Düsseldorf, June 08, 2020. Since March 2020 all employees of the Gerresheimer Group have been working in accordance with the rules of the crisis management teams and the motto "flatten the curve". Many employees who otherwise work in an office, such as at the Gerresheimer Group's head office, work largely from home and therefore online. But how does the application process work under these conditions? Can job interviews also be conducted online? Here are the experiences of Janina Schreiber and Lorena Sibilia, who as HR managers conduct many job interviews, and the impressions of the two applicants Maike Blankertz and Peter Byland. Both have only recently started their activities as Innovation Managers in the Gerresheimer Group in the field of Advanced Technologies on the basis of an online video application interview.
"We are currently in a different world with different expectations - both from an applicant and a company perspective. It's exciting, different and it shows the flexibility on both sides," says Janina Schreiber, who is responsible for personnel work for the glass business in Europe at the Düsseldorf headquarters. For video conversations on screen, employees have a selection of suitable background pictures in the Gerresheimer brand at their disposal. The first video application interviews were conducted by the two new Innovation Managers Maike Blankartz and Peter Byland with Lorena Sibilia, the responsible HR Manager: "I think that both sides, i.e. applicants and job providers, can adjust well to this new type of interview. Of course, it is important that you are familiar with the operation and that the connection is stable.
Maike Blankartz - first personal insights
"Everything was as usual until the invitation to the video interview," says Maike Blankartz. Then came the first interview. Instead of in person on site in Olten, she was alone at home on her screen at her laptop. The first such important personal moment: facing the other person, the first handshake at the reception, seeing the other employees and her possible future workplace - all this was completely absent. Instead, the 35-year-old suddenly gained very personal insights into the world of her counterpart. Instead of sitting in a formal meeting room, her potential boss and staff colleague from their private offices looked at her from home with expectation.
Peter Byland - it fits professionally and personally
In the second video interview, the two innovation managers were again convincing both professionally and personally. Peter Byland reports: "I was surprised how well the online interviews worked. "It also turned out quite quickly that it was a good fit not only on a professional but also on a personal level. "My positive impression didn't change when I met my new colleagues on site on the first day of work. "
Onboarding Online - get to know colleagues via video
Maike Blankartz and Peter Byland had overcome the first hurdle and had their employment contracts in their pockets. Now the second challenge was just around the corner: onboarding from home. But getting to know the new colleagues and the team also worked virtually flawlessly. Online, their new colleagues introduced them to current projects and explained and prioritized their future areas of responsibility. In short: the first weeks were a very exciting and intensive time for both of them.
The digitised application process
The entire application process of the two new colleagues could be carried out without any problems with the help of digitalisation despite the ban on visits due to the corona pandemic. This is a good example of the fact that digitization is continuing to develop in all areas of the company and enables modern work processes.
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About Gerresheimer
Gerresheimer is a leading global partner to the pharma and healthcare industry. With special products made of glass and plastic the company contributes to health and well-being. Gerresheimer is represented worldwide and with around 10,000 employees produces where its customers and markets are. With plants in Europe, America and Asia Gerresheimer generates sales of around €1.4 billion. The wide range of products includes pharmaceutical packaging and products for simple and safe drug administration: Insulin pens, inhalers, micropumps, prefillable syringes, injection vials, ampoules, bottles and containers for liquid and solid medications with closure and safety systems, as well as packaging for the cosmetics industry.
