The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly changed the way we work, with many companies transitioning to remote work to keep employees safe and healthy.

While remote work has its benefits, it can also be challenging for managers and teams to build and maintain strong relationships when they’re not physically in the same space.

This is where team-building activities come in!

Effective team-building activities are crucial for remote teams to build trust, foster collaboration, and promote open communication.

These activities can help remote team members get to know each other better, boost morale, and enhance productivity.

However, it can be challenging to come up with activities that are engaging and effective in a virtual environment.

In this blog post, we’ll explore seven exciting and innovative team-building activities that you can do with your remote team.

These activities are designed to create a fun and engaging atmosphere that fosters team bonding, communication, and collaboration.

From virtual escape rooms to virtual happy hours, we’ll cover a range of activities that are suitable for remote teams of all sizes and backgrounds.

But that’s not all.

We’ll also provide tips and tricks for organizing and running these activities successfully, so you can ensure that your remote team-building efforts are a success.

Whether you’re a seasoned remote team manager or new to the game, this post is packed with valuable insights and practical advice to help you strengthen your remote team’s bonds.

So, get ready to discover the ultimate team-building activities for remote teams that will help you boost morale, increase productivity, and have fun

Team Building: 7 Activities To Bond Your Remote Team

1. Food Delivery Exchange
2. Jackbox Games
3. Skribblio
4. Covidopoly
5. Exercise Together
6. Houseparty
7. Watching Movies

1) Food Delivery Exchange

Getting bored of eating the same food and have no idea to what to buy anymore? Just get your team to order delivery for each other, keeping the food you buy a secret! The receiver will not know what they will be receiving and will get a nice surprise! And this way, your team can eat at the same time while video calling as well. This will be a good bonding time over lunch and yet remove the issue of having to decide what to eat!

2)Jackbox Games

Jackbox is a popular party game set. One person would have to purchase it, and they can stream it on Discord or share screen through other means. There are many Jackbox party packs, and each party packs have their individual set of games! There are countless of options to choose from, letting your team have fun and bond over the fun games. Never get bored again! You will find yourself asking your team if they have time to play!

3)Skribblio

Ever heard of draw something on your phone? This is something like an online version of that! Compete with your colleagues over who can guess the fastest and the most number of drawings! And at the same time laugh at each others’ lack of talent in drawing. Time will pass quickly with all the laughter and guessing. Up the guessing by inputing your very own choice of words. You can choose specific words and names that specifically your teams knows in common, and this will make the game even more interesting.

4)Covidopoly

Covid version of the class monopoly deal? Yes please! This is a fun twist to the conventional Monopoly Deal, and reading the words on the cards is as entertaining as the game itself. Just a note, it really depends a lot on your luck. If you have many rent cards, you are in luck! And that is speaking from experience. You will find yourself getting addicted and wanting to replay it again and again til you win.

5)Exercise together

Stuck at home with no calories burnt, it is super easy to gain weight now that we are at home 24/7, eating and eating while burning very few calories. Turn on Zoom or any video calling app, and call your colleagues while watching videos to work out! Exercising together will help to kill 2 birds with one stone. Exercising with other people online will help to motivate you, and you will be able to burn off those excess calories! See your colleague resting? Call them out to continue the workout! Burn off those calories as a team! Some popular work out gurus online include Chloe Ting, Emi Wong, Alexis Ren and more! So after you finish your work, you know what to do! Get up, and get exercising!

6)Houseparty

Houseparty is an app on your phone that allows you to video call your friends while playing party games. There are popular games to play in-app like trivia and even karaoke! It is pretty much like having an in-real-life house party but online. Grab a few snacks and drinks, and play away!

7)Watching movies

Can’t go to the movie theatres? No problem! Stream/share screen while video calling your friends, grab some popcorn, and tada! It is almost the same as being at the movies. Even better, you can stop the movie halfway and discuss the details with your team, or rant about that cliche plotline again!

Conclusion

Team building activities are a crucial aspect of building strong relationships and a positive team culture in a remote work environment.

These seven team-building activities we’ve discussed can help you foster trust, communication, and collaboration among your remote team members, resulting in increased productivity, better job satisfaction, and overall team success.

Remember, while the activities we’ve discussed are a great starting point, you can always tailor them to suit your team’s unique needs and interests.

The key is to make sure everyone feels included and engaged, regardless of their location.

In addition, don’t forget to follow the tips and tricks we’ve provided to ensure that your team-building activities run smoothly and successfully.

With a little bit of preparation and creativity, you can create a fun and engaging atmosphere that will help your remote team thrive.

So, whether you’re a remote team manager, team member, or just looking for ways to strengthen your team’s bonds, these seven team-building activities are a great starting point.

Don’t have a remote team to bond with? Kickstart your remote hiring now! Head on over to 9cv9 now and start hiring remote workers or find a remote job best suited for you!

9cv9 blog will be posting more helpful and in-depth content on remote working, so do keep a lookout for that!

Find this useful? Remember to like this post and follow the 9cv9 blog for more!

The post Team Building: 7 Activities To Bond Your Remote Team appeared first on 9cv9 Career Blog.

Considering the constant changes in our world, remote working is becoming increasingly prominent in our society.

Remote work has become increasingly common as technology has made it easier to work from anywhere in the world.

Accelerated by the advert of the Coronavirus-19 (“Covid19”) pandemic, in which workers and staff are forced to remain at home and face lockdown, companies have no choice but to introduce remote working and be accustomed to their employees going about their tasks working remotely.

While remote teams offer numerous benefits, such as increased access to talent, flexibility, and cost savings, they also come with unique challenges, particularly when it comes to communication.

In order for remote teams to be successful, it’s essential to establish efficient communication practices that promote collaboration, prevent misunderstandings, and maintain strong relationships among team members.

That said if you also want to know more about how to hire remote workers, read our post about how to kickstart remote hiring.

Remote working is a good way to save costs for companies, but the process of managing these remote employees can be tricky.

This is especially true since you would not be able to communicate in real life, and this could cause a huge barrier in communication among colleagues.

Thus, it is crucial to be able to communicate effectively and seamlessly online if you are managing a remote team.

According to Forbes, a new Doodle survey of 300 HR professionals found that most are ill-prepared to transition to a fully virtual recruitment and onboarding model amidst COVID-19.

This means that there is a need to start exploring certain solutions and answers to prepare for a new normal.

One that uses technology to maintain or enhance existing recruitment, onboarding, and communication processes in the endemic post-Covid19 world.

An article by Pew Research wrote that only 7% of workers in the US have access to a “flexible workplace” benefit or telework.

This means there is still much to be done for enabling access to a remote-enabled working environment.

Before we venture further into this article, we like to share who we are and what we do.

About 9cv9

9cv9 is a business tech startup based in Singapore with a strong presence all over the world.

With over six years of startup and business experience, and being highly involved in connecting with thousands of companies and startups, the 9cv9 team has listed some important learning points in this overview of sharing some efficient communication tools and tips to manage remote teams and offering the top 5 useful and quick tools to ace the communication flow in 2023.

If your company needs recruitment and headhunting services, you can use 9cv9 headhunting and recruitment services to hire top talents and candidates. Find out more here, or send over an email to hello@9cv9.com.

Efficient Communication For Remote Teams

1. What are “Remote Teams” and their importance?
   • Benefits of having Remote Teams
2. Benefits of Efficient Communication for Remote Teams
3. Challenges of Communication for Remote Teams
4. Best Practices for Efficient Communication in Remote Teams
5. Tips for Overcoming Communication Challenges in Remote Teams
6. Top 5 Useful and Quick Tools in 2023

What are “Remote Teams” and their importance?

Remote teams are groups of individuals who work together towards a common goal but are not located in the same physical space.

For example, your software development team could be situated in Vietnam but your management team and its physical headquarters office are in Singapore.

The rise of remote teams is largely due to advances in technology that have made it possible to work from anywhere in the world.

These teams are becoming increasingly important in the modern workplace due to the numerous benefits they confer.

Benefits of having Remote Teams

One of the primary benefits of remote teams is increased access to talent.

Traditional office-based teams are often limited to hiring individuals who live within commuting distance of the office, or at most within the boundaries of the country.

This can be a significant barrier for businesses that need access to specialized skills or experience that may not be available in their local area.

Remote teams, on the other hand, allow businesses to tap into a wider pool of talent, as they are not limited by geographic location.

Another benefit of remote teams is increased flexibility.

Individuals who work remotely have more control over their work schedule and location, which can lead to increased productivity and job satisfaction.

For example, individuals who work from home can avoid the stress and time-consuming process of commuting to and from the office.

Given this flexibility, individuals can optimize their working hours to increase their output for the organization.

Additionally, remote work allows individuals to better manage their work-life balance, which can lead to better mental health and overall well-being.

Remote teams can also help businesses save money on overhead costs such as office space and utilities.

Without the need for a physical office, businesses can reduce or eliminate costs associated with leasing and maintaining office space.

This can be especially beneficial for small businesses or startups that are looking to minimize their expenses.

Studies have also shown that remote teams are 13.5% more productive than their office-based counterparts.

This may be due in part to the increased flexibility and autonomy that remote work provides.

Additionally, remote teams often rely heavily on technology and digital communication tools, which can increase efficiency and collaboration.

Remote teams are an important and growing trend in the modern workplace.

However, they also come with unique challenges, such as the need for efficient communication and the potential for isolation or disconnection among team members.

To ensure the success of remote teams, it is essential to establish clear communication guidelines, prioritize active listening, and use the right communication tools for the job.

With the right approach, remote teams can offer numerous benefits and help businesses achieve their goals more efficiently and effectively.

Benefits of Efficient Communication for Remote Teams

Here are some benefits of efficient communication for remote teams:

• Promotes Collaboration: Efficient communication helps remote team members to collaborate effectively on tasks and projects. With clear communication, team members can share ideas, ask questions, and provide feedback, which can lead to better decision-making and more innovative solutions.
• Prevents Misunderstandings: In remote teams, communication is often digital, which can lead to misunderstandings and misinterpretations. Efficient communication practices, such as clear and concise messaging, active listening, and using the appropriate communication channels, can help prevent misunderstandings and maintain alignment among team members.
• Builds Strong Relationships: Remote teams can be isolated, which can lead to a lack of connection and trust among team members. Efficient communication practices, such as regular check-ins, virtual team-building activities, and recognizing achievements, can help build strong relationships and a sense of community among remote team members.
• Increases Productivity: Efficient communication can increase productivity by reducing the time and effort needed to communicate and collaborate on tasks. With clear communication, remote teams can avoid unnecessary back-and-forth, streamline decision-making, and maintain momentum on projects.
• Improves Work-Life Balance: Efficient communication can help remote team members to maintain a healthy work-life balance. With clear communication, team members can avoid working outside of their designated work hours, which can lead to burnout and decreased job satisfaction.

Efficient communication is essential for remote teams to function effectively and achieve their goals.

By promoting collaboration, preventing misunderstandings, building strong relationships, increasing productivity, and improving work-life balance, efficient communication practices can help remote teams succeed in the modern workplace.

Challenges of Communication for Remote Teams

These are some challenges for managing remote teams:

1. Lack of Non-Verbal Cues: In remote teams, communication is often digital, which can lead to a lack of non-verbal cues, such as facial expressions and body language. This can make it difficult to interpret messages accurately, leading to misunderstandings and misinterpretations.
2. Different Time Zones: Remote teams often work across different time zones, which can make it challenging to coordinate communication and collaboration effectively. This can lead to delays and misunderstandings, particularly when urgent decisions need to be made.
3. Limited Access to Information: In remote teams, team members may not have the same level of access to information as they would in a physical office. This can make it difficult to stay up-to-date with important information, leading to miscommunications and errors.
4. Technology Issues: Technology issues, such as poor internet connections or malfunctioning software, can disrupt communication and collaboration in remote teams. This can lead to delays and frustrations among team members.
5. Isolation: Remote teams can often feel isolated, which can lead to a lack of connection and trust among team members. This can negatively impact communication, as team members may be less likely to reach out to one another for support or feedback.

Best Practices for Efficient Communication in Remote Teams

Here are some best practices for efficient communication in remote teams:

1. Establish Clear Communication Guidelines: Remote teams should establish clear guidelines for communication, such as preferred communication channels, response times, and expectations for tone and language.
2. Use Video Conferencing for Meetings: Video conferencing can help remote teams feel more connected and facilitate more effective communication than audio-only calls. It can also help team members better interpret non-verbal cues and build stronger relationships.
3. Prioritize Regular Check-Ins: Regular check-ins can help remote teams stay connected and maintain alignment. These check-ins should include time for team members to share updates, ask questions, and provide feedback.
4. Use Project Management Tools: Project management tools can help remote teams stay organized, track progress, and communicate effectively. These tools should be used consistently to ensure all team members have access to the same information.
5. Practice Active Listening: Active listening involves fully engaging in the conversation, asking clarifying questions, and acknowledging and summarizing the speaker’s points. This can help remote team members better understand each other’s perspectives and prevent misunderstandings.
6. Be Mindful of Time Zones: When working across different time zones, remote teams should be mindful of each other’s schedules and try to find times that work for everyone when scheduling meetings and communication.
7. Foster a Culture of Open Communication: Remote teams should foster a culture of open communication, where team members feel comfortable sharing feedback and expressing their ideas. This can help promote collaboration and prevent misunderstandings.

Overall, efficient communication is essential for remote teams to succeed.

By establishing clear communication guidelines, using video conferencing for meetings, prioritizing regular check-ins, using project management tools, practicing active listening, being mindful of time zones, and fostering a culture of open communication, remote teams can overcome the challenges of remote work and achieve their goals.

Tips for Overcoming Communication Challenges in Remote Teams

Here are some tips for overcoming communication challenges in remote teams:

• Use Multiple Communication Channels: Different communication channels may be more effective for different types of communication. Remote teams should use a variety of channels, such as email, instant messaging, video conferencing, and project management tools, to ensure that communication is clear, timely, and effective.
• Schedule Regular Meetings: Regular meetings can help remote teams stay connected and ensure that everyone is on the same page. Meetings should be scheduled at regular intervals, such as weekly or bi-weekly, and should include time for team members to ask questions and provide feedback.
• Be Mindful of Time Zones: When working across different time zones, remote teams should be mindful of each other’s schedules and try to find times that work for everyone when scheduling meetings and communication.
• Use Visual Aids: Visual aids, such as diagrams, charts, and screenshots, can help remote teams communicate complex ideas more effectively. These aids can be shared through project management tools or during video conference calls.
• Clarify Expectations: Remote teams should clarify their expectations for communication, such as response times and preferred communication channels, to ensure that everyone is on the same page.
• Practice Active Listening: Active listening involves fully engaging in the conversation, asking clarifying questions, and acknowledging and summarizing the speaker’s points. This can help remote team members better understand each other’s perspectives and prevent misunderstandings.
• Foster a Culture of Open Communication: Remote teams should foster a culture of open communication, where team members feel comfortable sharing feedback and expressing their ideas. This can help promote collaboration and prevent misunderstandings.

By using multiple communication channels, scheduling regular meetings, being mindful of time zones, using visual aids, clarifying expectations, practicing active listening, and fostering a culture of open communication, remote teams can overcome the challenges of communication and achieve their goals.

With the aforementioned reasons stated, let’s delve into several key tools companies can utilise to maximize productivity for remote work in a pandemic.

Top 5 Useful and Quick Tools in 2023

Here is a list of 5 popular tools and how they can aid efficient communication for remote teams.

1. Zoom
2. Microsoft Teams
3. Slack
4. Hubstaff
5. Trello

1) Zoom for Team Communication

Zoom is a cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, chat, and webinars.

The software allows users to hold virtual meetings, webinars, and video conferences with participants from all over the world.

You can video call your team, or use the webinar function so that only the host can speak and share screen.

One of the key benefits of Zoom is its ease of use.

With just a few clicks, users can join a meeting or start a new one, making it ideal for remote teams and individuals who need to connect with others quickly and efficiently.

Additionally, Zoom offers a variety of features, including screen sharing, recording, and chat functionality, that can help enhance communication and collaboration.

A popular function is the customizable virtual background that can be changed at your will.

However, it is not very secure as your zoom can be hacked by others.

According to First Post, over 500,000 Zoom accounts have been hacked and sold on the dark web.

But that is a rare occurrence, and Zoom is a highly loved and easy platform to use for online communication.

Another advantage of Zoom is its ability to accommodate large groups.

The software can handle up to 1000 participants in a single meeting, making it a great choice for webinars and virtual conferences.

You don’t have to worry about video calls for online communication with Zoom around.

2) Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams is a collaboration tool that has the capacity for teams to communicate via chats and video calls.

It allows you to plan meetings ahead in the calendar.

You can plan tasks as well as share documents easily with your team.

One of the main advantages of Microsoft Teams is its integration with other Microsoft products.

Teams can be used in conjunction with other Microsoft products, such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, allowing for seamless collaboration on documents and projects.

Microsoft Teams also offers a variety of communication channels, including group chat, audio calls, and video conferencing, making it easy for team members to connect and collaborate in real time.

The platform also includes a range of customization options, such as the ability to create custom backgrounds and add personalized stickers and emojis to messages.

Another key feature of Microsoft Teams is its file-sharing capabilities.

Users can share files and documents within the platform, and team members can collaborate on the same document in real time.

This can help streamline workflows and ensure that everyone is working from the most up-to-date version of a document.

Security and privacy are also a priority for Microsoft Teams.

The platform offers a range of security features, including two-factor authentication, data encryption, and compliance with various industry standards and regulations.

Microsoft Teams is a great integrated platform to consolidate all the work needed to be done for your team.

You can relax and ensure that you can collaborate easily with your team to keep on task.

3) Slack

Slack is a messaging remote work tool that is popular with many remote companies.

One of the key benefits of Slack is its ease of use.

The platform offers a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to organize conversations and channels, share files, and collaborate with team members.

Slack’s search functionality is also particularly useful, allowing users to easily find and access previous conversations and shared files.

Slack also offers a range of communication channels, including direct messaging, group chat, and video conferencing.

This makes it easy for team members to connect and collaborate in real-time, even if they are not physically located in the same place.

Additionally, Slack offers a range of customization options, such as the ability to customize notification settings and integrate with other tools and apps.

It is an effective platform for real-time communication for one-on-one conversations or team discussions.

With this remote collaboration tool, remote teams can use Slack channels for discussions and collaboration.

You can integrate documents and activities from other platforms such as Google Drive as well, so everything can be consolidated in one place.

This helps to organize work and documents required by the team.

Slack also has apps for IOS and Androids for easy use.

4) Hubstaff

Hubstaff is a software that allows your remote team to track time and activity levels when working on specific tasks.

It allows you know to know and make sure that your team is working the amount of time required.

They can also track how long they take on tasks to check their efficiency.

The application will also take occasional screenshots to take note of what your employee is doing while the timer is turned on.

This will allow you to know whether or not they are on track.

When any of your team members are tracking time for tasks, clear goals are set and prevent confusion on what each individual should be working on.

5) Trello

Trello has boards, lists, and cards to assist your team in the organization of your tasks easily.

Your Trello cards allow you to add comments, attachments, due dates, and more to ensure everyone is on track.

This is a good platform to share your documents and tasks, working together in the same space.

Conclusion

In conclusion, efficient communication is crucial for the success of remote teams.

The benefits of effective communication, such as increased productivity, stronger relationships, and improved job satisfaction, cannot be overstated.

However, remote teams also face a number of unique communication challenges, such as the lack of non-verbal cues and different time zones, which can make it difficult to communicate effectively.

By following best practices for efficient communication, such as establishing clear communication channels, using the right tools and technology, and setting expectations for communication and collaboration, remote teams can overcome these challenges and work together more effectively.

It’s also important to be proactive in addressing communication issues and seeking feedback from team members on how to improve communication and collaboration.

Overall, efficient communication is an ongoing process that requires attention and effort from all team members.

By prioritizing communication and collaboration, remote teams can work together more effectively and achieve their goals.

Want to also know how to hire remote workers?

Head on to this blog post to find out why you should and how you can hire a remote worker, or jump over to 9cv9 now and start posting a hiring post.

If you find this article useful, why not share it among your business manager and director counterparts, and also leave a nice comment below?

We at the 9cv9 Research Team strive to bring the latest and most meaningful data, guide, and statistics to your doorstep.

People also ask

Why is communication important in remote teams?

Effective communication is crucial for the success of remote teams. As members in remote teams are typically not located in the same spot, it is all the more crucial to get communication right and to avoid misunderstandings. Communication amongst remote teams can promote collaboration, enhances productivity, and improves job satisfaction. Good communication also fosters trust among team members and facilitates decision-making.

What is effective remote communication?

Effective remote communication is the ability to exchange information, ideas, and feedback in a way that is clear, timely, and efficient among team members who are working remotely. Effective remote communication involves establishing clear communication channels, using the right tools and technology, and setting expectations for communication and collaboration. It also involves active listening, empathy, and clarity in expressing ideas and feedback.

What is an example of remote communication?

An example of remote communication is a video conference call between remote team members who are discussing a project or providing updates on their work. During the call, team members can see and hear each other, share their screens to collaborate on a document or presentation, and ask questions or provide feedback. Another example of remote communication is instant messaging or chat through a platform such as Slack, where team members can send text messages, share files, and communicate in real-time, even if they are not in the same physical location. Email, phone calls, and video messages are also common examples of remote communication that allow remote team members to stay connected and collaborate effectively.

The post Efficient Communication For Remote Teams: Top 5 Useful and Quick Tools in 2023 appeared first on 9cv9 Career Blog.

Industries world-wide are facing recession in this global Covid-19 pandemic.

According to the International Labour Organization, nearly half of the workforce worldwide are at risk of losing their jobs.

Due to this, there are many talents looking for jobs, and in particular remote jobs.

If you are looking for tech talent, you are in luck!

Start employing the best talent for your company through remote tech hiring.

What kind of jobs are suitable for hiring remote staffs?

When on the topic of remote hiring, the tech jobs is particularly fitting for remote hiring.

Considering that technology is constantly advancing and the growth of Artificial Intelligence in recent years, the demand for good developers, engineers and programmers has never been higher.

The tasks and roles of such tech talents can be accomplished online and do not require much face-to-face interaction.

As long as the task is clearly defined, the tech employee has a computer and a good Internet connection, he/she can be hired and work from anywhere in the world.

For example, such jobs can include anything from software application development to digital marketing, and even website designing.

In the software development genre, we can further break down into frontend and backend roles.

Backend Tech Roles

Backend developers create the logic, models and database of the web or mobile applications.

They also monitor the performance of sites, and perform tasks that are under a specialised role called “DevOps”.

They are the ones who ensure the logic and data of your websites and applications flow seamlessly.

Usually, in the job description, the companies hiring Backend Developers will list the necessary skillsets such as:

• Python
• Java
• Ruby on Rails
• .NET
• Golang
• NodeJS
• C++

Frontend Tech Roles

Frontend developers are the ones who are responsible for the user interfaces and user experiences on the applications.

Basically, this consists of the buttons, shapes, font sizes, lines, margins, padding, spacing and anything that appears visibly on the frontend that you see.

Some frontend skillsets are:

• CSS/HTML/Javascript
• ReactJS/Redux
• VueJS
• AngularJS
• React Native (Mobile)
• Android (Mobile)
• iOS (Mobile)

Once you have ascertained your job position, role, responsibilities and tasks can be accomplished remotely by the talent, the next step is to get started on the hiring process.

How to kickstart the hiring process of remote talents?

To hire the talent remotely, you just need 6 simple steps.

1. Know and decide what you want in a remote employee.
2. Create a remote job listing.
3. Screen the candidates.
4. Conduct online interviews.
5. Evaluate the candidates and choose the most suitable ones.
6. Follow up with the candidates.

Want to know more about hiring remotely? Read our post on how and why you should hire remotely.

Considering that a company hires remote developers, how can they manage the team?

Since everything will be done online, managing a remote team will not be the same as handling a physical team.

It will be easier for miscommunication to occur, and this will be a huge issue for the company in the long run.

However, no need to worry.

Technology now is very advanced, and there are many useful tools you are use to handle and communicate well with your remote team.

Some popular tools that many remote companies use include Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Slack, Hubstaff and Trello.

Apps like Zoom and Microsoft Teams allows you to video call your teammates online.

Slack helps to have chats and documents all in one place.

Hubstaff can track if your team is on task, and Trello helps to ensure everyone is on the same page.

If you want to know more, head on to read our post on top 5 useful tools for efficient communication.there are many tools you can use to communicate.

Where to find coding tests to analyze candidates’ skills?

Of course, when hiring remotely for tech talent, you should test their skills. To assess skills like coding, you can try out these following websites:

1. Coderpad
2. Mural
3. Tests4Geeks
4. Mocha
5. Codility

These coding tests will allow you to know the level of candidates’ coding skills, and you can assess whose skill level is a better fit for your company.

Personality assessment to test the hiring potential of candidates

To know if they will be a good addition to your company, you can get them to do the MBTI 16 personality test.

The MBTI 16 personality test allows you to have a description of how an individual is and why they do things the way they do.

Through the personality test, you can be aware of their personality type and assess if they are suited to the job scope and your company values.

There are many steps for the journey to refine your remote tech hiring, so you would definitely want to use efficient remote career platform like 9cv9 to streamline your remote recruitment process.

We are the top online platform to look for remote jobs and internships which connects companies and candidates.

You can count on 9cv9 to assist you with your remote recruiting process to ensure you get the top talents that best matches your company values.

So what are you waiting for?

Head on over to 9cv9 now and start hiring remote tech employees from the best talent pool!

9cv9 blog will be posting more helpful and in-depth content on remote working, so do keep a lookout for that!

Find this useful? Remember to like this post and follow 9cv9 blog for more!

The post How To Kickstart on Your Remote Tech Hiring appeared first on 9cv9 Career Blog.

Welcome to our very first article for Carreer Warrior Wednesdays, where we will feature interviews with outstanding entrepreneurs to share with you their stories and career advice.

Our very first entrepreneur is Ms Renee Tan!

About Renee

Renee Tan is the Founder of H.E.R. Entrepreneur and Hashtaqs. She is also a certified management consultant and ACTA certified trainer.

About H.E.R. Entrepreneur and Hashtaqs

H.E.R. in H.E.R. Entrepreneur stands for “Harnessing The Power Of Women In Entrepreneurship, Leadership and Relationship”. H.E.R. is an inclusive and diverse omni-channel media platform where they inspire, educate, empower and connect entrepreneurs, leaders, government and investors across Asia.

Hashtaqs uplift businesses in brand and digital transformation, and internationalisation.

Renee’s view on remote hiring

Currently, HER entrepreneur and Hashtaqs have remote employees working for the companies. Renee feels that remote jobs are extremely necessary in our society now. This is due to government restrictions from the Covid-19 pandemic, and also the instability of face to face work. Indeed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it is safer for employees to work at home as much as possible rather than going to the office. With the advanced technology and multiple tools to aid online communication, remote working has never been easier.

Also read: Efficient Communication For Remote Teams [Top 5 Useful Tools]

Renee mentions that she does not purposefully hire remote staffs but is highly open to it due to the cost, and also feels that it is unnecessary to employ local staff. With remote working, companies get access to talent pools all around the world rather than in just 1 country. It increases the candidates pool and also reduces costs for companies.

Also read: Hiring Remote Workers for Singaporean Companies: How and where?

Some key characteristics Renee looks for in staff is if they are trust worthy, capable, responsible and accountable people.

Renee’s advice for upcoming entrepreneurs

“Make sure you have tools to track your staff performance and be able to communicate effectively with them daily when working remotely.” is what Renee has to say when asked if she had any advice for people who wanted to follow in her footsteps.

9cv9 is a top remote career platform where you can find the best candidates for your company! Head over to 9cv9 now to hire from the top talent pool!

Find this useful? Remember to like this post and follow 9cv9 blog for more!

The post Interview with Renee Tan, Founder of H.E.R. Entrepreneur [Career Warrior Wednesdays] appeared first on 9cv9 Career Blog.

Email marketing is a top method of marketing to convert audiences into users. So how to develop email marketing skill set? Here is a comprehensive guide for you.

• What is email marketing?
• Why is email marketing important?
• How to develop email marketing skill set?

What is email marketing?

Email marketing is whenever a company sends out emails to customers, except order confirmations or when they respond directly to customer enquiries.

According to The Balancesmb, email marketing is the use of email to promote products or services while developing relationships with potential customers or clients.

Email marketing tend to include newsletters with updates on the company, or promotions of sales and special deals for newsletter subscribers. Marketing emails may also be to make announcements on behalf of the company to all their customers. Email marketing allows businesses to keep their customers informed on the company’s latest news, and tailor the messages specifically to their target audience. However, if there are too many promotional emails, they might drive customers away instead.

Why is email marketing important?

Email marketing is more important than social media for customer acquisition. Social Media is important for increasing brand awareness and communicating with consumers. However, for businesses, the ultimate goal is converting audiences to users. And for conversion, email marketing is the most efficient way. From a study by Custora from 2013, it has been found that email marketing accounted for 7% of all customer acquisitions that occurred online and it has even been increased drastically in the four years after 2013.

Email marketing is also effective and relatively inexpensive compared to other kinds of paid marketing. It allows businesses to reach out to large groups of consumers with low expenses. This is a much budget friendly method compared to traditional marketing channels, which is essential especially for small-business owners.

How to develop email marketing skill set?

Even though email marketing tend to be effective, you must know what kind of emails would attract the attention of your audience and turn them into users. If not done correctly, your audience might find it spam and instead get scared away. But don’t worry, there are many blogs and certifications that can help you perfect your email marketing skills!

Useful blogs

MailChimp

MailChimp is number 1 in the field of email marketing. They have successful advised several brands on email marketing across the world. Besides that, they also have a blog where they write articles on how to be successful in carrying out email marketing. They constantly post tips on email marketing, so be sure to keep up to date!

Campaign Monitor

Campaign Monitor is both a email marketing blog and software development brand. They run a superb blog with useful content on how to run your email marketing. Specializing in tips and tricks related to writing, you can gain knowledge from their blog and get writing of top calibre from top online writing services like UK Best Essays and Superior Papers.

VerticalResponse

VerticalResponse has proven to be one of the top and most esteemed advisors in the field of email marketing. Their blog is one of the most popular ones around, and you can find many statistics related to email marketing there. The strategies are even categorized to different levels of experience, so as to ensure everyone can learn from and apply the knowledge no matter their experience level.

Useful certifications

• Hubspot Email Marketing

Hubspot’s email marketing course will teach users on how they can create an email marketing strategy to grow their business and career. Users will learn how to build an email marketing strategy that is helpful and gains the trust of the audience. This free course comes with a certification once completed.

• MailChimp Email Marketing Free Course (LinkedIn Learning)

This course allows one to learn email marketing using one of the most popular email marketing platforms, MailChimp. One will be able to try their hands at building campaigns, and choosing suitable templates to create engaging newsletters. This course has everything that one would need to know to do well for email marketing.

Equipped with these resources and certifications, you can start your journey to read up and gain email marketing knowledge! Once you have the knowledge, you can start applying it and develop your email marketing skill set!

Having skill sets are extremely important when searching for a job. Each jobs have a certain set of skill sets required, and only with those skill sets will you be able to compete for the position. 9cv9 has a skill set matching feature. This feature matches the skill sets jobseekers have to job positions that need those skills. This helps jobseekers to easily know what job suits their skill sets, making their job search much easier. So, head over to 9cv9 now to find your dream job!

Find this useful? Remember to like this post and follow 9cv9 blog for more!

The post How To Develop Email Marketing Skill Set [Comprehensive Resource Guide] appeared first on 9cv9 Career Blog.

Instagram is one of the top social media platform used by our population today. It is crucial for brands to utilize the popularity of this platform to increase the outreach of their brand. So how to develop Instagram marketing skill set? Here is a comprehensive guide for you.

• What is Instagram marketing?
• Why is Instagram marketing important?
• How to develop Instagram marketing skill set?

What is Instagram marketing?

Instagram is a social media platform, and Instagram marketing is part of social media marketing. To learn more about social media marketing, read our post on how to develop social media marketing skill set.

According to Learning Hub, Instagram marketing is the way that brands use Instagram to connect with their target audiences and market their offerings. It is becoming a main platform for brands to exhibit their cultures and recruit new talents. Not only that, it is also a great platform to engage with their customers and show off their products.

Why is Instagram marketing important?

Instagram is one of the top social media platforms used today. Some Instagram demographics have shown that more than 500 million accounts use Instagram Stories each day. With so many people active on Instagram, it would be a loss if companies do not utilize it the best they can to increase their brand outreach.

How to develop Instagram marketing skill set?

In social marketing, engagement and trust is key. One needs to handle their social media platforms well to increase brand visibility and a positive brand image, so as to gain trust from the public. There are many blogs and certifications which teaches you in dept of this skill, the steps to find out what your target audience likes, how to engage them and gain their trust.

Useful blogs

Socialinsider

Socialinsider’s blog shares many insights about Instagram analytics, metrics and social media competitive analysis. They give information and ideas of how your Instagram account should look like and many more details to increase your Instagram account outreach. They emphasizes the important of keeping a consistent theme for your account, and how it should be a storyteller to promote any business. This blog is the go-to blog to learn more about Instagram analytics and inspiration for your Instagram account.

Hootsuite

Other than being a social media manager app, Hootsuite has a blog that gives information about how you should handle your social media.

Hootsuite has articles written showing the steps and what to post on Instagram for your account to gain more visibility and increase in follower count. They give information that businesses need to know to drive business results on Instagram.

Later

Later’s blog is packed full of articles talking about Instagram marketing strategies, tips and tools to be used in improving your account.

Useful certifications

• Hubspot Social Media Marketing

This free certification will teach you how to build an effective social media strategy while setting up social listening and moderation. The course also covers how to create social content, extend your reach, and more. So if you are new to social media marketing, this would be a great course for you! Instagram is ofcourse included in this course as well.

• Coursera What is Social?

This is an introductory course to social media marketing on Coursera offered by Northwestern University.

Some knowledge that you will learn in this course:

• An introduction to social media marketing
• Social media trends
• How to use social media for business
• The changing dynamics of social media and the importance of big data

After completing all of the modules, you will be able to attain a certificate.

Equipped with these resources and certifications, you can start your journey to read up and gain Instagram marketing knowledge! Once you have the knowledge, you can start applying it and develop your Instagram marketing skill set!

Having skill sets are extremely important when searching for a job. Each jobs have a certain set of skill sets required, and only with those skill sets will you be able to compete for the position. 9cv9 has a skill set matching feature. This feature matches the skill sets jobseekers have to job positions that need those skills. This helps jobseekers to easily know what job suits their skill sets, making their job search much easier. So, head over to 9cv9 now to find your dream job!

Find this useful? Remember to like this post and follow 9cv9 blog for more!

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Have issues finding a suitable job for yourself? Unaware of the skills needed for the job listed? 9cv9 has just launched our new app with many new features that helps have the job search process quicker and simpler. Today, I will be sharing about 9cv9 app features for Jobseekers to ensure seamless job searching process.

1. Sort and filter feature

To find one’s dream job or internship, jobseekers can use our sort and filter features for easy search.

When jobseekers start their job search, they can type in keywords into the search bar to narrow down into specific positions. To further narrow down the search, there are functions beside the search bar as well.

If jobseekers are looking for a job in a specific country, they can input it so that the results show only job openings from that specific country.

Want a certain salary range? No problem! The salary feature can do that for you. Just choose the range you want and we will narrow down the jobs that suit the jobseeker’s requirement.

The type of job can be filtered as well. Whether jobseekers want full-time or internship, there is a whole list for them to choose from!

2. Skillset Matching Feature

Jobseekers can choose the skill sets that they possess so that the skill set required for the job can be matched with the ones they have. This will help to find jobs that need their skill sets quickly and easily.

As seen here, the skills that are required by the company for this position is listed clearly. So jobseekers will be aware if the required skill sets are ones that they already have.

On each listing, it can be seen if the applicant has any skill sets that match the job requirement.

3. Analytics

Application data for each jobseeker are compiled for easy viewing. As shown in the picture, applicants can keep track of how many applications they submitted, who shortlisted them and many more. This feature allows jobseekers to keep track of the applications sent and their current stage.

4. Search for nearby jobs

Want convenience? Our map feature can help jobseekers find nearby jobs and internships so that time and money can be saved from traveling!

5. Get headhunted

If jobseekers do not wish to apply, they just have to their resume and details. They can then sit back and wait for hiring managers to headhunt and shortlist them for jobs and internships.

Just turn the looking for job/internship button to yes, and hiring managers will know that the candidate are currently looking for a position and will contact them if they like their profile.

By filling in the individual profiles, hiring managers will get to know more about the candidates and whether or not they are a good fit for their company and the position.

Don’t forget to input your skills as well so employers know the skill sets you have!

Now that you are aware of 9cv9 app features for Jobseekers that ensures seamless job search process, head over to 9cv9 now to start your job search!

Read our blog 9cv9 for more job related articles!

The post 9cv9 app features for Jobseekers appeared first on 9cv9 Career Blog.

It is crucial for brands to utilise social media to engage and connect with their audience. Social media allows the spread of awareness and gain of trust amongst consumers  So how to develop social media marketing skill set? Here is a comprehensive guide for you.

• What is social media marketing?
• Why is social media marketing important?
• How to develop social media marketing skill set?

What is social media marketing?

According to Buffer, social media marketing is the use of social media platforms to connect with your audience to build your brand, increase sales, and drive website traffic. While connecting with your audience, it is important to have social media listening and engagement. Traditional marketing is becoming a thing of the past, and social media marketing is the new and popular way of marketing since everything now is online. Social media marketing is used to increase brand visibility and engagement with your future prospects. Use these platforms to listen to what the audience are talking about your brand.

Why is social media marketing important?

Social media is an essential piece of your business marketing strategy. Social media platforms allows you to connect with your consumers and increase brand awareness. This in turn aids to boost your leads and sales. Considering that there is more than four billion people around the world using social media every month, it is definitely not beneficial to your brand if you do not utilise social media marketing to gain brand outreach. Social media marketing is also cost-effective as most of these platforms are actually free to use. These platforms are an extremely good way to gain your audience’s trust and improve brand loyalty while making healthier customer satisfaction. There are many benefits of social media marketing, especially for brands that have just started out.

How to develop social media marketing skill set?

In social marketing, engagement and trust is key. One needs to handle their social media platforms well to increase brand visibility and a positive brand image, so as to gain trust from the public. There are many blogs and certifications which teaches you in dept of this skill, the steps to find out what your target audience likes, how to engage them and gain their trust.

Useful blogs

Social Media Examiner

Due to the value their content always provides, Social Media Examiner is one of the top well-liked social media marketing blogs in the world. There are many social media experts like Michael Stelzner and Lisa D. Jenkins that contribute regularly, thus allowing viewers to learn all about social media marketing strategies across the different platforms.

Social Media Today

Social Media Today is yet another top social media marketing blog that has an incredible collection of social media marketing content, which includes both news and tips on the topic. There are many regular contributors who post content on the large variety of social media topics. Constantly reporting on the latest news and developments in social media, you can be sure to be alerted on the latest trends when planning your social media strategy. Not only that, but you also have access to other useful content like tips and social marketing tools that can assist you in implementing your strategy well.

Useful certifications

• Hubspot Social Media Marketing

This free certification will teach you how to build an effective social media strategy while setting up social listening and moderation. The course also covers how to create social content, extend your reach, and more. So if you are new to social media marketing, this would be a great course for you!

• Skillshare Introduction to Social Media Strategy

As the title of the certification suggests, the course will cover how to get started on your social media marketing strategy. The topics that would be covered include:

1. Getting started with social media
2. Finding your voice
3. Creating content
4. Curating content
5. Using the right marketing tools
6. Paid advertising strategy

This is especially good for beginners to start off.

Equipped with these resources and certifications, you can start your journey to read up and gain social media marketing knowledge! Once you have the knowledge, you can start applying it and develop your social media marketing skill set!

Having skill sets are extremely important when searching for a job. Each jobs have a certain set of skill sets required, and only with those skill sets will you be able to compete for the position. 9cv9 has a skill set matching feature. This feature matches the skill sets jobseekers have to job positions that need those skills. This helps jobseekers to easily know what job suits their skill sets, making their job search much easier. So, head over to 9cv9 now to find your dream job!

Find this useful? Remember to like this post and follow 9cv9 blog for more!

The post How To Develop Social Media Marketing Skill Set [Comprehensive Resource Guide] appeared first on 9cv9 Career Blog.

Have you ever came across content by brands that intrigues you to gain interest in them? Content marketing is all about providing value to future prospects to gain their interest and trust. This is how important content marketing is to gain attention from the general public. Without content marketing, there is a lack of reason for consumers to follow your content or to know your company’s branding. So how to develop content marketing skill set? Here is a comprehensive guide for you.

• What is content marketing?
• Why is content marketing important?
• How to develop content marketing skill set?

What is content marketing?

According to Content Marketing Institute, content marketing is a strategic marketing approach focused on creating and distributing valuable, relevant, and consistent content. The content must attract and retain a clearly defined audience. This is to drive profitable customer action. Traditional marketing is becoming a thing of the past, with content marketing taking its place. Content marketing plays a huge part in engaging and attracting audience. Consumers are no longer attracted to just companies pitching how good their products or services are to them. Instead, provide relevant and useful content to your future prospects that would solve their issues on hand. It is how your content engages and adds value to your consumers that allows companies to gain recognition and grow.

Why is content marketing important?

Content marketing is what makes a company stand out from the rest. Your content defines your branding and image. It is important for a companny’s content to be consistent and engaging so as to attract their target audience. By churning out relevant and useful content, consumers would want to read the content and revisit for more. It increases brand visibility and builds trust with the audience. Only with trust can a company build a strong and stable consumer base.

How to develop content marketing skill set?

To gain content marketing skill set, one must know what is the branding of the company. Be clear of what image the company wants others to have of them. Step in the shoes of the target audience and think of what kind of content would add value to you as a consumer. First step in obtaining content marketing skill set, is to know the the characteristics of your target audience and what they like. There are many blogs and certifications which shares with you more information on how to develop content marketing skill set.

Useful blogs

Content Marketing Institute

With the mission to advance the practice of content marketing, Content Marketing Institute has many resources sharing in-dept information on content marketing. Not only do they have endless articles to share information on content marketing, they have an active community for discussing the latest news and information as well. One can seek insight and advice from the experts too. So, if you want to brush up on content marketing, CMI is the place to go!

Post Advertising

Post Advertising has the latest news of companies who does their content marketing well. It is a good blog to learn from real life examples and use them as a guide.

The Content Strategist (Contently)

The Content Strategist produces useful advice and analysis on brand publishing and content marketing developments. It definitely keeps readers informed on current trends and also the future of content.

Useful certifications

• Hubspot – Content Marketing

Hubspot has many Marketing and Sales related certifications. This free certification course will give you an overview of how to become an effective content marketer. It is a good start for newbies to content marketing.

• Google Digital Garage – Fundamentals of Digital Marketing

Google Digital Garage Fundamentals of Digital Marketing teaches you the basics of Digital Marketing, and this includes content marketing. This free certification course will allow you to gain knowledge in not only content marketing but also the fundamentals of Digital Marketing.

• Quick Sprout University – MBA in Digital Marketing

This marketing course by Quick Sprout University is free and does not require you to create an account to complete it. On the lesson page, there is a list of videos divided into different categories. The classes include a whole range of topics on Digital Marketing rather than just content marketing. There is of course a content marketing tab, where you can complete all the different levels of difficulty.

• Coursera – The Strategy of Content Marketing

This free course on Coursera is developed by the University of California. With detailed content marketing lessons, the course shows how to attract and keep a strong consumer base with engaging content. Not only that, but also to boost the company’s brand visibility with social media as well! With a hands-on tutorial at the end of the course, you can learn how to implement the knowledge you gained in your business site! It is definitely a beneficial course worth your time.

Equipped with these resources and certifications, you can start your journey to read up and gain content marketing knowledge! Once you have the knowledge, you can start applying it and develop your content marketing skill set!

Having skill sets are extremely important when searching for a job. Each jobs have a certain set of skill sets required, and only with those skill sets will you be able to compete for the position. 9cv9 has a skill set matching feature. This feature matches the skill sets jobseekers have to job positions that need those skills. This helps jobseekers to easily know what job suits their skill sets, making their job search much easier. So, head over to 9cv9 now to find your dream job!

Find this useful? Remember to like this post and follow 9cv9 blog for more!

The post How To Develop Content Marketing Skill Set [Comprehensive Resource Guide] appeared first on 9cv9 Career Blog.

In view of the Covid-19 pandemic, digital marketing has become an extremely important part of all companies’ marketing efforts. Speaking about digital marketing, a highly crucial skill needed is SEO. So how to develop SEO skill set? Here is a comprehensive guide for you.

• What is SEO?
• Why is SEO important?
• How to obtain SEO skill set?

What is SEO?

SEO is an acronym for Search Engine Optimization, which according to Moz is the practice of increasing the quantity and quality of traffic to your website through organic search engine results. SEO is extremely important as it makes your website more visible to others, which means higher traffic and more opportunities to convert possible prospects into users. Major search engines like Google have primary search results pages, and websites and other contents are shown by ranking them based on what the search engine believes are the most relevant to users.

Why is SEO important?

Our world is getting increasingly digitalised, and digital marketing is becoming a crucial skill in today’s society. Considering the Covid-19 pandemic, everything is going online, especially Marketing. Since events and campaigns can no longer be held during the pandemic, the main source of marketing for companies is Digital Marketing. With a strong digital marketing, companies can gain free exposure if done well. SEO is very important for companies to be able to do their digital marketing well since they will be able to have greater outreach. Thus, SEO is a critical part of free digital marketing.

How to obtain SEO skill set?

There are many ways to gain knowledge on SEO, and some of them include reading blogs that focus on sharing the details of SEO, and also completing certifications on SEO. Here is a compilation of top useful websites in cultivating your seo skills.

Useful Blogs

Moz

Moz is a all-in-one SEO toolset which has many articles giving in-dept information of the different aspects of SEO. They are a SEO software with data to help you increase traffic, rankings, and visibility in search results. It is a good website to read up on how to improve on your SEO manually and all the details needed to do it well.

Backlinko

Backlinko is a highly credible blog with endless information on SEO. This blog is written by Brian, and he has been featured on multiple news like Forbes, so you can be sure he knows his SEO!

Search Engine Land

Search Engine Land has countless number articles about SEO, and is constantly updating changes in SEO as well. You can sure to be able to find pretty much anything about SEO there!

Useful certifications

• HubSpot Inbound Marketing

Hubspot has many Marketing and Sales related certifications. Inbound Marketing more specifically teaches more about SEO, so completing this certification will allow you to gain more SEO knowledge and also be certified for Inbound Marketing.

• Google Digital Garage Fundamentals of Digital Marketing

Google Digital Garage Fundamentals of Digital Marketing teaches you the basics of Digital Marketing, and this includes SEO. Gaining this certification will let you gain more knowledge of Digital Marketing and of course SEO. If you are new to marketing in general, this would be a good guide to get you started on the basics!

Equipped with these resources and certifications, you can start your journey to read up and gain SEO knowledge! Once you have the knowledge, you can start applying it and develop your SEO skill set!

Having skill sets are extremely important when searching for a job. Each jobs have a certain set of skill sets required, and only with those skill sets will you be able to compete for the position. 9cv9 has a skill set matching feature. This feature matches the skill sets jobseekers have to job positions that need those skills. This helps jobseekers to easily know what job suits their skill sets, making their job search much easier. So, head over to 9cv9 now to find your dream job!

Find this useful? Remember to like this post and follow 9cv9 blog for more!

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