Technology is forever evolving. As companies, we are constantly adapting to the world’s demands for change and advancement. Now more than ever, people are working remotely, and businesses have changed their hiring and recruitment process to make that happen.   

How does this process work and what is the best way to approach it? In this blog post, we will discuss why companies are doing remote recruiting, what the benefits are, the potential downfalls, and our tips for hiring and working remotely.   

Why Offer Remote Working?   

There will always be industries that will need to be in person, but today’s on-demand economy is pulling many traditionally physical offices into virtual spaces, especially with the current and ever-changing remote working requirements and restrictions. Asking questions such as those listed below can help your organization determine if remote work is right for you:  

• Is there still that demand for bigger offices or are we able to downsize and give our team the option to work from wherever they need?
• Does a company that works remotely give your team more flexibility and improve productivity? 
• Could this result in more part-time positions or more full-time?
• Is this a way to reduce travel time and have people working from multiple places instead of hiring focused on location? 

Working remotely has become more and more popular. Even with people returning to work or finding new jobs since the peak of the pandemic, 32% of Canadians have been working from home in 2021 compared to 4% in 2016.   

‍

Benefits of Remote Hiring and Working  

There are many benefits to working and hiring remotely.   

1. A Flexible Schedule - Employees can work from any location as long as they have the right resources and equipment such as a laptop. With flexible working locations, employees are less likely to be taking vacations when they have the option to work from their desired place. 
   
   Offering your team the option to work from home with no need to spend time traveling to the office gives them greater flexibility to get errands done in the middle of the day, making up the rest of their hours later on when it is more convenient for them. 

2. Increased Productivity - Because employees have the option to work from their chosen location, they are more productive in the setting they choose. There can be fewer distractions, whether it is coworkers, the time between meetings, watercooler chitchat, and any other interruptions. Home can be most a quiet space and giving employees the flexibility to take breaks when they need but get right back into focusing on their work.   

3. Expanded Talent Pool  - Onboarding is no longer restricted by location, allowing you to hire anyone from anywhere. This can increase the chance of finding a better fit. You have more talent to choose from and a higher chance of finding the best hire for your company.    

4. Improved Morale - With the option for everyone to spend more time with their families, and less time commuting, employees are more likely to stay at a company with a positive and trusting environment.  

‍

‍The Potential Downfalls of Working Remotely  

There are some drawbacks to working remotely, and as an employer, it is important to be aware of them so you can try to prevent any issues.     

1. Employee Isolation - It can be isolating for employees when they are working from home. There is less employee and office culture when working remotely due to the lack of contact with other coworkers. With fewer in-person company events, it can be difficult to make connections between team members. Especially new hires who are onboarded virtually. There can be less brainstorming and collaboration because everyone is working in their own space.   

2. Reduced Employee Visibility - Working remotely results in less facetime with coworkers, managers, or other company leaders and because of this, there could be an impact on an employee’s growth or the chance at promotion. It is important to ensure that all members of your team feel supported and that they have all the resources accessible to them that they would have in person. Frequent check-ins and ensuring virtual meetings are in place that gives employees access to senior leadership can help prevent this.  

3. Negative Impact on Work-Life Balance - Because an employee’s workspace is at home or another location that is not an office, it can become the same, making it more difficult for employees to unplug, unwind, and genuinely enjoy their time away from work. Although working remotely can increase productivity, your team members will burn out quickly when they have no differentiation between home and work. Explaining and teaching about work-life boundaries is important and healthy for all workers to understand.  

Tips For Hiring Remotely  

There are many ways to ensure that your remote hiring process is effective. Below are some tips to help your organization get started:  

1. Job Requirements Defined - When you have a clear outline of what you are looking for in a candidate for each specific role, it makes the remote hiring process easier. Maintaining company culture is especially important and can be more difficult in a remote environment so hiring someone who aligns with that is essential to keeping that alive and growing. Another suggestion is to have an employee referral program in place. Most employees will recommend someone with a similar work ethic and motivation.   

2. Recruit from Various Platforms - A job posting platform should be able to narrow down the perfect match for what you and your team are looking for. Some options include LinkedIn Recruiter, Indeed, and ZipRecruiter. When posting a job, it is also important to post detailed and specific information about the position and what your team is seeking in a candidate.   

3. Conduct Background Checks - Verifying education and credentials can also be essential in the hiring process when trying to find your perfect fit. With so many diploma mills and people stretching the truth on resumes, there are options to seek third parties who can help in verifying whether a candidate is truly qualified. It is important for the safety of your team, liability, and the quality assurance you want to display in your company.   

4. Have a Clear Interview Process - Interviews are a great insight into who your candidate is and what they can bring to the table. Asking job-related and open-ended questions is important. This allows the candidate to better explain themselves and keep the flow of the interview going. Little things such as eye contact and making the candidate feel at ease is also effective in the hiring process. Hiring remotely can mean using Microsoft Teams, Zoom, or Google Meet and it is important to be comfortable with each of these online platforms to create ease of use. Implementing a video interviewing platform, such as VidCruiter can also be a great tool to help with remote hiring.   

Summary  

In today’s economy, technology is ever-changing and the demand for online hiring is increasing. Adapting your organization to meet those demands is an opportunity for growth and success. With the rights tools, knowledge, and resources, remote recruitment can be a smooth and easy process. 
‍
To find out more about improving your remote recruiting with ScreeningCanada™ and booking a demo with us, contact a product expert here.  

To learn more about the onboarding experience, check out our article about 5 Tips on How to Improve Your Candidate Experience.