Top tips for Hiring Remote Workers

The global pandemic taught us that, when it’s done right, flexible and remote working options can be successful. Hiring remote workers can be enormously beneficial to a business and allows employers to access a workforce that wouldn’t be able to manage in an office-based environment for a wide variety of reasons.

But, finding the right candidates for remote working roles can sometimes be difficult. Employers sometimes worry about whether their chosen candidates are going to be able to meet productivity requirements, or whether ideas can be shared as effectively as they would with an on-site team.

Here at PDR, we are dedicated to helping you find the right candidates for every role, and we have some top tips for hiring remote workers which will enable you to make the right choices every time.

Be Sure of What You’re Looking For

As with any other job role, it’s important to have a clear idea of what you will expect from potential candidates and what their job will involve. There’s a big difference between freelancers who dip in and out - often taking on multiple projects - and someone who is solely dedicated to a specific role within your company. Be sure of what you need and make sure that this is clear in your job listing before you start the hiring process.

Be Realistic

Candidates looking for remote positions will often do so because they offer more flexibility when compared to on-site roles. This can sometimes mean that individuals will work hours outside of a typical 9-5 schedule, or may be unavailable at times. Make sure that your expectations of workload and targets are clear when interviewing candidates. Also, take time to ask them whether they feel capable of achieving the targets you set for them, and what they anticipate their working schedule to be. This way, both you and your new employee will know exactly where the goalposts are.

Multiple Interviews

Any employee needs to be able to build relationships and work well as a team. While the typical interview process allows for a variety of scenario-based situations and the opportunity to meet face-to-face, remote roles don’t offer the same opportunities. When hiring someone for a remote role, it can sometimes be useful to hold a number of interviews. These can be with a range of people that candidates may be working with should they join your company and can offer better insight into how well they would fit within your company's culture.

Consider a Trial Period

It could be that a trial period would be beneficial. This will give you time to evaluate a potential employee's ability to work with the rest of the team, working schedule, ability to reach targets, and a range of other factors.

If you have a role which needs to be filled, or are looking for a new position for yourself, get in touch with our PDR team today and let us help you get the results you want, contact our Tunbridge Wells office on 01892 530226