Candidates are less prone to switch jobs in Covid-19, claims Next Insurance

“One interesting aspect of the current climate is that candidates are less prone to switch jobs now,” observed Efrat Dagan, Head of Talent Acquisition at Next Insurance. One way the company tackles this during Covid-19 is leveraging technology from platforms like Woo to make the most of its existing candidate base.

“Woo helps engage and keep your candidate database current and surface candidates to match open roles no matter when they were opened, thus we try to maximize our existing assets,” Dagan explained.

It might be harder to fill roles today than in previous times, but Next Insurance is still on the search for the right people. The insurtech company has joined CTech for its HR Series to explore what impact the pandemic had on HR and the job market.

Company Name: Next Insurance

HR Leader: Efrat Dagan, Head of Talent Acquisition

Field of Activity: Insurtech.

Our mission is to transform insurance for small businesses by combining world-class technology and phenomenal customer service to offer better insurance at a lower price. Next Insurance has raised $631 million from top tier investors and is currently valued at over $2 billion.

Number of employees/location:

400 globally and 200 in Kfar Saba, Israel (but talking about a location is so 2019!)

Professional background:

I led Talent Acquisition teams at Google, Waze, and Lyft globally. I have over 20 years of experience.

On a scale of 1-10, how much did the coronavirus pandemic disrupt operations at the company?

Like many companies, the pandemic challenged the way we were used to working, but we quickly adjusted and learned how to adapt, as we learned how to optimize work in a new setting. We can't say we don't miss life at the office but we learned to embrace and enjoy a different setting. We make sure to provide employees with the right equipment and encourage them to find the way to make the best out of the situation. Having lunch at home, doing a global fitness challenge with our teams, and even a virtual reality holiday party!

What interesting technological tools do you use in employee management/recruitment?

One interesting aspect of the current climate is that candidates are less prone to switch jobs now. One way we tackle this is that we are looking to leverage technology to make the most of our existing candidate base using Woo’s technology. Woo helps engage and keep your candidate database current and surface candidates to match open roles no matter when they were opened, thus we try to maximize our existing assets.

What positive and/or negative impact did the outbreak have on the human capital of the company?

Positive: we spent the last year really crystallizing our hiring process, so we are certain that even if we hire virtually, we are able to add the right folks to the team. We found other ways to collaborate and spend time together and a renewed focus on wellness and balance which became even more important. We relied on our strong culture as a force to help with the challenging aspects and be there for one another. We are attuned to what employees need and we try to provide the right support. Those things change as this year unfolds.

What are the two major challenges you are coping with these days?

We are growing fast and we are looking for great candidates constantly and this leads to the other challenge of engaging with candidates differently than we have in the past, we are constantly looking for ways to reach candidates and let them know why this is a great opportunity to join us now, more than ever.

Are you actively recruiting? If so, what is the process and where can the applicants find you?

We have many open roles, so please take a look at our careers page. Our hiring process includes 3-4 interviews and focuses on the ability to solve problems, relevant knowledge, and the “Next” Factor, which is our way to learn about your ability to work the Next way.

Which changes forced upon you by the circumstances will stay in place after Covid-19 is over, and which are you most eager to revert back to normal?

The pandemic taught us many things, including the fact that we can be productive, work as one team and keep growing and breaking records while working remotely. We learned to enjoy more flexibility, we will definitely keep enjoying some of this newfound ability when we are able to get back to work from the office.

We are looking forward to meeting each other more and working alongside each other in new and old ways. We do miss joint meals, chatting, and enjoying each other's company more.