With so many companies today moving towards an increasingly remote workforce, how hiring takes place is also shifting.
No longer being in the same office with many employees means taking more time on the front end to ensure that your recruitment and training strategies align with your company’s vision and mission.
This requires a shift in thinking, so continue reading to learn more about how to hire remote workers in the modern era.
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7 Strategies for Finding and Hiring the Right Remote Workers
The key to hiring new employees is ensuring the person is the right fit for the company. It takes a lot of money and time to recruit and train any individual employee, and these figures are often compounded regarding remote workers.
The following seven strategies should be implemented to best use company resources to find and hire the right remote workers.
01. Know the Motivations Behind Remote Work
Before you set out to hire someone for remote work, you need to first carefully consider why someone would want such a job in the first place. Understanding the motivations behind someone seeking a remote job position will help you know what separates such candidates from others.
Some people seeking remote jobs are looking for a certain level of flexibility in their work that allows them to care for their children or aging parents. On the other hand, many people would like to remain living in their current location, but there are not enough available jobs in their chosen field.
Understanding the type of person looking for remote work can help you make a more informed decision when hiring the best candidate.
02. Maintain Some Flexibility
Many employers are still stuck in an 8 to 5 workday concept, but that is not always necessary for remote work. Unless you need a particular shift to man the phones or computer during certain times of the day, you will want to consider having a more flexible work-from-home policy.
Many people like starting their day early in the morning to attend functions for their children in the late afternoon. This is one of the perks of remote work. Others, especially young people, might prefer a later start to their day. If you can build some flexibility into the remote work schedule, promote that when you advertise your open positions.
03. Look in the Right Places
It is also essential that you know where to look for remote workers. Such individuals tend to shun significant Internet recruiting sites. Instead, you will want to look for employees in specialized areas unique to their field. Remote workers also tend to highlight their skills on social media.
That is where you will also want to be if you are looking for the most qualified individuals for any open position. LinkedIn is a popular job site that employers should be looking at today. This is where many remote workers will keep their professional information updated.
04. Soft Skills are Important
Do not negate the importance of soft skills for remote workers. While you want to make sure that your chosen candidate has the necessary experience you need to complete the job effectively, you will also be looking for certain intangibles that may not show up on the resume.
Remote workers need to have a certain level of independence and the ability to manage their time more effectively than other employees. These are the types of soft skills that you will want to be looking for. If you have a few candidates you are considering and want to determine what sets you apart; the soft skills will often decide for you.
05. Highlight the Benefits
Certain perks associated with remote work are not available for other types of employment. It would be best if you were not afraid to highlight these. In many cases, someone may accept your offer at a lower salary than one with a lengthy commute and less flexibility.
At the same time, a competitive salary in a field with limited candidates can go a long way toward attracting a great remote worker when added benefits are thrown into the mix.
06. Give Leading Candidates a Test
You may find a situation where you end up with a few candidates you struggle to choose from. This is a perfect occasion for a test. Ensuring that any remote worker possesses a certain level of time management ability is essential.
Come up with a task for them to complete by a specific deadline and then determine which candidates perform the best. This also measures a remote worker’s ability to perform well under stress.
07. Set a Probationary Period
Since this is a new work style for many companies, a probation period may be needed to ensure you find the most suitable remote worker. You can try someone out for a few weeks to make sure they can live up to expectations and that they are the best fit for your company.
This is also an effective way to ensure a new person can work well within an existing team structure. Have them give it a go for a few weeks and then discuss things with the team manager before making the situation permanent.
Did you know? – 30 percent of those who responded to the survey stated that they work for a fully remote company. Source 1
Summary
There are many advantages to hiring a remote worker. You may discover that this model works well for your company and that you save a lot of money. At the same time, you will want to follow the steps outlined in this article to find the most qualified and experienced individuals who can work well for you in a remote environment. If you can do that, then your efficiency and productivity should increase.