How to hire someone you’ve never met in person

The realm of hiring and recruitment is undergoing a paradigm shift. Traditional workspaces are dissolving, remote work is on the upswing, and competition in the job market remains unmatched. Globally, organisations are more inclined to adopt remote work methods, chasing higher levels of productivity and flexibility. At the same time, hiring the top 1% of talent is a goal for every employer. The dilemma is: how do you hire the top talent without being able to meet them face-to-face? The answer lies in the ability to map out a multi-faceted strategy that helps you identify, attract, and retain top remote talent in your team. 

According to Forbes Advisor, one-fifth of the general workforce has transitioned to working remotely. Essentially, what this means is that modern workplaces need to work towards being a remote-friendly employer. Think of it this way – remote hiring is global hiring. By crafting an effective remote hiring strategy, you will be able to form a candidate pool based on more than just face-to-face interactions and limited talent. This advice will take you through the process of finding the perfect remote candidate with confidence. 

Technology is Your New Hiring Assistant

Consider the different platforms available, such as Zoom, Teams, and Skype, to conduct timely virtual interviews. Online assessments have become the cornerstone of remote hiring practices. You can craft the right assessments to evaluate candidate personas, their qualifications, skills, and abilities to fit into your criteria. Maybe they have outstanding portfolios to show or an abundance of experience that’s commendable. Allow these candidates to showcase their tiers of expertise through their work. 

Go Beyond The Resume 

Social media platforms like LinkedIn come in handy when doing a background check on a potential candidate. Trustworthy and reliable employees are an asset to any organisation, so pay attention to their work history and refrain from calling only the cold contacts. Even during an interview, stop asking only the age-old questions of ‘why do you want this job?’, or ‘what are your strengths and weaknesses?’. 

Remember, these candidates have distinct personal branding and their own stories to tell. Start asking creative and real questions about where they come from whilst trying to grasp an understanding of their culture and identity. Decipher their body language and the way they communicate during the interview – these physical and verbal cues go a long way in painting a picture of their ability to thrive in a remote environment where engagement is a necessity. 

Cultural Fit or Not?

Despite the common misconception of remote workers not being able to fully commit to a workplace, it is essential that these employees are a good cultural fit for a team. As a modern employer, you are bound to look beyond an existing pool of candidates and nurture hybrid teams. Mapping out ways to see if a remote employee will blend in with the rest of your team will let you harness strong collaboration and communication once a project falls into their hands. Approach it this way – let your employees provide feedback on a potential recruit. It’s even better if they have one-on-one interviews with potential managers so that you have valuable intel for your perfect hire! 

Set the Stage for Success

The common adage “communication is key” is very sound. Set appropriate benchmarks for performance and outline responsibilities clearly so that a good understanding is cultivated. Technology remains a powerful tool. Thus, it is critical to ensure that the selected employee is equipped with all the resources and tools they need. Additionally, it’s important to nurture a sense of community even though your employee could be checking off tasks from the other side of the world. Do this by creating a space for virtual team-building activities to deepen connections. Remember, successfully hiring an employee that you have never met before will be concluded by instilling a sense of belonging within the organisation. 

Hiring remotely is a one-way ticket to accessing the untapped potential of a global talent pool. Don’t let the geographical boundaries stop you from propelling your organisation forward with diversity and high-level skills. It’s not just about hiring the perfect remote candidate but ensuring there’s a roadmap for retaining them in the long term. 

If your company needs help with remote recruitment, Talent Higher can help right away. Post a job to find employees with a flair for camaraderie and great performance.