HR Spotlight Interview | Sorina Donisa, CEO APT Resources & Services

A recent study conducted by APT Resources & Services in the March-April 2021 period shows that candidates expect to work from home for at least 1-2 days per week in the next twelve months, confirming that hybrid systems will become the most common working model. To find out more about this subject, and the study conducted, BR’s Anda Sebesi sat down with Sorina Donisa, the CEO of APT Resources & Services, for a special interview, part of the #HRSpotlight Series.

By Anda Sebesi

From your perspective, which will be the main directions towards the 2021 evolution of the local recruitment market?

We conducted a market study in March-April on distance work practices in Romania and we have some conclusions on recruitment processes:

Almost 70% of companies responded that the entire recruitment process takes place online. However, candidates feel the need for a face-to-face meeting before making a final decision, according to a statistic of almost 50% of our study.
The recruitment strategy of 2021 includes attracting candidates from other regions which has led to more candidates matching the job requirements.
In the next 12 months working exclusively from home will be less encounter
The main advantage of the online recruitment process remains the high level of flexibility and greater availability from candidates and recruiters.

What are the industries and positions that employers are now looking for? What are the most hunted skills?

The industries are IT, BPO/SSC, online commerce, services, production. Main positions are IT specialists and developers, administration positions in HR, finance, accountant, back-office positions with foreign languages, sales, production operators. Most hunted skills are adaptability and flexibility, proactivity, customer-oriented, excellent communication skills.

∙ Has the pandemic brought major changes to recruiting area?

Last year many companies were affected, reducing the volume of recruitment of specialists, but this year we notice a revival of the market, with a demand for recruitment almost at the level before the pandemic.

In which way the pandemic changed the employee’s benefits packages? What seems to be now the most relevant / important aspects: financial benefits or non-financial ones, such as premium medical subscriptions, learning & development trainings, sensorial experiences that strengthen the teams?

According to the study mentioned before the most relevant aspects for the employees remain financial benefits, including transport settlement and utility settlement for those who work from home. On the second place, of course are the benefits such as medical subscriptions, trainings, and the possibility to work from home. We identified a new need of the employees: the need to feel safe translated in providing masks and disinfectant, following a work schedule that does not crowd the office, even offering the possibility to be vaccinated. Another benefit wanted by the employees refers to swimming passes or sports activities designed to mitigate the impact of pandemic stress and access to a psychologist.

If you are interested in seeing more results of the APT study, you can download the report here (in Romanian).