Hiring is one of the toughest challenges in running a remote company. But since the pandemic has made such companies the new normal, the struggles of recruitment teams only increased, as the usual office positions have also turned into remote ones. Many organizations are now made up of work-from-home employees, and the hiring process also occurs remotely.
Despite today’s digital technology, assessing a candidate when you can’t see them face-to-face is still difficult. In addition to not being able to see their body language, recruiters may also have to ask them a different set of questions instead of the ones they normally ask. They also have to look for specific qualities that they may have never considered for office employees before.
But as the general business model shifts, then so do the trends in the hiring process. Below are the new ways to find competent employees for your remote company:
Traits to Look For
Before advertising your job posting, outline the specific traits you require first, which should be the following:
- Clear Communication Skills — Remote workers should understand the importance of communicating clearly with any medium they’re using, from email to phone to video calls. They must also respond to messages quickly, and be intentional and specific with all of their communications.
- Routine Habits — While it’s always not essential to dress up before working remotely, a morning routine can still impact the way an employee feels throughout the day. It will help them switch into work mode quicker, and be more productive.
- Organization Skills — A good remote worker should know how to use organizational tools to their advantage. An example of such a tool is a simple calendar. With it, they can keep track of their tasks better, and be able to take short, necessary breaks.
- Ability to Create a Space Fit for Working — There can be plenty of distractions at home, so remote employees should be able to find a space where they can concentrate fully. The space should also have the necessary tools and technology to make remote working efficient.
- Ability to Develop a Sense of Structure — Remote workers must know how to give themselves structure without a conventional office environment.
- Not Over-analyzing Social Cues — The disadvantage of remote communication is that some employees may read too much into a statement or situation. Therefore, it’s crucial to hire a candidate with a positive mindset who doesn’t assume the worst of people.
- Willingness to Improve their Work — A competent remote worker should be open to new methods of communicating, and strengthening how they do their work.
- Staying Focused Despite Different Time Zones — Your remote workers should overcome this barrier and be proactive while doing so.
- Social Skills — Despite being a remote team, you should still be able to develop camaraderie and form personal relationships.
- Willing to Build a Network Beyond the Remote Workspace — Working remotely isn’t a reason to stop building your network. Your remote employees should still have a social life outside your company.
Considering that these traits are significantly different from those of a usual office worker, you have to be more thorough in assessing your applicants’ personalities. You can do that by conducting a highly-comprehensive personality test for job applicants. That way, you can immediately determine if they’re qualified and competent enough.
Interview Questions to Ask
You don’t need to ask a dozen questions to find out if a candidate possesses all those skills above. In addition to their test results, their answers to the following can also prove their competence:
- How do you structure your work schedule? What do you struggle with when working from home?
- How do you keep your team engaged and connected?
- Give examples of a time you had to work collaboratively to meet a deadline.
- What are the things you need to always have in your workspace?
- How do you solve a complex problem with little direction from your supervisor?
When an applicant gives in-depth and honest answers to those questions, you may have just found a new gem for your team. And when you create a team with complementing strengths and talents, your remote company can forge a sense of kinship, and soar to success.
