Remote Hiring: pros and cons and how to do it right

Remote hiring is one of the hottest trends in business today. In an ever-evolving industry, companies of all sizes scramble to hire the best people for their teams. Remote job hiring has emerged as a viable option for businesses of all sizes and industries. It can help you maximize the number of candidates you find while decreasing your cost per hire.

In short, you can find and hire the best talent. You won't go through all the stress of office politics and annoying coworkers.

What Does Remote Hiring Mean?

It's the process of identifying and hiring an employee who works from home. It's different from the traditional office arrangement. Remote hiring sources candidates from all over the world and different time zones. They do this by placing job postings on different platforms.

How Do I Get Hired Remotely?

There are many platforms you can use to find remote jobs. A job board is an excellent place to start searching. Many remote companies worldwide use them to advertise their open jobs. Remote recruiting agencies are also helpful in looking for remote jobs.

The Benefits of Remote Recruitment?

1. Remote hiring eliminates operational costs. These include office furniture and commuting costs for employees. Remote companies have a bigger budget, which allows them to pay for extra job benefits. Examples of learning and development opportunities.
2. Hiring remotely allows companies unlimited access to top talent from across the world.
3. Remote recruitment improves employee retention rates. They get the freedom to dictate their work hours. Their job satisfaction rates also increase.
4. Hiring remotely reduces stress levels on employees. They are then more productive and able to focus without distractions.

Disadvantages of Hiring Remote Workers

1. Some workers cannot adopt a healthy work-life balance due to the lack of fixed timelines.
2. Managing workers in different time zones can be stressful at times.
3. The lack of physical contact may restrict collaboration and teamwork among employees.

Remote Recruitment Agency vs. Local Recruitment Agency

Remote recruitment agencies use virtual technology to advertise, interview and hire people. But, local recruitment agencies use a physical approach. They prefer to meet and interact with prospective employees in person.

The shift in hiring practices became more defined during the pandemic. Governments enforced strict social distancing measures. Companies had to find a more sustainable approach; making remote means the next big thing.

What are the benefits of using remote recruitment agencies over local ones?

More Productive Employees

Do remote workers perform better than their counterparts? Mercer, an HR consulting firm, surveyed over 800 companies during the pandemic. They found that 94% of the respondents believed remote employees were more productive. Their productivity cannot compare to that of their team members at the office.

The remote work experience allows them to focus on their work. It also reduces the time spent on office commutes. They also have more flexible hours.

Expedited Hiring

Companies that have embraced working remotely understand how the virtual environment works. Their staff is also seasoned and adapts to new situations. These qualities make the interview process much more seamless.

They leverage virtual interviews, conducting them over video calls. They also do them over video chat instead of face-to-face interviews. They can overcome time zone differences. The onboarding process is also seamless, making hiring easier.

You Get to Save Money

Another advantage of a remote recruitment agency is the cost difference. Hiring remote workers is more affordable. It allows you to source the best candidates despite the difference in time zones.

Unfortunately, local recruiters have a location requirement that restricts how they pick candidates. It minimizes the talent pool and makes jobs more competitive. They also have to offer higher salaries if the candidates live in expensive cities.

More Extensive Talent Pool

Fully remote companies have the added advantage of a more extensive talent pool. They gain an advantage especially if they embrace remote recruitment agencies. Hiring remotely gets you the best talent. A detailed job description should offer perks such as bonuses.

Do You Want Happy Employees? Hire Remote Workers

More companies are embracing remote work. The number of employees is growing. A report by Upwork shows that 36 million Americans will be working remotely by 2025. That's approximately 22% of the country's population.

The Interview Process for Remote Workers?

Remote interviews differ from face-to-face ones in many ways. For starters, the hiring process is 100% online. Hiring managers rely on video and phone calls to communicate. They use them to connect with candidates during remote interviews.

Interpreting body language through a screen may be challenging for some. It limits human contact, although it's critical for communication.

Put Heavy Emphasis on the Company Culture

The first step in interviewing candidates is describing the company culture. Company culture is important because it promotes job satisfaction, reducing employee turnover. The short description they read in the job postings is not enough. It may not meet all questions they might have about the position.

Educate them on your company values, office events, and activities. Make sure you have proof to support your words; after all, seeing is believing. Show them footage from teambuilding activities or employee testimonials from the company site.

You could arrange a meet-and-greet with other team members. They get the chance to ask any questions and get a better understanding of their role and the workplace.

You Can Never Be Too Prepared

The remote hiring process takes longer than usual. Candidates usually go through several steps. They undergo rigorous testing before they advance to the interview process. As a result, one must prepare them in advance.

Please give them a brief rundown of the tools they'll use throughout the process, e.g., Zoom. The more at ease the person is, the easier it is to get an authentic impression.

Ask the Appropriate Questions

It's essential that you ask the appropriate questions when hiring remote workers. Examples of these questions include:

• Do you have any prior experience with remote work? When was the last time you worked remotely?
• What are some of the challenges you've faced with your remote work?
• Why do you want to work remotely?
• How do you schedule your day?
• What tools and software did you use at your past remote job?
• How do you handle distractions when working from home?
• What do you do to decompress after a typical work day?
• How do you handle conflict with a fellow team member?

Make the Candidate as Comfortable as Possible

Strive to make your remote candidates as relaxed as possible. Here are a few ways to do this:

• Break the ice by opening with a fun fact about yourself. Other ice-breakers include telling a short story or giving them a compliment
• Start with the easy questions first and the challenging ones last.
• Use your body language to your advantage. e.g., smile more, lean forward to show you're listening.
• Remote interviews usually go on for extended periods. They usually last an average of two weeks. So, make sure you break down the process into smaller chunks. You don't want to exhaust your prospects.
• Be specific and clear with the job descriptions. If it's a fully remote job or a hybrid working arrangement, say so.

Deciding How You Want Candidates to Apply

Managing job applications for remote employees can be hectic. It's worse especially when you have a huge turnout. At the same time, you want a uniform process for everyone. Here are a couple of questions to keep in mind when deciding on the application method for remote hiring.

Questions to Add to Your Application Form for the Remote Hiring Process

Below are examples of questions to ask when hiring remotely:

• How do you begin your typical work day?
• What forms of communication do you use, e.g., video chat? How often do you touch base with your team members during a typical work day?
• What are some of the skills you think make one suited for remote work?
• How can the company support you in your role as a remote worker? What tools would make your job easier?
• How do you handle conflict at the workplace?

Best Practices for the Remote Hiring Process

Install an Application Tracking System

Recruiting employees for remote work without an Application Tracking System is a nightmare. It's worse when you have a large volume of applicants from different platforms. Some people apply for any remote job without looking at the job descriptions. The ATS software helps you identify the right person. It also keeps track of the interviewing processes for candidates and recruiters.

Here are some examples of ATS software:

• BambooHR
• Workable
• Greenhouse
• ICIMs
• Jobvite
• Taleo.

Virtual Onboarding

Finding the right candidate for a remote job is half the work; the other half is bringing them aboard. One way to make it easier is by contracting a remote recruitment company. They will support you as you onboard your new team member.

They'll equip you with the appropriate tools. For example, communication software such as Slack, Google Workspace, and Dropbox. A recruiting company will also train the new hires.

Remote Interview Preparation

Preparation is vital for success. You'll need a backup plan. For example, when lights go off or the internet connection becomes patchy. Practice asking and answering questions beforehand. The candidates may need clarification on a few issues.

Conducting Remote Interviews

Try to break the ice during the early stages of the interview. It will help the recruits relax and bring out their authentic self. Remember to be both clear and audible when you speak.

Structure your questions such that the easy ones come first. Conclude with the more challenging ones. You don't want to bombard them with difficult questions. It might worsen their initial pre-interview jitters.

Be Clear: Hybrid vs. Remote Work

Some companies will advertise remote positions while, in fact, they aren't fully remote. These jobs will instead adopt hybrid work arrangements. They alternate between working from home and the office. Your job description should be as transparent as possible. It should disclose the terms and conditions.

Ensure Your Job Description Details the Perks and Benefits

Highlighting the job perks and benefits is an effective way to attract top talent. Candidates want to know what form of payment to expect. Examples of job benefits include:

• Paid time off
• 401K plan
• Learning and development opportunities, and
• Commissions and bonuses.

Where to Find Remote Working Opportunities

There are plenty of sites you can use to source remote positions, such as:

FlexJobs

FlexJobs is among the leading remote job websites with over 30,000 job postings. The site runs on a membership subscription that provides perks such as:

• CV help
• Various skills and aptitude tests
• Advanced job filters.

Members also get a 30-day money-back guarantee once they sign up. Subscriptions start at:

• Weekly at $9.95
• Monthly at $20.95
• 3 Months at $39.95
• Yearly at $59.95.

Fiverr

Fiverr is a remote freelancing platform that offers jobs spanning various niches, including:

• Data entry
• Programming and 
• Virtual help.

Signing up is free and the platform has four membership tiers. New seller, level one, level two, and top-rated seller. It has a high turn-around time and offers services for as low as $5.

Upwork

Upwork is a popular freelancing and remote work platform where members bid for jobs. It's popular with over 12 million registered freelancers making it competitive. It's also secure. It uses Escrow to ensure clients and contractors don't fall prey to scammers.

Upwork doesn’t charge for membership, instead freelancers pay a certain amount on their earnings from the platform. For the first $500, they deduct 20%, and 10% for total billings over $10,000. For instance, if you bill a client for $10,000, they deduct 5%.

Remote.co

Remote. co is a free remote job site founded by Sarah Sutton. It updates its job listings, with over 140 new entries daily. You can find all types of jobs on the platform in a variety of industries, including:

• Technology
• Marketing
• Graphic Design

Here’s what it will cost to advertise a job on Remote.co:

• 1 Job Ad for 30 days - $299.00
• 1 Job Ad for 60 days - $598.00
• 1 Job Ad for 90 days - $897.00
• Job Highlight - $49.00

We Work Remotely

The site is top-rated in the digital nomad community, with up to 3 million monthly visitors. Posting a job advertisement on this job board costs $299. We Work Remotely specializes in technology but also offers jobs in sectors such as:

• Sales and marketing
• Customer support
• Management and finance.

Final Verdict: The Future of Remote Jobs Hiring

Let's sum it up in a sentence. When it comes to remote jobs, hiring immediately is a necessary growth strategy for most businesses. it doesn't matter if you are getting started. If you are looking to expand your team, this guide is here to help you do it right the first time.