States that are Reopened:

• Alabama

• Alaska

• Arizona

• Arkansas

• Colorado

• Connecticut (still waiting on Personal Care)

• Florida

• Georgia (still waiting on Entertainment)

• Hawaii (stay-at-home order to expire May 31st, but Outdoor, Recreation, Retail, Personal Care, Industries, and Houses of Worship have reopened)

• Idaho (still waiting on Outdoor and Recreation and Food and Drink)

• Indiana (still waiting on Outdoor and Recreation)

• Iowa (still waiting on Entertainment and Outdoor/Recreation)

• Kansas

• Kentucky (still waiting on Entertainment and Outdoor/Recreation)

• Louisiana

• Maryland (still waiting on Food and Drink and Outdoor/Recreation)

• Massachusetts

• Minnesota (still waiting on Food and Drink, Personal Care, and Outdoor/Recreation)

• Mississippi

• Missouri

• Montana (still waiting on Entertainment)

• Nevada (still waiting on Outdoor and Recreation, Food and Drink ,Personal Care, Entertainment, Houses of Worship, and Retail)

• New Hampshire (“stay at home” order expiring May 31st, but Retail, Personal Care, Outdoor/Recreation, Food and Drink are open)

• North Carolina

• North Dakota

• Ohio (“stay at home” order to expire May 29th with Outdoor/Recreation opening soon)

• Oklahoma

• Rhode Island (still waiting on Houses of Worship)

• South Carolina

• South Dakota

• Texas (still waiting on Outdoor/Recreation)

• Utah

• Vermont

• Virginia

• West Virginia (still waiting on Personal Care, Outdoor/Recreation and Entertainment)

• Wisconsin

• Wyoming

So, now that you know which states are on their way in the right direction, you can better prepare best practices in the office if you’re on this list or if you’re scheduled to reopen soon. Check it out

Best Practices

• Social Distancing

• Daily, if not weekly sanitization

• Masks if necessary

• Sick employees? Stay home!

• Cancellation of all non-essential business-related travel

• If your office is too big to safely return - allow most essential employees back into office and continue remote work at a decreased capacity.

• Have a COVID-19 plan in place for anyone who might test positive for the virus both with or without symptoms

What else do you deem fit to combat Coronavirus and the return to work? Have you returned yet? What’s changed, if anything? How are you protecting yourself during this time? Let us know.

The following is written by Cyber SC

WHAT IS CLOUD STORAGE?

At its root, cloud storage is online data storage supplied by a third-party provider. Cloud storage lets you store your files, pictures, videos etc. on the server of your provider of choice. The disadvantage of cloud storage is that you don’t have direct control of those files because they’re not saved within your own walls. On the other hand, there are some important advantages, including:

1. Visibility: You don’t have to be tied down to a particular workstation. You can access your files through a secure connection.

2. Bandwidth: It is less confusing to send and receive files. You can just send a link to that file in your drive and provide access to whomever you choose.

3. Built-in Disaster Recovery: Your files are being backed up for you if your computer crashes.

MORE COMMON PLATFORMS

Choosing which reputable cloud storage provider to use is less important than understanding how to securely store your data in the cloud.

Ultimately, it doesn’t matter which of the popular cloud vendors (Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, or Amazon AWS) you choose — all of these providers have good security measures in place. What matters most is how you configure them so that you’re using your cloud storage securely.

YOUR CROWN JEWELS

Putting online data storage for your organization into perspective of the big information security picture, cloud storage is one important aspect of the technology category. In order to keep your critical data secure, you need to take good care of each of the following cyber security categories: People, Processes and Technology. A common misconception is that when data that has been entrusted to your organization is stored elsewhere, the risk is transferred along with it to the cloud provider. Unfortunately, from a legal perspective, this is not the case; You are responsible for safeguarding this data.

Before you store any data in the cloud, the first step you must take is to be aware of your data. What are the crown jewels, the most sensitive information belonging to your customers, business partners, vendors, clients, and shareholders, in your organization? From there, you must be aware of the risks you face when you choose to store any data in the cloud.

WHAT IS THE UNDERLYING RISK?

The top four inherent risks in cloud storage are:

1. Risk of unauthorized access to your sensitive business data.

2. Legal, contractual and compliance risks such has health care information which can’t be stored outside of Canada.

3. Cloud storage vendor security risks in that the vendor might not have the proper security controls in place.

4. Availability (down time) risks if the platform goes down and you can’t access your files.

HOW DO WE ADDRESS THOSE RISKS?

Firstly, make sure you take the time to go through the access controls provided by the cloud provider to ensure that they mirror your internal access permissions within your company. You can take security a step further by encrypting your files before you store them in the cloud so it’s not being sent as raw data.

Secondly, understand what categories of critical data you have and which files you can store on the cloud. Then, go down the lists of your legal, contractual and regulatory compliance obligations when it comes to where and how you store critical data. This will enable you to effectively and securely manage your data.

Thirdly, if you are considering smaller cloud service providers, take time to do your due diligence on your chosen provider, either internally, or through a trusted third-party expert.

Fourthly, familiarize yourself with your Service Level Agreements with your provider. If the cloud provider can provide up-time to your required level, chances are they can do a better job than what you could achieve in-house. Find out what percentage of up time they are committed to and what happens when there is downtime (i.e. you get money back).

CONCLUSION

The main and most important takeaway from this article is to be aware of your data and understand how to store your files in the cloud securely. In order to experience the benefits of storing your information in the cloud, you need to do three things: Choose a reputable provider, understand the risk you face and take the steps outlined above to address those risks. Doing cloud security properly is the right thing to do for your shareholders, vendors, business partners, employees and customers.

1. Candidate Overload - The number one reason why you need to get your metaphorical ducks in a row is because of the potential for candidate overload on all of your job postings. Yes, having 200+ candidates is great! It means people are interested in you and your open position. What’s not great though, is having to skim through all of those resumes at a mile a minute just to get to your top 10. And, the odds of you even being able to give each candidate a fighting chance are slim to none. Why? How are you going to parse through so many resumes? The odds of you reading past 20 are slim, much less 200. And, that’s not just 200 total, that's 200 per posting. 200 on LinkedIn, CareerBuilder, Monster, etc. Hundreds and hundreds of applicants are going to apply and if you don’t have something in place, whether it be an ATS, third party service, or entire team with eyes on these applicants...You’re going to crumble and miss out on the best.

2. Remote Work is On the Rise - Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the trend of remote work looks like it’s here to stay. If you choose to open up a remote position, that’s great! But, how are you going to fill that job? Have you ever managed a remote employee? What about recruiting for one? And, much to the point of number 1 on this list, because remote work is on the rise, if you open up those jobs to remote applicants...Talk about an influx. You could get hundreds of applicants on just one posting alone. And with no help, that one posting is going to overwhelm you and keep you from performing your other incredibly important tasks. And, if you do happen to find your ideal candidate in that stack of resumes, it’s important to remember what comes next. Hiring, onboarding, training, etc...That’s all a part of the hiring process, don’t forget. It doesn’t end when they sign on the dotted line. You have to do your part to ensure that both halves of the hiring process are completed for the sake of you and your team and the person you’re going to hire.

3. Technology Anyone? - It’s clear now that companies are doing away with in-person interviews...At least for a little while. And, while this takes off some of that pressure that a candidate can feel in meeting you face-to-face, it unearths a new challenge: how are you going to conduct virtual interviews? Are you going to rely on Zoom? Or Skype? Or do you want to implement some sort of technology that does these interviews for you? It’s something to consider and choosing the right technological option can be a struggle and it’s critical to your hiring process that you choose the right one. A faulty piece of technology can wreck the entire hiring process for a candidate and leave them feeling as though you are unprofessional. You want to ensure that whatever you choose is reliable...This is not a “next day” decision. This step is something that takes time and proper planning.

4. All Things Come to an End - If you haven’t caught on with a simple fact of life, it’s that all things, both good or bad, come to an end. It might not be an end you were hoping for or expected but it’s an end nonetheless. And while our end in today’s current society includes face masks and social distancing, it’s still creeping up on us. And, with that in mind, whether or not you’re activating this plan for hiring it’s important to have one ready for when that time comes. Not to mention, before you can even really plan your hiring process, it’s important that you have a plan in place for the reopening of your business, too. How long will you be remote? How will this affect those you’re hiring? Are you frozen? Have you recently been given the “green light to hire”? What if people want to work for you but don’t feel comfortable being in office? There are many variables to consider before you take that next step! Check out this quote from Barend Raaf, CEO of Harver, “Companies that are struggling today, should remember that this crisis will eventually end and they should have a re-opening strategy in place. Keep former employees close because tens of thousands of companies will re-open overnight, resulting in an unprecedented recruitment storm.”

5. You Must Stay Competitive - Other larger companies or companies with a more structured recruiting process are going to have their ducks in a row. It’s just a fact of life, typically they’re always going to be on the ball and they’re always going to prove to be in competition with you - Whether they know it or not. And with a flooded candidate market, it’s even more crucial for you and your hiring team to have a plan in place so that you get those A+ applicants knocking on your door and not the door of those competitors that you’re trying so hard to beat, right?

If you want to learn more about smart ways to hire, consider signing up for our webinar! It’s next Thursday, May 28th at 11 a.m. (est) and we will be bringing you a wonderful solution to your hiring needs! Especially during a time such as wild as this, it’s relevance couldn’t come at a better moment. Interested? Sign up here.

The following is written by Cyber SC

The typical Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) has a unique set of skills and experiences that allow them to adapt to almost any corporate culture. In order to get the most out of your relationship with your CISO, it will be helpful for you to understand what makes them tick.

MENTALITY AND SKILL-SETS

CISO’s are usually good communicators with strong analytical capabilities. They can creatively think outside the box, systematically implement cyber security controls and assess the most dangerous cyber threats. They offer organizations a big-picture perspective of the most current threats across multiple industries. As subject matter experts, experienced CISOs are driven by continuous learning and improvement. They are also team players and excel at building teams to solve problems and achieve collaborative wins.

BACKGROUNDS AND CAREER PATHS

A well-rounded cyber security leader speaks the languages of risk, business, and technology. They have to speak in terms that resonate with, and are understood by, the C-suite and board of directors. They can generally adapt and adjust to a wide range of business environments and cultures. The typical career path of a CISO is unlike most traditional careers. CISOs come from a variety of backgrounds including: Enterprise risk, IT, Law Enforcement, Privacy, and the military.

WORK PREFERENCES

When selecting your CISO, you should look for someone who is not only productive, but who is also flexible and able to adapt to difficult situations. Flexibility and independence are important to CISO’s and they prefer to have a variety of locations and environments to work in. Security is a business function that touches everyone and everything in the company. At the end of the day, the CISO is responsible for making things work and accountable to the organization to do what needs to be done.

If you can show your CISO that you understand their unique makeup and mentality, they will be deeply appreciative and effective in their role in your organization. If you can provide them with the right conditions to flourish, they will be a tremendous asset for you.

Not every organization will be able to find or afford to pay a full-time CISO. That is very virtual CISO services are handy! Especially for small and midsize organizations that cannot afford to have a full-time CISO on payroll. Tapping into a virtual CISO service allows your organization to leverage top-notch expertise and leadership at a fraction of the cost.

Regardless if you pay for an in-house CISO or rely on a virtual CISO it is imperative that your organization have cyber risk leadership. This is a critical business risk that demands proper oversight and guidance.

Our Sales Director, Rob Galberaith led the Webinar with his co-host Buddy Putnam. Through research, they learned many of the ways in which COVID-19 has impacted hiring for the worse. We see it everyday, hiring managers and recruiters alike are inundated with resumes, cover letters, and applications and can’t possibly keep up in a way that’s efficient and effective. It’s impossible….Without help!

Here’s some of the research they uncovered:

• Many companies are considering remote work to be a permanent component of certain teams or individuals. With this in mind, as companies open up remote positions - it allows for a larger pool of candidates to choose from. If you check LinkedIn, companies with “remote” positions have 200+ applicants making it impossible to accurately and fairly review candidates without help (AKA us).

• Companies are doing away with in-person interviews, at least for now. This is the perfect opportunity for candidate phone screening by recruiters as well as one-way video interviews. That way, these companies still hiring without contact have vetted candidates delivered to them and they can then choose to take the next steps.

• In April, the unemployment rate increased by 10.3 percentage points to 14.7 percent. This is the highest rate and the largest over-the-month increase in the history of the series (seasonally adjusted data are available back to January 1948). The number of unemployed persons rose by 15.9 million to 23.1 million in April. (Bureau of Labor Stats)

  • While sad, this is beneficial for companies hiring - this boosts the number of active candidates (those actively searching for a job). However, one job posting can receive 200+ applicants. Without a hiring process, plan, or some sort of help, there’s no way you can possibly review that many applicants in an efficient way while still giving each person attention.

• The flip-side to point 1 - Even companies hiring in-office positions can receive 100+ resumes just on sites such as LinkedIn. Not to mention any other existing job board postings such as Monster, CareerBuilder, etc. 100+ applicants per job board adds up quickly and without help (as previously stated), companies are going to flounder to review that many resumes - Imagine how many people will be overlooked that could’ve been highly qualified?

• Implementation of some sort of technology is going to be huge, post-covid than ever - Why? “Technology is a key aspect that can help all teams, particularly HR professionals, manage communications, collaboration, and productivity during this time of uncertainty of the COVID-19 outbreak and help HR teams shift processes to keep current talent on track. Businesses can implement technology to combat these challenges and streamline immigration-related services, facilitating a clear line of communication between all parties involved.” - Lindsay Dagiantis, VP of human resources, Envoy Global VIA HRTechnologist

  • Especially in a society of social distancing - people are going to feel more comfortable with a more digitized process than one that’s not.
    

Interesting right? Our solution accurately pinpoints those hardships that you might be facing on the hiring front and we’re able to take away the heavy lifting on the front end so all you have to worry about is hiring and onboarding. We walked attendees step-by-step through our process, what we offer, and the ways in which we lack intimidation from COVID-19.

If this sounds like an interesting topic for you, we encourage you to join our next webinar which takes place on May 28th. All you have to do to participate is sign-up! We will handle all of the details and linking so that you can be there and learn more about what we can do for you!

SLACK

Slack is one of the most popular ways to communicate with your team as an alternative to e-mailing. And, it’s our personal favorite...Slack allows you and your team to instantly connect and interact every single day either on your phone or desktop. Slack has the ability to create groups, channels, and direct messages to anyone within your organization who’s added to the slack workspace. Plus, Slack allows you to call those within your workspace either by voice or video and you can take part in file-sharing with their drag and drop option! Depending on the size of your team, Slack varies in pricing. Smaller businesses start out at around $7 a person per month so if your team is rather small - this may be a great choice! Dually, the fee for larger organizations is $12.50 per person per month - making it still a cost friendly option.

MICROSOFT TEAMS

Another popular messaging system that is taking companies by storm is Microsoft Teams. This tool is especially useful to those teams that use 365 on a daily basis for email, files, and documentation. Teams allows you to collaborate via chats, calling, and video conferencing. This option is also available for both desktop and mobile which is great for those out of office folks who might be on their phone more than their computers. What’s great about Teams is the compatibility with other Microsoft features such as Word. With Teams, you can access, edit, and share documents from Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. Price wise, Teams has a pretty stellar “Free-Plan.” This option allows Unlimited Chat and Searching, Online Meetings and Video Calling, Team and Personal File Storage, and more. However, if you want more, Teams has a ton of other awesome offers for any office. Check it out!

ZOHO CLIQ

This third option, Zoho Cliq, offers similar features to both Teams and Slack but also gives a few unique features too! With Zoho Cliq, you can chat, video conference, set up tasks, meetings, and more. Not to mention, Zoho allows users to Customize Workflows and share ideas on what they call “Whiteboard”. This feature is a great tool to use during video conferences. Here, you can display your Whiteboard to your team through layouts, maps, and more that can be instantly shared with your team! What really sets Zoho Cliq apart is their plans...This is perhaps the most affordable option as they are totally FREE and offer two plans: “Free” and “Unlimited”. Their “Free” plan offers searchable messages, file storage, 100 employees per channel, and more. Their “Unlimited” feature allows up to 500+ users. At this option, the fee per month is a dollar a person. However, for teams of 10, it’s only $3 a person - that’s $30 a month for Unlimited Zoho Cliq. This option includes full access to all of the wonderful features on an unlimited basis. Check it out!

TWIST

Twist likes to call themselves “The Alternative to Slack” - Here’s why! Twist promotes all forms of communication through their app through the use of Channels, Threads, and Messages. Twist claims: “While fun at first, Slack can quickly become overwhelming. Twist is a tool for teams that prioritize focused work, structured communication and company-wide transparency.” Pretty bold, right? Twist is more focused. Their threads close once a goal is set to eliminate bog and to keep everyone on a straight path moving forward...Not back. Companies who use Twist have replaced not only their messaging but their emails too! Twist also offers two pricing models. They offer a Free model for unlimited guests at a limited capacity in terms of comments/messages, integrations, and storage. Their Unlimited model is $5 per user per month and offers unlimited integrations, file storage, guests, and more!

GLIP BY RINGCENTRAL

Glip allows free messaging, group video chats, and task management for your team’s benefit! Plus, with Glip you can share and collaborate on files, create tasks and manage them, screen share, and more! With Glip, all you have to do is create a team and go! Then you’re free to take advantage of all of the amazing things that Glip has to offer! Much like other messaging softwares, Glip’s basic package is Free. The only difference between their Unlimited and their Free option is the amount of shared video you can partake in. This means that video conferencing and screen sharing features will be limited on the Free plan up to 500 total minutes whereas the Unlimited plan allows 1,000 minutes per user per month.

GOOGLE HANGOUTS CHAT

If you’re like us over here at ApplicantOne, then you’re pretty familiar with G-Suite. You’re Gmailing, Hangouts-Meeting, and building Google Sheets like a mad man - it’s okay. We’re doing it too! And, to take full advantage of what Google has to offer, why not consider Google Chat? This platform is built for teams and is a great way to stay in touch whether in office or remote. Chat offers the ability to send group messages and direct messages via virtual rooms to house your important information. Each Chatroom can support 8,000 visitors! Plus, if you’re already a G-Suite user, Chat is free with no additional charge! This is certainly the best deal, however if you want to use Chat and do not have the full G-Suite, you can purchase your usage monthly depending on team size starting at $6 per person per month. Check it out!

CHANTY

Another great messaging solution for your team is Chanty. Chanty is simple, yet AI powered to give you and your team the best, most user friendly experience possible. With Chanty you can communicate, collaborate, search team activity, build private chats, and more! Chanty even claims to make your teams 30% more productive when you use their system to the full extent. With their Free plan, you can use their system up to 10 members. Their Business plan starts at $3 per user per month with additional features such as Unlimited integrations, team members, calls and more!

What does your team use to communicate with during this unprecedented time...Or even, during normal circumstances? Have you tried any of the above softwares? If so, which and why? Are you still a user? We’re curious! Let us know!

The following is written by the team at Cyber SC

Picture yourself in the doctor’s office waiting for your doctor to open the door. The doctor walks in, pulls out his pad of paper and says “I see that you are having issues with your health” and then immediately starts writing a prescription. You’re thinking to yourself (or maybe you say out loud) “How can you prescribe something when you haven’t even asked any questions about my symptoms? How do you know that this is the medication I need?”

THERE IS VALUE IN DEFINING THE PROBLEM

This sounds like a ridiculous scenario but it is what a lot of organizations settle for when it comes to the prescribed solutions of cyber security technology providers. Companies are getting taken advantage of by sales people who are marketing and selling their technology products. It’s not that the products are inferior but they could be inappropriate for your situation. Their advice is biased: they sell hammers so your cyber security problems become a nail like a doctor prescribing a drug without delineating your problems. How do they know that the recommended technology solution is the one you need?

Looking at it from another angle, if you are shopping for a new vehicle, do you need a seven-seater SUV for a family of three? Before any recommendations are made, the business problems must first be defined by gathering all the necessary information. Throwing security solutions on top of problems without really understanding the underlying business requirements you are attempting to address is a waste of time and money.

COMPLEXITY IS THE ENEMY OF SECURITY

It’s always process first, then technology. CIO’s are often tempted to chase the flashy lights of the latest and greatest technology. This unsustainable, solution-first approach is putting the cart before the horse. It’s always better to have an exact problem with an approximate solution than an approximate problem with an exact solution. Don’t short-change yourself by settling for an approximate understanding of your needs and problems and their implications to your operations. Taking a technology-centric point of view adds complexity to cyber security. The approach becomes: 1) Starting with a solution and then 2) Mashing in a cyber security problem the solution supposedly solves. It’s not about picking a solution and then working backwards to the problem.

Another common misconception is that cyber security is primarily reacting to threats. Although threat intelligence is an important part of managing cyber risks, if your cyber security is primarily threat-centric you are not building a very resilient architecture. Rather than just responding to the threats of the day, it’s important to look in both directions. Like a goalie in soccer or hockey who needs to know where their net is and where they are so they can protect the net, make sure that you are in position. Avoid knee jerk reactions to security threats and, instead focus on doing security correctly. Being proactively positioned will help you circumvent most cyber attacks by default. If you proactively do the basics well it will be sustainable, simple and more cost effective. To do security effectively, it needs to be simple. When you have the problem well defined, then you are able to deal with it.

COMPLEXITY CAN DESTROY FUNCTIONALITY

If you were trying to secure a sensitive area in a physical building it would require a secure door. If you put 50 locks on the door, it is indeed secure, but it has lost its functionality as a door. The purpose of cyber security is to enable business processes. When you look at specific risks in isolation, you can weaken critical business processes. You need to look at how security melds with the overall enterprise and into your important business processes. Practically speaking, when a security process is more complex and less intuitive, employees will find ways around it. It needs to be intuitive, simple and streamlined to be effective. This approach will not only be more cost effective but it will help you achieve rapid risk reduction. Simplicity in Cyber Security = Risk Resilience.

At Cyber SC, we are ‘vendor agnostic.’ This is part of our moral code and it allows us to do the right thing every time for every client. If you would like an unbiased assessment of how your cyber security compares with industry standards, we would be happy to support you.

• Comfort is KEY - So, we’re hopefully coming off of the hump of an insane global pandemic. Things are far from normal. And guess what, that’s okay! It’s so easy to want to force normalcy where it just doesn’t fit. Social distancing still exists, and let’s be real - this virus still exists too! We certainly aren’t out of the woods just yet and we must still be cautious in everyday life - even if restaurants and stores have opened back up. Do what makes you comfortable. If you have to go into the office, practice social distancing, wear a mask if that’s something you find necessary, sanitize your station...Do the things that you think are best for you and will make you feel the most comfortable when easing back into everyday life as an in-office employee. So, find out what the office is doing to keep everything and everyone safe and then see if there’s anything that you feel is missing that you’d like to implement.

• Routine Re-Vamp - Obviously your new routine as a remote employee will now be replaced by another “new” routine AKA your old routine...Following? Stick with us. Now that things are back to the way they were - or at least they’re on their way there with every passing day, it’s so important to be able to adjust. Acclimating to the old normal from this new normal is tough. You aren’t home, so on one hand there’s minimal distractions, but on the other hand, you’re back in the office. You can’t run and whip up lunch or take a yoga break. Life is changing back to corporate and it’s hard to give up that nice routine that you came to love… but it’s time to switch gears and get back to the routine that you had before. It’ll take time, don’t force anything, remember?

• Communicate, Communicate, Communicate - In a time of pandemics, social distancing, and masks it’s so important to continue to safely stay connected. We realize the odds of a full boardroom are slim these days. So, it’s still just as important as ever to communicate. Being in office has a huge advantage - Your team is right there! Zoom meetings are hopefully dying down as the offices fill back up - So, because of that it’s your job now to pick up those communicative skills we know you have. Be clear in your new routine, your comfort level, your workload, and what you can do to help.

• Schedule it! - Remember how important time blocking was about 3 weeks ago? Well, it’s just as important now! Scheduling your day, planning your weeks, blocking your time...It’s so crucial to your efficiency and your success as you ease your way back into the office. Not to mention, with your team popping their heads in every few minutes, it’s very easy to lose track of tasks and “to-dos” from those around you. So, as soon as something pops up - schedule it! Write it down, set aside time to get those important tasks done. Make a plan. Don’t let those distractions get in the way of your productivity. Want to learn more ways to schedule your day? Check out our blog on time blocking here.

• Help Out - If you’re feeling confident and ready to go, one thing you can do to make sure others feel similarly is to help out! There are a million and one tasks to be done most days and sometimes those “one person” tasks really require two people. If you see someone struggling, feel as though you have free time, or need to feel as though you’ve done your part for your team - help out! Lend a helping hand. Be willing. Be available. Even if it’s something as simple as wiping down door handles at 4 p.m. on a Friday - It means so much to those around you and really helps you also feel as though you’ve contributed in a way that’s bigger than yourself. A willing and helpful teammate is never a bad thing.

Whatever it may be, it’s so important to readjust - However long that might take you. Remember to never force anything that isn't’ there and be always able and willing to assist and help out your team. And, most importantly, make sure that you’re always comfortable with what’s going on. If there’s things that are out of your control, see what you CAN control and take back some of that security.

The Truth

It’s incredibly important to a small business or start-up to be able to stay competitive and find something to give them a “leg-up” against their competitors. Whether it be their very own product, service, office-culture, etc. - Something has to be done or implemented to set those companies apart from the big corporations casting shadows or those competitors right down the street drawing in more business.

Just about everything has been done before, there’s a solution for this, a product for that, and a gadget to make life “easier.” So, as a business when you wade into uncertain waters, especially during a time such as the one we’re in right now with COVID-19, it’s so important to be able to stay afloat and prove that while what you’re doing may have been done before, YOUR service, product, or solution is the best and WHY!

The Solution

One way to help keep a business afloat is the implementation of some sort of technology. Whether it be a web service, SaaS, mobile app, etc. Having these technological tools under your belt can help give your business that proper boost that you need to stay afloat. By not maintaining relevance and staying up to date on technological trends, the odds of you falling short amongst the competition are high. Why? Odds are, these major corporations already have some sort of technology that enables their success. If a potential client comes your way for business and finds out your competitor is using a “proprietary technology” or similar tool, it puts your competitive advantage at risk.

Luckily, here at ApplicantOne, we have a way to keep businesses afloat by assisting on the hiring process! Now more than ever, especially in dealing with COVID-19, it’s so important to have some sort of hiring plan or re-bound in place so that, #1 you can fill those positions, but #2, you can stay competitive with a recruiting solution like ours on your side. Plus, when you have an awesome team of employees who love you, your business, and each other - that improves employee retention, reputation, AND many times these larger organizations have incredible “claims” but don’t really follow through. With a smaller business, you actually have the upper hand here as you can cater specifically to each employee and the organization as a whole with a more intentional, focused approach. Don’t believe us? Check out this quote from ThriveHive from a blog where they list “Attracting the Best Employees” as one of the top 7 ways to stay competitive:

Employees make your business, so naturally, the better workers you have, the more successful your business will be. Big businesses may have more employees, but you can have great employees—something your customers will notice. Your employees might enjoy working for a boss directly involved in the business as well.

Even more, our team of experienced recruiters here at ApplicantOne know the industry in and out and have worked with a variety of different industries, professionals, and experience levels. So, their ability is unmatched and their focus is lasered. Here’s a quote on the topic from one of our recruiters, Nathan Lewis:

Small businesses typically don't have a budget in place for expensive technologies to help them. We live in an era where business tools are essential for success, and those tools should be accessible first to HR. Employees are a business's most valuable assets, therefore it makes sense to have an affordable yet powerful tool to keep track of candidates while maintaining a visual on their progress through the application process. That's where ApplicantOne can help immensely.

Want to learn more about ApplicantOne and the ways in which our small business can help YOUR small business? Here’s a few things you can do: Request a Demo, Sign-Up for our Webinar, OR check out our Services Page!

A team member is ready and able to talk to you now about our solution - We are passionate, dedicated, knowledgeable. Find out for yourself the difference ApplicantOne can make!

The following is written by Dominic Vogel

Today’s cyber criminals now have access to advanced tools and sophisticated strategies. Arguably though, their most powerful weapons are patience and persistence to mount a sustained attack on your organization if you end up in their crosshairs. If they want to access the data in your network, they will find a way. Their motivation, in most cases, is the revenue they can generate from your sensitive information. But who are their prime targets and what makes them so appealing to cyber criminals? Three common targets for cyber crime are: Law Firms, Financial Services and Brick-and-Mortar Businesses. Within each of these categories, here is what cyber criminals are after:

Law Firms

Cyber criminals are looking for valuable, juicy details hidden inside client files. If they find their way into the network of a law firm, they are not going to be disappointed. They will obtain data that they can directly monetize or that can be used for a broader social engineering campaign later. Law firms have all kinds of sensitive financial information (account numbers & other sensitive account information, credit card information), personal information about themselves and their clients and business insider information. Cyber criminals can find out about a pending business deal and then: a) impersonate a party in a deal to another party or b) blackmail an individual or company with that information. Cyber criminals can monetize any sensitive data either directly or indirectly in a targeted fashion.

Financial Services Providers

It almost goes without saying (but we’re taking it upon ourselves to say it) that when clients of financial service providers give their personal details to their advisors, they expect that information to be safeguarded to the highest degree. Who among us would not insist on the highest standard of cyber security for their private investment or bank account information? Professional services are given financial information, social security numbers, sensitive businesses information and private family and health information. Cyber criminals can directly monetize this information if they sell it on the black market or if they gain access to those accounts. Alternatively, they can send out phishing emails impersonating financial institutions and investment management companies saying that they need to ‘reset their password.’ Now cybercriminals have access to your account. In a less direct manor, the information can be aggregated to tell more about a person and that information can subsequently be used in an attack. There’s no end to how creative a determined adversary can be in getting their hands on your valuable information, whether directly or indirectly.

Brick & Mortar Businesses

Particularly of interest to cyber criminals that target Brick-and-Mortar businesses are things like the financial information of their customers, customer lists, company account information, business processes and plans, lists of company suppliers, and intellectual property. Vendors and business partners can have login credentials into your networks which can open up a significant entry point for a carefully crafted cyber attack. Even seemingly innocuous data can be used against the company. These professional cyber attackers scan for something they can use in a phishing attack to make the attack sound more legitimate and then, after getting into an organization’s network, they will monetize the data indirectly.

The three categories we have explored in this article are just the tip of the iceberg. The list of professional services, from mortgage brokers to business consultants, is extensive. Accounting firms, for example, have extensive business and personal financial records and hold similar information to law firms. Brick-and-Mortar business is another broad category which could be anything from restaurant chains to manufacturers to retail stores. From hotels to insurance brokerages, the list of prime targets for cyber criminals is long with many subcategories. 

Cyber criminals are doubling down on attacks during the COVID-19 situation. They are sharks smelling blood or a hunter chasing a wounded animal. They know how thinly stretched small/midsize organizations are right now. As many organizations go into “survival mode” they must plan for how they will maintain a resilient cyber security posture. Even during cost cutting times organizations must focus on the cyber security basics and ensure that they are doing them well. Do not become an easy target for cyber criminals during this time! A data breach is the last thing an organization that is barely surviving needs to deal with!

Practical Advice

If you are concerned about the possibility of a cyber attack on your organization, here are six fundamentally important steps you can take:

1. Do an inventory of all your valuable assets (intangible assets that you need to protect)

2. Create your risk register

3. Select which risks should be treated and in what order the risks should be treated in

4. Select risk treatment options (controls) for each risk in the following categories:

a. People

b. Processes

c. Technology

5. Implement the controls

6. Regularly monitor and review the effectiveness of your controls

Completing these action items with get you started on building your cyber risk management framework and hardening your cyber security posture. In order to successfully manage your cyber threats, you need to do the basics well.

• Set Aside the Time - Depending on whether or not you’re in office or at home, intentions matter. Being able to set aside the time to plan meetings, relay messages, and updates and anything else that is relevant is so important. Whether you set aside time at the beginning of everyday or at the end of the day - it’s crucial that your team is on the same page and that everyone’s included in any necessary communications.

• Check-Ins are Important - A lot of times large team meetings can seem isolating for the quieter employees, especially on those Zoom meetings where it’s easy to ‘mute’ and listen. Which is why it’s so important to take the time to check-in with individuals periodically. And not as a way to make sure they’re performing - you should trust that they are - but as a way to make sure they’re doing alright and if there’s anything that you can do to help them.

• Don’t Over-Do It! - Yes, there is such a thing as ‘over-communicating’! Don’t do it. When you over communicate and schedule meeting after meeting, you then lead your team to resentment. They won’t take the meetings seriously and may not be as eager to engage. THe whole point is to be effective, right? If that’s the case, then think about limiting the meetings to once a week or even three times a week. Daily meetings can become monotonous and especially in a time like this, many businesses are experiencing slower seasons and there truly may not be enough to report on every single day.

• Be Available - If you lead a team or even if you’re a team member, you need to be available for those around you! Here at ApplicantOne, a major way that we communicate is through the messaging app called Slack. There we’re able to instant message anyone in the company at anytime during the day. However, the only way that our Slack is efficient is when we are all active and online. So, whether you use something like Slack or you depend on emails and cell phones, make sure that during working hours you’re available to communicate or respond if and when someone needs you!

• Have an Agenda! - This is huge for effective communication. When you are the meeting organizer or conversation initiator, be sure you have some sort of agenda or plan for what you need/want to cover during the conversation. There is no other time waster like winging a meeting. Be intentional, be reasonable, and consider how YOU would want a meeting to be when you schedule them. Basically, this means - BE PREPARED!

• Be Present - If you’re invited to a call or a meeting and there’s a discussion to be had, make sure you interact! If you have an idea, problem, or a solution, speak up! Your perspective is valuable as it is but in situations like these it’s critical. Be present, be engaged, be communicative! Especially if it’s a two person meeting - 50% of that call is dependent on YOU! So, if you have that much control over a meeting then you have the power to make it an efficient communicative effort. Just sayin’!

How have you made the effort for a more communicative and efficient conversation? Has intentional communication made a difference in your team’s success and overall productivity? Let us know!

We’re sure you know at least one or two people who bring up politics in almost every conversation and you’re not alone. While the discussion of politics certainly is important and one that should be discussed - The office is probably one of the most inappropriate places to have one of those discussions. Especially if you know you and your coworkers don’t align.

While many can politely discuss political issues, others cannot. We see it everyday on Facebook and on T.V. - It’s a battle among each other to fight for their own beliefs and sometimes those fights get plain nasty and lose the relevance of politics altogether. With that in mind, it’s incredibly easy to get into fights at work - and nobody wants that!

Here are two stats about the topic of politics in the workplace from Glassdoor:

• 3 in 5 employees (60%) believe discussing politics at work is unacceptable.

• 60% of employees believe discussing politics at work could negatively impact their career opportunities.

So, to limit the temptation to discuss politics, here are a few ways you can approach the topic with your team.

• Don’t Rub Your Political Views in the Faces of Others - The workplace is a place for professionalism and having political garb around, showboating your beliefs is a surefire way to start a fight. Honestly, these days it’s pretty easy to tell who’s on which side, so everyone probably already knows where you stand - you don’t need to wear it on your shirt or parade it around the office. Keep it professional and don’t throw the first metaphorical punch by flaunting your views.

• Do NOT Bring Up Hot Topics - The first way to pick a political fight is bringing up major issues in politics right now that have strong opinions. We all know what they are, we don’t need to discuss them on Tuesday at the water cooler. Keep your views on these topics in particular to yourself at work. Even if you think your view is the most popular - having 50% of the office on your side really isolates those who don’t think the way you do. Plus, people with strong opinions on hot topics tend to start fights - We don’t want that, remember?

• If a Debate Ensues...Walk Away - Sometimes things just happen and there are those people who will debate regardless of any guidelines or rules. When one approaches you looking to debate or fight - just walk away. Be the bigger person. If you want to have a polite discussion that’s fine but as soon as it escalates, end it. Don’t be on the other half of that argument, especially in the office.

• Find Other Ways to Connect - If politics is a big deal to you and you enjoy the debate, find other ways you can connect with your employees in a more, appropriate, civil manner. Go out for a drink or a cup of coffee, find similarities between you and make the relationship last. But, remember that just because you’re outside of the office, if you’re with coworkers that you don’t know very well - it’s probably best to leave the politics for CNN or Fox.

Have you run into this issue before? How did you solve it?

Don’t Expect Everything to Go Back to Normal

If you’re in a state that’s planning a reopening in the coming weeks or days even, one thing to do to help you get back on your feet is to leave your expectations of “normalcy” at the door. Even if restaurants and stores and some businesses reopen, things will not be the same. There will most likely be limited guests, spaced out tables, and masks galore. Some places may never reopen their doors again either...This period of history is unprecedented and because of that, life post covid-19 will most likely be unprecedented as well...It’s okay to have expectations, just make sure they’re realistic and don’t expect to be able to have the liberties in public that we once had with flooded stores and packed restaurants.

Communicate with Those Around You

Remember that we’re all essentially going through the same thing and we can all relate to one another to some degree. If you’re without work, talk about it to those you trust. If you’re going back to the office soon and feel the stress of major change once again, talk to your co-workers or even your boss to find comfort and solidarity as a team and as a company. Be open about your concerns, your fears, trepidations, start that dialogue with those you trust and get out all of those emotions together. The odds of them feeling similar are high - We are all in this together, truly and we need eachother now more than ever!

Make a Reasonable Plan

Start building a reasonable plan of action for yourself. Whether in office or searching for a new job, building a plan that makes sense for you but is also executable is so important! If you’ve found something about working from home that works, whether it be a routine, new method, or anything else under the sun - see if you can bleed that new way of working back into the office. Obviously you won’t be home, but if a certain schedule or way of working was successful, build that into your plan. A Bustle blog has this optimistic view on planning: “The good thing about failure is it allows you to start over fresh. If your previous attempts failed miserably, now's your chance to tackle it again with fresh eyes. Or, it could be your chance to go in a different direction entirely. Admit it — all the options are kind of exciting.” SO, whether you’re applying like mad or adjusting to office life in the near future, build a plan, make sure it’s attainable, and run with it. You can always change it up if need be.

Learn from this Experience

Everything we experience in life has a lesson attached to it. We have to take what happens to us, and learn from it. Even during the dark, harder times in life, learn from it. Find the silver lining. What did you find that was tough? What are deal breakers that you have going into the future? How can I better my next opportunity or change my mindset to a more positive, optimistic one? How can I be better? It’s a tough pill to swallow to turn difficulties into learned experiences but it’s so vital for your personal growth and mobility into the future.

Change your Mindset

Your perspective and mindset can either improve or ruin you. It’s one of the biggest things you can change and is easily one of the hardest things to change. Be optimistic, see the bigger picture, find the silver lining. It may sound juvenile but it’s one of the best ways to get back on your feet, propel yourself forward professionally and hopefully discover that semblance of normalcy again.

What have you begun lately to help you get back on your feet? Has something in this list helped? Have you tried other methods? Let us know!

1. “A visionary is a leader of excellence who sees what others do not see, who achieves for now and plans for the future, who positively impacts different generations and raises up other visionaries.”― Onyi Anyado

2. “Resilience is not about being able to bounce back like nothing has happened. Resilience is your consistent resistance to give up.”― Janna Cachola

3. “A man can be as great as he wants to be. If you believe in yourself and have the courage, the determination, the dedication, the competitive drive and if you are willing to sacrifice the little things in life and pay the price for the things that are worthwhile, it can be done." --- Vince Lombardi

4. "The reason most people never reach their goals is that they don't define them, or ever seriously consider them as believable or achievable. Winners can tell you where they are going, what they plan to do along the way, and who will be sharing the adventure with them." --- Denis Waitley

5. "You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something--your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life." --- Steve Jobs

6. "People who succeed have momentum. The more they succeed, the more they want to succeed, and the more they find a way to succeed. Similarly, when someone is failing, the tendency is to get on a downward spiral that can even become a self-fulfilling prophecy."---Tony Robbins

7. "Great occasions do not make heroes or cowards; they simply unveil them to our eyes. Silently and imperceptibly, as we wake or sleep, we grow strong or weak; and at last some crisis shows what we have become."--- Brooke Foss Westcott

8. “Sooner or later comes a crisis in our affairs, and how we meet it determines our future happiness and success. Since the beginning of time, every form of life has been called upon to meet such crisis.” --- Robert Collier

9. “Someone I once loved gave me a box full of darkness. It took me years to understand that this, too, was a gift.”― Mary Oliver

10. “Stress will break people altogether if they are in the beginning too weak to stand distress, or else, if they are already strong enough to take the stress in the first place, that same stress, if they come through it, will strengthen them, temper them, and make them stronger.” -- Abraham Maslow

Regardless of where we stand with the current health crisis - we as people are resilient as ever and we will emerge from this stronger. There has never been a time in our history where humanity has not risen from the ashes. So, take a moment, ground yourself, accept the stress and uncertainty and turn it into resilience and motivation this week.

Which quote was your favorite? Is there a quote that’s been giving you motivation lately? Share it with us!

Schedule Your Day

We’ve dropped the hints by this point but we’ll reiterate - You have to plan, schedule, or time block your day. Making a viable, realistic, and productive plan is huge for your success individually and your team's overall. When you have a decent plan, even if it’s just a few hours or the morning - you’re working in a productive manner on a day where others might slack off. Enter your Friday with a productive mindset and the sky’s the limit. Check out this quote from our Time Blocking Blog: “time blocking is a great way to juggle work life and your professional life and any other side hustles you might have. Whether you spend 8-10 on emails, 10-12 on phone calls, 1-2 on personal tasks, and 2-5 on any other duties, tasks, etc you need to complete. You can even break it down even further and make it hyper-specific to tasks. For example: 8-10 scheduled social media posts, 10-12 write tomorrow’s blog, 12-1 lunch, 1-2:30 email building, and 2:30-5 miscellaneous. Basically, everyone can benefit from time blocking and time management skills. It’s something you can do everyday before work or everyday after work in an effort to plan.” Read the full blog here if you want to learn more about time blocking.

Help Where/When Needed

Sometimes slow Fridays happen. You don’t have a whole on your plate at the end of the week and you’ve completed your duties, and now you’re twiddling your thumbs. We’ve all been there! If you encounter a slow day like that, see if you can help a member of your team! For some, Friday’s are critical. Consider your team leader, boss, or director - Ask them what you can do, where you can help, and if there’s anything else you could add to your plate. Lend a helping hand, be willing to work with your team and be an asset! You will feel productive and your team will certainly appreciate your helping hand.

Plan the Next Week

Say it’s 3 p.m., you’re done with your work but the day’s not over. That happens frequently too! An easy way to stay productive and focused is to plan your next week. Inevitably, when one week ends another is just hours away and you’ll have to do the whole work week, wash and rinse cycle all over again! So, with that being said and with that on your mind, look to the next week. What didn’t you get to this week? Do you have a deadline coming up? Do you need to make an important call or speak to your co-worker? Take a moment or two and consider what is next and how you can better plan for the upcoming week. Set those meetings, time block a few days, take notes, etc. That way you can walk away from your week with a clean slate and enter a new one with organization and a plan.

Silence Your Phone

Our phones are easily one of our biggest distractions throughout any given day. I think we can all agree upon that. For some of us, our job relies on our cell phones, which is great - this may not apply to you entirely! But, if you have some work that is online, or requires other methods - put the phone away. Either silence that ringer, put it in your desk, or just turn it off! You have to be able to focus solely on one project sometimes and the worst thing for focus and productivity is your cell phone full of social media, texts, emails, and whatever else you have downloaded on there. See how much you can accomplish without your phone chirping every few minutes.

Take Breaks to Stay Sane

Burnout is real! Don’t allow yourself to experience burnout - it’s going to destroy you eventually. So, every few hours take a break. Walk around, visit with a coworker, listen to your favorite song, go grab lunch - Whatever you choose to do, you have to take little breaks to stay sane. Sitting in one spot for hours and hours can really take a toll on your productivity and focus levels. So, take 10 minutes every few hours and take a breather. Especially if you haven't moved your body in awhile. Get up, take a walk, get some fresh air, make a coffee - do something for yourself every once and awhile. That way, when you get back to work you have even more focus.

Prioritizing is Your Friend

Whether you’ve added one additional responsibility to your plate or 50, there’s never a bad time to start prioritizing. And, chances are, if you have increased responsibilities there’s a chance you had normal responsibilities before right? Are you following? Stay with us...So, if you had a normal routine before and now you’re thrown to the wolves, it’s going to be okay. It’s certainly going to be a learning experience but prioritizing is your friend. Take a step back and look at your original duties. You might not have time anymore to sit and enjoy a morning coffee or spend 2 hours replying to emails. You might have to hit the ground running, time block your day, and work backwards from highest priority to lowest. Evaluate your time spent and time you could be spending as well as your new duties - what needs to be completed by lunch? What can't wait until this afternoon? Everyday might be different and there might be some trial and error but you can do this!

This is an Opportunity to GROW

Sometimes things happen that are out of our control and out of our comfort zone. That’s life! But, the ways in which we deal and respond to those changes is what matters most. We can allow certain changes and adjustments to define and destroy OR we can allow them to adapt and learn. Don’t look at it as the newfound impossible. Look at it as a newfound opportunity to LEARN! Your mindset is key. This is an opportunity. If your boss or director passed along new or larger challenges your way - there’s a pretty good chance that they believe you can handle it. And, guess what, whether they believe you can handle it or not...You can. Change the way you think about this situation. Everyday will end - this moment is not forever.

Ask for Help

Are you the only person in the entire company dealing with change?....Probably not. Odds are, there are others dealing with the exact same issues and concerns that you are! You certainly aren’t alone and there are others in this with you. Remember the saying “misery loves company”? Well, we certainly hope you aren’t miserable but we do think there is something to be said about being comforted by knowing you’re not in a situation alone. So, ask for help. If someone on your team or at work had experience where you’re struggling, ask them for a minute of their time. Certainly if you’re all a team there should be no problem with assisting you! Don’t be afraid to reach out.

Be Willing

This is something that takes time and few people can truly achieve this but be a willing teammate, co-worker and person in general! So many people, when faced with difficulties, run away. They can’t handle the stress, they don’t want to try, and they don’t give themselves the opportunity to learn. We guarantee that being willing to at least try will get you far. Your team, your boss, your directors - they’ll notice your willingness and they will then be able to reward you. Plus, your willingness will help you learn. Sometimes you have to be selfish and think of the ways in which you can benefit and, hopefully this will increase your motivation, work ethic, and productivity and you can turn into an asset to your team.

Be Content

This is another one that’s hard for a lot of people. But learning to sit in the bad times and the stressful times and find contentment or fulfillment will make you such a better teammate and person overall. No job, boss, company, or duty is perfect. There are going to be difficulties and pain points and struggles - that’s life, remember? But, if you can learn to just be still, be content, and find fulfillment in your role at your company, this will better assist you in adjusting your lens and perspective.

The Unemployment Rate in America as of April 16, 2020

According to a recent Fortune blog, 22 million Americans have lost their jobs in the past month alone. In the week ending April 11, the number of unemployed persons during that week alone was 5.2 million. Infact, as we draw nearer to May, economists expect that number to grow by another 5 million! It’s truly horrible and is something no person, company, or family wants to endure. And, it’s entirely out of our hands in the grand scheme of things.

The Candidate Pool

Due to the millions of unemployed persons across the US, you can imagine the amount of applications sent, resumes updated, and all of the craziness that goes into the dreaded job search. Especially when so many companies across the country are on a hiring freeze. Sending application after application only to receive that message “We regret to inform you” or, “we think you’re great...BUT”. We’ve all been there and we’ve all felt that frustration. Here’s what Fast Company has to say about The New Candidate Pool:

“The first change is how companies find candidates. Due to social distancing, many are pulling back on national or global advertising, limiting their geographic search. “They look locally first, focusing on their city rather than flying someone in,” says Atta Tarki, author of Evidence Based Recruiting and CEO of the specialized executive search firm ECA. “If they can’t find someone, they’ll slowly widen the search.”

Social distancing may be a positive for internal candidates, many of whom are getting a closer look, says Tarki. “A number of clients said the responsible thing to do is put a freeze on external hiring and repurpose their internal people,” he says.

And gig workers may find opportunities, too, as companies are using them to bridge the gap, says Tarki. “Some companies are putting permanent roles on pause, filling interim roles instead,” he says.”

It’s truly an unprecedented time that we’re living through and there’s not much we can do about it - which, perhaps is the hardest part of this whole thing.

Post Coronavirus Hiring

One thing is for certain though - there is indeed a light at the end of this horrifying tunnel and when we reach that light finally, there is going to be a surplus of positions needed, even more applications sent out, and a completely flooded market. According to a recent SHRM blog, one of the key things you can do if you need to hire quickly and fill those important positions is to look inside, tap into your pool of recent retirees, and act fast!

“Once you jump-start the hiring process, move swiftly to extend offers after you’ve identified the right candidate. Otherwise, you risk losing them to your competitors. Additionally, respond promptly to inquiries from job candidates. Applicants can lose interest in a position and the company overall if they’re kept waiting.”

It’s true and it’s certainly sound advice. If you aren’t able to hire externally, consider something more internal and close to home. We have to get more and more creative with our resources as the days drag on...Hang in there. We are here for you should you need assistance hiring.

What Does it Mean to “Time Block”?

Time blocking is a way to manage your time throughout a day or even a week if you’re really diligent. This is a great way for those of you who have a lot on your plates or are easily forgetful. According to doist.com, time blocking is great for those who:

• Juggle many different projects/responsibilities (Elon Musk uses this method to run two major companies at the same time)

• Spend too much time in “reactive mode”, responding to email and messages

• Find their day chopped up by meetings

• Battle constant interruptions throughout the day

• Struggle to find the time and mental space for big picture thinking

Additionally, time blocking is a great way to juggle work life and your professional life and any other side hustles you might have. Whether you spend 8-10 on emails, 10-12 on phone calls, 1-2 on personal tasks, and 2-5 on any other duties, tasks, etc you need to complete. You can even break it down even further and make it hyper-specific to tasks. For example: 8-10 scheduled social media posts, 10-12 write tomorrow’s blog, 12-1 lunch, 1-2:30 email building, and 2:30-5 miscellaneous. Basically, everyone can benefit from time blocking and time management skills. It’s something you can do everyday before work or everyday after work in an effort to plan.

Types of Time Blocking

Now that you have a general understanding of what time blocking is, let’s get more specific. There are different types and ways and methods in which you can block your time such as task batching or day theming. Here’s another great example from doist.com on the two ways in which YOU can time block:

Task batching is when you group similar (usually smaller) tasks together and schedule specific timeboxes to complete all at once. By tackling similar tasks in a group, you’ll limit the amount of context switching throughout the rest of your day, saving precious time and mental energy. For example, scheduling two 20-minute blocks to process email during the day is more efficient than constantly checking your inbox throughout the day.

Day theming is a more extreme version of task batching for people who have a lot of areas of responsibility competing for their attention. For example, an entrepreneur often has to pay attention to marketing, sales, product development, customer support, and HR all at the same time. Instead of setting aside time blocks for each area of responsibility each day, day theming dedicates a full day each week to each responsibility.

It’s totally up to you how you want to time block whether it be task batching or day theming. And, it definitely depends on how determined you are to get stuff done. Whether you’re incredibly detail oriented and love to have a rigid schedule or you’re totally bonkers lately and have to reel it in, time blocking your day can lead to greater productivity levels, organizational skills, and time management to the max!

Have you ever time blocked your day? Are you a time blocker currently? Do you hate time blocking all together? Let us know! We want to hear about your experiences and if you feel this method of scheduling boosted your productivity.

Attitude is EVERYTHING

Whether you’re expecting the changes or not, your attitude is everything in regards to how this change affects you. To every professional change is a silver lining - Sometimes that lining is harder to find, yes, but being able to adjust your attitude and live a professional life with an open mind will make changes that much easier to deal with moving forward. Especially now, with COVID-19 knocking on our back door, we’re all lucky to even be employed - So, don’t sweat the small stuff. Dealing with the change and being employed is a gift as millions of our peers, co-workers, friends, and family are filing for unemployment…

It’s All Psychological to Me

Did you know that there’s a psychological method to dealing with change? If you’re a believer in psychology and science, you’ll want to listen up. Psycom has a great blog on the topic of resilience and how to get to that point after changes at work. Here’s a quick quote:

“Many people spend a great deal of time and energy trying to avoid change, but it will inevitably catch up to them. If you can learn to cope with change, you’ll lower your risk for anxiety and depression. Your relationships will flourish, and your body will feel healthier. But if you can’t cope with change, only a minor amount of stress can make you feel overwhelmed by life. You might also struggle to set and meet the goals you have for yourself.”

“Being able to cope with change is sometimes called resilience. Though your environment and genes might influence your level of resilience, the amount isn’t set in stone. Practicing different ways of thinking and being in the world can boost your ability to deal with change and help you create a life that is adaptive to new places and unexpected events.”

Read more on how to find your resilience from Psycom here.

Communication is Key

Changes at work typically involve some sort of expansion, re-organization, or power change and when that happens, you must communicate with those around you. Whether it’s your superior, your team, HR - Someone needs to be that source of communication for you and oftentimes it’s up to you to find out whom that person might be. Make it a priority to express any gratitude, concerns, next steps, or advice. Be open, be honest, be available. Your team is with you through the changes and odds are if you’re feeling worried, excited, or concerned - your team is feeling it too! Stick together and make the most of any situation thrown your way.

Find a Reason to LAUGH!

Listen, we understand we are in the midst of some very un-funny times and with that being said, it’s important to find that reason to laugh or smile. Whether it’s taking an evening to watch that funny movie or calling up a friend - Making light of a situation, no matter the gravity can help ease the tension and stress. In fact, according to a Harvard Business Review article, “pioneering humor researcher Rod A. Martin, who has studied the effects of different styles of humor, has found that witty banter, or “affiliative humor,” can lighten the mood and improve social interaction. Just make sure it’s inclusive and respectful. A good rule of thumb is that other people’s strife is no laughing matter, but your own struggles can be a source of comedic gold.” Great words to live by in this trying, changing, and uncertain times.

Take it in Stride

Oftentimes when we are faced with uncertainty and stress we tend to compile it onto a mountain of “now, now nows” and not take things in stride. If your duties change, your team grows or shrinks, your company moves you around - Whatever it may be...Take it in stride. Day by day...Not all at once or you’ll very easily go from swimming to sinking. Break it down. Take it priority by priority. Take your time trying to find a new routine and don’t get yourself stressed before you really have anything to stress over!

The way you approach change can literally change your life! It’s all about perspective. Take it as a fact of life and expect it - No matter the gravity. Be optimistic, open to learn and grow, and take it day by day. If you do those things, we think you’ll be able to find success...What do you think is the best way to deal with unexpected change? Let us know...

ApplicantOne was started as a way to make the job hiring process easier for everyone—whether you’re seeking employment or your posting an open position on job boards, ApplicantOne’s mission is to take away the heavy lifting from both applicants and clients. Because there are more job openings than job seekers, we seek both active and passive candidates using an advanced recruiting software and hiring platform that, to our knowledge, no one else in the industry uses. This software was both designed and created in-house by our incredible team of developers. We have what we do down to a science with a carefully curated step-by-step process that really allows our clients to feel at ease throughout the tedious and stressful hiring process.

Our Services- WHAT IS SOURCE?

A huge part of what makes ApplicantOne more than just an ATS is SOURCE. SOURCE was created by our team to make recruiting simple for our clients. SOURCE is our big-ticket item that combines both ATS with the human touch of an experienced recruiter. At ApplicantOne, we value individuality and understand that having a real life person to interact with can be more powerful than total automation.

The best part about SOURCE is the adaptability of the software. SOURCE is a SaaS technology that uses adaptability to meet the clients’ needs to accurately deliver solutions, quality candidates, and a seamless experience. We are able to do this through SOURCE with monthly customer feedback that routinely enhances the platform, which therefore enhances your overall experience with us!

Our statistics show that hiring managers are spending more than 15% of their time and energy recruiting for one position. Time is money, and not everyone can afford to hire a recruiter per position and also expect them to accurately perform their task while using 15% of their time on one candidate or client. Luckily, SOURCE handles all of the nitty-gritty that recruiters normally handle such as job posting, advertising, reviews, assessments, video interviews, phone interviews, and vetting! Once all of the front-end work is finished, one of our recruiters will deliver the pre-screened, pre-qualified, and fully vetted candidates to you through our dossier. All you have to worry about is submitting your order, allowing us to work through our systems, and then choose the candidate that works best for you! That’s it—totally painless.

Our Services - SOURCE Unlimited

Here at ApplicantOne, we started to realize that many companies and organizations are hiring more frequently and we must find a way to better serve those clients! Thus, SOURCE Unlimited was born. SOURCE Unlimited is our NEW annual-subscription model. What does this mean? Those interested in SOURCE Unlimited reap all the benefits of SOURCE with both flexibility and diligent recruiting support all year round. Not to mention, this offer includes the option for unlimited hires per position, per location.

NEW Offerings -ApplicantOne RECRUIT

Our newest offering aside from SOURCE Unlimited is RECRUIT. This aligns with the more “classic” style of recruiting as it is on a contract basis. This offering provides GUARANTEED placement and is a full-service offering. Basically, this offering is “no-risk” meaning you are guaranteed a placement or you don’t pay. Plus, with RECRUIT you get a 90-day guarantee which means WE will replace the placement should the candidate terminate their employment with you within the 90 day mark. Additionally, the placement fee with RECRUIT is at a great 15%. While all are welcome to experience ApplicantOne RECRUIT, this is best executed for those tough-to-fill, high-level, or hyper-specific positions.

NEW Offerings - Background Checking and Screening

Did you know ApplicantOne has a sister company? Meet ScreeningOne. Should you choose one of our candidates, we would be happy to recommend our sister company ScreeningOne to you to run those important background and screening checks. ScreeningOne provides FCRA Compliant Pre-Employment Screening, Tenant Screening, AND Drug-Testing. They’re your one-stop shop for all things screening related.

NEW Offerings - Partner Referral Program

We are excited to officially launch our Partner Referral What does this mean? We are looking to partner with like-minded companies/individuals that understand the importance of finding quality talent and want to help spread the word about ApplicantOne’s advanced recruiting solution. Our resources make it possible to find top quality talent in this tight labor market. But best of all, its simple, collaborative and fully automated!

For inquiries about our Partner Referral Program, please email our Sales Director Rob Galberaith at partners@applicantone.com.

With ApplicantOne, you can guarantee a unique hiring experience that is stress-free, top quality, and effective in providing the perfect candidate(s) for your next open position(s). We are confident in our unique ATS+Recruiter formula and the incredible results we see from it every single day. We are certain that our formula will provide a better experience every single time, putting you at ease during what can be a stressful experience.