In the next three years, top HR executives and employers have asserted that the biggest impact on recruitment will be Technology Augmenting the Hiring Process. In other words, how technology will make the hiring process more effective through easier filtering and more accurate matching.

This discovery, along with other invaluable insights into the evolution of the job market has been pioneered through in-depth research conducted by ROAM (Ringier One Africa Media). ROAM encompasses the market-leading job portals in West Africa (Jobberman) and East Africa (BrighterMonday), as well as Executive recruitment and HR solutions firm, The African Talent Company. The company periodically surveys over 50,000 employers who use their services, to understand how employers see the hiring space and how ROAM’s brands can support the changes.

Matthew Page, ROAM’s Head of Jobs, credits a strong shift in the behavioral patterns amongst Millennial job-seekers as the main driver behind piloting research to better understand the trends. He says: “As advocates for the use and power of technology in the hiring space, we are pleased to see technology is on top of the HR agenda. It aligns with our vision to transform productivity on the African continent. We’re seeing some pretty incredible trends coming out of our millennial users.

Firstly, the growth in job activity is massive over the last 3 years. It differs by market but some countries are seeing as much as 50% of the workforce being made up of millennials – these users are actively searching and enquiring about opportunities. More than any other demographic we have seen before.”

The company’s research further brought to light that increasingly Millennials are moving away from having physical CVs, and instead, are opting to store their data in a digital profile via the Jobberman web portal in West Africa and the BrighterMonday portal in East Africa respectively. “This is convenient,” says Page. “Job Seekers – and especially millennials – are mobile-centric. They are hungry for the right job and they are looking for an easier to use, digital application processes. Sending a CV over email or via post is slow, arduous and inefficient.”

This aligns with the trends ROAM has uncovered on employer beliefs for augmentative hiring processes. Page goes on to say: “Having structured data in a digital profile is good for the employer and the seeker. The data is in the cloud, is easily edited and allows for a seamless desktop to mobile experience. For employers, filtering through 100 CVs in hardcopy is a nightmare task. Being able to match profiles to role requirements with technology takes out the manual element and allows for focus on what really matters – the top matching candidates.”

Clemens Weitz, CEO of ROAM, doubles down on the potential for growth in African productivity: “In the future, hiring decisions will be vastly improved through technology. The hard copy CV as the main instrument for candidate selection is a 20th-century practice that our generation will be the last to see. For both candidates and hiring managers, there are tremendous positives ahead. As more candidates embrace digital profiles, it is imperative employers leverage the sourcing technology available or risk missing out on ideal applicants.”

Stories Continues after ad

By Martin Zwilling

I often recommend business networking as the most effective way for a startup founder to find investors, advisors, and even key executive candidates. But what if you are an introvert, or new to this game, and don’t know where or how to start?

The answer is still the same, but I have learned over the years that there is an etiquette to this process, just like there is for social networking. Here are a few of the “do’s”:

Post your profile on LinkedIn and Twitter, and join in startup discussions. There are other social networks in the list of 200 “major sites” recognized by Wikipedia that entrepreneurs use for networking, depending on where you are in the world, like Orkut, Viadeo, and Sina Weibo, but talking to friends on Facebook probably won’t help you.

Join and actively participate in local business organizations. Business groups like TiE-The Indus Entrepreneurs and EO-Entrepreneurs Organization are places to meet people you can help, as well as people who can help you. Remember it helps to give a little to get something back. Another place to start is the local Chamber of Commerce.

Get introductions from existing business contacts. Start with the people you know, who know your work, and would recommend you to others. It isn’t always the first introduction, but the friend of a friend that may be the one that pays dividends.

Volunteer to help out with entrepreneur activities at your local university. All universities love and need to get help from people in the “real world” for coaching and judging activities in their Entrepreneurship and MBA programs. In return, you will meet or be connected to many people who can help you.

Attend an investment conference. These events are swarming with potential investors, and this is the forum where they are actively soliciting new opportunities, so don’t be shy about handing out your business card at breaks, lunch, mixers, or scheduled activities.

Join a local investment group. If you can meet the SEC “accredited investor” criteria ($1M net worth or $200K annual income), this is a great way to be seen by potential investors as peers before you need money. Plus you will see how the process really works from the other side of the table – the best preparation you could have for your own approach later. In most cases, these groups don’t require that you invest in others, as a condition of membership.

If all of these are obvious to you, then you are already on the right track, and you probably wouldn’t consider doing any of the “don’ts.”

Don’t do cold calls or email blasts of your resume and business plan to potential investors.

Don’t corner and barrage that heavy hitter you heard about with your life history at a social gathering.

Don’t send your unfinished business plan unsolicited to every VC or investment group you can find on the Internet, just to see if they like the concept.

Don’t hand out your business cards to everyone in the room, in hopes that one will be impressed with how unique and expensive it looks.

On LinkedIn, don’t complain to everyone that you are limited to only 3000 invitations, and request them to send you an invitation to become friends.

Back on the positive side, I like to say, especially for us introverts, that networking is more about listening that it is about talking. Believe it or not, most successful investors have big egos, and will probably remember you better if they do most of the talking at first.

Nevertheless, have your elevator pitch honed, and don’t be shy about giving it. Don’t forget your enthusiasm, and have fun, but remember your manners!

The writer is a veteran startup mentor, executive, blogger, author, tech professional, professor, and investor. Published on Forbes, Entrepreneur, Inc, Huffington Post Veteran startup mentor, executive, blogger, author, tech professional, professor, and investor. Published on Forbes, Entrepreneur, Inc, Huffington Post.

Stories Continues after ad