Best Practices for Hiring Remote Employees

Somewhere, in some parts of the globe, an employee anxiously awaits the opportunity to be let into a Zoom meeting for an online interview. These kinds of interviews have become too common. However, they are the first point of contact with remote employees.

According to Forbes, 12.7% of full-time employees worked from home in 2023, and 28.2% adopted a hybrid work model.

Remote employees can become an organization’s backbone. However, if hired inefficiently, they can bring down the whole team. Here’s how you can ace that hiring process and add efficiency to your interviews;

Why Hire Remote Employees

Before we get into the best techniques for hiring remote employees, here’s why they are great to hire;

1.      Easier to Connect With the Best Talent

When you decide to hire remote employees, you are essentially embarking upon a journey to the best talent. Remote hiring allows you to connect with individuals from all places, as long as they have a good internet connection.

This is especially great if you want to connect with someone from a different country who can represent your foreign audience.

2.      Affordable for Employers

Research shows that remote hiring is much more affordable for employers. It can save them $11,000 per employee if they shift to remote hiring. Moreover, it can also save your employees money. USA Today says working from home can save employees $4,000 in commuting, lunch, and clothing. It’s a win, win!

Hiring remote employees can help you save on office space, property, office supplies, or other things you may have had to provide otherwise.

3.      Low Employee Turnover

Employees are usually found leaving a business before a year has passed simply because they get a job closer to home. Remote employees can reduce employee turnover and keep employees loyal to your business simply due to the flexibility and ease you provide.

What’s the Recipe for Effective Remote Employee Hiring?

Just like hiring employees in person, remote hiring should also be as professional and comfortable as possible. Hiring remote employees should not be much different from hiring employees in person. Here are some things to keep in mind;

1.      Spend Time on Candidate Requirements

It is important to understand the job description before you interview the candidate. The nature of the job can tell you a lot about what you will need from the candidate. If the job is technical, perhaps you would want to ask the candidate questions about certain tools they may have used.

Make a list of what you want to see in your candidate and ask relevant questions to help you understand whether they would be a good fit for the position. Here are some questions you can ask;

• Do you use the X tool? How have you used it in the past, and how has it benefited you in your work?
• How do you manage yourself when working remotely? Do you follow a system that allows you to finish your work on time? What difficulties do you face?
• Tell us about a time you led an initiative or contributed to a new idea that paid off.
• Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years? How about 10?
• If you had to choose any role besides the one you are currently applying for, which would you pick?
• How do you choose to communicate remotely to get your point across?

2.      Search with Relevancy

You might get a lot of candidates if you simply type in a Google search. But that does not guarantee relevancy, and you may not get a lot of candidates that match your listed job description. However, your results could be improved if you consider searching in the right places.

Consider relying on professionals who can advise you on the places where you should be looking. This includes LinkedIn and other niche platforms you may not have yet encountered.

Searching for unique keywords that can take you to those credentials is also important. For example, if you need someone proficient in a programming language, consider searching for that specifically, and don’t forget to add in “remote employees.”

3.      Earn their Respect

Remote interviews are as just as important as in-person ones, and you must show your potential employee respect. Employers can discourage employees by turning up late to the interview. Make sure you are on time and make them feel comfortable.

Choose a meeting time that works for both of you. Also, make them feel valued by asking questions “out-of-the-book” or, in this case, “out-of-the-resume.”

Finding the Perfect Fit

Here are some tips to keep in mind when taking that interview to keep an eye out for the perfect match;

• Consider the excitement and interest they show throughout the interview and notice any changes in body language upon specific questions.
• Ask questions that help you understand their personality type to gauge whether they would be willing to take the initiative. This can include questions about past leadership positions or experiences.
• Inquire about their views on the future, be it their own or of the global economy after the pandemic. Ask them how they think they fit into the bigger picture.

You Found Your Match! What’s Next

You may wonder what’s next once you find the perfect remote employees. How must you make a great impression and help the employee feel welcome? Consider sending them a welcome email or a box of goodies with the company logo. Or call them for an orientation!

It is important to make your remote employees feel as welcome and comfortable as those visiting the office. At Top Notch Remote Solutions, we offer some of the best solutions to help you manage your employees efficiently and effectively.

Our tools can help you ace the hiring process and help your employees fit in slowly but surely.