Businesses often seek to manage their payroll costs effectively. If you are a business owner requiring IT support or a startup that needs web developers, I can provide a solution: remote staffing.
It is undeniable that most people enjoy a bargain. However, unlike the retail sector, businesses advertising job vacancies cannot offer discounts such as coupons, time-sensitive sales and bulk discounts to potential candidates.
A definition of “remote recruitment”
A Recruiter can be defined as a professional responsible for identifying and contacting suitable candidates for vacant roles in an organisation. They are tasked with ensuring the successful fulfilment of hiring goals by filling positions with competent individuals.
Recruiters typically target local talent when seeking to fill a position; for example, if a company in Miami, Florida is seeking a graphic designer, the recruiter will focus on identifying qualified individuals within the region.
Remote recruiters are able to expand their search for potential employees beyond geographical boundaries, thus being able to access a larger pool of talent. They can focus their efforts on emerging markets overseas, where there is an abundance of qualified personnel.
If the Miami-based firm were to opt to engage a remote graphic designer, they would not limit their search to just one region, but rather explore the entire nation and, if possible, extend it internationally to countries where English is the native language and applicants possess a proficient level of it.
Many businesses had extensive experience with remote recruitment prior to the pandemic. With more organisations now having had the opportunity to work remotely, the demand for remote recruitment has significantly increased.
Company talent acquisition teams have adopted remote recruiting strategies, as reported by Cielo’s The Future of Work study.
- In fact, 59% of them have used video interviews to find the right people.
- Sixty-five percent of employers are giving offers without first seeing the applicant in person.
- Candidates make up 67% of the total who are virtually onboarding.
A recent study by FlexJobs has revealed that the majority of respondents (65%) would prefer full-time remote employment during the pandemic, with 31% opting for a hybrid arrangement. It is evident that remote recruiting provides advantages for both businesses and job seekers.
A Comparative Analysis of Remote and Local Employment Agencies
It is true that there is a difference between local and distant recruiting companies with regards to the talent pool available. By utilising remote staffing, you can save money by offering competitive contracts to top personnel. Moreover, you can maintain your engineers for the foreseeable future by providing a timeline that allows for both synchronous and asynchronous communication.
A remote recruitment company may be able to offer more than just a time-efficient approach to finding the right candidates with the necessary skills and experience for your organisation. Here are some of the main advantages of using a remote recruitment firm as opposed to a local agency:
The Number of Potential Employees Grows
When selecting a remote recruitment company, you will have access to a far larger number of potential applicants. A local agency may be able to provide you with the ideal pool of candidates, however, a more distant one has a higher probability of providing you with a larger selection of potential employees. You are likely to find someone suitable and potentially even outstanding.
You Want Content Workers, Consider the Following. Employ Remotely
The desire to work remotely is becoming increasingly common, with the prevalence of remote working having been on the rise for some time. Many workers have now experienced the benefits of flexible working, and are unlikely to return to more traditional arrangements. According to data from Upwork, by 2025, 22% of the workforce in the United States will be working virtually.
Remote work opportunities are the greatest method to attract and retain talented workers.
Spend Less
There is a significant difference in cost between using a remote recruitment agency and a local one. For example, the salary of a software developer in California is not the same as that of a software developer in Eastern Europe. By utilising remote recruitment services, you can benefit from both the high level of expertise and more competitive salaries.
Therefore, if you are located in a costly city, you will need to offer higher wages in order to draw in experienced personnel through a local recruitment agency.
Laborers Who Get Things Done
A recent study conducted by Mercer found that 94% of 800 businesses reported that their employees’ productivity was either the same or higher than prior to the outbreak of the pandemic. This further supports prior research which suggested that remote workers tend to outperform their on-site counterparts. The pandemic has served as a test to prove such a hypothesis.
Remote workers are often more efficient than their in-office counterparts due to a variety of factors, such as reduced risks of disruption caused by traffic, the ability to set their own working schedules, a reduced likelihood of taking sick days, and reduced exposure to office gossip.
Speedy Hiring
Those with extensive experience of remote working, particularly within the IT sector, are accustomed to the virtual workplace. This makes the recruitment process more efficient due to their understanding of the tools required and their quick ability to learn new ones.
As businesses look to save time and money, they are increasingly turning to remote recruiting, where applicants are interviewed via video chat rather than in person. The advantage here is that there is no need to bring in external expertise as the process can be completed more quickly and efficiently.
Here’s a visual guide to the key distinctions between remote and brick-and-mortar recruiters:
Here Are Eight Ways to Find Top Talent From afar
Moving from a local recruitment approach to a more distant one can be a challenging endeavour. To assist with this transition, the following eight strategies could be employed to ensure successful remote recruitment:
Take Care with Your Use of the Word “Remote”
It may seem obvious, yet some employers and job seekers have quite different conceptions of what constitutes “remote.”
You should make it clear in the job posting if the telecommuting option you’re giving is limited to, say, two days per week.
Potential employees may misinterpret your use of the term “remote work” as meaning that you need them to work entirely from home.
It is important to be clear on the definition of ‘remote’ before advertising for the role and beginning the recruitment process. Can all employees work remotely, or is there a degree of flexibility? Do they have to report to the office at set times? Establishing this prior to searching for candidates will save time and avoid any potential confusion.
Revise Your Job Descriptions.
A carefully crafted job description can be the key to attracting high-calibre applicants, even those from further afield. Avoid using any jargon or slang, such as ‘rockstar’ or ‘guru’, as this could put off potential candidates. Keep it concise and easy to read. Include any additional information that could be of interest to applicants.
These are some questions you should be able to answer for yourself:
- The purpose of this position, please.
- To what extent do you anticipate being responsible for what exactly in that position?
- Competencies and prerequisites?
- What’s the time difference?
- Is working from home an option or do you have to be physically present?
- Tell me about the nature of your business.
Considering revising your advertising strategy for the position? Utilising visuals such as pictures or videos instead of a detailed explanation can be advantageous. According to CareerBuilder, job posts featuring videos have an application rate 34% higher than those that are text-only, and attract 12% more viewers.
Set up a System to Keep Track of Applicants
Without an Applicant Tracking System, the recruitment process can be challenging. When advertising a role online, numerous applications may be received – many of which may not be suitable – particularly in more rural locations. It is common for applicants to be drawn to the term ‘remote’, leading to applications being submitted without a full understanding of the job description.
An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) can help streamline the recruitment process by pre-screening applicants who meet the specified criteria, thus saving time and resources. It can be used to manage the entire process from identifying suitable candidates, assessing their qualifications, to making final decisions.
Remote Practice Interview
Effective interviewing requires thorough preparation. This goes beyond simply having the necessary resources available. It is essential to gain a clear understanding of the desired profile for the prospective candidate.
It is essential to be aware of the requirements of the role prior to starting the remote interview process. What are the most crucial attributes that the ideal candidate should possess? Are there any particular skills that must be held by applicants? Having this information prepared in advance will enable any red flags to be identified at an early stage.
Candidates with strong communication and collaboration abilities can be beneficial in situations where group projects are a major component. It is important to note that candidates who come across as arrogant during the interview process may not be suitable for the role.
Be Effective When Using Remote Interviews
The interview process is a key element in assessing a candidate’s knowledge and abilities. To ensure a successful remote interview, a suitable video conferencing platform is essential. Popular tools for remote working, such as Zoom, Skype for Business and Google Meet, provide a wide range of options for conducting virtual interviews.
Turning off the camera during a remote interview can impede the establishment of a good rapport with the applicant. Additionally, it can lead to an uncomfortable atmosphere throughout the interview. Keeping the camera on can help to gain further insight into a prospect and allow for a better understanding of their personality.
Always have a backup plan ready in case your internet connection breaks before doing a virtual interview (like sharing mobile data, for example).
Be Able to Evaluate Potential Employees from a Distance
When recruiting IT talent, it is possible that applicants may attempt to memorise theoretical questions in order to present themselves as the ideal candidate. To avoid this situation, there are a number of steps that can be taken.
- The best way to find out whether a candidate is the right match for the job is to ask them questions that they haven’t been asked before.
- Assign some homework: Start simple and provide them a straightforward task. A deadline might be imposed to assess their performance and punctuality.
- We recommend holding a group interview as an effective way to assess the suitability of potential employees. If you would like other leaders or team members to provide input on the applicant, please bring them along to the interview.
Take notes during interviews on anything that stands out to you as a possible red flag.
Choose Wisely When Hiring
Having conducted the interviews, it is time to select the individual who will become an integral part of the team. Consider which candidate has demonstrated the potential to make the greatest contribution, and if so, make the decision to bring them on board.
Review the interview notes you and the other interviewers took, as well as any feedback from the interviewees.
Implementing a grading system can be an effective way to evaluate and compare applicants in terms of their hard and soft skills, aptitudes and capacities, helping to identify the most suitable candidate for the role. If there is no clear winner, further evaluation may be required or alternative potential employees may be sought.
Online Orientation
You have successfully located an outstanding applicant to work remotely; congratulations!
It is time to bring them on board. A remote employment agency will provide full support throughout the onboarding process, unlike other freelancing and remote job boards. To start, they can help your new hires to set up their accounts and provide guidance on how to use the relevant software. Additionally, they can handle the legal aspects of the region to ensure the contract is legally binding and acceptable to both parties.
Furthermore, you now have the opportunity to dedicate more effort and time to familiarising your new employees with the company’s senior management, providing them with an understanding of the company’s procedures and introducing them to the technologies used.
Pros of Telecommuting: How Does It Change the Job Market?
Organisations noted that a lack of connection was a key challenge with remote employees. Without regular contact, it can be difficult to cultivate a shared sense of identity. Additionally, some businesses opted to hire remote workers due to the fear of exclusion and isolation.
The remote recruitment industry has undergone a significant transformation since the onset of the global pandemic, which has seen an increased demand for remote working. As a result, recruiters have adapted their processes to suit a digital environment.
Many businesses are recognising the advantages of remote hiring, allowing them to draw from a wider pool of qualified candidates from across the country. Furthermore, remote recruitment has the potential to generate cost savings by accessing talent from areas with lower living costs.
There has been much discussion recently regarding the potential benefits of recruiting remote workers from overseas to aid business expansion. However, it is important to bear in mind that the current pandemic has changed people’s attitudes and behaviours, as well as the underlying rationale. Rather than appreciating the traditional perks of a workplace environment, individuals now favour autonomy and freedom.
The Prospects for off-Site Hiring
The COVID-19 pandemic has seen a shift towards remote recruitment for many businesses, offering greater flexibility for potential employees, whilst also enabling them to attract and retain a high calibre of staff and reduce operational costs. Remote hiring is not just a feasible option for building a robust team, but also a means of staying ahead of the competition.
Work is an established remote recruitment firm with over 10 years of experience in locating highly-skilled IT professionals. Our technical recruiters have the expertise to identify job applicants with the exact skillset you require.
Our comprehensive recruitment process ensures that you can find remote workers who are available when you need them, have a good level of English language proficiency and possess the qualities you seek in an employee.
By utilising our services, we can provide you with qualified IT staff within two weeks. We will be available to support and guide you throughout the process, so you can focus on developing your business. Don’t waste any more time and energy sourcing the right IT staff; Works can take care of it for you. Enhance your business today by getting in contact with us about hiring a skilled remote developer.
