Just when the organisations had started laying down the norms for gradual & staggered opening up of offices, the second wave hit the businesses forcing everyone to go back to remote working. The current situation casts a shadow on organisations’ plans of going back to the traditional way of conducting business. Most companies have set September – October as the time by when they would be able to call employees back to work physically – that too in a staggered manner, keeping social distancing norms in mind.
Companies that had put hiring on hold or had laid off employees due to the disruptions in business are now looking at hiring and getting the workforce back as economies come back to normal.
Like all the business functions, hiring also has undergone massive changes and is now happening almost entirely remotely or online. Many organisations have mastered the art of hiring remotely in the last couple of years where employees are not only being recruited remotely but are onboarded efficiently too.
Let us look at some tips that can help you hire remotely like a pro.
1 – Go digital
The first and the most important part of remote hiring is having a digital presence. Potential candidates look for information about your company & career opportunities on your website, your social media pages and social media platforms like LinkedIn, Glassdoor, etc. To attract top talent, you need a strong digital footprint.
Your company website should be up to date and exhibit everything your company stands for, along with your values & culture. Same is applicable for your social media pages. This is the first place of interaction with the potential candidates and you need to ensure that you create a good first impression. With over 65% of people using mobile devices for job search, ensure your website is mobile optimised.
This will not only help you create a good first impression but ensure you have a strong database of potential candidates.
2 – Work on Remote Interviewing Skills
Remote hiring requires managers to interview candidates remotely. Remote interviewing lacks the much-needed physical interaction and hence one can find it difficult to assess the candidates.
Managers need to upskill themselves to observe other behavioural hints that can help them identify the attitude and personality. Look for things like punctuality and appearance to start with. Their experience in remote working and managing teams remotely can be a big plus in the current scenario. Reference checks and skill tests will also play an important role in evaluating candidate’s knowledge and authenticity.
3 – Look for Attitude & Skillsets necessary for Remote Working
Working remotely without anyone supervising them requires very different skills and attitude. Look for people who are self-motivated and disciplined. They can take total ownership of the tasks assigned to them and complete it on time. These traits and qualities are more important in remote working environment. Design your interview questions such that you can assess if the candidates possess these qualities.
4 – Work on Remote Onboarding and Candidate Experience
One crucial aspect of remote hiring is remote onboarding. Integrating new hires into the team while working remotely can be challenging. Companies across the world are going back to the drawing board to work on improving candidate experience and remote onboarding strategies. Here are some ideas tried by companies that worked for them.
- Online organisational chart,
- Online library of important information regarding the company,
- Sending care packages,
- Joining bonus to purchase ergonomic chair,
- Assigning buddies to help acclimatise them with the culture and teams
- Virtual lunch or dinner with teams to create camaraderie
With pandemic coming back in waves, companies are now accepting remote hiring as a reality. Now is a good time to master the art of remote hiring.
Need help in talent acquisition and onboarding? Get in touch with www.flexiventures.in, one of the top HR consulting & staffing companies in India!