How To Build and Nurture a Remote Team— Employer’s Guide To Remote Hiring in 4 Steps
Over the last few years, remote work has seen a major upsurge in popularity. According to Zippia’s reports, while only about 6% of employees in the U.S. worked remotely before the COVID-19 pandemic, that number grew to 40% in 2020. Many workers went back to the office after the number of infections had dwindled. Still, for many, the change remained, with 26% of employees working remotely in 2022.
Source: Zippia
In the same Zippia study, 49% of participants said they prefer remote work, while 45% prefer the hybrid model. Only 6% claimed they wanted to return to working on-site permanently.
These stats should come as no surprise given the numerous advantages of remote work. After all, it can save a lot of time and resources and provide levels of flexibility that were unheard of in previous times.
If you were thinking about jumping on the bandwagon, check out our remote hiring guide. We’ll give you step-by-step instructions and list the best practices for hiring remote workers, as well as some benefits you can expect from doing so. We’ll also talk about Workello, a recruitment tool that can help you navigate the entire hiring process with ease.
1) Finding Candidates Remotely
There are 4 main ways you can recruit workers online:
A 2017 study by Jobvite shows that over 50% of applications come from job boards, while around 30% come from career sites.
Source: Nick Jordan on LinkedIn
Nowadays, there are job boards to suit various industries and budgets. They can be international, regional, country-specific, or remote; generalist or catering to a niche. Some platforms are free, while others host only sponsored ads. Do your research to find out where your target audience is and identify the best job board for your case.
To get your listing in front of as many qualified candidates as possible, consider sponsoring it to increase exposure and post in multiple places if possible.
With Workello, you can distribute your vacancy and collect applications with ease. Use one of many pre-written job descriptions, personalize it, and post your ad on whichever job boards you prefer in a matter of minutes. With a unique application link, you’ll receive all applicant data in a standardized format, which spares you hours of manual work.
Sourcing Passive Candidates
While job boards are the most plentiful source of jobseekers, some roles might require a deeper search.
To target candidates who aren’t actively looking for jobs, use social media channels like LinkedIn and Facebook. Besides networking and building trust with potential applicants with content, social media lets you search for your ideal candidate and get in touch with them directly.
2) Screening and Evaluating Candidates for Remote Work
If your advertising efforts were successful, you’ll likely receive many applications. To single out the best candidates, you need a proper selection strategy—CVs alone aren’t enough for you to make an informed decision. Here aresome other methods to consider:
Method
Examples
How It Contributes
Screening questions
• “Do you have a visa?”
• “Do you speak English?”
Eliminates unsuitable candidates right away (at the start of the application process)
Background check
• Criminal record and credit check
• Reference check
Verifies the applicants’ identities and the veracity of the claims on their resume
Assessment
• Hard and soft skills tests
• Technical requirements test
Shows you whether they have what it takes to succeed at the role they’ve applied for
Interview
• Standard HR interview
• Technical interview
Allows you to connect with the candidate and evaluate their interpersonal skills
While each method has its pros and cons, pre-hire assessments have emerged as the best at predicting how the candidate will manage on the job. According to Criteria, cognitive aptitude tests are among the most accurate general predictors of job success. For specific skills, job simulations and proficiency tests are your best bet.
Source: Criteria
Workello’s pre-hire assessments can make sure you hire top talent each time. Carefully crafted by industry experts, they’re effective at measuring all the skills needed for the role, but also easy to understand and administer.
Ensuring a Smooth Candidate Experience
Candidate experience can make or break your recruitment. In CareerPlug’s study, 49% of participants reported they had declined an offer due to poor experience in the past.
If the application process is too long or complicated, it can drive away candidates, some of which might be perfect for the job. Miscommunication and lack of organization can also be major deterrents, as well as unpleasant interactions with recruiters.
If they come across issues during the application process, candidates might perceive them as indicators of future problems on the job. In that case, they will likely drop out even if the offer is appealing. They might also tell others about their negative experience. In turn, that can damage your brand’s reputation.
To ensure a positive candidate experience, here’s what you can do:
Simplify the application process
Be transparent about the terms and conditions
Communicate timely and professionally
Build rapport with the candidate
Provide support
Give feedback
Source: Nick Jordan on LinkedIn
By leveraging the power of an applicant tracking system like Workello, you can ensure smooth sailing for both the candidates and the recruiters. With automated responses and live status pages, candidates have all the information in one place and always know where they’re at. That means your hiring managers don’t have to waste time responding to dozens of emails each time.
3) Onboarding and Managing Remote Workers
The orientation of new employees in a remote setup isn’t much different than that of a traditional one. Still, it does entail some specificities. Below are the most important aspects of onboarding remote workers:
Administration—Make sure you have all the paperwork to ensure legal compliance, especially if you’re hiring employees in other countries
Equipment and tools—Since most of the work will be performed online, provide the employee with everything they need to do a successful job
Training and resources—Create a comprehensive knowledge base the employee can always refer to and provide training where needed
Support—Communicate on a regular basis and make sure they have someone to talk to in case any issues arise
Feedback—Ask for feedback to identify areas for improvement and ultimately optimize the hiring and onboarding process
Streamlining Your Hiring Process With Automation
With today’s technology, you can automate nearly every stage of the recruitment funnel.
At the beginning of the recruitment process, you can create an automatic job ad posting schedule and automatically fetch and store resumes and other data. As the candidate moves down the funnel, they’ll receive automatic notifications. You can also schedule interviews and send reminders, with no effort needed.
Once they’ve been hired, automation can ensure a seamless transition for the employee. For instance, it can take care of the tedious administrative work for you. It can also provide valuable insights to help you optimize the process, and much more.
To put it into fruition, you’ll likely need an effective ATS. Such a system allows you to store and organize data, and access it in a few clicks. With all information in one place, your team can collaborate more easily. Also, you can control all aspects of recruitment from a single dashboard.
4) Creating a Positive Remote Work Culture
The work doesn’t end with onboarding, though. To run a successful remote business, you need to foster a healthy remote work environment.
For starters, you should acknowledge the challenges of remote work and do your best to help mitigate them. In Buffer’s 2020 State of Remote Report, participants’ top 5 biggest struggles were:
Collaboration and communication/Loneliness—20%
Not being able to unplug—18%
Distractions at home—12%
Time zone difference—10%
Staying motivated—7%
Source: Buffer
Here are some steps you can take to combat these common remote work problems:
Use collaboration tools to aid with teamwork and decision-making
Make regular check-ins, especially with new employees, and provide support
Trust your workers and respect their chosen work schedule
Encourage them to take breaks and vacations to prevent burn-out
Create a sense of community with meet-ups and team-building activities
Recognize achievements and reward them accordingly
Provide growth opportunities and promote new skill learning
Give and ask for feedback for the sake of mutual improvement
Upsides of Remote Hiring
Here are some reasons to consider switching to a telework setup:
Advantage
Explanation
Time and cost-effectiveness
• You don’t have to pay for office space, supplies, equipment, or transportation
• You don’t have to spend time supplying the office or commuting to work
Wider talent pool
• Increases your chances of finding outstanding candidates
• You’re not constrained to one location, so the possibilities are endless
Better coverage
• Hiring workers from different time zones can ensure your business runs 24/7
• Bilingual workers can be a valuable asset if you plan on expanding into new markets
Employee job satisfaction
• Typically, remote work brings about a more optimal work-life balance for employees
• They can enjoy more free time and flexibility
• Remote work means you can hire people from various cultures and backgrounds
• They can bring in new perspectives, promote creativity, and help strengthen your brand
Environmental impact
• Remote work is a more sustainable option
• No commuting and office operations means no carbon emissions
Final Thoughts
If your industry allows for it, you should consider going remote. From reduced time and cost to hire to increased productivity—remote hiring offers many benefits to employers. With the right approach and some goodwill, transitioning to a remote work setup can be a piece of cake.
And with the help of tools like Workello, you can streamline the online hiring process and reach new levels of efficiency. It can eliminate unnecessary manual work, making it easier for both recruiters and candidates to navigate the hiring process. You can single out the top 1% of your candidates with minimal effort and high accuracy, while keeping them engaged with live status updates.
Sign up for a free trial and enjoy all the benefits of a simple and effective solution that is Workello.
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