7 Tips for Recruiting and Hiring the Right Remote Workers

The coronavirus pandemic changed virtually every aspect of life. To safeguard the future of business, organizations will need to consider shifting to remote work to ensure continuity and successfully meet the needs of their customers. 

This will require business leaders to modify their recruiting and hiring processes. They will also have to be innovative in order to reach the same pool of qualified talent that they have had access to in the past. 

So, how will hiring companies pull this off? Here are 7 tips for recruiting and hiring the right remote workers.   

Write An Engaging Job Description

Recruiting the best candidates in the market starts with how you draft your job description. This is where you highlight company culture, working hours, and what qualities you are looking for in a candidate. 

It’s also important to include your company’s policies on remote work, so that prospects know in advance what to expect. Lastly, consider incorporating a video to engage candidates. Job postings with video can increase the application rate by up to 34%! (SmallBizGenius)

Have A Streamlined Hiring Process  

According to Professional Resume Writers’ article, “How to Add Your Resume to LinkedIn,” most recruiters are now hiring from an online platform which means hiring to increase applicants. Getting more people for interviews is great, but it could be a handful. Thus, your hiring process needs to be more organized to ensure the process runs smoothly. 

Here, consider using an applicant tracking system (ATS) to help manage remote candidates effectively and keep the recruiting process in line with your company’s goals. A streamlined hiring process allows consistency, prevents bias, and outlines the steps that need to be followed to ensure success.

Create A Shortlist Of Candidates    

Just as you did with traditional hiring methods, you need to create a shortlist of candidates to narrow the pool, and hire the best candidates possible. So, develop a criterion to compare potential candidates and identify the most qualified individuals. Resume guides are an effective tool. 

For example, this Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) resume guide is perfect if you’re hiring for a marketing role. Once you narrow down your list, you can go ahead and interview the selected candidates to assess how they integrate with the organizational culture. 

Make Sure Your Team Is Using The Best Tools 

Your team can only do so much without the right tools. From a reliable internet connection and computers to applications like Zoom and Slack, your team should be equipped to collaborate harmoniously. Equally important, ensure everyone understands their specific roles in the hiring process to avoid confusion.

Use Multichannel Engagement 

To recruit successfully, you should not depend on a single engagement channel. There are multiple channels you can leverage, like Zoom meetings, email, phone screens, text messaging, and LinkedIn.

Through multiple channels, you will be able to reach out to candidates anywhere and everywhere, as opposed to relying on one channel (e.g., video interviewing), which can limit your access to the best candidates. 

Keep Candidates Engaged  

Engaging candidates throughout the hiring process helps keep them informed about their status. Even after picking your preferred candidates, inform the rest about your decision and why they did not make the cut. This is a sure way to build your company’s reputation for the sake of future hiring. For those who qualify, continue engaging them to help them, so they can get a real feel for the company’s culture.  

Ensure Data Privacy 

One prominent challenge of remote recruiting is data privacy. As you search for the right candidates, make sure you protect their privacy as well as your own. More importantly, observe data privacy laws, keeping in mind they may differ by region or country. Also, be careful about the technology you use in your hiring process as not all provide the required privacy, which could compromise important data. 

The Takeaway  

As more companies move toward remote work, to ensure business continuity and protect employees from the pandemic, recruitment managers will need to revise current recruitment strategies. With the tips provided here, you now have the requisite tools to make your hiring process a success!