How to Find the Best Candidates for Remote Roles

By Alyssa Laffitte on November 24, 2018

Modern technology is completely changing up the workplace. Some jobs have become completely obsolete thanks to computers, while new jobs have been created. Nowadays, we also have the opportunity to work outside the office. We can work anywhere there is Internet access. This has caused some companies to hire “remote employees,” or employees who work for them but don’t necessarily come into the office. Remote employees are great, but they require special care, especially during the hiring process. Here are some tips to help you recruit a remote employee.

Image via Isorepublic.com

Set up your virtual communication systems before you start recruiting

Before you recruit candidates for remote roles, you should set up your virtual communication systems. First, consider how you plan to communicate with your remote workers. Then, put that system into play. Will you communicate with them through Skype or another similar video chat platform? Through a group messaging system like WhatsApp? Or through a collaborative program like Google Docs?

Once you know this, you can start making accounts on those platforms and testing them out to familiarize yourself with them and make sure you are comfortable working with them. You can’t expect your remote employee to know how to work these systems if you can’t work them yourself. Setting up your communication system and familiarizing yourself with it before recruiting your remote employee will make the recruitment process much easier, and it will be easier for the new hire to start right away.

Test their communication skills

Communication, especially written, is important for a remote employee, since that will be the primary way they communicate with you and other employees. You do not want to hire a remote employee who cannot communicate their ideas in writing. Your remote employee must be able to write clearly and concisely. Look through their application and through the emails they have sent you.

Do they use proper spelling, grammar, punctuation, and capitalization? Do they get their ideas across? Do they use slang, or do they use professional language? Also, you should call them or video chat with them to make sure their verbal communication skills match up with their written communication skills. You won’t be talking to them all the time, but it is still a good way to ensure that they have good verbal communication skills, too. All these signs will let you know whether your remote candidate is a good choice.

Check their time management skills

A remote employee must have good time management skills. Again, they will not have someone constantly checking up on them, reminding them to finish their work. Your employee should know how to manage their time so that they can complete all their assigned tasks before the deadline, without you having to continually remind them. If they can manage their time well, they will be a good candidate for the job.

Confirm they can work well on their own

Your remote employee must be able to work well on their own, since they will not be working in an office with co-workers. Some people thrive off of their co-workers’ energy, and this encourages great workplace relationships! Your remote employee should not be this type of person, or they will be frustrated by the lack of social interaction. Your remote employee needs to be someone who can deal with working alone. Their resume of CV should give you hints as to whether they can work well on their own. For example, have they worked remotely in the past? Have they had experience running their own business? These things will indicate that they can work well on their own.

Make sure they are self-disciplined

A remote worker must be self-disciplined. Self-discipline is a crucial skill for a remote employee, since they will not have a boss physically checking in on them and asking how they are doing. (After all, when no one is checking up on you, it’s way too easy to get distracted and end up watching cute baby animal videos rather than doing your work.) They must be able to be productive on their own, without having someone overseeing them. Again, check your applicant’s resume or CV for any indications that they might have this skill.

The Internet now allows people to work even outside of a typical office setting. One can work pretty much anywhere they can access the Internet, whether it’s at a coffee shop or the beach. Because of this, remote employees are becoming more popular. Hiring a remote employee for your company is a great idea. If you plan to do so, you should look at your applicants’ resumes, CVs, and references very closely, as these will clue you in to whether the potential employee has the necessary skills to be a good remote employee. If you do this, you will be able to pick the best candidate for the job.

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