Evolver Offsite - May 27, 2021
Restaurants: A Job Market Case Study, Killing the Interview, Digital Nomad-ing, and a Magic Virtual Meeting Window
Welcome to Offsite, our quick round-up of work-worthy stories from this week.
On Monday, Jon wrote about the lost art of focus and the importance of “deep work.” Read on for some ideas about working effectively day-to-day.
Now, onward to this week’s stories:
📰 Read
A Recruiter Dishes on Why Restaurants Really Can’t Find Enough Staff (Washingtonian)
Time: 3 minutes
Context: Could the hospitality industry be illustrative of bigger problems in the job market? The sector got hit hard during COVID-19, but its current state gives us insights into the issues plaguing workers as they search for jobs. First, after mass layoffs and closures, the pandemic has folks wanting to enter into sectors they see as more stable. Second, even beyond base wages, concerns about childcare and healthcare benefits are driving decision-making. This piece gives us a case study with larger implications for driving job seekers long-term.
The Problem With Job Interviews (Forbes)
Time: 3 minutes
Context: Here’s a radical idea: kill the job interview. While this piece realizes that’s not going to happen anytime soon, it’s sort of stunning to see the case made for the problematic nature of interviews. While hiring teams often love interviews, the issues are myriad: implicit biases run rampant, evaluations sometimes have nothing to do with the candidate’s fit with the role, and it’s a process that often rewards gut reactions by the interviewer. This piece raises more questions than answers but makes us want to reflect on how interviews are structured and their role overall.
So, You Want to Become a Digital Nomad (NY Times)
Time: 5 minutes
Context: You could call this piece: “Digital Nomad-ing 101.” Written in the form of a Q/A to frequently asked questions, they cover everything you might want to consider about working from some remote location for the foreseeable future. And, unsurprisingly, there are some complications that you should think about before taking the leap: the USA’s double-tax policy on working abroad, the overall costs, company policies, and the eventual pain (yes, pain) of filing the tax returns on earnings. Practical. (Jon: When I spent a few weeks in Thailand a few summers ago, I was almost convinced I wanted to do the #digitalnomad lifestyle, but this article reminds me of many reasons that dream stopped right after one Google search regarding the logistics..)
☕️ Coffee Break
Google’s Project Starline is a ‘magic window’ for 3D telepresence (Engadget)
Time: 2 minutes
Context: Thanks to one of our readers for sending this one in! Last week was I/O, Google’s annual developer conference where the tech giant rolls out their latest and greatest. And, as they so often do, the company gave a glimpse of the future—in this case, of virtual meetings: enter Starline. The technology utilizes intricate hardware and software to create a virtual meeting where it seems like you are sitting in front of one another in-person through glass. Wild, and perhaps another case for the way remote work will continue to blossom in the future.
Thoughts? Let us know in the comments or shoot us an email to evolverteam@protonmail.com.
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