8 Things to Look for in Your Next Remote Hire

With the rise of remote work, more and more people are looking to switch to this convenient practice. However, that doesn’t mean that all of them will be successful from day one.

With outsourcing going stronger than ever, employers sometimes have a difficult time selecting the best candidates based only upon a myriad of online applications and online communication.

For doing better outsourcing or outreach for hiring people from different streams, you should use job flyers for increasing the reach of your business or company in order to get more applicants for remote work.

Good remote workers are versed in more aspects of doing business than just their respective expertise. Online communication and management are two crucial things they need to be comfortable with.

Remote work is innovative, meaning that employers used to the traditional business model may be looking for wrong traits in their prospective hires.

There are more ways to pick the best remote workers, and here are some of the traits you should be paying attention to.

1. Action-Taking

People capable of acting on various initiatives are always a good asset to any business. Diversity and resourcefulness are of utmost importance when it comes to remote work.

The majority of remote workers are tech-savvy unless they’re just starting out), but you should look for people keeping up with the developments, as new technologies are developing at a rapid pace.

Resourceful action-takers will always go the extra mile to make their ideas a reality, despite the outlook.

Simply ask your prospective hires about their expectations. If they are looking no further than standard 8-hour work, they are not likely to be too open-minded.

According to Nelson Sherwin, Manager of PEO Companies, prospective hires should practice active listening and engagement during the onboarding process. “I’ve seen too many people just nod along to whatever they are told, but that’s not what I want to see,” he says.

Instead, “I want to see that you engage with the material and with what you are being taught and told. Ask questions, make suggestions, and show me that you’re interested,” he notes.

2. Diversity

Diversity is the single trait that drives innovation. The more, the merrier, as the saying goes, is spot-on in the case of remote work.

Employees who are content with a set of rules are not the best choice. After all, it is only from a variety of ideas that the best results are born, so having a team of diverse personalities is always a good choice. Ideally, you should look for employees with different backgrounds, skillsets, and remote work experience on their resume 

3. Result-Oriented

People interested in achieving great results always make good hires. While it goes without saying that all employees will be looking for a lucrative salary, it also holds true that some of them will find greater satisfaction in having their ideas put into action.

The latter is the best choice. You don’t want a team of employees stopping at nothing to get a raise. Interpersonal skills are crucial for remote teams, and employees working in unison, each bringing their own creative idea to the table, are the best choice.

Keep in mind that creative and innovative people take pride in their achievements regardless of material gains. This kind of mindset is rather rare in traditional businesses, so all the more reason to look for it!

4. Originality

Closely linked to the previous passage is – originality. No matter what “life coaches” tell you, originality (and creativity, for that matter) can’t be learned. You’re either original, or you’re not.

Original people stick out like a sore thumb, and mediocre employees usually have a difficult time keeping track of their ideas. It is because most people aren’t endowed with this talent, which means that original people should be allowed whichever type of non-traditional methods they need to achieve their goals.

The easiest way to immediately tell original people from the rest is by observing how they perform tasks. As a rule, they will make every task seem easy and be able to present their ideas to others.

5. High Standards

People who aim high will rarely stop to look back. Once they have set their goals, they will keep moving forward until they have reached them. You can be sure that they will always give their best to achieve their target, making them a perfect addition to your remote team.

Quite often, people with high standards are creative and have a couple of ideas on how to realize their goals. They are highly unlikely to be hot-tempered and hasty and they don’t suffer from negativity. Even if they fail occasionally, they always rise back to their feet, stronger than before.

6. Lateral Thinkers

People capable of lateral thinking are a perfect choice for remote teams. Lateral thinking is a manner of solving issues by applying creative approaches rooted in reasoning that may not be immediately obvious.

This is to say, lateral thinkers may come up with a variety of approaches that are rarely based on the traditional step-by-step logic. In plain English, these people think outside of the box.

Lateral thinkers are synonymous with innovation, and they can certainly inspire others. Usually, they’re not afraid of taking necessary risks, but don’t expect them to be entrepreneurs. Sometimes they will need support, which you should ensure they get.

7. Good Communicators

Communication is essential when it comes to remote work. Even if communication channels may vary, team members must be able to communicate clearly and be at ease with this type of interaction.

To be sure, communication can be improved. You can use the best video conferencing tools such as Zoom and its alternatives for conversation while you do interviews.  There are several methods that can help people socialize, including team-building activities and workshops. However, there will always be introverts not too happy with the idea, so make sure to brainstorm the best ways to keep communication healthy.

Anonymous feedback is a great way to improve overall relationships, communication included, so make use of it on a regular basis.

8. Team Orientation

Last but not least, building a team spirit is crucial. Look for people who are comfortable working in a team as loners will rarely be too happy to communicate with a myriad of unknown people every day.

These are not necessarily only introverts; some tasks are better performed by a single person than by a team, so you should ensure that those employees are still aware of the bigger picture.

 Conclusion

These are some of the most important things to look for in your next remote hire. 

While there is no general set of rules when it comes to building a team, it is always recommended to keep individual differences in mind, and to allow each and every employee to express themselves and present their ideas.

In this way, teamwork will be boosted, creativity encouraged, and best results guaranteed.