By Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan

NEW YORK (Reuters] – The world of work has changed so much over the last two decades, but Lynne Olham, chief people officer, at Zoom Video Communications (NASDAQ:) Inc. The old adage that job seekers should not be afraid to ask for help is still valid.

“Take time to understand the planet that you want to land on – it’s really important not to just walk in the door,” said Oldham, whose company is based in San Jose, California. “You have to figure out how you add value.”

Oldham shared her thoughts with Reuters on Zooming, hiring culture and work. Below are edited excerpts.

Q. Q.

A. I was a benefits administrator in a small business when I started university. The company was family owned. Because I was able to assist retirees in figuring out the next steps, and then how to transition to retirement, I enjoyed it.

I learned the power of listening to people’s stories, understanding the position they’re in and coming at it from a more personal perspective.

Q. Q.

A. We were B-to-B before the pandemic. It was all because everyone – grandparents, grandfathers, aunts and uncles – started using Zoom.

We had weddings, happy hours, family gatherings – overnight, users realized it’s possible to do everything online, from telemedicine and online therapy to yoga and Zumba classes, parent-teacher conferences.

In the business realm, we saw interviewing going virtual –

Everyone was meeting their online recruiters and hiring mangers.

Q. Q.

A. In audio settings, there is the “suppression” tool – set your setting at high, and you won’t hear a fire engine going or a dog barking. It is possible for someone to announce something in an airport full of people, but no one else will be able to hear.

Also, the lip color and eyebrow pencil features – it’s in studio effects. All of your makeup can be done in one easy step: roll out of the bed to take a picture.

It’s worth it if my lipstick can be changed in studio with no additional cost.

Q. Q.

A. We’re a distracted culture, so if you leave your email open and then have a chat open, you have to make sure to be fully attentive to the people in the video call with you.

I close things out so that I’m not seeing five new emails out of the corner of my eye, and I’m sort of reading my emails while I’m talking. It’s important when we’re not able to connect as we have in the past to make sure that we’re there.

Q. Q.

A. Continuous learner. This job is for people who are interested. It’s a great place to work if you can understand speed. It’s not a fast-paced business. We’re quick.

If you stay on top of your business news – and you’re able to bring to this conversation something that you’ve learned and is relevant to the job – that says curiosity like none other.

Q. Q.

A. Know who’s hiring and why they’re hiring, and where they’re growing and what they’re all about.

You must keep your LinkedIn profile up-to-date. You need to continuously network even if it’s virtual. Don’t leave those connections behind and say, “I’ll get to that the next month or the month after.”

I have gotten my jobs by networking continuously.

Q. What’s the best piece of job advice you’ve received?

A. You’ll be a better person if you do what you love.

My job is my passion. I enjoy what I do. While it may sound crazy, the pandemic made me realize that everything is about the people. How can we ensure people are happy returning to work?