There was a time when remote working seemed to be a far-fetched concept. However, thanks to rapidly evolving technologies and tools, today, in the post-COVID scenario, remote working is a reality for professionals globally.
Numerous studies on flexible working show a stark 400% rise in remote working in the past decade. It indicates that companies need to develop effective strategies for hiring employees and managing remote teams.
As the corporate landscape goes through this paradigm shift, traditional recruiting methods are no longer relevant for hiring professionals remotely. Thus, organizations must rethink their remorse hiring strategies in ways that align with the modern dynamic work culture.
Today, we’ll zero down on six effective tips to successfully hire remote employees. So, if you are looking to re-align your hiring process, keep reading!
- Leverage innovative technology
With the rise of innovative technologies like AI and ML, companies can now leverage state-of-the-art tools and platforms for remote hiring. They can use collaborative apps and video conferencing tools (like Zoom, Google Meet, etc.) for interviewing potential candidates. Plus, they can create online assignments for skills assessment, compare the results of different candidates, and narrow down the list of potential candidates.
Using the right tools will help you create a stellar interview experience. For example, recruiters can use collaborative web applications with various customization settings to design personalized experiences for applicants. It enables them to collate applicant data, interview schedules, hiring tests, and reviews in one place, streamlining the remote hiring process.
The best part about using advanced software tools is that you can automate different tasks and reduce hiring costs.
- Choose a hiring platform
As an extension of using advanced technology, consider automating your hiring process via a secure hiring platform. AI-powered tools and software can help HR teams to manage employee records in a few clicks.
For instance, you can opt for mobile-friendly, remote team management software. Apart from minimizing operational costs, it also reduces the time spent in scouting ideal contenders. Moreover, you can track the application progress, communicate with candidates, schedule calls, etc., on the go.
Here are a few advantages of using a hiring software:
- Speeds up the recruitment
- Reduces administrative load
- Maintains applicant database for future reference
- Streamlines the hiring process and data collection
- Automates communication and collaboration
- 24×7 availability
- Expand your reach
When hiring remote talent, advertising vacancies on traditional job boards is not enough. You must try out job platforms designed exclusively for freelancers/independent contractors or work-from-home jobs.
To expand your outreach and improve sourcing remote talent, list your company on remote work directories. Using social media tools is a great way to attract more applications. Create well-thought-out job descriptions that paint a complete picture of the job at hand.
Here are some dedicated platforms for remote employees you can consider:
- WeWorkRemotely
- Remotive
- AngelList
- Stack Overflow
- FlexJobs
- Working Nomads
Follow this checklist while designing job vacancies for remote employees:
- Clearly describe the responsibilities of the job profile
- Specify essential details like working hours, work culture, remote work policy, etc.
- Specify the details of the application, interview, and hiring processes
- Mention the required skills, qualifications, and past remote working experiences
- Seek referrals and past experiences
Hiring remote talent may often seem risky, considering the minimal physical interactions. However, seeking referrals from your existing employees or business connections is a great way to minimize this risk. You can promote your company culture through word-of-mouth and get trustworthy candidates in the pipeline.
Another crucial determinant of a candidate’s credibility is their past experiences. When looking for a remote employee, narrow your choices to those with previous remote working experience. Ask for references from their previous employers and follow up with them. It’ll give you a comprehensive idea of their skills, work performance, consistency, workplace behavior, etc.
Essentially, referrals and past experiences help you verify the reliability of remote candidates and evaluate them better.
- Implement virtual job trials
After you’ve interviewed candidates and selected the candidate for a job profile, you can send a proposal for a virtual job trial. You can decide the trial period depending on your assessment criteria. Of course, it is essential to specify the conditions for the trial period.
Such a trial test will help you assess if the chosen candidate is the right fit for the role and your company. Before extending a formal offer letter, many companies send trial proposals to avoid making bad hiring decisions. Not only is it cost-effective, but it lets you see the candidate’s skills in real-job scenarios, assess their dedication and willingness to learn, and see how well they blend in a remote role.
Moreover, virtual job trials ensure that candidates have a realistic idea of the job – they can always opt out if they feel they’re not fit for the role.
- Automate employee onboarding
Gone are the days of sorting through stacks of job applications in your inbox manually – the era of digitization is here. HR teams now opt for software tools that automate the hiring process – from sorting the most relevant candidates for a job to onboarding chosen candidates.
Automation can replace the cumbersome form filling and submitting documents, making the task of both the HR team and employees easier. For instance, HRMS tools collate employee data in a centralized structure, allowing HR staff and employees to access it in real-time.
According to research, companies with robust onboarding processes saw 82% of new employee retention and 70% more productivity.
Thus, you can create a seamless remote hiring process using an HRMS with relevant content, including orientation videos, training links, and an employee dashboard. Employees and HR Managers can update and monitor their attendance, salary slips, working hours, leaves, etc.
It is crucial to restructure your onboarding with a streamlined digital process to attract the new-age, digital-savvy workforce.
Conclusion
Remote working is the new reality of the present-day industry, and it is here to stay. For many companies and professionals worldwide, this work model is quite convenient. While employees can meet their targets from their preferred location, employers can save a ton of money on workplace overhead costs (office rent, supplies, utilities, repairs, etc.).
If your company has already adopted this model, these tips will help optimize your remote hiring process to guarantee maximum benefits. Technology is your biggest ally, and by investing in the right tools, you can substantially improve employee productivity, job satisfaction, and overall company culture.
