How to Find Remote Employees Who are a Great Fit for Your Company

Is your company in the market for new employees? On the look-out to find great employees who contribute to your company and its workplace environment positively? Hoping to be on the cutting edge of business trends? 

The practice of hiring remote employees is on the rise, and with a little guidance, you can craft the perfect job listing and start on your path to finding great workers who fit your business today! But first things first: what does it mean to hire a remote employee?

What is a Remote Employee?

Remote employees conduct their business out of the office. They may choose to work at home, in their local coffee shop, or on the road as they travel the world. The wonderful thing about remote work is that it allows the employee freedom to intertwine their professional and personal lives in a way that a traditional 9 to 5 does not. 

There are some positions that are not set up well for remote work. Surgeons, for instance. But many of today’s standards for workplace suitability have changed, and companies large and small are taking notice.

In addition, much of the workforce is moving towards a kind of multi-tasking lifestyle that supports remote work. While plenty of people still hold full-time, traditional office jobs, workers like teachers, writers, editors, graphic designers, finance gurus, and freelancers of all kinds may find that remote work is an effective and enticing way to earn supplemental income. 

This means that the potential field for job applicants for remote work is full of people from all walks of life with diverse skills and backgrounds in addition to those highly-skilled workers in your field who would benefit from non-traditional structure. So how do you find and attract these employees?

Tips on Recruiting, Hiring, and Managing Remote Employees 

Because so much of remote work is handled virtually, many believe that the skills needed to successfully recruit, hire, manage, and retain remote employees are entirely different than those we traditionally associate with business. 

However, don’t make the mistake of throwing out everything you know about in-office, in-person management. Plenty of the skills you use in the office are just as useful--if not more--in the world of remote employment. Be sure to make time to cover these basics: 

Communication

• Get to know your employees and see them face-to-face, even if it is only virtually with video chat. 
  
  
• Get to know them on a personal level as well as a professional one. Showing interest in your employees’ lives creates a better workplace environment and helps you avoid workplace communication problems. Another bonus? It also aids in employee retention.
  
  
• Make sure they know you are available to them when needed. Working remotely should not leave an employee feeling isolated and stranded, but rather free and supported!

Skills Assessment

• Find ways to assess their skills and job suitability throughout the employment process. When reviewing a resume, check for organizational skills and experience with time management. If you hire them, continue to hold them accountable with check-ins and assessments. If they are succeeding, let them know you notice. 
  
  
• During the interview process, be upfront about your expectations for the position and encourage them to ask questions about what will be required of them. In addition, you want to have them be open about where they may face challenges, and see what strategies you can apply. 
  
  
• Make sure they have access to any auxiliary tools they will need to succeed, from wifi to specific software or even just a breakdown of daily tasks and assignments. This may be a part of your onboarding process, or you may consider it part of your application process. 
  
  
• Consider a practice assignment or a probationary period to assess their work. 

Opportunities for Advancement

• Employees are often motivated by the possibility of a promotion. Just because someone is working remotely doesn’t mean they can’t advance further in their career. Be sure to set a reasonable new employee starting salary with opportunities for raises.
  
  
• Likewise, you should always be on the look-out for team leaders.  Identify effective traits in new employees and consider promotions or additional job responsibilities. 

No matter your business, you can successfully hire excellent remote workers, from those highly trained in a specialized field to those hard-working, diverse candidates, if you apply basic management skills and practice good communication and skills assessment. At the root of it all, you are hiring a person to work for you, even if you only see them through a computer screen. For more information on smart hiring, and help with smart employee recruitment, contact SelectOne.