You might have heard of the term future-proof. It’s usually used in relation to technology. The idea is to make an investment that will provide results for a long time, even as the technology and the world changes. This is very important in today’s world because we’re progressing at a very rapid pace. Everyday new discoveries are being made and new technology is being introduced. You need to make sure that you’re ready for the future at all times.
But how does it apply to the hiring process? What does it mean to be future-proof during the hiring process?
What It Means
Being future-proof means you need to tackle employees that are more likely to be able to handle the future. They’re more likely to adapt to new technology, understand emerging trends, and be able to adjust to sudden changes in the market or industry. In essence, you’re hiring someone who can roll with the punches that the near future might send in your direction. So how do you hire people better equipped to handle the future?
1. Discard Physical Boundaries
You don’t need to be constrained by physical boundaries when you’re hiring someone to work for you. Today, communication technology is so advanced that you can hire someone from the other side of the country and communicate with them remotely. So if you don’t find a good employee in your vicinity and within commuting distance of your office, you might want to consider expanding your search. This would give you access to more skilled and talented people to choose from.
2. IT Support
One of the very first steps you need to take when you’re trying to future-proof your company is to hire very competent IT staff. If you’re allowing your employees to work remotely, you need to make sure that you have a smoothly functioning IT system in place. One of the best ways to do that is to have a dedicated person or a team to handle your IT needs. We realize that that’s not always a feasible option for small businesses. In that case, you can easily hire an IT services management company to keep your system up-to-date.
3. Outsourcing
An increasing number of people are ditching traditional jobs and moving to freelancing. Most people realize that what they trade for job-security, they gain in more control over life and a better life-to-work balance. This means that the number of freelancers is going to increase drastically over the years. With high competition, freelancers tend to focus on increasing their skills constantly to keep a steady flow of income. You can use this to your advantage by outsourcing certain jobs.
4. Multi-talented Team
Developing and perfecting just one skill over a long period of time is a thing of the past. Today, people are focused on developing an array of skills that would help them achieve better results. Try to recruit people who’re keen to develop their talents in different areas. That’s one of the best ways to future-proof your team.
By following these tips, you can make sure that you and your company are ready to face most of the challenges the future might bring.
