Sorina Donisa, CEO APT Resources & Services
- What was the most challenging thing your company, people, and you, personally, had to face in 2020?
The most challenging thing the company had to face in 2020 was to give the team the confidence and trust that they can do it as well as to keep the people close , even if, most of the communication was in the online environment. We kept all our recurrent meetings and we did not hesitate to use any channel such as mobile phone, WhatsApp or Skype to discuss about our projects or daily tasks. It is very important to maintain and encourage this communication bridge because colleagues can help each other, and solutions can come from any of the team members. Personally, I had to cope with change, shift gears comfortably, decide and act without having the total picture, and handle risk and uncertainty. Another challenge was to find the best solutions for our business partners, to ensure the continuity of the activity is adapted to the given situation.
- What pleasantly surprised you last year? / What are you grateful for?
I was not necessarily surprised, but it was nice to see how quickly we adapted to the online environment. From a technical point of view, we were already prepared, but the team mobilized very quickly at this crossing, so that the operational processes were not affected. And this was seen in the relationship with our business partners, which we were able to support in the most uncertain moments.
Last year was characterized by unpredictable changes. Although the demand for recruitment has fallen sharply in the lockdown, at the end of 2020, the return has been spectacular.
Last year, we had several successful projects with various partners for temporary work where the fast reaction, tight timeline, and scalability where the most important tasks of the project.
- What are your plans and expectations for 2021?
We are prepared to continue our journey in the same way we passed through last year and in comparison, with the beginning of 2020, when we didn’t know what to expect, now we have a better understanding of what we are dealing with. Therefore, we expect that in 2021 we will deliver the business in almost same climate of unpredictability as in 2020, but with more confidence that we do the right things to assure safety for the employees, the candidates and the business partners with whom we work.
- What do you foresee it will be different this year and what impact it will have on our industry/Romania/your company/your people?
In the first half of 2021 we expect to operate in the same mixed system to which we have adapted over the past year. The second half of 2021 will be characterized by a more flexible mix between part-time and full-time, working on projects or contracts for an indefinite period, work from home combined with work at the office. I am convinced my team will adapt to what will happen, because we will not be returning soon at the working model applicable before 2020. We will be able to give support to our business partners by offering services that respond to the new reality.
Are positive signs that the labour market has become dynamic and this year will be opportune for youth who want to start their own business. Thanks to the flexibility of the online work system, young entrepreneurs can also expand their activity abroad. The IT freelancers are the best example, especially considering that they are already used to work in a project-based environment.
- What is your message for the ABSL community?
I strongly believe the motivation and dedication of the people is one of the main business drivers so my message is listen to the needs of your team and adapt the way you organize the processes and program depending on their input. It is important to create opportunities for your employees to grow, to feel valued to do their best work.
Nowadays challenges are not only at a professional level but also personal, so we must keep up the optimism and positive thinking to support the employees and partners more than ever.
- What could we do to grow stronger as a community?
The human resources market quickly shifted from a candidate driven market to a company driven market. Our role is to integrate as many jobs as we can, to make connections between the jobs that will close and the ones that open. It is a win-win situation both for those who are looking for a job and for companies that have the highest chances of finding the right person for a specific job. The power of a community lies in valuing people and partnerships.