PontaHR Blog

Best AI Recruiting Tools 2026: the SMB Version

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 10:31:49 +0000

POV: You run a 20-person company. You hire 5 to 30 people a year. You search for "best AI recruiting tools" to find something that will help you streamline your hiring. Honestly, most of those lists are a bit... useless.

Everybody is going all-in on AI and just dumping in a bunch of AI functionality into a product has never been easier. But if you're a small team, you're not looking for a thousand AI features and you're not interested in how companies use AI in their marketing terms.

Here at Ponta, we're a small business ourselves. We know what small and medium businesses need when looking to add a new product into our tool stack. For hiring, what SMBs need are products with flat, predictable pricing and AI that actually helps them shortlist candidates and make sense of their hiring process. Not a list of the latest AI buzzwords.

We tried taking an honest look at ourselves and products like ourselves. Our TL:DR; is this: PontaHR and Breezy HR for flat-rate pricing, Workable and Manatal if you want their AI screening (at a cost that grows with you), and JazzHR or Zoho Recruit as budget entries.

This is written for all of you founders or solo HR people who own hiring alongside everything else you have on your plate. Not for someone with a big talent acquisition team.

What made the cut (and what didn't)

When working on this list, we scored everything across three criteria.

1. A non-recruiter has to be able to use it. Some of you are founders or team leads, and not HR professionals. If a product requires you to sit down with a cup of coffee and a manual, we didn't include it here. PontaHR, for example, is set up in an afternoon, no manual needed. Coffee is fine.

2. The AI has to save real time, not sell a demo. Every product out there now says "AI-powered." We do too! The question is whether it can read hundreds of CVs for you and give you meaningful information back or just adds a chatbot. We only kept products where the AI produces real, meaningful results.

3. The pricing has to be something a small team can predict. No surprise invoices. This one knocked out most enterprise suites, so you will not see Greenhouse, Ashby, or Workday here. They are fine products. They are not built for a team hiring 20 people a year, and they price like it. Don't you hate it when you go from 49 to 50 employees and BAM, your ATS just costs double because you hired Irene in accounting?

AI recruiting tools compared: price and AI at a glance

Prices below are as of 2026 and they change often, so check each vendor's site before you buy.

Tool	Pricing model	Entry price	How the bill scales	AI note
PontaHR	Flat, feature-tiered	$89/mo (Start), unlimited users and jobs	$210/mo (Grow), unlimited users and jobs, advanced collaboration tools	Candidate summaries, AI shortlisting, scheduling
Workable	Per company headcount	~$299/mo (up to 20 employees)	~$419/mo (21-50), ~$669/mo (51-100)	AI screening and sourcing
Manatal	Per user, per month	~$15/user/mo (Professional)	~$35/user/mo (Enterprise), more users = more cost	Workflow automations on Enterprise
Breezy HR	Flat, feature-tiered	Free (1 role), then ~$157/mo	~$273/mo, ~$439/mo (annual billing)	Feature-tiered, no per-seat math
JazzHR	Flat	~$49/mo	Feature-tiered	Budget pick
Zoho Recruit	Per user, per month	~$25/user/mo	Grows with users	Budget pick

The pricing trap: per-seat, per-employee, or flat

This is where most SMBs get burned. If you take a look at the table above, you can see three different pricing models in there.

Per-employee. For example, Workable's bill scales with your company headcount, not your recruiter seats. Let's say you hire Steve in customer support. He doesn't help with hiring. But, your ATS just got more expensive, even though you are running the same number of open roles. You pay more for growth you already paid to achieve. You're being punished for success!

Per-user (Manatal, Zoho Recruit). Manatal is priced per user per month, so every hiring manager you add to the account raises the bill. That's kinda fine, but what if you want feedback from someone else on the team that's not usually part of the hiring team? Or you want to make sure to grab feedback from their entire team. One person who ends up leaving 10 comments in the ATS ends up costing you the same as the person who hired most of your team!

Flat, feature-tiered (Breezy HR, PontaHR). Breezy uses flat tiers that scale by features, not team size. PontaHR does the same: $89 or $210 a month, unlimited users, unlimited jobs, no per-seat math and no surprise invoices. You know your bill in January and you know it in December.

Where does AI actually save a solo person time?

Strip away all the "AI-powered" labels from a marketing website. Then take another look at it and ask what a product does when you are the only person hiring. There's three things that are really important.

Reading the pile. You post a role and all of a sudden get 200 applicants. Our candidate summaries turn each CV into a few lines you can scan, so you stop reading resumes top to bottom. This is the single biggest time saver for a one-person operation.

Shortlisting. Our "Candidate Intelligence" shortlisting ranks the pile against the role so you start with the top ten instead of all eighty. We don't do any sort of automatic disqualification, but we do want you to take a look at the best candidates as soon as possible. You can see how we built this on our candidate intelligence page.

Scheduling. Our interview scheduling tools integrate against your (and your team's) Google and Outlook calendars. We show you when everyone is free and busy and then give you the tools to share your availability with candidates, getting rid of the dozen back-and-forth emails. Workable's AI screening and sourcing is cited by reviewers as a genuine time-saver, so if you can stomach the headcount pricing, it does real work. Manatal's Enterprise tier adds workflow automations.

The EU-friendly pick

If you hire in the EU, there's one more thing you need to pay attention to: how the product treats GDPR and the EU AI Act.

AI shortlisting handles candidate data and automated decisions, which is exactly what the EU AI Act cares about. From the start, we've been building Ponta and our AI features to be compliant with data and AI privacy laws.

So which one should you pick?

To put a different spin on an old adage: "Don't bring a gun to a knife fight!" For a small team with a budget, don't go wasting your money on a product that gives you hundreds of features of which you'll end up using only ten. But still pay for all of them.

Tightest budget, basic needs: JazzHR at around $49/month, or Zoho Recruit if you have few users. Confirm current pricing first. You want Workable's or Manatal's AI and accept the model: go in with eyes open. Workable's bill climbs with your headcount, Manatal's with your users. Compare them directly against us on Workable and Manatal.

You want flat pricing and real AI: Breezy HR or PontaHR. Breezy is design-forward and feature-tiered (how it compares). PontaHR is AI-native, flat at $89 or $210 with unlimited users and jobs, set up in an afternoon, and built for you. Yes, you! A small team that has outgrown spreadsheets but doesn't need enterprise software.

Best European HR Conferences in 2026

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

2026 is just around the corner, and it's filled with European events created for HR professionals. If you're looking for fresh ideas, innovation, growth opportunities, and meaningful connections, take a peek at these international events.

March

HRcoreLAB Summit

When and where: 11th - 12th March, Spain, Barcelona

Cost: from €825

Why attend?

For years, HRcoreLAB has been uniting executives from across the globe with a common goal: discussing the current state of the people function, investigating how it can be improved, and looking into how it contributes to the business's success. Join them to participate in amazing case study presentations, fireside chats, workshops, panel discussions, and interactive sessions!

People Development Summit

When and where: 11th - 13th March, Portugal, Lisbon

Cost: TBD

Why attend?

If you’re looking for a relaxed and time-effective way to gather with like-minded peers, discover what’s new in the marketplace, and find partners for your upcoming projects, look no further! The People Development Summit is the perfect place to meet senior L&D decision-makers while enjoying the casual atmosphere.

HR Festival Europe

When and where: 24th - 25th March, Switzerland, Zurich

Cost: TBD

Why attend?

This conference fills its halls with HR experts who, within their two days here, dive into the latest trends and topics in the HR world. If their 170 exhibitors don’t convince you to come, maybe their variety of speakers will!

HR Vision

When and where: 25th - 26th March, UK, London

Cost: from €1,726

Why attend?

Welcome to the tech-driven future of work! At the HR Vision conference, they believe that tech and people are just two sides of the same coin and plan to show you how the latest advancements in HR tech can help you empower your employees and grow your business. HR Vision features three parallel streams – HR analytics, best practices, and leadership insights – that offer a bit of something for everyone.

April

HR Tech Europe

When and where: 22nd - 23rd April, Netherlands, Amsterdam

Cost: from €230

Why attend?

If you’re a senior HR leader who’s looking to develop and execute impactful Hr tech strategies, HR Tech Europe is the place for you! It’s a unique opportunity to find relevant insights, share knowledge, and create fruitful connections. Focused on medium to large enterprises from various industries, the event is dedicated to one central mission: driving HR success through cutting-edge technology.

Garnet Digital Workplace Summit

When and where: 27th - 28th April, UK, London

Cost: from €2,825

Why attend?

Join the Digital Workplace Summit, the conference that helps digital workplace leaders and team members tasked with enhancing the digital employee experience use GenAI and improve technology adoption.

#HR Week Europe

When and where: 28th April, Portugal, Lisbon

Cost: from €490

Why attend?

If you’re on the lookout for a place to dive into the latest in HR, whether it’s trends, insights, or ideas, this conference is the place to be. Their keynotes, workshops, and panel discussions and sure to inspire you. They’re sharing strategies to inspire your team, make a real impact, and tackle day-to-day challenges. What an amazing chance to grow in the HR field!

May

HR World Summit

When and where: 26th-27th May, Portugal, Porto

Cost: from €995

Why attend?

These two unforgettable days in Porto are not just another HR event; it’s a gathering of people with a shared mission to shape the future of work. Over 80 speakers will inspire you to redefine skills, preserve human connection in a digital-first workplace, lead with empathy, and ensure that tech enhances, not erodes, the human experience. Immerse yourself in a rich blend of culture, content, networking, and knowledge!

June

HRcoreNORDIC

When and where: 3rd - 4th June, Denmark, Copenhagen

Cost: €598

Why attend?

Ready to maximize your potential? Explore the philosophy of work through the eyes of HR professionals working in the Scandinavian countries, where they are renowned for their talent attraction, development, retention, diversity, and inclusion. Over the two days of this conference, they will share their exemplary practices and help shape how you view the future of work.

Rewards, Benefits, & Wellbeing Summit

When and where: 3rd - 5th June, Portugal, Lisbon

Cost: from €0

Why attend?

The Rewards, Benefits & Wellbeing Summit is an exclusive gathering of senior decision-makers who are looking for workable and innovative solutions to achieve the employee reward, employee benefit & employee wellbeing goals they have set out for their company.

CIPD Festival of Work

When and where: 10th - 11th June, UK, London

Cost: €172

Why attend?

At its core, the CIPD Festival of Work is a celebration of the brilliant potential within ourselves. It helps organisations and their people build better working lives, empowering the people profession to communicate, influence, and collaborate internally. They believe that by sharing know-how and working together, organisations can truly benefit their people, improve productivity, and help society prosper.

July

RecFest

When and where: 2nd July, UK, Knebworth

Cost: TBD

Why attend?

RecFest is an electrifying festival for Talent Acquisition professionals! Tailor-made for TA and HR specialists, resourcing leaders, and hiring managers, this is not just your run-of-the-mill conference; it’s a dazzling fusion of conference-worthy content, mind-blowing vendor activities, cutting-edge tech showcases, and unparalleled in-person connections, all designed to supercharge the future of talent acquisition in business.

This list of European conferences in 2026 is far from over! As new events are announced, the conference schedule will be filled in with international events and amazing new opportunities, so stay tuned. 👀

What Is Time-to-Hire and How to Reduce It

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

If you've recently found yourself thinking about how best to track the work your recruitment team has been doing, KPIs, measures of success, and specific metrics are the way to go. In this case, the first key performance indicator you should look at is time-to-hire. It’s crucial to recruiter work and relatively easy to track.

But, before we dive into time-to-hire, let’s talk about KPIs in general and add a bit of background to these elements of your strategy. KPIs or key performance indicators help you understand how successfully you’re reaching your targets and how you or your team are performing.

Think of them as long-term goals that help you measure up against other hiring managers in the industry, your team members, or even yourself at different times. Basically, they're efficiency indicators.

Benefits of Setting Up and Tracking KPIs

Implementing KPIs can be a hassle since the process requires a bit of research and a year-long commitment to tracking, exploring, and writing down your results. But, setting up KPIs has multiple benefits:

It sets a clear goal – Implementing KPIs primarily helps you choose your focus and work toward what matters most.
It adds context to your work – Setting a KPI that matches the industry standard and tracking how close you are to it can tell you if you’re lagging or speeding ahead.
It helps you invest more energy into things that work – Writing down and tracking your KPIs will most likely help you understand what works and what you’re wasting your time on. Are employee referrals your best source of candidates? Are you spending too much time posting on multiple job boards just to get low-quality applications? KPIs can help you get to the bottom of this.
It helps others understand your efforts – Setting public goals and keeping track of how you’re achieving them, what is adding and what is distracting from them, helps not only you but others around you. It keeps the team on the same page, helps other employees understand what you’re aiming for and where you’re applying your efforts, and helps your managers see what you’re doing and how you’re approaching it.
It helps you save money – Are you overspending on recruitment and hiring? Is your cost-per-hire too high? You’ll never know until you implement the right KPIs.

What Is Time-to-Hire and How to Calculate It?

When talking about KPIs, the first metric that comes to mind is time-to-hire. As one of the basic indicators of success of your recruitment process, time-to-hire, along with time-to-fill, is used to show how long the recruitment process is.

There are a few angles from which you can approach time-to-hire, depending on what you consider ”the starting point“. Your starting point can be the moment the candidate you eventually hired applies to the position in question or the moment you first reach out to them . It comes from a difference in perspectives — the first one is from the standpoint of a candidate (how quickly did they move through the stages), and the second is from the standpoint of the company (how quickly, after getting the application, did you hire someone).

For this blog, we’ll talk about time-to-hire as the time betw** een the application of the candidate you eventually hired and their job offer acceptance**. This way, we’re highlighting the experience of the most qualified candidate (or candidates) for the position and analysing how long they were in the hiring process.

It's important to highlight that time-to-hire and time-to-fill are different recruiting metrics.

Time-to-hire is the time (usually measured in days) between the candidate application and their job offer acceptance.

Time-to-fill is the time (also measured in days) between the job posting and the day the candidate accepted your offer.

What Can Affect Your Time-to-Hire?

There are many factors that can determine your time-to-hire. Everything from the industry, the complexity of the role you’re looking to fill, the level of seniority you’re looking for, the size of your company, and even your geographical location can have an impact.

It’s intuitive that a position that requires a niche skill might imply a longer hiring process. Just like it might be obvious that a position in London, England, will probably get more applications than one in Seyðisfjörður, Iceland.

As far as the company size goes, big companies often have more complex hierarchies and thus have a selection that includes more steps or might have a more strict manager approval process.

Additionally, although a selection process with more steps might make you more confident in your pick and help you get to know the candidates better, a lengthy interview process will significantly change your time-to-hire.

Finally, companies that utilize technology and recruiting software in their staffing efforts tend to cut their time-to-hire. This is because they funnel all the applications into one place, have a single source of truth when evaluating candidates, and can often automate emails and interview scheduling.

Explore implementing a good ATS, like PontaHR, to help you reach your KPIs faster.

What is the Average Time-to-Hire?

Generally, the average time-to-hire across all industries is 30-45 days. This includes all the hiring stages you have set up in your recruitment workflow.

Retail : Around 30 days for entry-level and hourly positions.
Finance : 30 to 40 days, depending on role complexity.
Sales & Marketing : These can have a slightly shorter time-to-hire, often ranging from 30 to 40 days.
Construction : 40 to 50 days for skilled labour or managerial roles.
Tech & IT : Time-to-hire in the tech industry tends to be longer due to the competitive talent market and more rigorous screening processes. It can range from 40 to 60 days or even more for senior or highly specialized roles.
Healthcare & Clinical Roles : These positions tend to have longer time-to-hire due to the complexity of the roles, licensure requirements, and background checks. They often range from 45 to 60 days or longer.
Executive Roles : Hiring for senior leadership positions typically takes longer, often between 60 to 90 days or more, due to the rigorous vetting process and the need for a smaller, highly qualified candidate pool.

Ultimately, the ideal time-to-hire balances speed and quality, making sure the best candidates for the position are hired while still being timely and effective.

If your process is too slow, you risk losing great candidates and creating a bad experience for other applicants. If your process is too quick, it might indicate that you’re not paying enough attention to your candidates, looking over someone who is a good fit, and not hiring the best candidate. This might later cause a high turnover rate and require you to repeat the hiring process.

How to Improve Your Time-to-Hire?

If you notice your time-to-hire is above average, whether it’s the industry average or the general average, there are a few things you can do to lower the amount of time it takes you to find the perfect candidate.

Firstly, you can try taking a long hard look at your hiring process, including the interview process, and see which workflow stages can be skipped to simplify the process. This step is the easiest and takes the least amount of time.

Secondly, you can try implementing a pre-screening tool that will pick the best-fitting candidates for you. It will take a look at their CVs, previous experience, and the main points in their CV and pick out the ones who fit your open position the best.

Next, you can upgrade the number and quality of applications by building a candidate database. You can do this by giving candidates the option to leave an open application even when you have no open positions, going through the applications, and nurturing the candidates that you feel would fit into your company based on their previous experience and because you think they’re a good culture fit.

Lastly, investing in employer branding is a long-term strategy but will help you gather applications from amazing candidates and fill out your positions faster.

Building a strong employer brand, representing what makes your company special, what benefits you offer, and what the corporate climate is like will surely help you build your brand.

In Conclusion

If you're looking to track the work of your recruitment team, implementing key performance indicators (KPIs) is the best way to go about it. Time-to-hire, as one of the most basic and easiest KPIs to implement, is a must-have when it comes to team tracking. It is the amount of time it takes a candidate to go from applying to your open position to receiving and accepting a job offer. Time-to-hire is also one of the best ways to measure the health and set-up of your selection process. It's important to highlight that time-to-hire and time-to-fill are two different metrics.

The average time it should take you to make a hire is 45-60 days, but this depends on many factors. If your time-to-hire is too long or too short, your selection process might be in need of restructuring.

Good luck hiring, tracking, and improving, make sure to check your work against the hiring benchmarks! 🍀

Top 16 European HR Conferences in 2025

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Looking to grow as an HR professional in the next year? We’ve got you covered! Whatever you pick from our list of the best HR conferences in the next year, you can’t go wrong. And they’re amazing if you wanna do a bit of travelling and explore Europe while learning.

January

World Class Workforce Transformation

When and where: 23rd - 24th January, Germany, Frankfurt

Cost: from €299,99

Why attend?

This HR event is a series of B2B conferences that bring together top industry leaders for networking, knowledge-sharing, and partnership! With over 500 innovative HR practices presented from all over the world, it is an amazing chance for benchmarking and learning. ** **

February

Wellbeing at Work Conference

When and where: February 4th, UK, London

Cost: from £525

Why attend?

It’s the perfect way to explore a trending topic – creating a positive work environment and workplace wellbeing. Learn how to integrate a well-being programme into your organisational strategy and nurture your workplace well-being for a happier and healthier workforce. This was one of our most interactive conferences last year and included several new content formats!

March

HR Technology Europe

When and where: 4th - 5th March, Netherlands, Amsterdam

Cost: from €245 (or free)

Why attend?

HR Technology Europe is your destination for the latest trends , tools , and insights in HR Tech. Connect with leading experts and companies, including The Josh Bersin Company, Aptitude Research, and Recruiting Brainfood, to explore cutting-edge technologies and innovations shaping the future of recruitment.

HRcoreLAB summit

When and where: 12th-13th March, Spain, Barcelona

Cost: **from €825 **

Why attend?

The HRcoreLAB Summit is your gateway to the most forward-thinking and transformative HR strategies. This global gathering unites top executives and thought leaders to explore how the people function can drive business success. With insights from leading organizations through case studies , interactive sessions , workshops , and panel discussions , you'll gain a comprehensive view of cutting-edge HR practices.

April

6th International Conference on Research in Human Resource Management

When and where: 25th - 27th April, Spain, Madrid

Cost: from €140

Why attend?

It’s three days of learning, connecting with your peers, receiving expert feedback on your research , engaging in thought-provoking discussions, uncovering industry trends, brainstorming creative solutions to pressing challenges, and establishing lifelong connections. Who wouldn’t want to go!

May

HRcoreNORDIC

When and where: 14th - 15th May, Denmark, Copenhagen

Cost: **from €795 **

Why attend?

Explore how Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland lead in talent attraction , career development , and diversity. Learn from top Scandinavian organizations about their practices when it comes to AI in HR , recruitment , leadership , and more.

HR WorldSummit

When and where: 20th - 21st May, Portugal, Lisbon

Cost: from €1,695

Why attend?

Thought leaders and industry pioneers will share practical strategies for creating purpose-driven workplace cultures and enhancing human capabilities. The comprehensive program includes dynamic discussions on HR strategies and trends, culture, leadership, and reimagining organizations to fit the future.

June

HR Vision Amsterdam

When and where: 4th - 5th June, Netherlands, Amsterdam

Cost: from €1,699

Why attend?

Join the closed circle of HR leaders and discover how to unleash your employees' true strengths , allowing them to excel in collaboration, creativity, HR analytics, and problem-solving.

CIPD Festival of Work

When and where: 11th - 12th June, UK, London

Cost: TBD

Why attend?

Jam-packed with interactive content, led by inspirational thought leaders and industry experts, enriching networking opportunities and immersive activities, taking place across the festival floor – what's not to love!

HRcoreREWARD Seminar

When and where: 18th - 19th June, Spain, Barcelona

Cost: from €895

Why attend?

An invigorating two-day event designed to address today's challenges in Compensation & Benefits, AI & Analytics in Reward, Employee Experience, Performance Management, Wellbeing, Pay for Performance, Employee Engagement, and much more.

September

Talent Management Reloaded

When and where: 14th - 16th September, Germany, Berlin

Cost: from €895

Why attend?

As Europe's most influential event on talent management , it brings together all stakeholders actively involved in hiring, developing, and retaining talent. Experience precise insights into the latest trends, developments, and technologies that drive successful talent management strategies.

HR.Weekend

When and where: 18th - 21st September, Croatia, Rovinj

Cost: from €380

Why attend?

This event offers a rich program and intriguing speakers, addressing today's most important HR topics , from People Analytics and Employer Branding to people development and coaching.

October

Gartner HR Symposium

When and where: 7th - 9th October, UK, London

Cost: from €3,725

Why attend?

Gartner HR SYM is the only HR conference shaped by data-driven research and their global team can help you create and validate your HR strategy. Join a diverse group of CHROs and HR executives at a conference based on HR data analytics but prioritizes meaningful interactions and powerful connections.

Human Resource Summit

When and where: 15th - 17th October, Lisbon, Portugal

Cost: TBD

Why attend?

Human Resource Summit is an exclusive ‘invitation only’ event, reserved for senior HR decision-makers and budget holders looking to discover the latest HR solutions. After 32 years of events, this conference understands the business challenges and creates an insightful summit to encourage strategic conversations.

UNLEASH World

When and where: 21st - 22nd October, France, Paris

Cost: TBD

Why attend?

From thought-provoking keynotes by visionaries to in-depth discussions that tackled the industry's most pressing challenges, UNLEASH World offered a glimpse into what’s next for HR. The event provides an essential platform for networking, knowledge-sharing, and future-shaping conversations, making it a must-attend for anyone serious about driving the future of work.

November

Future of Work

When and where: 18th - 19th November, UK, London

Cost: TBD

Why attend?

Experience two days of insightful sessions with leading experts in HR , talent management , learning and development , employee engagement , and more. Gain valuable insights and strategies from top European HR professionals as they share best practices and approaches at the largest HR conference in the world.

There you have it – we hope at least one HR conference in this wide range of events will help you uncover new strategies, meet creative leaders in the field, and grow in the human resources profession. If you want to go even further, you can always explore our list of worldwide HR events. Let us know which one you picked and, most importantly, enjoy your time there!

Top HR Conferences in the UK for 2025

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

If you work in Human Resources, you're in for a real treat! 2025 is chalk–full of events, promising a wide range of exciting learning opportunities. It's an amazing opportunity to connect with other HR professionals, gather new knowledge, and work on your professional development. To help you focus on the events that really stand out and will help you grow the fastest, we've curated a list of the most exciting HR conferences happening in 2025, across the UK.

Here's what stands out:

February

Wellbeing at Work Conference

When and where: February 4th, UK, London

Cost: from £525

Why attend?

It’s a great opportunity to learn how to integrate an employee wellbeing programme into your organisational strategy and nurture your workplace satisfaction, with the hopes of creating a happier and healthier workforce. Last year, this was one of the most interactive conferences and it included several new content formats!

HR Summit

When and where: February 11th, UK, Manchester

Cost: TBD

Why attend?

Meet, learn and connect at this one-day event! The HR Summit is a focused HR event hosted in London and Manchester UK, which brings those working in the HR Industry together with leading solution providers, for focused one-to-one meetings.

March

HR Vision

When and where: 5th - 6th March, UK, London

Cost: from £1,499

Why attend?

At HR Vision, they believe that technology and people are two sides of the same coin. That’s why they’re bringing together senior HR leaders from all over the world, to explore how the latest advancements in HR Tech can empower people and drive business growth.

Health & Wellbeing at Work

When and where: 11th - 12th March, UK, Birmingham

Cost: from £80

Why attend?

This dynamic two-day event is dedicated to cultivating authentic change within workplace health, wellbeing, organizational culture and safety through an unparalleled conference programme. Their goal is to empower every employer with the inspiration, insights, and contacts to drive their workplace strategy forward!

Engaging Employees

When and where: March 20th, UK, London

Cost: from £449

Why attend?

Actionable insight from HR experts, real-life case studies, interactive panels, informal discussions, speed networking, and a peer discussion zone – what more could you need from an HR gathering! Join the event to refresh and revitalise your employee engagement strategies.

HR Strategy Forum

When and where: 24th - 26th March, UK, De Vere Wokefield Estate

Cost: invitation on request

Why attend?

This invitation-only event focuses on tangible solutions for unique challenges in the HR sector. It’s an amazing opportunity to gain critical insight, initiate new contacts, and share experiences with other key decision-makers and experts.

April

The Workplace Event

When and where: 8th - 10th April, UK, Birmingham

Cost: Free pass option

Why attend?

This event, a first of its kind, brings a wider scope and sharper focus on employee experience and workplace performance. If you want to explore work behaviours through the lens of the latest insights and innovations in the workplace, this is the place for you.

HR Technologies UK

When and where: 23rd - 24th April, UK, London

Cost: TBD

Why attend?

Join the HR & People community and meet the HR technology providers who are supporting, transforming and elevating the way we work. From full-service HCM systems to small, specific tools, the exhibition floor features the full landscape of people tech , waiting for you to find your best fit!

May

CONNECT HR Leadership Summit

When and where: 19th - 21st May, UK, London

Cost: Complimentary pass

Why attend?

Join the industry’s most trusted summit! This peer-led leadership-focused event will help you discover the latest HR trends and practical strategies from field experts, research solutions, and meet like-minded peers.

Employee Engagement Summit

When and where: May 22nd, UK, London

Cost: from £145

Why attend?

The number one conference and expo dedicated to employee engagement, an agenda packed with case studies from all the world’s largest companies, and insights from top experts on employee benefits and engagement – what more could you need.

June

CIPD Festival of Work

When and where: 11th - 12th June, UK, London

Cost: TBD

Why attend?

During the two unforgettable days of the CIPD annual conference, you'll be able to explore the central question: How can you create an environment that empowers your people to work better and in turn, works better for your people?

Training & Development Summit

When and where: 16th - 17th June, UK, London

Cost: TBD

Why attend?

This focused event is created for senior professionals who are directly responsible for their organisation’s learning and development requirements. It is an invitation-only event , ensuring that the attendees are specifically targeted to benefit from the B2B event.

July

RecFest

When and where: July 10th, UK, Knebworth

Cost: TBD

Why attend?

This is not your run-of-the-mill conference ; it’s a fusion of top-class content, cutting-edge solutions, and meaningful, in-person connections in a unique festival setting. With over 120 industry speakers, influencers and trendsetters all in one place across 11 stages, this might just be the biggest HR occurrence in the world.

August

It's vacation time! Kick back, rest, and explore more conferences in the fall. 🏄♀️

September

HR Analytics Summit

When and where: July 10th, UK, London

Cost: from £219

Why attend?

Mastering people, culture, and performance through the use of analytics and insight is the focus of this summit. Over the course of one turbo-charged day, you can hear from HR leaders, attend up-to-the-minute panel discussions, and participate in lively debates.

HR Summit

When and where: July 10th, UK, London

Cost: TBD

Why attend?

The best experience for professionals who want to explore a diverse range of HR solutions and connect with people in a highly focused and intimate environment. It is an invitation-only event , ensuring that the attendees are specifically targeted to benefit from the Summit.

October

Gartner HR Symposium

When and where: 7th - 9th October, UK, London

Cost: from €3,725

Why attend?

Gartner HR SYM is the only HR conference shaped by data-driven research and their global team can help you create and validate your HR strategy. Join a diverse group of CHROs and HR executives at a conference that is based on HR data analytics but prioritises meaningful interactions and powerful connections.

November

Future of Work

When and where: November, UK, London

Cost: TBD

Why attend?

Experience two days of insightful sessions with leading experts in HR , talent management , learning and development , employee engagement , and more. Gain valuable insights and hear about new strategies from top industry leaders as they share innovative HR practices and approaches at the largest Human Resources conference in the world.

HR Vision

When and where: 18th - 19th November, UK, London

Cost: £1,499

Why attend?

Two days of thought-provoking discussions on the future of work, including the latest trends in HR, talent management, and leadership. Delve into how HR analytics and HR Tech are revolutionising people management practices and explore how we can create a people-centred future of work.

Hopefully, something has caught your eye and you're ready to explore new topics and meet with other people professionals! If not, don't worry, new events and being added every week and we're sure something will be to your liking. And finally, if you’re looking to travel outside the UK, you can always take a look at our list of European HR conferences and see if any are a good fit.

The Best HR Conferences in the United States

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

An exciting year is coming up for HR professionals – the events in the US are stacking up and one is more exciting than the other. To help you get the best out of it, we’ve compiled a list of the best HR conferences in the USA, through the months.

If you’d like to travel a bit and check out an international event or two, read our blog about the top global HR conferences.

Here are the HR event to look out for:

January

HR Screening & Strategy Conference

When and where: January 16th, Huston, Texas

Cost: $795

Why attend?

A line-up of renowned speakers and a deep dive into topics like background screening , compliance , and occupational health is what’ll attract HR professionals to this conference. Don't miss out on the networking opportunities because over a thousand HR enthusiasts will be attending!

LEAP HR: Higher Education

When and where: January 27th - 29th, Atlanta, Georgia

Cost: from $2,797

Why attend?

3 days on uniting a community of the most future-focused HR professionals? Count us in! This HR event offers an agenda designed by and for senior managers from leading institutions of all types and sizes. This makes joining the LEAP community the best way to connect with like-minded leaders , looking to overcome the same challenges.

February

Talent Acquisition Week

When and where: February 3rd - 6th, San Diego, California

Cost: from $1,395

Why attend?

There are lots of reasons to join this event if you're an HR practitioner – engaging and growing relationships, learning how to implement innovative practices and AI tools, reinvigorating your recruiting strategy , and furthering your professional development are just some of them. Don’t miss these 3 talent acquisition events in one.

LEAP HR: Retail

When and where: February 24th - 26th, Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Cost: from $1,699

Why attend?

A must-attend event for retail human resources leaders who are tackling talent shortages or wanting to reinvent engagement strategies and close skill gaps. Find out how other HR leaders are creating a retail workforce that’s ready for anything.

March

Gartner Data & Analytics Summit

When and where: March 3rd - 5th, Orlando, Florida

Cost: from $4,325

Why attend?

Gartner Data & Analytics Summit 2025 is the premier location for data, analytics, and AI leaders. Here, they can uncover the latest in data management, data trends, governance, and data architecture and make sure they deliver value for the future of their company.

IAMPHENOM

When and where: March 11th - 13th, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Cost: from $280

Why attend?

Be on the forefront of AI, automation, and HR technology! Immerse yourself in powerhouse keynotes from HR leaders, analysts, and industry experts as they navigate the future of hiring, developing, and retaining talent through next-gen intelligence, automation, and experience.

Transform

When and where: March 17th-19th, Las Vegas, Nevada

Cost: $1,695

Why attend?

At the intersection of technology and diverse community, sits the Transform conference! The event brings together people-driven executives, future-of-work entrepreneurs, and workforce tech investors and features hands-on learning experiences, interactive small-group discussions, insights from 350 dynamic speakers, and an amazing after-party!

April

HR & Organizational Development Council Conference

When and where: April 27th - 30th, New Orleans, Louisiana

Cost: TBD

Why attend?

Reconnect and grow with your credit union industry peers during the HR & Organizational Development Council Conference. Collaborate with credit union professionals facing similar challenges while exploring relevant and trending topics curated by the Conference committee. Return to your credit union with a fresh perspective, new insights, and enthusiasm for the industry and movement.

May

UNLEASH America

When and where: May 6th - 8th, Las Vegas, Nevada

Cost: **from $1,595 **

Why attend?

This conference experience is a great opportunity to find transformative solutions, hear from global icons and bold thinkers, and fast-track a year’s worth of connections in just three days!

Workhuman Live

When and where: 12th - 15th May, Aurora, Colorado

Cost: **from $1,117 **

Why attend?

There, you’re not just imagining the future of work, you’re building it. Forward-thinking ideas wrapped in frontline technology wrapped in a dynamic environment – all packaged to deliver a clear vision for how to make work more human in your corner of the world.

June

Future of Work USA

When and where: 24th - 25th June, San Diego, California

Cost: TBD

Why attend? As if one topic wouldn’t be enough to convince you, Future of Work is showcasing three dedicated conference tracks : Future Workplace, Future Talent, and Future Learning. This year’s event is packed with fresh insights and the latest trends you need to stay ahead as people leaders.

SHRM25

When and where: 29th June - 2nd July, San Diego, California

Cost: from $2,295

Why attend?

Dive deep into cutting-edge insights on AI advancements , emerging regulations , and the latest best practices reshaping our field. Engage in dynamic discussions, practical workshops, and inspiring keynotes that cover everything from managing a diverse workforce to innovative HR technologies.

July

Relax, take a break, enjoy a nice vacation because HR conferences are going on a break in July! 🍉

August

CultureCon

When and where: 6th - 7th August, Madison, Wisconsin

Cost: TBD

Why attend? Explore the latest employee experience strategies and innovations that shape an engaging, inclusive and productive working environment. Whether you’re an executive, team leader, seasoned HR professional, or simply passionate about positive organizational culture, CultureCon 2025 offers an opportunity to network with industry leaders, participate in dynamic workshops, and discover the latest trends.

HR Florida Conference & Expo

When and where: 24th - 27th August, Kissimmee, Florida

Cost: TBD

Why attend?

The HR Florida Conference & Expo is presented annually by the HR Florida State Council, a state affiliate of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). This is one of the largest HR conferences in the southeastern United States attracting over 1,500 human resources professionals and vendors from throughout the state and across the globe.

September

Responsive Conference

When and where: 17th - 18th September, Madison, Wisconsin

Cost: from $599

Why attend? Responsive Conference has never been a sit-and-absorb conference! This two-day summit for people leaders, executives, and those working within organizations to shape culture assembles a community with the shared belief that purposeful work matters , and that there are ways of working together in the future that are better than those of the past.

HR Tech

When and where: 16th - 18th September, Las Vegas, Nevada

Cost: TBD

**Why attend? **

There are three great reasons to join. Firstly, get up close with cutting-edge solutions for every HR need — all in one place! Secondly, gain invaluable insights from top industry experts. Lastly, explore the game-changing impact of artificial intelligence and emerging tech on HR.

October

CUPA-HR

When and where: 5th - 7th October, Denver, Colorado

Cost: TBD

Why attend?

With award-winning speakers, presenters from some of the biggest companies in the world, and topics ranging from inspiring a sense of purpose to developing our uniquely human skills, this conference is a must!

HRSouthwest Conference

When and where: 12th - 15th October, Fort Worth, Texas

Cost: from $789

Why attend?

The HRSouthwest Conference is one of the largest regional events for Human Resource professionals and those who supply products and services to the HR industry.

Talent Connect Summit

When and where: week of October 20th, San Diego, California

Cost: TBD

Why attend?

We’re in the dawn of artificial intelligence. But this work in the age of AI will take more than just technology — it needs talent leaders like you. Talent Connect Summit is a LinkedIn-organized summit that brings an in-person meeting of talent minds. Experts, leaders and influencers gather and share how we can turn exciting possibilities into a new reality for the workplace.

With more events being announced every week, we’re sure we didn’t cover everything coming up but we tried to capture the best of the best. As our list updates throughout the year, feel free to let us know what to add. Oh and, see you there! 🤗

The Best HR Conferences of 2025

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

With a wide range of human resource conferences lined up for 2025, HR professionals have plenty of chances to learn, network, and have a great time. To help you plan, we've put together a list of top HR events all over the world for 2025. Each event includes a summary so you can find the one that best matches your interests, whether it's HR trends, employee experience, career development, or diversity and inclusion.

If you'd like to explore what's happening specifically in Europe or the US, you can take a peek at our Best Conferences in the US and Top Conferences in Europe blogs.

Get ready to mark your calendars:

January

HR Screening & Strategy Conference

When and where: January 16th, USA – Huston, TX

Cost: $795

Why attend?

A line-up of renowned speakers and a deep dive into topics like background screening , compliance , and occupational health is what’ll be attracting HR professionals to this conference. Don't miss out this opportunity to grow and network with over a thousand HR enthusiasts!

World Class Workforce Transformation

When and where: January 23rd - 24th, Germany, Frankfurt

Cost: from €299,99

Why attend?

This HR event is a series of B2B conferences that bring together top industry leaders for networking, knowledge-sharing, and partnership! With over 500 best practice presentations from all over the world, it is an amazing chance for benchmarking and learning. ** **

LEAP HR: Higher Education

When and where: January 27th - 29th, USA – Atlanta, GA

Cost: from $2,797

Why attend?

3 days on uniting a community of the most future-focused HR professionals? Count us in! LEAP HR offers an agenda designed by and for senior managers from leading institutions of all types and sizes. This makes joining the LEAP community the best way to connect with like-minded leaders , looking to overcome the same challenges.

February

Talent Acquisition Week

When and where: February 3rd - 6th, USA – San Diego, CA

Cost: from $1,395

Why attend?

There arelots of reasons to join this event – engaging and growing relationships, learning how to implement innovative HR practices and AI tools, reinvigorating your recruiting strategy , and furthering your professional development is just some of them. Don’t miss these 3 talent acquisition events in one!

Wellbeing at Work Conference

When and where: February 4th, UK, London

Cost: from £525

Why attend?

This conference is the perfect way to explore a trending topic – creating a positive work environment and workplace wellbeing. Learn how to integrate a well-being and mental health programme into your organisational strategy and nurture your workplace well-being for a happier and healthier workforce. This was one of our most interactive conferences last year and it included several new content formats!

LEAP HR: Retail

When and where: February 24th - 26th, USA – Fort Lauderdale, FL

Cost: from $1,699

Why attend?

And with 20+ real-world case studies, you’ll head back to the office with fresh ideas, actionable insights, and a new network ready to support you every step.

March

HR Technology Europe

When and where: 4th - 5th March, Netherlands, Amsterdam

Cost: from €245 (or free)

Why attend?

HR Technology Europe is your one-stop destination for the latest industry trends , tools , and insights in HR Tech. Connect with leading experts and companies, including The Josh Bersin Company, Aptitude Research, and Recruiting Brainfood, to explore cutting-edge technologies and innovations shaping the future of recruitment.

HRcoreLAB summit

When and where: March 12th-13th, Spain, Barcelona

Cost: **from €825 **

Why attend?

Transform

When and where: March 17th-19th, USA – Las Vegas, NV

Cost: $1,695

Why attend?

At the intersection of technology and diverse community, sits the Transform conference! The event brings together people-driven executives, future-of-work entrepreneurs, and workforce tech investors for three days and features hands-on learning experiences, interactive small-group discussions, insights from 350 dynamic speakers, and an amazing after-party!

April

26th Annual National Workers’ Compensation Summit

When and where: April 1st - 2nd, Australia, Sidney

Cost: TBD

Why attend?

How well do compensation schemes cater to psychological injuries, and how effective are workplace well-being and mental health programs in preventing harm? How does WHS policy development impact workers’ compensation and the health and safety of all workers? Find out at the 25th Annual Workers’ Compensation Summit!

Future of Work

When and where: April 1st - 2nd, Canada, Toronto

Cost: from $340

Why attend?

With new technologies, changing demographics, and shifting economic landscapes, the future of work has never been more important. This is why the Future of Work events bring together senior executives and explore how employees and employers can adapt and thrive in dynamic workplace environments.

May

UNLEASH America

When and where: May 6th - 8th, USA – Las Vegas, NV

Cost: **from $1,595 **

Why attend?

Experience solutions that can transform your organization, hear from global icons and bold thinkers, and fast-track a year’s worth of connections in just three days!

Workhuman Live

When and where: 12th - 15th May, USA – Aurora, CO

Cost: **from $1,117 **

Why attend?

HRcoreNORDIC

When and where: 14th - 15th May, Denmark, Copenhagen

Cost: **from €795 **

Why attend?

Explore how Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland lead in talent attraction , development , and diversity. Learn from top Scandinavian organizations about their practices in AI in HR , recruitment , leadership , and more.

June

Future of Work USA

When and where: **24th - 25th June, USA – San Diego, CA **

Cost: TBD

Why attend?

As if one topic wouldn’t be enough to convince you, Future of Work is showcasing three dedicated conference tracks : Future Workplace, Future Talent, and Future Learning. This year’s event is packed with fresh insights and the latest trends you need to stay ahead as people leaders.

HR + L&D Innovation & Tech Fest

When and where: 25th - 26th June, New Zealand, Auckland

Cost: TBD

Why attend?

The world has changed. Human resources and learning has changed. Businesses are demanding. New technologies are emerging. So, it is the perfect time to be part of New Zealand's most exciting and progressive gathering of HR, L&D, and Wellness leaders, difference-makers, and disruptors.

SHRM25

When and where: **29th June - 2nd July, USA – San Diego, CA **

Cost: from $2,295

Why attend?

July

Even the most hardworking HR experts have to rest sometimes. Take a break in July since there’s not much going on. 🏝️

August

The AHRI National Convention & Exhibition

When and where: 19th - 21st August, Australia, Sydney

Cost: from $299

Why attend?

The AHRI National Convention & Exhibition is the premier annual event for HR professionals in Australia. It gathers HR practitioners, business leaders, and industry experts to discuss and explore the latest trends, challenges, and advancements in the practice of people leaders.

CultureCon

When and where: 6th - 7th August, USA – Madison, WI

Cost: TBD

Why attend?

Explore the latest employee experience strategies and innovations that shape an engaging, inclusive and productive working environment. Whether you’re an executive, team leader, seasoned HR professional, or simply passionate about positive organizational culture, CultureCon 2025 offers an opportunity to network with industry leaders, participate in dynamic workshops, and discover the latest trends.

September

Responsive Conference

When and where: 17th - 18th September, USA – Madison, WI

Cost: from $599

Why attend?

Responsive Conference has never been a sit-and-absorb conference! This two-day summit for people leaders, executives, and those working within organizations to shape culture assembles a community with the shared belief that purposeful work matters , and that there are ways of working together in the future that are better than those of the past.

HR Tech

When and where: 16th - 18th September, USA – Las Vegas, NV

Cost: TBD

Why attend?

October

HR Symposium

When and where: 7th - 9th October, UK, London

Cost: from €3,725

Why attend?

Gartner HR SYM is the only HR conference shaped by data-driven research and their global team can help you create and validate your HR strategy. Join a diverse group of CHROs and HR executives at a conference that is based on HR data analytics bui prioritizes meaningful interactions and powerful connections.

Talent Connect Summit

When and where: week of October 20th, USA – San Diego, CA

Cost: TBD

Why attend?

UNLEASH World

When and where: 21st - 22nd October, France, Paris

Cost: TBD

Why attend?

From thought-provoking keynotes by visionaries to in-depth discussions that tackled the most pressing challenges in the industry, UNLEASH World offered a glimpse into what’s next for HR. The event provides an essential platform for networking, knowledge-sharing, and future-shaping conversations, making it a must-attend for anyone serious about driving the future of work.

Human Resource Summit

When and where: 15th - 17th October, Lisbon, Portugal

Cost: TBD

Why attend?

This after 32 years of events, this conference understand the challenges that businesses face and provides an insightful, B2B HR Summit to enable strategic conversations to take place.

November

Future of Work

When and where: 18th - 19th November, UK, London

Cost: TBD

Why attend?

Experience two days of insightful sessions with leading experts in HR , talent management , learning and development , employee engagement , and more. Gain valuable insights and strategies from top European professionals as they share best practices and approaches in the largest hr conference in the world.

With so many HR events and conferences on the calendar for 2025, we might not have covered every important one. If you have suggestions for events we should include, let us know so we can update our list! We’ve definitely picked out a few standout HR conferences that we’ll be attending. See if you can find us there! 😉

A Short Guide to Job Interviews – Culture Fit

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Whether you're a hiring manager or a job seeker, understanding cultural fit is crucial to landing or filling a role. Here’s a quick guide on why it matters, and how to assess or demonstrate it during the hiring process.

What is a Cultural Fit? 🕵️

Cultural fit is all about how well a person aligns with the values , behaviors , and overall atmosphere of a company. It’s not just about having the right skills or experience with matching personality traits – it’s about sharing the same vision and core values that drive the company forward. Someone who is the right fit is more likely to feel connected , stay in the company longer , be more productive , and do their best work , according to this whitepaper by Robert Walkers.

While technical abilities and experience are, of course, essential, cultural fit often becomes the deciding factor when hiring new employees.

Why is it Important? 👀

Not only does it impact both individual and team performance, but when someone blends well with the company culture, they’re more likely to engage fully , collaborate easily with colleagues, and stick around longer.

Most businesses seek people who match their company culture. Why? Because these people tend to thrive in the environment they align with and improve employee retention rates. They are more invested in their work, as well as better at communicating and collaborating.

Building your company in this way, by hiring someone who is the right cultural fit, can reduce conflicts in the long run, create a more harmonious workplace with open communication, and make everyone feel happy to come to work. Because it’s not just about working, it’s about enjoying working at a particular company.

How to Identify a Cultural Fit? 🔎

Okay, let’s get to the good stuff (and why you’re here, anyway).

As a candidate , it’s important to research a company’s workplace culture before your interview (we’d suggest doing it before applying for the job). Check out their website, social media, or employee reviews to get a sense of the environment. Do they prioritize teamwork, flexibility, or something else? What is their communication style? Understanding this will help you decide if their culture fits with how you like to work.

As an employer , clearly communicating your company’s values and mission in job listings, interviews, your website, and social media is essential. This way, you’ll find it easier to attract candidates who naturally align with your culture and working environment.

What to Cover? 💬

When it comes to culture fit assessment, there are a few key categories to focus on other than personality traits. It’s important to ask the right questions, so we’ve compiled a list of a few essential things to cover, whether you're on the hiring or the candidate side. Let’s jump right into the culture fit interview questions!

Teamwork and collaboration

A strong culture often relies on how well employees work together. Collaboration and good team dynamics are a must-have in most workplaces, so it's important to see how candidates handle working with others. Try some of these questions:

Can you tell me about a time when you worked on a challenging project with others?
Do you prefer to work independently or in a team?
How do you handle having different opinions within a team?
What role do you usually take on in a team project?

Company values

For many, it’s important to work in a company that shares their personal values too and it’s a big indicator of a culture fit. To see if it’s a good alignment, try some of the following questions:

Which of our company’s values resonates with you the most?
How important are shared values in the workplace for you?
Do you see yourself contributing to the culture of our company, and if yes, in what ways?

Handling conflicts

Conflict is inevitable in most places, even at work, but how someone approaches the situation and how they contribute to making the environment positive says a lot about them. These questions can help determine that:

Can you describe a time when you disagreed with a coworker or manager? How did you handle it?
How do you usually deal with conflicts?
How would you handle a situation where your values conflict with a business decision?
Can you give an example of a situation where you helped solve a disagreement between your team?

Environment preferences

Culture extends to the work environment, whether it’s remote work, hybrid, or the good old office. It’s important to ensure that the candidate's preferences align with the company’s setup. Also, everyone has their own ideal work environment. You can learn that by asking the following questions:

What type of work environment helps you perform best?
How do you feel about collaborating with a remote team?
What’s your approach to maintaining work-life balance?
Do you see the same productivity level when working remotely as at the office?

Leadership

Although not often, you’ll probably be in a situation where you need to hire a leadership role. It’s important that people at those levels fit the company’s culture, especially when it comes to their management and leadership style. Some key questions to ask when finding a good fit would be:

Can you describe a situation where you had to lead a team? How did you approach it?
How do you motivate your team to reach set goals?
What do you do to encourage a team member who is struggling with motivation?

To wrap it up 🍬

Cultural fit is as important as technical skills and experience. It’s about aligning values, work styles, and personal qualities to achieve the best possible job satisfaction. Whether you’re on the hiring side or a person looking for their dream job, we hope these questions will be useful in finding a perfect fit. When there’s a match at work, it can help with productivity and create a more enjoyable work environment for all. Good luck!

Benefits of Hybrid Work and Monitoring Employee Availability

Wed, 10 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Hybrid work is one of the most popular organizational models in recent years. For some workplaces, it’s even considered the new normal. Even research proves its effectiveness in creating a better work-life balance while maintaining the same (or nourishing an even better) level of productivity as working from the office, (per McKinsey). The hybrid model combines the best parts of working from home and being in the office, giving employees the flexibility, freedom, and balance they need. But, keeping an eye on employee availability and who’s at the office or working from home can be tricky.

In this blog, we’ll go through some of the benefits of hybrid work for employees and businesses – from various perks, reasons why tracking availability is important and how it helps, to some tips and tricks on how to create a better remote work experience. Hopefully, this list will help you to determine whether or not your company should implement the hybrid working model.

Hybrid Work Benefits – for Employees and Businesses

The freedom of choosing where to work brings many benefits to employees and businesses, all while offering the face-to-face option when needed. We’ve compiled a list of a few amazing things that come hand-in-hand with hybrid work models:

Flexibility 🤸

Working when and where suits you helps strike a healthy balance between work and personal time, which leads to better time management, higher productivity, and improved well-being overall, as seen in this article by EMBO Press.

Productivity ⏱️

Crafting a dedicated place for work, one that fits your preferences, and being in control of it is a huge work-from-home benefit for employees. Without any outside distractions and in the comfort of your home, you can focus and get more work done. Some of our colleagues tend to say they do their best work when working from home.

Cost savings 💰

Less commuting = lower expenses! And it goes both ways. For employees, flexible work means saving on fuel, car maintenance, parking fees… For businesses, it means lower overhead costs, such as utilities, office space, equipment, and even parking spots. A win-win.

Expanded talent pool 📂

With a hybrid option, especially unlimited, businesses have a wider talent pool to tap into, allowing them to hire the best candidates regardless of location.

More free time 🎉

Working from home eliminates the need for commuting to and from work, and an average person saves approximately 72 minutes per day, according to this research by The University of Chicago, rather than working at the office full time. Now, you have more time to spend with your family, pursue your hobbies, or simply relax and take it easy.

Extra benefits for parents 👨👩👧👦

We can think of the countless benefits for parents, but just to name a few – increased flexibility and control over their schedule, an opportunity to be present for their children’s milestones, and the very much talked about work-life balance that contributes to the overall family wellbeing

Employee Availability Tracking

Keeping track of when your team is available is key if you want to make hybrid work run smoothly.

Tracking employee availability has a few benefits:

Better communication 💬

A clear view of everyone's schedule makes it easier to coordinate meetings, work together on projects, keep communication in sync, and avoid misunderstandings. This kind of transparency keeps everyone on the same page and is better for employee engagement in the long run.

Time off regulation 🏖️

With availability tracking, businesses can have a clear overview of how many vacation days their team is using and when. Knowing when someone is taking time off allows managers to allocate workloads effectively and helps employees be aware of how many vacation days they have for the year.

Employee satisfaction 🎉

When employees have a say in their schedule, can be flexible, and know that their availability is respected, they are more likely to be motivated and productive. Naturally, this kind of positive work environment contributes to higher job satisfaction (and talent retention rates). In this article by the National Library of Medicine, it’s proven that work flexibility decreases the likelihood of job stress by 20% and increases job satisfaction by 62%!

Remote Work Solutions

To get the most out of hybrid work options, companies should consider implementing collaboration tools and tracking when and where their employees are working.

In PontaHR, we’re working on building one of our biggest features yet – Availability. This module will help you see your team’s work location (if they’re in the office, working remotely, or on vacation, etc.), manage your calendar, request and approve time off, and celebrate birthdays and anniversaries, all with seamless UI and smooth navigation.

If you’re really in a rush and can’t wait for us to ship this amazing new feature later this year, tools like Asana or Monday could work. Or take it back with the good old Excel sheets (good is probably an overstatement here, at least from us, we’re not huge fans).

Finally, workplace flexibility is crucial for employee satisfaction , collaboration , and building trust. Still, it’s important to keep track of your team through a tool with an employee availability calendar (like the one PontaHR will have soon 🥳) or other time-tracking options. Flexible working has many more benefits, like employee productivity, work-life balance, and improved mental health. Those are just some of the hybrid work benefits we think are important.

If you ask us, we’d always choose the unlimited hybrid working model, nothing beats working near the sea during the summer!)

So, what are you waiting for? Make your workplace a happier and more successful environment, we’re rooting for you! 🙌

Along is now PontaHR

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

It’s official – sometime in the last 12 hours, the name Along became a thing of the past for us. Our full-employee-cycle HR tool is now named PontaHR. We know a name change can raise a few eyebrows, so we wanted to give a bit of context. But, to talk about the present, we have to take a little peek at our past and the roots of our product. 🪴

Back in 2020, our team started working on an internal tool that would later be the blueprint for Along, now PontaHR. At that time, we chose the name Along for its purpose – to be the perfect companion for any company, following them as they grow and develop a successful business.

The name was chosen to incite warm and happy feelings of togetherness, friendliness, community, and fellowship. We wanted our brand to reflect a simple truth – that you’re never really alone with Along. So, the decisions we made were based on gut feeling, the emotions we wanted to convey, and the story around this product.

But, as the product grew, we kept running into the same set of problems; the name Along was not SEO-friendly, we were hard to find on search engines, advertising with a dictionary word as your keyword is a pain, the name was hard to trademark (impossible even, it being an every-day dictionary word), there were other companies with similar names, and so on, and so forth.

So, we felt it was time to move on, to bigger and better things, to a name you can find on the first page of a Google search. 🔍

The rebranding process

This is why we started from the beginning – with a mission to choose a new name and see how the rest of our branding fit into place. The first draft of our list of potential names had almost 1,000 options, ranging from beautiful and poetic to silly and kinda bad. In the next few weeks, we chipped away, removing any option that most of us didn’t like, that was already taken by a tool in a similar space, that we thought would be hard to market, and finally, that was already trademarked.

Then, we came down to a final five and PontaHR was a clear winner. The new logo, type, and colors followed and you can take a peek at our new branding here. 👇

The meaning behind the name

Ponta actually has quite a beautiful story – it’s a regional word, coming from the southernmost part of our country, Croatia. It has a few meanings, according to the old vernacular dictionary. It can be a fish market and a place of gathering near the sea, the top of a pencil, or even a cape, a mountain top, and a protruding part of land. ⛰️

All of the meanings spoke to us, as we see PontaHR as a place to gather , a place to oversee , and a place to track in.

The road ahead

Our future looks pretty much the same for PontaHR as it did for Along – we want to keep building and improving the tool, while helping HR professionals find the best new hires, without giving them a headache. You can take a look at our Roadmap for a bit more detail about what’s to come.

And even though our plans for the future are the same, we like to think we’ve got a better overview of them now that we’re standing on this new mountaintop with PontaHR. 🧡

The Best HR Conferences to Attend in 2024

Mon, 29 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

With a wide lineup of HR conferences coming up in 2024, there’s no shortage of opportunities to learn, connect, and have some fun as an HR professional. To help you start planning, we’ve compiled a list of some great HR events happening in Europe (and one in Australia) in 2024, with a little summary of each, just so you know which one would be a perfect fit for you. From HR trends, employee experience, career development, all the way to diversity and inclusion.

So, mark your calendars:

May

Employee Engagement Summit

When and where: May 1st, London, UK

Cost: Free

Why attend? The Employee Engagement Summit in London focuses on strategies with case studies, live interviews, and panel discussions. With a highlight on organizational culture, collaboration, well-being, and leadership , the summit focuses on a people-centric environment where people thrive and companies have great employee retention.

HR Days

When and where: May 8th-9th, Rovinj, Croatia

Cost: From 590€

Why attend?

Other than the obvious benefit of picturesque surroundings in Croatia, HR Days gives HR professionals an opportunity to network, attend lectures and panels, exchange ideas and experience with their peers, and learn more about the upcoming trends shaping the human resources profession.

HR Core Nordic

When and where: May 15th-16th, Copenhagen, Denmark

Cost: From 795€

Why attend?

With more than 30 expert speakers and over 200 HR professionals, this HR conference will offer workshops and panel discussions on the most pressing topics, focusing on HR agility, recruitment, leadership development , etc.

June

HR Vision Amsterdam

When and where: June 5th, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Cost: From 1.599€

Why attend?

With senior-level experts sharing their experiences and valuable insights, HR Vision in Amsterdam is the perfect choice to gather insight into human resources and network with other professionals.

CIPD Festival of Work

When and where: June 12th, London, UK

Cost: Free with a payment option

Why attend?

CIPD Festival of Work is a mainly people-focused conference, aiming to share insight for HR professionals to create an environment that empowers employees to work better.

July

ICHRMPD 2024: 18. International Conference on Human Resource Management and Professional Development

When and where: July 18th-19th, Paris, France

Cost: From 100€

Why attend?

The International Conference on Human Resource Management and Professional Development brings together some of the leading academic scientists and researchers to share their experiences and results on all aspects of HR and development. You can also expect to discuss some of the key topics, such as recent innovations, trends, and concerns in the field of HR.

August

Everyone in Europe is on vacation in August, so we suggest you sit back and relax. 😉

September

Talent Management Reloaded

When and where: September 18th-20th, Berlin, Germany

Cost: From 895€

Why attend?

Berlin in September sounds amazing! So does attending Talent Management Reloaded to gain insight into the latest trends, developments, and technologies for successful talent management strategies. At this conference, you’ll be able to gain knowledge through interactive sessions and interactive workshops, while learning the best practice for your company.

HR Weekend

When and where: September 19th-22nd, Rovinj, Croatia

Cost: From 380€

Why attend?

HR Weekend attracts HR professionals interested in some of the most important HR topics, with panels, workshops, and talks about analytics, employer branding, people development and coaching , sharing some of the innovative practices and strategies in the HR industry.

October

Employee Benefits Live!

When and where: October 8th-9th, London, UK

Cost: Free

Why attend?

As the name says, Employee Benefits is an event for HR professionals with a program that features practical advice designed to help organizations with talent acquisition, as well as how to attract, retain, reward, and motivate their teams.

31st Human Resource Summit

When and where: October 9th-11th, Barcelona, Spain

Cost: Free

Why attend?

As an invitation-only HR event, you can register to be invited, but you’ll need to be a senior-level HR professional. The summit focuses on discovering some of the latest HR solutions with business “speed dates”, some of the leading industry speakers covering HR subjects, strategy sessions, and round table discussions, as well as networking opportunities.

November

Future of Work Europe

When and where: November 13th-14th, London, UK

Cost: From 500£

Why attend?

The Future of Work Europe with more than 40 speakers and over 500 attendees, this HR conference focuses on a wide range of topics, such as HR transformation, employee engagement, digital workspace solutions, communication strategies, talent development, organization culture, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.

HR Vision

When and where: November 19th-20th, London, UK

Cost: 1.500£

Why attend?

If you miss out on HR Vision in Amsterdam in June, you have a chance to attend in November in London. Just like the Netherlands, the event focuses on senior-level experts and hr leaders sharing their experiences and best practices, so it’s a great option for HR professionals to gather insight on the future of work, the latest trends in HR, talent management, and leadership.

December

Relax, and enjoy the holiday season, there’s no HR conferences in December in Europe. 😊 In case you’re missing the warmer months, perhaps hop on a plane to Australia:

Gartner ReimagineHR

When and where: December 4th-5th, Sydney, Australia

Cost: 3.675AU$

Why attend?

With a focus on HR leadership , the Gartner ReimagineHR conference will share insights for HR professionals with various speakers, interactive workshops, and roundtable discussions. Bringing topics like talent analytics, diversity, equity and inclusion, learning and development, employee performance management, recruiting, rewards , and more.

There are quite a few more HR events and conferences happening in 2024, and in case we didn’t mention some you think we should’ve, reach out and let us know to update the list! We’ve definitely found a few good ones we’re sure to attend. Perhaps try finding us there? 🤭

How to Set Up a Recruitment Workflow

Tue, 02 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The job market as we know it today is pretty competitive. This is just one of the reasons why attracting and finding the best talent for your organization is important. However, without a defined recruitment workflow, it can get overwhelming.

In this blog, we’ll explore everything you need to know about recruitment workflows, what they are, the recruitment process steps, and finally, creating a hiring process flowchart and implementing best practices.

Let’s jump right to it!

What is the Recruitment Workflow?

To put it simply: a recruitment workflow is basically a recruitment strategy or a series of steps a company uses to identify, attract, screen, and hire the ideal candidates for their job positions.

It features everything from defining the job position a company needs and creating a job description , to onboarding new team members and ensuring a structured hiring process aligned with the company’s goals and needs. While most companies tend to have a similar workflow, it can differentiate depending on the company size, business model, etc.

Recruitment Workflow Process – the Basic Steps

As mentioned previously, most companies have a similar outline of the typical recruitment process. It goes something like this:

Identifying needs – first up, your company will come to a hiring need for another person (or more) for a specific job position or work area.
Outlining the job responsibilities – after identifying the needs of your company, managers will outline the most important job requirements they’d look for in a new team member. It’s important that the hiring manager stays coordinated with the team lead, or anyone else who knows the job and all it encompasses well.
Creating a job description – when the job responsibilities have been determined, there should be a job description. This description should serve the company both internally and externally. Of course, it should be shared in the job listing so candidates know if they’re the right fit for the role or not. Consider sharing the job opening with the rest of your team, as employee referrals can be useful, and are one of the most popular recruiting options.
Choosing the right platform – not every position is suitable for every job board. For example, you wouldn’t really share an IT job listing only offline, while for certain jobs that might be the best option. So make sure to choose the right place for you.
Publishing the job listing – the exciting part begins. Now, you should publish the job listing. An ideal listing should include: a job description, expectations and requirements of the new hire (+ if there are any advantages someone might bring to the role, like being fluent in Portuguese, for example), key responsibilities that come with the job, and, of course, what you, as a company offer. List the benefits you have, information about vacation and sick days, and if possible, add a salary range. This, as well as most of the recruitment process, often happens while using an applicant tracking system or some similar recruitment software.
Screening CVs – as applications start pouring in, the HR team or other assigned members of the team screen the job applications and resumes to shortlist suitable candidates who meet the job requirements. Sometimes, this might include doing background checks, to ensure the new employee checks all the boxes. While screening the candidates, you can immediately see who isn’t the right fit, possibly move them to another listing, or send a rejection letter. With PontaHR, it’s easy to go through CVs, without needing to download, sort in folders, or, even worse, print out the resumes.
First interviews – this step can differ a lot depending on the company, from being a phone call, a video interview, or something else entirely. But, it’s basically an initial screening, a step when an HR manager has a chat with the shortlisted candidates for a brief assessment of their suitability for the role, whether they fit in the company culture, etc.
Assessment – some (or all) candidates may go over further assessment, such as a skill test or an assignment of sorts to continue with the selection process and give more insight into their qualifications.
Second interview – based on the first interview and the assessment, some companies prefer to have another interview to help them come to a final decision.
Decision making – after all the previously listed processes, it’s time to make a decision about who from the potential candidates is the most suitable for the role, taking into account the candidates’ experience, cultural fit, etc.
Offer – finally, a job offer is sent to the candidate, outlining the details such as the salary, benefits, start date, and any other relevant information.
Onboarding – after the offer has been accepted, the onboarding process begins. The new team member is introduced to the company and provided with all necessary training, information, and resources.
Feedback and improvement – for continuous development and growth, most companies go through certain feedback reviews, such as a monthly check-in and a yearly performance review.

How to Create the Recruitment Process Flowchart

Since not all companies are the same, we can’t give you an exact guide on how to create the perfect recruitment process flowchart for you, but we can give some advice that will hopefully help you find the best way for the recruiting process. Typically, the recruitment process looks something like this:

Recruitment Process Flowchart

If you’re just introducing recruitment processes into your company with a newly formed HR department, you should begin with identifying the key steps that should be involved in your recruitment process and discuss it with the management. This could be anything from job requisition to the onboarding process. Arrange the steps in chronological order , as it should be the most logical one for the recruitment flow. Something that might help out is mapping the flow in some sort of a visual representation. Some steps that shouldn’t be skipped are decision-making points , like shortlisting and final hiring decisions. Don’t forget to review the flow with your team and add or remove some steps. Finally, document the process and share it with all the relevant team members. The document should serve as a reference guide to everyone who is included in the hiring process.

Sometimes, companies like to highlight a part of their recruitment process on their website, to give candidates a better understanding of what their journey might look like. It’s helpful and provides extra insight!

Conclusion

Having a clear and organized recruitment process is super important when it comes to finding, evaluating, and finally, hiring (and keeping) the best candidates for your organization. By using a well-structured hiring process flowchart, your HR recruitment process will be smoother and more efficient. Saving you time and energy in the meantime.

This way, you’ll be able to make better decisions, collaborate with your team with ease, and happily onboard new employees.

Don’t forget to regularly review and improve your process to keep up with the changing needs of your company. And, bear in mind that every process might not be a perfect fit for every job position and you'll create your own best practices over time.

Good luck!

A Short Guide to Job Interviews – Soft Skills

Wed, 06 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

When looking for a new role, whether as an HR manager or a job seeker, it is important to think about more than just hard skills and previous experience. For example, many recruiters take into account a candidate's soft skills – traits showcased in the workplace while working and interacting with others. This helps them evaluate if someone is the right culture fit, what’s their work ethic, how will they get on with the other team members, and are they suitable for the job role.

We’ve put together a list of good soft skills interview questions that can assist you either way, whether you’re a candidate or a recruiter. So, let’s jump in!

What are Soft Skills?

To better understand soft skills, it’s good to gain some insight into hard skills. Hard skills refer to technical abilities, specific to certain jobs or tasks. For example, knowing how to work with a particular program or being proficient in a certain programming language are some examples of hard skills for software engineers. They are important for performing specific job functions.

On the other hand, soft skills are not tied to a specific job or task. They are linked to one's personality, can help with creating a pleasant environment, and improve work-life for everyone on the team. Although they are not limited to interpersonal or social skills, this is what most often comes to mind when talking about soft skills.

Essentially, they are attributes and qualities that help people interact with one another and are, as such, important for almost every job. Sometimes even referred to as people skills, because they make working with people more enjoyable, with easier communication and collaboration.

Some examples of soft skills include: communication skills, adaptability, problem-solving, teamwork, empathy, active listening, critical thinking… you get it!

Why are Soft Skills Important?

Soft skills play a significant role in the workplace because they’re mostly connected to how we interact with each other, as we mentioned previously. They contribute and determine the way we face problems and tackle any crisis, the way we communicate and work together. They help us get along with our team, handle diverse situations, and easily adapt when things change.

They’re not just “nice to have”, but can play a significant role in teamwork especially. Nowadays, it’s very rare that people work just by themselves, as in most situations their work requires collaborating with others. So, no matter how strong hard skills someone might have, having great soft skills is a big bonus, and can even be a decision-maker for recruiters.

With strong and developed soft skills, it’s easier to grow while building good relationships with our team, and with clients and anyone else you might be in contact with at work. So, by having a set of right soft skills, technical skills, and personality traits – you can find a person that is a great cultural fit, as well as a good team member, building great company culture in the meantime.

Best Soft Skills Interview Questions

In this part, we’ll cover some of the basic soft skills, explain each, and a few suggested soft skills interview questions for managers or candidates applying for a new position. Of course, not all questions can be useful for each and every position, as companies should determine which soft skills are important for what job, depending on the role. For example, a person applying for a team lead position should have great leadership skills.

Questions should be tailored to your needs, separating them into “must have” and “nice to have” categories, so feel free to edit these to suit your needs and interview process in the best way.

Communication skills

A cliche, really, but think of it as a skill important for expressing ideas clearly and listening actively. Communication skills help make sure that everyone is on the same page, making teamwork smooth and enjoyable.

Can you give an example of a time when you had to communicate some complex information to your team?
How did you ensure everyone understood?
Describe a situation where you had to resolve a disagreement in your team?

Teamwork & Collaboration

Because teamwork makes the dream work, right? Right! It’s pretty much self-explanatory, perhaps these questions can help pin-point if the person has good teamwork capabilities:

Can you give an example of a successful team project you collaborated with your team on?
What was your role in that project?
What was the goal and deadline of the project?
What was the outcome?
Would you do anything differently if you were in this situation again?
How would you handle any possible differences between work styles or opinions when working with a team?

Problem Solving

Finding solutions in tricky situations is not an easy job, and not everyone can do it. It requires patience, and people who have great problem-solving skills know how to maintain business as usual, no matter the circumstances.

Can you give an example of a time when you encountered a challenge at work?
What was the situation and your role in it?
How did you handle it?
Would you do anything differently now and why?
Describe a situation when you found yourself in a new and unfamiliar situation?
How did you handle it?
What was the result?

Time Management

Having well-developed prioritization and knowing how to organize time, set deadlines, and follow through without being overwhelmed is a really important skill to have. It’s all about being organized, setting priorities straight, and using time wisely to get things done.

Can you give an example of a group task with a tight deadline?
How did you handle it?
How do you prioritize your tasks?

Flexibility

For someone who has this skill highly developed, adapting to new situations should be easy, almost like looking for a new approach is a fun, new, challenge.

Was there a situation where you had to adjust your priorities because of an unforeseen circumstance?
How did you handle it?
How do situations of change impact your work?

Empathy

This skill is an emotional intelligence of sorts. Having a well-developed ability to share feelings can help one understand others, as well as themselves. Empathy is important when dealing with stressful situations or handling conflicts in the workplace.

Can you describe a situation where you had to give negative feedback for a team member? (For example on a performance review)
How did you prepare for it?
How did you communicate it?
What was the outcome?
What specific actions did you take to provide support or assistance to your colleague?
How did this experience impact your relationship with the colleague and the overall team dynamics?
Can you give an example of handling a stressful situation with a colleague or yourself?

Leadership

All about guiding and motivating your team to do their best. Great leaders have great assertiveness, know how to inspire others and boost motivation, make decisions, and, perhaps most importantly, keep up the good vibes in their team.

Describe a situation where you led a project.
What was the goal or deadline?
What challenges did you face and how did you solve them?
What was the outcome?
How would you motivate your team to achieve a set goal?

To wrap it all up, it’s clear that having well developed soft skills is important. While it’s essential to have hard skills for specific tasks, it’s the soft skills that truly set people apart in the workplace. These abilities – such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, leadership… – help out in fostering collaboration, maintaining professionalism, and keeping an overall positive work environment. Hopefully, these interview questions on interpersonal skills will help you out.

So, whether you’re getting ready for an interview as a candidate or a human resources professional, always remember the importance of soft skills. Good luck!

7 Benefits of an Applicant Tracking System

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

In today’s job market, it’s quite important for you to effectively and easily discover top-notch talent. (Did you know that having a better quality team can boost your company's productivity up to 8 times?) And it’s definitely not an easy job. That’s where an ATS comes in handy!

An applicant tracking system is like your trusty recruitment sidekick, a tool that helps you simplify your hiring process, as well as easily identify and assess the best candidates. Who doesn’t want to have a great team surrounding them?

In this blog, we’ll dive into some of the main advantages of using an ATS, so you can streamline your hiring, upgrade your recruitment game, and have an all-in-all improved quality of hiring.

Time is of the Essence ⏰

One thing we can all agree on is that time is one of our most priceless assets. It’s no different when it comes to recruiting and growing your team. Hiring teams know that talent acquisition and the hiring process can be pretty long (not to mention, very expensive) so any time-saving and cost-effective tips really help out.

Wondering why hiring takes so much time? To begin with, your HR team needs to:

track all open positions,
go through stacks and stacks of CVs to determine qualified candidates,
stay in the loop with the rest of the team,
schedule countless interviews,
send quite a few emails, and so on.

An applicant tracking system can automate a lot of these tasks, allowing your team to focus more on other work. By quickening your hiring processes with an ATS, you can shorten the time it takes you to find new team members and have an all-in-all improved candidate screening and efficiency. A win-win if you ask us!

Everything in One Place 🪢

Organized workplace = effective workplace.

Picture this: centralized candidate data in one place. That’s precisely one of the most important features of an ATS. It’s able to collect and centralize all info, like a database of sorts. It’ll make you say bye-bye 👋 to digging through all those job applications you got via email, printed-out CVs that are a headache to organize, or even worse – multiple spreadsheets. Ouch.

A great ATS steps in with one centralized database that makes it easy to search and find any info or a candidate you’re looking for in just a few clicks. This helps you and your team save time and never lose track of great candidates. That’s music to any recruiter’s ears.

Collaboration & Communication 🎙️

Hiring should always be a team effort. It often requires collaboration and communication among hiring managers, recruiters, team leads, and other team members included in the hiring process. It’s the only way everybody can make completely informed hiring decisions.

From the beginning – deciding what new role you’re looking for, setting requirements, drafting and proofreading the job post descriptions. Next, we have other manual and repetitive tasks, like going through CVs, motivation letters, and portfolios. And finally, all the way to choosing the perfect candidate and beginning the onboarding process. Effective communication helps keep everyone on the same page through the entire recruiting process.

Easy communication in PontaHR ATS

Fortunately, that’s where a good ATS really helps out! When your team has the option to leave comments, share their thoughts and feedback, and discuss candidates directly within the platform – it’s a game changer for a seamless selection process.

Tailored Workflows 🛠️

You know it, we know it – every company has its unique hiring processes. They’re often not easy to apply on hiring platforms because you need to make many adjustments. And that takes a lot of time!

Well, a good ATS software (such as PontaHR, a great applicant tracking system for small and medium businesses) allows you to create customized workflows tailored to your needs, so it fits you, simplifying your recruitment processes. Whether it’s setting up specific stages in the recruiting process, determining what candidate information you need, or automating follow-up emails to eliminate routine tasks, an ATS should adapt to you.

Customizable workflows in PontaHR ATS

Cost Savings 💸

We get it – just the thought of implementing one more tool is sometimes a headache. And having to use yet another tool may seem like just an extra expense, but think of it as a savings investment in the long run. Because it is!

Finding the best ATS tool for your company will help you have a quicker and more efficient recruitment cycle, and reduce the time, effort, and money spent on each listing. You’ll also lower costs for job postings and onboarding. A bargain, really.

Publishing Job Listings 💼

Discovering top talent while maintaining the company’s public career page is another advantage of using an ATS. It gives HR managers the option to effortlessly post open positions, edit job boards, and keep track of the company page by themselves. Another big plus for all HR teams is that they can swiftly make any necessary changes without needing additional help or unnecessary steps, from tweaking job descriptions to even showcasing company culture.

For example, a public page for a company using PontaHR will look something like this:

Public company page in PontaHR

Candidate Journey 🚶

With an ATS that has a good-looking UI, you can create a better candidate experience. From a simple application process to email automation features. Applicant tracking systems can often automate emails and send them in bulk. That way, you can speed up not just the process for your team, but also make it more efficient for candidates too. Plus, it helps companies maintain a professional approach and reduces any chances of slip-ups.

Finally, we can see that using an ATS offers quite a few benefits for companies and HR managers looking to streamline their recruitment process. All from saving time and centralizing your candidate data, to easier collaboration and customization, and finally – lowering the overall costs of recruiting. An applicant tracking system can also give an enhanced candidate experience, but more on that topic some other time.

Today, efficient hiring is a necessity, and to us, the advantages of using a great ATS are as clear as day! 🌞

Why is it Important to Have an ATS?

Mon, 21 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000

An applicant tracking system (or ATS for short) is a recruitment and hiring solution created to help your team make the best possible choices when it comes to hiring new team members. Which candidate has the most relevant experience? Who would be the best culture fit? Were any of the candidates recommended by someone on your team? An ATS can help you track all of this information. So, let's break down some of the most important ways an ATS can help your hiring process.

Cooperation 🤝

Having an applicant tracking system in place can really benefit your team and the way they collaborate. Firstly, an ATS keeps all communication in one place – a shared space everyone included in the hiring process can access. This way, no information is lost in a pile of emails or other documents and no one is “left behind”, out of the loop. Secondly, a good ATS also lets the entire hiring team easily mark which candidates they like best and who they want to see in the next step of the selection process. All opinions in one place and a space to comment can help your team work together faster and better.

Coordination 🤹

A good ATS has to be intuitive and easy to use. Ideally, it should help you keep all your applications organized, let you have a simple overview of the hiring stages, and easily see where each candidate is in this pipeline. This way, you can plan your next steps, see which candidates might be more urgent to contact, know which team members need a reminder to go through the CVs or check the quality of current applications.

Overall, an ATS helps you make a more thought-out decision for your next move.

Candidate experience 📇

When used right, an ATS is a game-changer for the candidates applying to work with you as well. Chances are, you’ll be more responsive and more likely to get back to them in a timely manner. You’re also more likely to never skip a candidate so everyone who applies will be notified and contacted. Anyone who applied to a job they really want knows the struggle of never getting feedback so this could improve your image as an employer as well.

The impact an ATS can have on your business is vast. From improving the way your team functions, helping you work more efficiently, to bettering the perception of your company in the eyes of everyone who applies to work with you. So why not try PontaHR for all your recruitment management needs?

Tips & Tricks to Simplify Your Hiring

Wed, 09 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000

There’s no doubt that hiring the right people can be challenging for any organization. Rightfully so, as having an amazing team goes a long way and could help your company succeed. So, we should all do our best to ensure we choose ideal candidates, right? Still, the hiring process can be time-consuming and overwhelming. That’s where having a great applicant tracking system (ATS) like PontaHR really comes in handy, and with a few of our tips – you’ll make your hiring process a breeze!

Define the Position to Find the Right Fit 🧩

Before starting the hiring process, a clear understanding of your company’s needs and the criteria within your team is a must-have. So, begin with defining the skills, experience, and qualifications you’re looking for.

But also set expectations, such as:

Are you okay with hiring people who work remotely?
When you’re torn between a ‘Yes’ and a ‘Maybe’ for a candidate – do you choose the higher or the lower option?
What to do when someone with far more experience than you listed applies?

Those are just a few that can help with making your selection process easier.

Of course, job listings should be as defined as possible, for the candidate's sake as well, without too much text and irrelevant information in your posting (because not many people like to read excessive amounts of text, at least we don’t know many who do). Try singling out the most important requirements so candidates can easily compare and contrast what you’re looking for to their qualifications. By being clear about who you’re searching for, you have a better chance of finding the right fit.

Take Advantage of All ATS (Applicant Tracking System) Capabilities 🧑💻

A reliable ATS can help you in many ways during a hiring process – if you use all the features right. Not only will it centralize candidate information and communication with your team, but it can automate many basic tasks, so you can spend your time more efficiently. Using a great ATS, such as PontaHR, can help you say goodbye to multiple overwhelming email threads, confusing Excel sheets, and more.

Here’s a few ATS benefits we found really helpful:

Easy candidate management and centralized data
Quick job listing publishing
One place for candidate discussion with your team
Time-saving automated tasks and less manual data entries
Email automation – from application confirmations to rejection emails.

Benefit From Employee Referrals 👯

Sometimes, the most valuable resources are already within your company. Who better to assist you in finding new colleagues than your own team? To encourage your team to give a helping hand, consider an incentive. Perhaps a bonus, or some other kind of motivational recognition. Not only can employee referrals help you speed up your hiring process, but there’s a big chance you’ll come across people who are the right culture fit. And, to add to it, referral hires have a higher retention rate, per an article published by the National Bureau of Economic Research.

Develop a Standard & Structured Interview Guide ✍️

Interviews play a vital role in finding the right fit for your company.

With a structured and organized approach, you can ensure a more efficient hiring process. It’s key to clearly define the objectives for every interview stage, and one of the first stages should be very similar (if not identical) for each and every candidate. Create an interview guide with a set of questions that should cover the core aspects of the job position. This should include basic skill and experience questions, the qualities you’re looking for, company culture, and more. This way you can ensure that all candidates are treated fairly and are evaluated on the same criteria, simplifying the comparison of their qualifications.

Don’t forget to give your company a proper introduction. It’s important for candidates to get an impression of your core values and overall company culture. They’re meeting you for the first time too!

Hiring the right people is important, but can get challenging. To simplify the process and make your day-to-day better, try using a great ATS and following our tips: define the position clearly, leverage all ATS capabilities, encourage employee referrals, and develop a structured interview guide. By implementing these, you can find the best candidates efficiently and build a strong team. Happy hiring!

The Importance of Developing a Healthy Company Culture

Tue, 25 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

In a world where trends rapidly change and people shift between jobs more often than before, developing a healthy company culture is essential. You might wonder, why is it that important? Well, from highlighting your company culture in job listings to creating engaging initiatives for your team, it can help you build a strong and productive team.

Wondering how to do it from the get-go? Want to improve the culture at your company? Keep reading for a couple of our tips!

Attract & Retain Top Talent 💼

Various benefits and a competitive salary are sometimes simply not enough. Most people are looking for a meaningful work environment that brings extra value to their lives, and we get it! Companies with a great culture put an emphasis on collaboration and personal growth. Their teams are often people with shared interests, and they keep up employee retention rates. And, to be honest, pretty much everyone wants to work in a place that appreciates a healthy culture.

So, what to do?

Clearly define and communicate your company’s values. Do it everywhere! In job postings, interviews, while onboarding new team members, all the way to your social media platforms. And if you didn’t define them yet, now is the time to do it! This way, you’ll attract people with similar principles, so it makes it more likely that your team will collaborate in a more cohesive and friendly way.
Try to do your best to gather feedback from your team on a regular basis. From weekly or monthly check-ins to yearly 360 reviews , knowing how your team feels at work is important. Doing it regularly can help employees grow, resolve any possible problems or misunderstandings, and result in better communication and an overall healthy atmosphere. Plus, those who feel good at work want to stay, so the expected results could be higher retention rates.
Benefits and competitive pay still shouldn’t be overlooked. Think of some perks you’d like to have that can benefit everyone, such as flexible working hours and remote options, a 4-day work week, healthcare and pension plans, further education options, and more. Don’t forget to mention those in your job listings!

Talk That Talk 🗣️

One of the basics every company needs to thrive and foster a positive environment is, you guessed it, effective collaboration skills. How to do it?

Encourage open and friendly communication so your team feels comfortable sharing their ideas and thoughts.
Implement certain tools that can help with quicker feedback, better coordination, and transparency , such as a great ATS for instance. It can offer easy conversation between team members while your company is growing.
Recognize good work done , share it, and celebrate with everyone!

Great communication with your team can help you create a sense of unity and shared purpose among team members, and boost productivity. As an added bonus – it can help people bond over similar interests, building friendships in the meantime. Having a team of happy, motivated, and supportive employees beats no other. The more the merrier!

A Healthy Work Environment is a Must ⚖️

One of the things you should never overlook at work is caring for a healthy and friendly environment. Prioritizing your team’s well-being can create a positive surrounding, encourage open discussions, and promote a good work-life balance (that’s a must for us). Developing a great company culture can create a supportive atmosphere where every team member feels valued and appreciated.

Offer various perks, such as generous vacation policies , parental leave , or extra days off for special events like weddings , all of which can help in creating a healthy work-life balance.
Promote various self-care practices , from encouraging physical activity with fitness benefits , to access to mental health resources.
Different team-building activities can give an opportunity for all employees to connect, build friendships, and take a break from their daily work routine.

This can result in increased motivation, productivity, and overall satisfaction. Don’t forget about the free snacks and game breaks!

To conclude, you should never put developing a healthy company culture aside. From the beginning when you’re just attracting talent (visit PontaHR to see how our ATS can help you out), to cultivating an enjoyable workplace environment and retaining your employees, a strong company culture plays a vital role. So, we’d say it seems like a pretty smart move for success, because wouldn’t you want to be a part of something great?

HR Trends We’re Loving in 2023

Mon, 10 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

HR practices are constantly changing and evolving. So, let’s look at some of the steps human resources professionals are taking in 2023 in order to up their game and keep their teams happy. From the basics – employee wellbeing, remote work, and company culture, to performance management. We’ll cover the advantages of implementing these practices, how they can help you with day-to-day tasks, improve the all-around success of your company and team, and more!

Show You Care About Employee Well-being & Mental Health 🧘

Employee well-being – a topic that should be a top priority for your company. There’s still a certain stigma surrounding mental health, and people can often be reluctant to openly speak about their struggles. This is why getting employees to open up about the subject can be a bit of a challenge, so it’s important to make sure your team feels safe. This is just another reason why creating a culture of understanding is so essential.

Initiatives and programs that promote mental health, such as counseling outside of the company, recognizing and rewarding good work by encouraging feedback and a transparent rewarding system, cherishing a sense of community and belonging , and developing good work/life balance , are crucial. A healthy and happy workplace helps with creating a successful company.

Let Your Company Culture Shine✨

Company culture is an organization's personality. It shows your priorities, the things you love, what you enjoy, how you approach problems, and much more. This is why it’s essential to hire a team of people that fit your culture, as it can help create a more motivated and coherent group. Promote honest communication, encourage feedback, and be open to changes by listening and recognizing comments made by your team. Also, don’t forget to share your culture with the outside world! By showcasing company culture, organizations tend to attract talent that suits their environment best. Try using a nice ATS, like PontaHR to do just that, as well as grow your team with an effortless hiring process.

The Joy of Working From Anywhere - Implement Remote Work & Flexibility ✈️

Hybrid work is here to stay, and we love it! The flexibility of being able to choose where and when to work has shown great results, as this Harvard research shows. It’s proven that people are more productive when they have options, and it’s easier to achieve an improved work/life balance. If there’s a possibility to easily see when your colleagues are available and where they’re working from, it can help with scheduling meetings, improve communication, and benefit your team’s productivity and efficiency overall. By implementing flexible and hybrid work options, companies tend to develop a culture of trust and understanding easier. In addition, they aid in breaking the habit of micromanagement.

Learning & Developing Power Skills is Always IN 📚

As they say, knowledge is power, and investing in the education of employees can benefit everyone's growth and success. For a company to thrive (and keep on thriving) it’s important to learn hard skills, as well as work on power skills such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and leadership. Contributing to the further development of employees can benefit you in many ways – from improved performance, and retention, to attracting more talent. It’s helpful to keep all learning materials and knowledge in one place, so it’s easy to find. If you decide to use a tool with a handbook feature, your team will be able to effortlessly find any material they’re on the lookout for.

Level Up With Effective Performance Management 📈

Many companies have come to the realization that it’s vital to create a culture of understanding and transparency in order to build a healthy and happy business environment. Employees should feel heard and supported, with regular check-ins and performance reviews. Implementing those, it’s easier to have a full overview of your team’s strengths and areas for improvement.

The world of HR is constantly evolving, so it’s beneficial to stay on top of all the trends and changes. Everyone wants their company to be successful and their employees to be happy at work, and we believe these HR practices can definitely help.

PontaHR Blog

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The Best HR Conferences of 2025

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A Short Guide to Job Interviews – Culture Fit

What is a Cultural Fit? 🕵️

Why is it Important? 👀

How to Identify a Cultural Fit? 🔎

What to Cover? 💬

Teamwork and collaboration

Company values

Handling conflicts

Environment preferences

Leadership

To wrap it up 🍬

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Flexibility 🤸

Productivity ⏱️

May