Considerations for Remote Hiring: Part 1

Remote jobs have quickly gone from being the exception to being the rule, and their desirability is at an all-time high. But hiring for a remote job has some unique requirements because you don’t get to meet with prospective employees in person and develop that human connection we’re all so accustomed to. We’ve gathered some tips for how to be successful in your remote hiring endeavors, and if you’re looking for more information on how to make yourself stand out in the current job market, check out our post on Hiring in a Bubbling Market. How well – and how often – you communicate with candidates will help you establish trust. It’s their first impression of what employment with you will look like. Keep candidates updated throughout the hiring process, and whatever you do, don’t ghost them – applying for jobs is time-consuming and draining, and candidates deserve to know what’s going on and how their efforts are paying off. We also recommend keeping it to four interviews at most – anything beyond that is asking too much. One great way to keep communication consistent is to establish templates for how you’ll contact and follow up with prospective employees. Set a timeline for how long you want the hiring process to last, and stick to it, and make sure you get some feedback from your candidates about what worked and what didn’t. As we mentioned before, job hunting takes time, and the last thing you want to do is present a potential employee with technological issues to troubleshoot. Finding the right applicant tracking system (ATS) can help reduce the administrative burden for you and your team, and adds another good way to keep on top of communication with candidates. Sticking with more well-known video platforms is your best bet to avoid any delays with downloads, registering, etc. Whatever you decide to use, make sure you’re communicating with your candidates about anything that needs to be downloaded or tested ahead of time. Making sure you have the right job description is the best way to attract the right candidates, and can help you stand out among a crowded field of companies with open positions. Know what you’re looking for and how you want your team to look so you can get the most out of your hiring process. You can read more about hiring tips and tricks in our Hiring in a Bubbling Market post.Having the team reach out to new hires is key to making sure your employees are able to connect and get to know one another. Putting a face to a name helps build rapport and camaraderie among colleagues. Make sure your onboarding process is clear, and that everything goes smoothly for their first days on the job. But don’t just stop there – remote jobs require more frequent check-ins to make sure employees are aware of expectations and upcoming tasks. Hiring for a remote role is an exciting opportunity for you and your prospective employees, but it certainly comes with its own set of challenges. Communicate, prepare, and check-in often with your candidates and colleagues to ensure it’s a smooth process for all.