It’s not uncommon to hear of entrepreneurs and start-up companies outsourcing some business tasks to remote employees. Connecting with people from the other side of the world has never been easier and faster because of today’s technology.
Business owners find hiring remote workers cost-effective. In fact, a study on PGi has shown that the average business can save up to $11,000 per employee yearly. Moreover, companies would have 63% fewer unscheduled absences with a remote worker.
Aside from being able to save money, a business can also benefit from increased productivity since remote employees can work with fewer distractions and interruptions.
However, there are certain tips that entrepreneurs should follow when outsourcing remotely. While the search is easy, the risk is high.
How can you make sure you get good remote employees if you’ve never experienced working with one before?
1. Know where to look for potential candidates.
There are several websites today where you can find thousands of remote employees from around the world. Great options include Upwork, People Per Hour, Toptal, and Onlinejobs.ph.
These websites feature skill categories depending on your business needs. Under each category, you will find several profiles of workers. Make sure to check the profiles of your potential candidates. If you can find reviews for each worker, the better.
Posting your job on Craigslist or LinkedIn is another way to find the best workers.
2. Conduct a one-on-one interview on camera.
A smart way to narrow down your prospect employees is to conduct a camera interview. This type of interview allows you to interact with your candidates like an in-person interview.
The main benefit is that you get to better assess the personality of your prospects and their spontaneity in answering your questions. Take the opportunity to discuss their online portfolio or recent work samples while they show them to you.
3. Ask the right questions.
The questions you ask your candidates matter. Because you’re not going to conduct a personal interview, your questions will be different. According to Inc’s 10 Killer Interview Questions for Hiring Virtual Employees, there are particular questions that will help you identify candidates who will be successful in a virtual or remote job.
Here are good interview questions you can ask:
What is your remote experience?
- Why did you apply for this job?
- What specific tools do you use to complete a task?
- Do you have a space that’s conducive for working?
- How do you prioritize your tasks?
- How do you stay focused on your work?
- Are you a self-starter?
- Describe yourself in a few words.
4. Ask candidates to complete a trial task.
After you have narrowed down your applicants, ask the remaining candidates if they would be willing to complete a trial task. For you to get them to do a trial run, you need to pay them for their time. Candidates feel bad about not getting paid for doing a day’s work.
A trial run will give you a clear idea of how they would go about the task. This will also help you verify the things they told you about themselves when it comes to completion of work, meeting deadlines, attention to detail, and productivity.
Also, some candidates do not create a good first impression during the video interview but actually make great employees. Again, a trial enables you to truly explore a person’s potential.
For a start, give them a simple task. Make sure to provide clear, detailed instructions. Take note of how well each candidate follows instructions.
5. Document as you interview.
While the interview process takes place, write down quick notes for each applicant. Take note of important points that will help you remember every candidate.
Documenting also prevents you from making assumptions or wild guesses. Information tends to get mixed up especially if you interview a lot of candidates. Go through your notes as you decide who your best remote worker will be.
Final Thoughts
Following these useful tips will surely lower your chances of ending up with the wrong applicant. You can assume that hiring a remote worker isn’t for you, but you’ll never know unless you try.
If you have more tips to add, feel free to comment below!
