The COVID-19 pandemic and its resultant Rule 19 have forced companies to adopt remote work arrangements, leading team leaders to navigate an unfamiliar work setup. Moreover, virtual recruitment strategies have had to be tested to onboard new staff. While challenges have arisen and hiring mistakes made, it is crucial to acknowledge the difficulties presented by such exceptional circumstances.
Including anonymous applicants, even those from the same country, may be viewed as a risky move similar to ‘Russian roulette’. Nonetheless, remote work has numerous benefits when executed properly. What are the common challenges encountered when seeking employment through online channels?
Common Mistakes Committed When Searching for Jobs Online
Avoid recruiting candidates without conducting an initial meeting.
It is crucial to include video calls in virtual recruitment processes. Just like in traditional recruitment, a face-to-face conversation is typically required before hiring a candidate. Even if physical meetups aren’t feasible due to distance, free applications such as Skype, Google Hangouts, Facetime and Zoom can provide the same function. Conducting a video chat with a potential employee allows you to evaluate their punctuality and assess their time management ability when working.
Conducting a face-to-face interaction with the potential employee allows you to evaluate their attitude and work ethic. You can also identify any mismatches in cultural values, or language barriers, if any. Through the candidate’s body language in the video chat, you can gauge whether their values align with those of the organisation.
Failing to Ask About Work Organization Practices
Remote work doesn’t equate to working in isolation. It often involves less supervision and may require collaborating with individuals in different time zones. To ensure success in remote working, it is important to ascertain if the candidate is comfortable with this management and structural style. It is crucial to verify such details before finalising any hiring decisions.
As remote work is geographically scattered, the ideal candidate should be self-reliant and require little supervision. It is essential to enquire about the candidate’s everyday routine and task prioritisation methods. Additionally, their ability to meet deadlines without feeling overburdened should also be evaluated by asking questions about their organisation strategies.
Omitting Verification of Applicant Credentials
Despite outward appearances, every applicant has a past. Conducting a comprehensive background check to grasp their accomplishments, values, social conduct, personality, successes, and setbacks is vital. When relying on online recruitment methods, employers should be meticulous and astute in gathering this information. If a specialist recruitment agency is not involved, verify candidate credentials should be prioritised.
Leveraging your personal and professional networks is an excellent starting point for identifying a suitable candidate. If someone with relevant experience is willing to vouch for the candidate, there is a decreased risk in hiring them. If unsure of an applicant, conducting a quick search on platforms like Google, Facebook, or LinkedIn can provide some insight. This may help to evade hiring individuals with a history of tardiness or substance abuse.
Failure to Communicate Company’s Expectations
It’s crucial for employees to understand and comply with the company’s remote expectations and rules, as well as internal documentation and processes. Limited virtual team supervision should never be an excuse for workers to overlook relevant policies. Neglecting to set up the appropriate infrastructure or taking necessary precautions could result in catastrophic consequences if staff members are unaware of the need to safeguard confidential data. Additionally, employees would struggle to deliver optimal results unless they are aware of their responsibilities.
Choosing the Cheapest Candidates Is a Mistake
Opting for this route could result in the hiring of someone lacking essential competencies or failing to meet the expected service standards. Unfortunately, there is no assurance of success in this scenario. If you are willing to invest additional time in editing the work of the new hire, that is acceptable, but remember that your time also carries a financial value that should be considered.
Maintaining a balance between salary and quality is vital when hiring remote workers. To accomplish this, it’s crucial to assess every applicant’s history in light of the company’s objectives. Offering a trial period to remote hires and then making them permanent if they provide reasonable value for money may be a good option. It’s worth noting that offering a low salary based on the worker’s location must be avoided since, more often than not, you get what you pay for.
Inadequate Availability of Remote Employees
Over the past decade, significant advancements have been made possible by technological developments. However, the added limitations brought on by COVID-19 have made operations challenging in many areas. To remain productive, humans require a certain level of motivation and social interaction. As a result, remote workers may produce lower quality work due to burnout, demotivation, or a shift in their attitudes. This can be a significant concern if your business is expanding or preparing for a major event. Therefore, it’s advisable to have a backup plan in the form of a team of remote workers who can take over if needed.
Hastening the Recruitment Procedure
In today’s era of online job boards, taking the necessary time to select the right candidate for any position is crucial. Although it may be tempting to rush into hiring due to the urgency of the situation, impulsiveness is unwise as it might result in overlooking essential criteria or ignoring obvious warning signs.
In any task, time is of the essence, so it’s crucial to ensure that the chosen applicant can complete it successfully. Doing so would save valuable time and resources that might have been lost if the individual was unable to fulfill their role. By taking the necessary time to recruit the right person, needless delays can be avoided, and the job can be completed correctly on the first attempt.
Integrating Works into Your Online Job Search Processes
When filling remote positions, it is crucial to exercise caution in selecting the most suitable candidate. The relationship between an employer and employee is multifaceted, and while adequate preparation can assist, it’s also essential to ensure that there is a good connection between the parties involved.
At Works, we can provide the perfect candidate for your company’s needs. With more than a decade of experience as a remote recruitment firm, we have the necessary knowledge and expertise to help you find suitable virtual candidates for your remote business. Our team has a thorough understanding of the global market and is skilled in engaging with individuals from various nations. We encourage you to contact us without hesitation.
