Hiring suitable candidates at the right time can have a substantial effect on a business’s success. With remote work becoming the new normal, hiring high-quality candidates and virtual onboarding poses a challenge for many organizations. The hiring process can be stressful enough in person, and even more so if you’re hiring virtual employees.
When it comes to hiring virtual employees you need to be sure that they have the skills and expertise to succeed at the job. In addition, they also need to have a basic understanding of your company’s work culture and dynamics without being in a traditional office.
If you plan to hire remote workers for your team, the following strategies can help you hire the best talent out there.
Optimize Your Search
When hiring a virtual employee, you can source talent from anywhere in the world. But in order to do that, you will need to research potential hotspots for the type of talent and job profile that you’re looking for. This will help you post targeted job listenings on recruitment websites and other portals.
Always keep in mind that you’re looking for a qualified employee that is committed to your organization in the long run. Avoid freelancing platforms such as Freelancer.com or Upwork. While you can find talented people on such platforms they may not be able to give you a fulltime commitment.
Instead, use traditional websites for job postings such as Monster.com, Indeed, and LinkedIn. These websites are a great way to source talent and job profiles that cater specifically to your company’s objectives.
Insist on Video Interviews
When conducting a virtual interview it is a must to use video as the medium. You can use Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Google Meet to conduct the virtual interview.
A video interview is equivalent to an in-person interview and will give you a good idea of who the candidate is. Too often, when hiring a virtual employee, you are unable to catch the person’s facial expression or their dress etiquette.
Have more than one round of video interviews scheduled on different days. This will help you gauge the consistency of the candidate in terms of their professionalism, punctuality, and subject knowledge.
Get The Team Involved
Once you’ve narrowed down your search to a few top contenders, it’s a good idea to get input from other team members.
This gives the team members the opportunity to ask specific questions and engage in conservation with the candidates to get to know them better. This is important because such casual interactions are a good indicator if a new hire is a good fit into your company culture.
Set Clear Expectations and Guidelines
After you’ve hired a virtual employee, one of the most important steps is to set clear guidelines and expectations. A common mistake is assigning them with a task and assuming that they will deliver it efficiently.
If you or your company has certain guidelines that are set in stone, you need to convey this clearly to the new hire. This should cover everything from working hours, standard processes, response times, performance metrics, company culture, dress codes, and everything in between.
Remember to Build a Work Relationship
Starting a new job in a remote environment can be a difficult adjustment since the in-person element is missing. This can be challenging for both, you and the new hire. That’s why it is imperative that you build a strong work relationship with your new virtual employees.
Each individual is motivated in various ways, and if you can figure this out early on it can be a win-win for everyone involved. Building any relationship starts with clear communication. So, get to know your employees and understand what each one can bring to the table.
