Whether you own a home-based business or you’re looking to save on operating costs while expanding your team, there are many benefits of hiring remote workers. According to TimeDoctor, telecommuting reduces overhead costs and employee turnover — and it boosts productivity and social connections amongst workers. And with these tips from Businessman Elijah Medge, you’ll learn everything you need to know about finding and hiring your new workers — and managing them from afar.
Find the Right Candidates
Once you’ve officially decided to expand your team and hire remote workers in lieu of onsite employees, you’ll need to find the right candidates for the roles you’d like to fill. And while these roles will depend on your budget and the nature of your business, seven core hirees include a:
- Product manager
- Marketing generalist
- Sales representative
- Customer support representative
- Business development manager
- Human resources manager
- Accountant
If you don’t know where to start, try creating a small business organizational chart. An organizational chart will help you to hire your first few employees and plan for the future of your business. Then, you can use online job boards like Upwork, FlexJobs, RemoteOK, and Indeed to advertise your open positions and recruit new candidates to work remotely for your company.
Hire Your New Team Members
When hiring telecommuters, there are a few important skills and qualities you’ll need to look out for to ensure that your new employees will be a good fit for remote work. These skills and qualities include things like the ability to communicate clearly, manage time, collaborate with others virtually, and avoid any distractions that may occur while working outside of a typical office environment. Remote workers should also be self-disciplined, flexible, independent, and able to think critically.
As you conduct remote interviews and search for the right candidates for your team, Business News Daily recommends using communication services like Skype, Webex, or GotoMeeting. And to ensure that the interviews will go as smoothly as possible, be sure to test your camera, microphone, and internet connection a day or two in advance. You could also take a few trial runs, especially if you’re new to interviewing job applicants and/or using video conferencing software.
Once you’ve found the right candidates for your new remote team, you’ll need to onboard them virtually. TalentLMS offers some tips on how to do it as warmly and efficiently as possible.
Effectively Manage Your Remote Workers
After you’ve assembled your new team of remote workers, you’ll need to learn how to manage them effectively. The following communication and collaboration tools can help you to do it:
- Video conferencing software like Zoom or Skype
- Google Drive or Dropbox for file sharing
- Communications platforms like Slack
- Trello, Asana, or Basecamp for project management
- Time trackers such as Toggl and Time Doctor
In addition to managing your remote employees, there are some things you can do to create a great work environment, regardless of whether you’re working remotely or onsite. Try planning a few virtual team building activities and games, and be sure to schedule regular check-ins with your employees.
Other Things to Consider
If during the recruitment process you find you’re strapped for cash and unable to pay your team as much as you’d like, you could apply for small business funding — as government and non-government options are available to qualifying applicants. Several funding options for small businesses include U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loans — like the SBA Express Bridge Loan, Traditional SBA Loan, and Main Street Business Lending Programs. Private loans and grants are available through FedEx, the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE), StreetShares Foundation, WomensNet, and Open Meadows Foundation.
In Conclusion
Behind every successful business is a strong team of workers — and remote workplaces are no different. And with these tips to guide you, you’ll have all the information you need to assemble a great team of remote workers — and take your small business to the next level.
Are you ready to take your business to the next level? Contact Elijah Medge today!
Elijah Medge (Los Angeles, CA) owns and manages direct marketing firms throughout the United States. He is a coach and mentor to budding and experienced entrepreneurs in a variety of industries. Be sure to connect on Facebook and Tumblr.
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