our technical set-up is good. For those staff members who cannot work from home, for example in the printing facility, we have strengthened safety and hygiene measures to offer them the best possible protection.
How can I keep in touch with Burda at the moment?
Unfortunately, the current situation prevents us from meeting potential candidates in person at career events. Instead, we are providing plenty of insights via our social media channels – LinkedIn, Xing, Instagram and Facebook. Personal contact and first impressions aren’t quite the same in digital format. But our recruiters are producing more videos, which we are sharing on our various channels, to allow interested candidates to get a feel for us as a team and as an employer. We also recently launched our “Screen to Screen” pilot project, which enables students to talk to our recruiters and departments via video conference. Meanwhile, our Burda Community – the TalentNetwork – provides fascinating insights, tips and discounts.
