{"id":4247,"date":"2022-02-01T17:34:29","date_gmt":"2022-02-01T17:34:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.teamly.com\/blog\/?p=4247"},"modified":"2023-11-23T19:01:53","modified_gmt":"2023-11-23T19:01:53","slug":"hiring-remote-employees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.teamly.com\/blog\/hiring-remote-employees\/","title":{"rendered":"The Definitive Guide to Hiring Remote Employees (and How to Find Them)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Struggling to find the right person locally for your vacancy? Or maybe you don\u2019t have the resources to hire another full-time employee. Projects of all sizes can be outsourced to cut costs and ensure you get the best person for the job. Hiring a remote employee works slightly differently from traditional employment, but it isn\u2019t that tricky to work out.<\/p>\n

The worldwide talent pool means you\u2019ll be able to find a good fit that comes in at your budget. You can fill any number of positions remotely including one-off projects, temporary roles, and full-time opportunities. Understanding how the remote process works and what expectations to have are key to successful collaboration.<\/p>\n

In this article, we\u2019ll talk you through everything you need to know about how to hire remote employees. Including, where to look, what to include in the job description, and what kind of roles are perfect for remote work.<\/p>\n

\"What<\/p>\n

<\/span>What Are the Benefits of Hiring a Remote Employee<\/span><\/h2>\n

Undecided if hiring remotely is the right option for you? That\u2019s understandable if you\u2019ve never done it before, or you\u2019ve had a bad experience. Many companies have successful remote teams and they reap the benefits of doing so. Let us tell you why hiring a freelancer could be the right decision for your business.<\/p>\n

Cost-saving<\/h3>\n

There are various ways that remote employees save you money. Firstly you can hire cheaper labor than you can locally. Overheads are decreased since you don\u2019t have to buy equipment or office space. Sicknesses will decrease and you\u2019ll be able to make savings on your energy bills.<\/p>\n

Wider talent pool<\/h3>\n

There are millions of talented people in the international talent pool which means finding someone qualified will be a piece of cake. Not only does this mean you can find people for a fraction of the price but you\u2019ll find people with a wide range of experiences they can bring to the role.<\/p>\n

Environmental benefits<\/h3>\n

Even the earth can benefit from your business hiring remote employees. Your carbon footprint is decreased as your employees don\u2019t need to commute to work. Environmentally conscious employers should consider transitioning their team to remote working if that\u2019s possible.<\/p>\n

Productivity increases<\/h3>\n

Productivity<\/a> gets a boost from remote workers. In fact, remote workers are more likely to stay and work overtime if you need it. Working from home eliminates office-based distractions, and if you can allow flexible hours, people can work at the best time for them. Not everyone is suited to the 9-5 lifestyle Henry Ford popularised in the 1920s.<\/p>\n

Less employee turnover<\/h3>\n

Remote working has led to a reduction in employee turnover so if you\u2019re hiring for full-time opportunities, your people are going to stick around longer. The simple truth is most people like working from home because it saves them money and eliminates their commute. Reducing the commute is a leading cause of people leaving their jobs.<\/p>\n

Hands-off management<\/h3>\n

Remote workers need more autonomy to do their work, managers aren\u2019t physically there to check in on things. Managers of remote teams need to trust their employees and focus on output rather than how they got there. It creates a nicer atmosphere for workers and frees managers up to focus on more important work, safe in the knowledge that the work will be done.<\/p>\n

Advantages for remote workers<\/h3>\n

Offering flexible and remote working can be really beneficial for your staff. It saves them money on travel, food, and other random office expenses. Time saved on the commute means your people can spend more time with their loved ones. Depending on your needs you can offer them more flexibility such as the hours they work and the location they work from.<\/p>\n

\"Challenges<\/p>\n

<\/span>What Are the Challenges of Hiring Remote Workers?<\/span><\/h2>\n

While we\u2019ve listed many advantages to hiring remote employees, it\u2019s not all smooth sailing. There are a few challenges that come with the territory.<\/p>\n

Communication can be difficult<\/h3>\n

Since you\u2019re not in an office together, communication becomes more difficult. You need to have systems in place for reporting progress, sharing files, and getting feedback. Setting up regular video chats or using project management software will help make sure everyone is on the same page.<\/p>\n

Coordination can be tough<\/h3>\n

If tasks aren\u2019t well coordinated then things can quickly fall apart when working remotely. This means dividing work into manageable chunks with specific deadlines and making sure everyone is aware of what they need to do and when they need to do it.<\/p>\n

Lack of team morale<\/h3>\n

If remote workers feel isolated or unsupported, their work can suffer and so will team morale<\/a>. This is why employers need to be proactive in creating a sense of community among remote workers. Encouraging social interaction through video chats, Slack groups, or even office lunches can help.<\/p>\n

\"Prepare<\/p>\n

<\/span>Prepare Your Business for Remote Workers<\/span><\/h2>\n

Before you dive straight into it and expand your team you should learn how to effectively hire and manage remote employees. You may need to adjust the systems and processes that are already in place. Educate yourself on how remote workers differ from traditional employees and what expectations both parties should have.<\/p>\n

Here is everything you should know about how to hire a remote worker before you start the recruitment phase.<\/p>\n

Know exactly what you want<\/h3>\n

If you don\u2019t know what you want, you\u2019re going to struggle to ask for it, and people won\u2019t know whether they fit your needs or not. As you would with any job, make sure the roles and responsibilities have been fully considered. Hiring remote workers means you need to give them autonomy to work on things.<\/p>\n

This can be done well if they have clear guidance from you as their employer. You should include details about the software you expect them to use and the processes you need to follow whether set out by law or your business practices.<\/p>\n

Make a list of skills you need your remote employee to have<\/h3>\n

Just like a typical job advert, you need to include a comprehensive list of skills you want prospective candidates to have. Make sure to include soft skills such as the ability to work alone, self-awareness, good communication, and initiative.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll likely want to spend less time training someone up remotely if you\u2019re hiring for one-off or temporary projects. As long as you clearly communicate the hard skills you’re looking for you should receive applications from suitable employees.<\/p>\n

Understand how freelancers and remote jobs differ from an in-house employee<\/h3>\n

Freelancers and remote employees often have different goals when compared to in-house staff. They may want more flexibility with hours, working from multiple locations, or taking on a wider range of work.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re looking for someone to commit long-term then it might be best to look for an in-house employee. They\u2019re likely to want the stability of a permanent job, with set hours and a regular salary.<\/p>\n

Remote workers have more autonomy than traditional workers, they value the opportunity to have more say on the work they take on. Freelancers are well within their rights to turn down work they don\u2019t want and often work for multiple clients.<\/p>\n

Learn to let go of the reins a little<\/h3>\n

You need to be prepared to trust the people you hire because you aren\u2019t going to be there to oversee everything. This is a good thing for managers because it gives you more of your time back to work on other things. However, for those who are used to being in control, it may take some getting used.<\/p>\n

Freelancers have chosen this kind of career because they prefer to retain an element of control over their work. If you\u2019re partnering with established freelancers, they will have their own way of doing things and may not work well adhering strictly to what you want.<\/p>\n

Hiring a full-time remote employee is different, as you\u2019re signing them on as a permanent member of the team. While you should train them the way you want, you will still need to exercise trust with people working from home.<\/p>\n

\"Document<\/p>\n

Document your processes so your new staff can work to your specification<\/h3>\n

Some processes are not flexible and any prospective employees will need to learn your way of doing things. No matter how good someone is, they won\u2019t be able to hit the ground running if you don\u2019t have a process document for them.<\/p>\n

If you already have processes in place, it should be easy enough to convert these into a format that can be sent to remote employees. If not, take the time to write out clear instructions on what is expected of them and how they need to do their work.<\/p>\n

Find someone whose experience and rates align with your needs<\/h3>\n

When looking for a remote employee, you need to find someone whose skills and experience align with your needs. You don’t want to onboard someone who can’t operate at the same level as you. The most experienced people will cost the most, so it’s important to make sure you’re getting good value for money.<\/p>\n

Answer these questions before publishing your job advert:<\/p>\n