According to a research, the conventional concept of the ‘work commute’ and regular face-to-face communication with co-workers may soon become obsolete. A recent study by Owl Labs in 2023 has indicated that currently, 18% of employees work full-time remotely. This percentage is projected to surge in the upcoming years, thus highlighting the increasing trend of remote working.
With changing perspectives, it is crucial to modify conventional means of accomplishing objectives. Due to the growth and predominance of technology, individuals across the globe can now operate at a convenient time for them. Nonetheless, it remains unclear whether recruitment techniques need to be adjusted to cater to this flexible working pattern, to enable companies to hire qualified candidates, irrespective of their geographic location.
Finding and validating the quality of remote candidates from a worldwide pool can be a daunting prospect when recruiting personnel. It can be complicated to evaluate a candidate’s educational qualifications or verify the credibility of their previous employers. Similarly, attaining references may pose challenges in determining the proficiency of a remote worker. How can we ascertain that we are hiring the appropriate individuals remotely?
Utilizing telecommuters for increasing the size of the workforce
Determine the most optimal pathways to publicize your remote working offers. Employ online discussion boards and job boards that are specifically designed for remote workers. For fairness, contemplate availing a resume database and applicant tracking system.
After prioritizing your prospective contenders, you can proceed to the interview phase by conducting a phone screening to shorten your list of candidates. This is an efficacious method of determining whether a candidate possesses the requisite soft skills for the position. For roles that receive a large number of applicants, employing screening methods like telephone and video interviews can prove advantageous.
Recruiting remote employees provides access to a broader pool of talent that may not be accessible locally. Remote jobs present several perks to workers enabling them to concentrate on key responsibilities without requiring relocation. Nevertheless, certain obstacles must be overcome to guarantee a successful hiring and retention process of such remote workers. It is crucial to formulate a plan for locating and recruiting remote employees, as well as a mechanism for supervising and sustaining them.
Pointers for Recruiting Telecommuters
When scrutinizing potential candidates, it is vital to offer feedback that is both prompt and deferred. Owing to current circumstances, telephonic and internet-based video communication has emerged as a preferred method for interviewing remote-based individuals. To guarantee that the interview procedure proceeds sans any complications, it is crucial to utilize appropriate techniques. Even when face-to-face meetings are unfeasible, impartial and fair recruitment decisions can still be made by utilizing evaluation mechanisms that assess candidates’ skills and proficiencies.
Conducting Interviews Remotely
Spark Rent offers a platform that empowers employers to expeditiously review recorded interviews of candidates, facilitating an informed decision-making process. Video interviews are also an efficient means of hastening the recruitment process, enabling employers to pose questions to candidates and provide them with ample time to respond on camera.
Guidelines for Managing Telecommuters
Local candidates may have an edge in terms of convenience, as they may possess previous familiarity with the company, its employees, or have already visited the premises. In contrast, when recruiting beyond the local region, the only information they may have access to is that available on the company website.
Assure that your online existence portrays legitimacy, mirrors your company’s culture, and appeals to potential employees, attracting their consideration of working with you. Utilizing social media and constructing job-dedicated websites are a means to achieving this goal.
Explain Your Business Operations.
Telecommuting staff ought to be cognizant of their responsibilities and the nature of the work they will be engaged in. It is important to clarify the rationale behind the company’s accommodating practices and, if feasible, to provide an overview of the functions that employees commonly execute on a day-to-day basis.
Buffer may persist in adopting a remote-first methodology, enabling workers to regulate their own schedules and attain a wholesome work-life balance. Having personal interactions with remote employees is advantageous in comprehending what motivates them to remain with the organization. Furthermore, their experiences could be shared to inspire those contemplating a telecommuting position to apply.
Exemplify the principles that constitute your cultural legacy. It is every establishment’s objective to hire or collaborate with a company that shares the same convictions as them. Articulate your foremost priorities when it comes to colleagues and the competencies that you deem indispensable for the workplace.
Contemplate Cultural Adaptation
AI can be utilized to eliminate inadvertent biases that may surface because of cultural disparities in recruitment deliberations. To promote diversity in the workplace, it is recommended to seek referrals from current personnel. Clarify the requisite competencies and emphasize that geographic location is not a hindrance.
With telecommuting becoming more prevalent, organizations confront heightened competition during the recruitment process. To sustain their competitiveness, employers should endeavor to create appealing remuneration packages, even if salary increments appear unfeasible. Offering supplementary perks such as mobile phone plans or stock options can serve as motivation for prospective employees.
Imagine having two telecommuting employees: one situated in Singapore, one of the most pricey cities to live in, and the other in Lisbon, one of the most economically feasible places worldwide. How should their recompense be structured to guarantee that they can afford to reside in the region where they are employed? It is imperative that an unambiguous strategy regarding salaries be conveyed to potential and current personnel to provide clarity on this issue.
Offers Numerous Advantages
It would be wise to ponder upon the advantages that can be beneficial for all members of the team. We ought to assess which practical benefits could be advantageous for telecommuting staff and contemplate bestowing them as welcoming gifts (for instance, noise-cancelling headphones for employees executing their duties in public places).
Concern and Protection
Numerous individuals who choose telecommuting as their mode of work cite the longing to be nearer to their loved ones as a leading motivator. To guarantee the wellness of your personnel and their family members, it may be advantageous to integrate health and insurance coverage into a comprehensive employee benefits programme.
Deals and Subscriptions
Motivate your personnel to enhance their telecommuting experience by providing them with subscriptions to nearby co-working spaces or vouchers for local establishments. Gift cards for their preferred coffee shops or bookstores can be an excellent approach for them to discover the ideal ambiance for their work.
Relevant Development
Telecommuting personnel should be treated on par with any other workforce concerning job advancement and be presented with relevant opportunities for learning and development. This may involve sending them to workshops or enrolling them in online courses, as well as providing periodic assessments and support. It is essential to acknowledge that these individuals possess the potential to undertake increased responsibilities and more challenging duties as they advance in their positions.
Telecommuting staff frequently enjoy greater flexibility in their working hours than their in-office colleagues, as they save time on travelling. It is not rare for remote professionals to work more hours per week than their office-based peers.
Final Thoughts
With the rise of telecommuting expected in the forthcoming years, it is crucial to appoint the suitable workforce for vacant positions. These remote personnel will play a significant role in establishing the standard for forthcoming companies and work methodologies. In addition, they can assist in initiating protocols, aims and goals for telecommuting rapidly.
In the end, a candidate’s on-the-job performance is the most accurate measure of their appropriateness. Nevertheless, entering the interview with the correct attitude will place candidates in an advantageous position to discover their ideal role within your telecommuting team.
