Remote work isn’t a trend anymore. It’s the new normal for most companies. And it’s not going away anytime soon. This shift in work culture has changed the way organizations hire and retain talent. With a whole world of candidates at their fingertips, businesses are now turning to remote hiring to build the teams of their dreams.
Remote hiring has its challenges. Sourcing top talent from anywhere in the world is a huge benefit, but it also means that you’re competing with more companies for the same candidates. You also have to evaluate candidates based on their skills and experience, not on how well they can answer your interview questions. And you have to make sure they’re a good cultural fit without ever meeting them in person.
It’s not easy, but remote hiring can be done. You just need to have the right tools and processes in place. Here are the best practices you need to follow to recruit top tech talent in a virtual world.
1. Rethink your hiring process
The first step to remote hiring is rethinking your hiring process. How can you evaluate candidates in a virtual world? Are your job descriptions and interview questions outdated?
The best way to start is by talking to your team and your candidates.
Ask your team what they like about your hiring process and what they think could be improved. Then, ask your candidates what they liked and didn’t like about your process.
This feedback will help you identify areas where you can improve your process and make it more inclusive of remote candidates.
2. Use a combination of synchronous and asynchronous communication
There are two main types of communication: synchronous and asynchronous. Synchronous communication is when two or more people are communicating in real time, such as a phone call or video chat. Asynchronous communication is when there is a delay in communication, such as sending an email or leaving a voice message.
When you’re hiring remote employees, it’s important to use a combination of both synchronous and asynchronous communication. This allows you to communicate in real time when necessary, but also gives you and the candidate the flexibility to communicate on your own time.
For example, you might want to schedule a video interview with a candidate, but then follow up with an email to discuss next steps. This allows the candidate to respond on their own time, which is especially important if they are in a different time zone.
3. Keep the candidate experience in mind
The candidate experience is always important, but it’s even more crucial when you’re interviewing and hiring candidates remotely. That’s because it’s easier for candidates to get frustrated with the process and drop out if they’re not having a positive experience.
To ensure that candidates are having a good experience throughout the remote hiring process, make sure to communicate with them regularly, be transparent about what to expect, and provide them with opportunities to ask questions and provide feedback.
You should also make sure to keep the lines of communication open with the candidates. That means being responsive to their emails, texts, and phone calls, and providing them with regular updates on the status of their application.
4. Update your job postings to reflect remote work
If you are open to having remote employees, your job postings should reflect that. If you are open to candidates working remotely from a different location, you should also specify that in your job postings.
This will help you attract more candidates and make it clear that you are a flexible employer.
5. Communicate your company culture
In a remote world, many companies have shifted to a fully virtual hiring process. While this may not be the case for your company, it’s important to note that you can’t rely on an office tour to showcase your company culture.
Instead, you should communicate your company culture through your employer branding and employee value proposition (EVP). This can include your company’s mission, vision, and values, as well as the benefits and perks you offer employees.
6. Create an engaging onboarding experience
The onboarding process is your new hire’s first real experience with your company, and it sets the tone for their entire employee experience. It’s also a great opportunity to get your new team member engaged and excited about their new role.
Use your onboarding process to introduce your new hire to your company culture, values, and goals. You can do this through a mix of virtual meetings, video content, and interactive team-building activities. For example, you could have your new hire watch a video of your CEO talking about the company’s mission and vision, then have a virtual Q&A session where they can ask questions.
You should also make sure to introduce your new hire to their team and other key stakeholders. This will help them feel more connected to the company and get to know the people they’ll be working with.
7. Use the right tools
The rise of remote work has also led to an increase in the number of tech tools available to help with the hiring process. There are now tools that can help with everything from writing job descriptions to conducting interviews.
Using the right tools can help you save time and money, and it can also help you make better hiring decisions. Some of the top remote hiring tools include:
• Applicant tracking systems (ATS)
• Video interviewing tools
• Skills assessment tools
• Remote collaboration tools
• Candidate sourcing tools
• Background check tools
Before you start the hiring process, take some time to research the different tools available and decide which ones will be most helpful for your team.
8. Set clear expectations
Remote work can be a bit of a double-edged sword. On one hand, it allows employees the freedom to work how and where they want. On the other, it can lead to blurred lines between work and personal life, and even lead to burnout.
To ensure your employees are setting appropriate boundaries, it’s important to set expectations early and often. This includes how you expect your employees to communicate, the hours you expect them to be online and how you expect them to prioritize their work.
In addition to setting expectations, you should also lead by example. If you’re emailing your team at 10 p.m. and on weekends, then you’re setting the expectation that they should do the same.
9. Promote diversity and inclusion
In a remote hiring world, the issue of diversity and inclusion has taken on a new level of importance. That’s because remote work has the potential to create a more level playing field for job seekers who may have been excluded from the workforce in the past. Remote work allows for more flexibility in terms of when and where you work, and it can be a great way for companies to tap into talent they may have overlooked in the past.
When you’re hiring remotely, it’s important to prioritize diversity and inclusion. This means making sure that your job postings are inclusive and that you’re actively recruiting candidates from underrepresented groups. It also means making sure that your remote hiring process is fair and equitable.
10. Encourage feedback from your team
When you’re hiring remotely, it’s important to get feedback from your team. This helps ensure that everyone is on the same page and that you’re hiring someone who will be a good fit for your company culture. Plus, it can help you identify any potential issues early on in the process.
Encourage your team to ask questions and share their thoughts about the candidates you’re considering. This can help you get a more well-rounded view of each candidate and make a more informed decision.
Conclusion
Technology is amazing, and it’s gotten us through a lot over the past year. But it’s important to remember that technology is not what makes a good team. It’s the people who make the team, and it’s up to you to find the right people for your team.
Remote work isn’t a trend anymore. It’s the new normal for most companies. And it’s not going away anytime soon. This shift in work culture has changed the way organizations hire and retain talent. With a whole world of candidates at their fingertips, businesses are now turning to remote hiring to build the teams of their dreams.
Remote hiring has its challenges. Sourcing top talent from anywhere in the world is a huge benefit, but it also means that you’re competing with more companies for the same candidates. You also have to evaluate candidates based on their skills and experience, not on how well they can answer your interview questions. And you have to make sure they’re a good cultural fit without ever meeting them in person.
It’s not easy, but remote hiring can be done. You just need to have the right tools and processes in place. Here are the best practices you need to follow to recruit top tech talent in a virtual world.
1. Rethink your hiring process
The first step to remote hiring is rethinking your hiring process. How can you evaluate candidates in a virtual world? Are your job descriptions and interview questions outdated?
The best way to start is by talking to your team and your candidates.
Ask your team what they like about your hiring process and what they think could be improved. Then, ask your candidates what they liked and didn’t like about your process.
This feedback will help you identify areas where you can improve your process and make it more inclusive of remote candidates.
2. Use a combination of synchronous and asynchronous communication
There are two main types of communication: synchronous and asynchronous. Synchronous communication is when two or more people are communicating in real time, such as a phone call or video chat. Asynchronous communication is when there is a delay in communication, such as sending an email or leaving a voice message.
When you’re hiring remote employees, it’s important to use a combination of both synchronous and asynchronous communication. This allows you to communicate in real time when necessary, but also gives you and the candidate the flexibility to communicate on your own time.
For example, you might want to schedule a video interview with a candidate, but then follow up with an email to discuss next steps. This allows the candidate to respond on their own time, which is especially important if they are in a different time zone.
3. Keep the candidate experience in mind
The candidate experience is always important, but it’s even more crucial when you’re interviewing and hiring candidates remotely. That’s because it’s easier for candidates to get frustrated with the process and drop out if they’re not having a positive experience.
To ensure that candidates are having a good experience throughout the remote hiring process, make sure to communicate with them regularly, be transparent about what to expect, and provide them with opportunities to ask questions and provide feedback.
You should also make sure to keep the lines of communication open with the candidates. That means being responsive to their emails, texts, and phone calls, and providing them with regular updates on the status of their application.
4. Update your job postings to reflect remote work
If you are open to having remote employees, your job postings should reflect that. If you are open to candidates working remotely from a different location, you should also specify that in your job postings.
This will help you attract more candidates and make it clear that you are a flexible employer.
5. Communicate your company culture
In a remote world, many companies have shifted to a fully virtual hiring process. While this may not be the case for your company, it’s important to note that you can’t rely on an office tour to showcase your company culture.
Instead, you should communicate your company culture through your employer branding and employee value proposition (EVP). This can include your company’s mission, vision, and values, as well as the benefits and perks you offer employees.
6. Create an engaging onboarding experience
The onboarding process is your new hire’s first real experience with your company, and it sets the tone for their entire employee experience. It’s also a great opportunity to get your new team member engaged and excited about their new role.
Use your onboarding process to introduce your new hire to your company culture, values, and goals. You can do this through a mix of virtual meetings, video content, and interactive activities. For example, you could have your new hire watch a video of your CEO talking about the company’s mission and vision, then have a virtual Q&A session where they can ask questions.
You should also make sure to introduce your new hire to their team and other key stakeholders. This will help them feel more connected to the company and get to know the people they’ll be working with.
7. Use the right tools
The rise of remote work has also led to an increase in the number of tech tools available to help with the hiring process. There are now tools that can help with everything from writing job descriptions to conducting interviews.
Using the right tools can help you save time and money, and it can also help you make better hiring decisions. Some of the top remote hiring tools include:
• Applicant tracking systems (ATS)
• Video interviewing tools
• Skills assessment tools
• Remote collaboration tools
• Candidate sourcing tools
• Background check tools
Before you start the hiring process, take some time to research the different tools available and decide which ones will be most helpful for your team.
8. Set clear expectations
Remote work can be a bit of a double-edged sword. On one hand, it allows employees the freedom to work how and where they want. On the other, it can lead to blurred lines between work and personal life, and even lead to burnout.
To ensure your employees are setting appropriate boundaries, it’s important to set expectations early and often. This includes how you expect your employees to communicate, the hours you expect them to be online and how you expect them to prioritize their work.
In addition to setting expectations, you should also lead by example. If you’re emailing your team at 10 p.m. and on weekends, then you’re setting the expectation that they should do the same.
9. Promote diversity and inclusion
In a remote hiring world, the issue of diversity and inclusion has taken on a new level of importance. That’s because remote work has the potential to create a more level playing field for job seekers who may have been excluded from the workforce in the past. Remote work allows for more flexibility in terms of when and where you work, and it can be a great way for companies to tap into talent they may have overlooked in the past.
When you’re hiring remotely, it’s important to prioritize diversity and inclusion. This means making sure that your job postings are inclusive and that you’re actively recruiting candidates from underrepresented groups. It also means making sure that your remote hiring process is fair and equitable.
10. Encourage feedback from your team
When you’re hiring remotely, it’s important to get feedback from your team. This helps ensure that everyone is on the same page and that you’re hiring someone who will be a good fit for your company culture. Plus, it can help you identify any potential issues early on in the process.
Encourage your team to ask questions and share their thoughts about the candidates you’re considering. This can help you get a more well-rounded view of each candidate and make a more informed decision.
Conclusion
Technology is amazing, and it’s gotten us through a lot over the past year. But it’s important to remember that technology is not what makes a good team. It’s the people who make the team, and it’s up to you to find the right people for your team.
