How to Hire Remote Employees:

$0.00 USD
1 Month
How to Hire Remote Employees:

There are several agencies, job boards, and key attributes to look for when hiring remote workers. We'll lead you through the process with our step-by-step guide.

1. 

Guidelines for Hiring Remote Employees.

1.1 
Advertise an opening to a remote employee job board.

Job boards for remote workers are the first place to start when hiring remote employees. Professionals from all industries can be found on these platforms, including permanent, part-time, and contracted workers.

1.2 

Scan resumes.

Scan resumes.

Once you've found a suitable job board and posted an opening, your next step is to parse through the resumes of the candidates who responded to your ad. Your ideal candidate will have a track record of independent work. Look for things like a history of remote working experience and proficiency with remote working software.

1.3 

Administer a test.

Administer a test.

Once you've selected a subset of candidates from the initial pool, the next step in homing in on your ideal remote employee is to administer a test. Design a test that simulates a work-related task. For example, if you're hiring a copywriter, have the candidates write a piece of web copy that they might be required to write for you on the job.

Candidates who are serious about the position will put in the necessary time and effort and take pride in their work, but initial tests should take 20 minutes - anything longer will turn off good candidates who value their time.

1.4 

Administer a paid test.

Administer a paid test.

The paid test involves asking candidates to do real work for the company that you pay them for. This is where you can give them a longer, more difficult task, and see what they can do. It's very easy for candidates to be put off by this offer. Many will feel like they're being scammed into doing work for free, so it is important to address this.

This is where being professional pays off - you want all of your communications leading up to this to be well written and formatted to inspire confidence. Send them links to your company website, LinkedIn profile, and other relevant sources to help them research you. Be sure that your LinkedIn and other online profiles are up-to-date and accurate.

1.5 

Conduct a video interview.

Conduct a video interview.

By this stage, your candidate pool should be quite shallow. All that's left is to interview the remaining applicants via a video conferencing tool. Here are some key questions to ask a remote employee:

  • What kind of remote working experience do you have?
  • How do you communicate with your employer/team?
  • What kind of team-working software do you use?
  • What challenges have you faced while working remotely?
  • How have you overcome these challenges?

Want to know how to attract top talent? See our article on the hiring process for a detailed guide to streamlining the way you make hires.

Not sure where to find remote workers? See our list of the best job boards for posting remote work opportunities.

Qualities to Look for in a Remote Worker:

  • Self discipline and an independent work ethic.
  • Quick response times via email.
  • Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
  • Good problem solving ability.
  • Reliable internet connectivity.
  • Highly organized.
  • Self-motivated and self-starting.

Best Remote Job Boards for 2024

Discover the best job boards for posting and finding remote work opportunities.

FAQs:

What is a remote hire?

A remote hire is an employee who works from outside of the office. Remote hires typically work from their homes, coffee shops, or co-working spaces. Depending on the nature of their job, remote hires can either work on their own time, or stick to a regular workday schedule.

How do you effectively manage remote employees?

  1. Create metrics for performance measurement.
  2. Use time and attendance software to monitor employee work.
  3. Use teamwork and collaboration tools for effective collaboration across teams.
  4. Give consistent feedback. Reward good work and coach remote employees when under-performing.
  5. Give realistic performance reviews.
  6. Cultivate a sense of connection to the digital team. This helps prevent isolation.

Related Articles:

Remote Work Policy

Learn more about what a remote work policy is and how to create one.

How to Transition Employees to Working From Home

Learn how to support and manage your employees when transitioning to working remotely.

How to Do Remote Interviews

Learn how to start doing remote interviews with this easy-to-follow guide.

How to Hire Your First Employee

A step-by-step guide for small business owners.

How to Create a Great Candidate Experience

A step-by-step guide for creating a positive candidate experience.