Business

Hiring During a Pandemic

Published

4 years ago

March 24, 2021

How is it possible for you to recruit and then hire a few new employees when your business shifted to completely remote work during the pandemic? Here’s a quick look at a few ways to successfully transition your strategy for employee recruitment and hiring.

The Basics

You can’t forget the basics – writing a job description, recruiting, interviewing, and even criminal background checks before hiring someone. We’ll dive a bit deeper into a couple of these, along with how they might change. Others, such as the background checks, should stay the same.

Get the Word Out

It doesn’t matter whether you’ll be looking for an executive assistant or a data entry specialist; if people don’t know you’re hiring, you won’t be hiring anyone. The thing is many people who might’ve been looking for a job before the pandemic hit might simply assume that nobody is hiring, so you need to let them know that you are. Be sure that any open position is listed on your website, but don’t forget to call attention to them on social media and other online venues.

It’s All in the Details

If you do happen to be hiring during a pandemic, you’ll definitely need a well-thought-out and detailed plan of attack for recruiting before you dig in. Remote hiring is an incredibly different experience from hiring face to face, and you have a responsibility to potential employees and to your business to ensure that you’ve got a process that will work. To that end, be sure that you have tested your tech before beginning to hire and ask the people you’re interviewing to check their tech as well. Remember that anything you can do before the interview to ensure that all goes well is a great way to start.

When you send an invitation to interview, be sure you list how the process works and what to expect. Be sure to include all of the vital information, like date, time, and who will initiate the video chat. Provide prospective employees with a link to the actual video meeting, and let them know whether the position will be temporarily or permanently remote.

Keep It Real

Once you’ve written and posted the job description and have enticed people to interview, you need to keep in mind that times are quite uncertain for both employees and businesses. When you hire someone, you need to ensure that your business will support onboarding employees with no modifications or reservations. Be completely conscious of what you’re offering. Ensure the position will be at least long-term if not completely permanent and comes complete with benefits and competitive pay. If you have an inkling that once the pandemic has passed, there might be a shift to working on-site, let them know that up front. Always keep things real, and be on the same page with the people you’re interviewing and hiring.

If your business is hiring, just keep in mind that due to the pandemic and all of the changes everyone has had to make, things might be a bit different from what we’re used to – for both your business and the people out there looking for employment. With things like face-to-face interviews and preceding and subsequent conversations needing to occur via video chat, it may seem even less personal than normal. Just make sure that you adapt any and all necessary recruiting practices to ensure that you keep the employee candidate pipeline as full as possible, and things will continue to go smoothly.

Business

Private Listings by Harold X. Clarke: A New Approach to Fine Real Estate

Published

4 weeks ago

December 16, 2024

Matthew Wiles

Photo credit: Private Listings by Harold X. Clarke.

Byline: Andi Stark

Private Listings by Harold X. Clarke, a real estate platform operating across Hawaii, is rewriting how properties are bought and sold in the region. Unlike larger firms reliant on public listings and mass marketing, Private Listings’ strategy prioritizes personalization, privacy, and meticulous curation of ultra-high-end, off-market properties, including oceanfront estates, gated community residences, and architectural masterpieces.

Harold Clarke, founder of Private Listings, describes their method as one that rejects “cookie-cutter solutions in favor of understanding the nuances of both buyers and sellers.” This approach has resonated with ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) seeking refined and discreet real estate transactions.

The Hawaiian real estate market remains a hub for global investors, with the median price for a single-family home in the state reaching $900,000 in 2024, according to the Hawaii Association of Realtors. Within this competitive landscape, Private Listings is building up to be a trusted name for properties that extend beyond luxury into generational investments.

Challenging the Industry Norms

Private Listings deliberately avoids the conventions of large-scale real estate firms. By focusing on fewer, higher-value properties, the company ensures that each transaction is treated with the same level of care and confidentiality.

Public listing platforms, while effective for broader markets, often expose sellers to unnecessary attention or unqualified inquiries. For Clarke, this model is misaligned with the needs of UHNWIs. “Privacy isn’t a luxury for our clients—it’s a necessity,” Clarke explains.

This philosophy has led Private Listings to handle some of Hawaii’s most significant real estate transactions, including off-market properties valued at over $40 million. Its success is not measured by the volume of listings but by the depth of trust built with clients, many of whom return for subsequent transactions.

Adapting to Changing Client Demands

While Private Listings maintains a foundation of traditional practices, the firm also recognizes the evolving needs of its clientele. The global real estate market is increasingly influenced by concerns over digital security, with a 15% rise in data breaches targeting high-net-worth individuals in the past three years, according to cybersecurity firm NortonLifeLock.

To address these risks, Private Listings employs rigorous screening for potential buyers and uses secure platforms for communication and transactions. The firm’s “by invitation only” model ensures that clients remain protected from the pitfalls of public exposure. Clarke notes, “Our goal is not just to sell homes but to create an environment where clients feel safe and confident during every step of the process.”

The Human Element in Real Estate Transactions

Despite advancements in technology, Private Listings firmly believes that real estate transactions cannot be reduced to algorithms or automation. Unlike firms that depend heavily on online data aggregation, Private Listings emphasizes human connection and insight.

The company’s sales strategy integrates personalized client interactions, in-depth market analysis, and years of experience navigating Hawaii’s unique real estate ecosystem. Clarke’s background in managing family assets and his global perspective is significant in shaping this essence.

Future Directions for Private Listings by Harold X. Clarke

As Hawaii continues to attract global attention, Private Listings aims to expand its influence within the state while maintaining its core principles. The company is currently developing a new platform to streamline services for UHNWIs, blending their demand for discretion with seamless access to Hawaii’s finest off-market properties.

Additionally, Private Listings is strengthening its ties with local communities, recognizing that sustainable growth benefits both the company and the islands’ ecosystems.

Private Listings by Harold X. Clarke has set itself apart in Hawaii’s real estate scene by moving away from the typical mass-market approach. Through a mix of traditional values and modern sensibilities, the firm continues to define what it means to transact ultra-high-value properties with integrity and care.