As the workplace has shifted over the past few years, many companies have adapted and started offering remote employment opportunities. While there are many benefits for both the employee and the company, it is important to implement proper hiring strategies to help ensure success in these work-from-home programs.

Why Hire Remote Employees?

When companies opt to make a job opportunity remote, they automatically broaden the candidate pool. Instead of just having access to local talent, it is now possible to get the best of the best from anywhere in the country.

On the candidate side, remote opportunities are often sought after due to the increased work-life balance they offer. Employees can ditch the commutes and even complete a few household tasks during their lunch, saving them valuable time to spend with their family in the evening.

Tips for Hiring Remote Employees

Though remote work can be beneficial for your company, it does require a slightly different approach when it comes to your recruitment strategy.

1. Screen for Communication Skills

While strong communication skills are important for many positions in an organization, they are especially important for remote workers. Since they do not have regular face-to-face interaction with other team members, they must communicate efficiently through email and video conferencing to make sure they can bridge that location gap.

2. Technology Aptitude

As remote employees still rely on a computer, some proficiency with technology can be extremely helpful. With no IT department onsite to deal with any issues, having the basic skills to troubleshoot problems is key.

3. Self-Motivated Candidates

With no surrounding colleagues for motivation, it is important to prioritize candidates who can work well independently and are self-motivated. While many candidates can stay on task remotely, many thrive in an office setting. Make sure you find the soft skills for remote work.

4. Use the Right Sourcing Tools

In addition to posting jobs on the standard boards, you can utilize websites that target remote work only. This will help to cast a wider net and find some candidates who are looking for remote work exclusively. Sites to check out include FlexJobs and We Work Remotely.

5. Have a Clear Job Description and Expectations

Making sure the job description clearly outlines all of the expectations for the position is critical. Applicants need to understand all of the telecommuting requirements to ensure that they can meet those expectations.

6. Conduct Multiple Interviews

In a remote setting, performing multiple interviews with a candidate may be a key factor in ultimately determining their overall fit. It gives you and your team more opportunities to assess fit, work style, and qualifications. But beware, too many interviews and you’ll scare off the best candidates!

7. Determining Compensation

When hiring remote workers, figuring out the appropriate compensation rate can be trickier. This will be different for each company, but it will need to be determined if you are going to pay the same rate across the company for a particular position. Or will you base it on local cost of living calculations? What benefits do different geographical areas expect? Are there any tax considerations to take in for certain counties or states?

8. Create an Onboarding Plan

It is essential to have a thorough onboarding plan for remote employees. With everything from paperwork to training, the steps should be clear to ensure everyone is on the same page. Remote employees can feel more isolated, so making sure they have the proper information and contact information for questions can help set everyone up for success.

 

Taking advantage of the remote work wave can have many advantages if you can find the right candidate. If you need help in sourcing the right people, we are here to help! Learn more about how we can help you find those game-changing candidates for your organization.