Global HR technology company Phenom holds onto the boldly stated purpose of helping a billion people find the right job. The company’s vehicle to get there is their AI-based SaaS platform, called Talent Experience Management (TXM). TXM transforms interested candidates into thriving employees and brand advocates with a single AI-powered solution that drives personalization, automation, and accuracy for candidates, recruiters, employees, and management.
We spoke to Keca Ward, Global Sr. Director of Talent Experience at Phenom.
How has this pandemic shifted the way your business operates, and how have your people responded to the crisis?
“With many organizations implementing hiring freezes, we’ve seen a growing trend of companies shifting their focus inward to the employee experience, including our own,” says Ward. “Two commonalities we’re witnessing are increased safety and security for employees, and the practice of internal mobility with skills gap analysis, gig work, and promotions. Engagement has grown significantly.”
“To enrich and connect our customer and employee communities, we started a live, weekly conversation with HR and talent acquisition leaders called ‘Community Conversations’, and we launched a podcast called ‘The Talent Experience Show’. It’s how we can come together while staying socially distant.”
What are you most proud of that your company has achieved over the last year? Are there any specific milestones you want to tout?
“We are most proud of HelpOneBillion.com. HelpOneBillion is an initiative uniting individuals experiencing job loss with committed companies who are currently hiring in the midst of this pandemic. It is a curated, growing network of 500,000 verified jobs from over 100 global organizations. By delivering job recommendations based on location, industry, experience, and skills, it simplifies the job search process and connects people with the right opportunities fast. This is more than helping people find the right job, it’s about simply helping people.”
How would you describe your workplace culture, and what attributes are you looking for when determining who gets hired there?
“Our five core values are the principles in which we recruit and hire talent:
- Curiosity
- Responsibility
- Intensity
- Self-confidence
- Positive thinking
When you uphold these types of values in your hiring process, you cultivate a productive, passionate, and inclusive company culture. It’s because of these values and our adaptability that we have been able to skillfully transition to a completely remote workforce during this pandemic.”
Are there any guiding principles that you or your company live by?
“Our steadfast purpose is to help a billion people find the right job—it’s the driving factor behind every Phenom. However, due to the pandemic, we pivoted to just helping people. We are working closely with our local restaurants and coffee shops to feed and fuel hospital staff on the frontlines tackling COVID-19. And internally, we encourage employees to set their own hours, as we know many are homeschooling their children or helping a family member in need. It’s important to always lead with empathy and compassion, particularly during uncertain times such as these.”
What are some of the best practices you and your staff do to stay connected, in general, and in times of crisis?
“As soon as we went into quarantine, we appointed a Response Team for each office location around the globe. As the pandemic constantly evolves and new issues arise, these individuals are responsible to communicate information to their fellow colleagues and ensure safety and security precautions are met. It’s how we keep ‘boots on the ground.’”
“Weekly global all-hands meetings and daily office hours doubly ensure that information is disseminated throughout the organization. Prior to the pandemic, global all-hands were quarterly, but with the ever-changing economic climate, we’ve increased their frequency to once a week. Led by our CEO, Mahe Bayireddi, these calls inform employees of upcoming events, successes, and company status. Employees are free to ask questions about the future and spark conversation among each other. We are rooted in transparency, so these outlets empower employees with the facts.”
Would you like to share anything else that we have not yet asked?
“This is the time to be compassionate of your current and former employees’ situations and respond with empathy. As our CEO, Mahe Bayireddi, says, ‘It is during difficult times when humanity shines the brightest, and everyone’s purpose is unveiled. In the midst of this pandemic, it’s about more than helping people find the right job, it’s about simply helping people.’ That’s why we encourage anyone who is dealing with job loss to visit HelpOneBillion.com and browse open roles for immediate hire.”
