[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.6.5″ background_image=”https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/2-2.jpg” custom_padding_tablet=”50px|0|50px|0″ custom_padding_phone=”” padding_mobile=”off”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,2_3″ admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” disabled_on=”on|on|off” _builder_version=”3.23.4″ height=”200px”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.6.5″ text_font=”PT Sans||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”72″ text_line_height=”1.1em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”620px” custom_margin=”0px||0px|” text_font_size_tablet=”52″ text_font_size_phone=”” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet”]<\/p>\n
Red Flags to Look For When Hiring Remote Employees<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”3.22″ custom_padding_tablet=”50px|0|50px|0″ custom_padding_phone=”” padding_mobile=”off”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,2_3″ column_padding_mobile=”on” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”1200px” custom_padding=”20px||0px|” custom_padding_tablet=”0px|||” custom_padding_phone=”” use_custom_width=”on” custom_width_px=”1200px”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Lesley-Vos.jpg” show_bottom_space=”off” align=”center” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” disabled_on=”on|on|” _builder_version=”3.23″ animation=”off” sticky=”on”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text disabled_on=”on|on|” _builder_version=”3.27.4″ text_font=”PT Sans|on|||” text_text_color=”#02b875″ text_font_size=”20″ text_line_height=”1.2em” header_text_color=”#000000″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”center” max_width=”140px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”20px||0px|”]LESLEY VOS<\/a><\/span> The popularity of remote work grows with every passing year.<\/span><\/p>\n Around <\/span>two-thirds of global employees<\/span><\/a> work remotely today. We can credit a lot of that popularity to the benefits like better productivity, professional growth, and the best possible work-life balance.<\/span><\/p>\n Indeed, remote teams are less stressful and more productive. Remote employees are more engaged, more flexible, and more result-oriented than their in-office counterparts.<\/span><\/p>\n Why is it, then, that <\/span>44%<\/span><\/a> of global companies still don’t want to hire remote employees?<\/span><\/p>\n With so many benefits, you\u2019d think that all companies would be ready to build and manage a remote team.<\/span><\/p>\n Perhaps one of the biggest concerns about building a remote team is the hiring process. You might not even see this candidate in person for years, if ever. How do you know that you\u2019re making the right decision?<\/span><\/p>\n In this post, we’l<\/span>l reveal the red flags <\/span>to look for when hiring remote employees. They’ll help managers understand all the hidden pros and cons of <\/span>working with remote talents<\/span><\/a> and make sure they choose the right candidate for the job.<\/span><\/p>\n But first, let’s take a closer look at the profile of an ideal remote employee.<\/span><\/p>\n First and foremost, good remote workers do understand they aren’t freelancers \u2014 unless that\u2019s what you\u2019re looking for, of course.<\/span><\/p>\n Make sure candidates know you\u2019re looking for full-time employees, even if they\u2019ll never see the office. They should know whether or not they have a fixed working schedule and if they can or can\u2019t work for other brands.<\/span><\/p>\n You and your employees should fully understand the difference between freelancing and full-time employment. Otherwise, you risk hiring a specialist who expects to work inconsistent hours and bill at their own rates.<\/span><\/p>\n The ideal remote worker understands what you expect from them and what they can expect from you. They want to work for your company and contribute to your long term success.<\/span><\/p>\n An excellent remote worker is disciplined and ambitious. He’s a tech-savvy creative thinker and independent decision-maker.<\/span><\/p>\n Experienced, dedicated remote employees are looking for jobs that fit their lifestyle and ambitions. When they find the right fit at a company like yours, they\u2019re often high-performers since they know how competitive remote positions are.<\/span><\/p>\n Also, an ideal remote team member is a master of <\/span>time management<\/span><\/a> and communication skills.<\/span><\/p>\n That’s all very fine, but how do you know a potential candidate has all the above skills and qualities when hiring him? Interviewing at a distance is a different challenge.<\/span><\/p>\n While there\u2019s no such thing as a perfect interview, you can tell a lot about a candidate even without meeting them face-to-face. Watch for these red flags and you\u2019ll be much more likely to make a smart hiring decision.<\/span><\/p>\n 5 red flags to look for when hiring remote employees<\/strong><\/p>\n Here are five indicators to keep in mind when screening your potential remote employee:<\/span><\/p>\n It stands to reason that you’ll ask a potential candidate about their work experience and references. Make sure to check them carefully and look closely to see if they reflect the skills you need.<\/span><\/p>\n Watch out if a candidate says they\u2019re a skilled and experienced specialist, but can’t provide you with any proof. It may be a sign of dishonesty, or they may be hiding some poor references.<\/span><\/p>\n Insufficient references show that a person isn’t going to perform well or is unable to choose projects well.<\/span><\/p>\n Also, pay attention to whom a candidate lists as a reference.<\/span><\/p>\n Former bosses or supervisors are a good sign. A potential employee may use references from former co-workers or friends to cover up bad experiences.<\/span><\/p>\n Vague answers are a red flag, too. It means a person is either non-committal or unwilling to engage and be honest with you. That\u2019s not what we expect from a good remote employee \u2014 do you agree?<\/span><\/p>\n Remote work is all about stellar communication.<\/span><\/p>\n For managers, this skill is about the ability to define goals, projects, associated tasks, and deadlines.<\/span><\/p>\n For remote workers, it’s about the ability to ask questions, clarify assignments, bring up any difficulties, and discuss whatever they need to get the best results.<\/span><\/p>\n Remote teams communicate via numerous channels. If your candidate seems unable to understand your questions and communicate clearly with you, this is a big red flag.<\/span><\/p>\n Why?<\/span><\/p>\n This is part of their daily job responsibilities. Failing to communicate on certain channels leads to misunderstandings, missed deadlines, and decreased productivity. Altogether, these factors impact the overall profitability of your business.<\/span><\/p>\n When hiring a remote employee, do your best to communicate with her or him over different channels during the interview process:<\/span><\/p>\n As a rule, people are on their best behavior when trying to land a job. If your candidates don’t respond quickly and seem challenging to reach, consider it an extra red flag.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22″ background_color=”#f7f7f4″ custom_padding=”0px||0px|”][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22″ custom_padding=”0px||0px|”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ make_equal=”on” column_padding_mobile=”on” module_class=” et_pb_row_fullwidth” _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”100%” width_tablet=”100%” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_width=”100%” max_width_tablet=”100%” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”0px||0||false|false” make_fullwidth=”on” custom_width_px=”680px”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/1-4-scaled.jpg” title_text=”1″ show_bottom_space=”off” force_fullwidth=”on” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.6.5″ animation=”off”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”3.25″ background_color=”#efefe9″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/3-2.jpg” title_text=”3″ show_bottom_space=”off” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.6.5″ animation=”off”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text disabled_on=”off|off|” _builder_version=”4.6.5″ text_font=”PT Serif||||” text_text_color=”#818178″ text_font_size=”24″ text_line_height=”1.4em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”center” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”20%|10%||10%” custom_margin_tablet=”|10%||10%” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone”]<\/p>\n Perhaps one of the biggest concerns about building a remote team is the hiring process. You might not even see this candidate in person for years, if ever.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.27.4″ text_font=”PT Sans|on|||” text_text_color=”#888888″ text_font_size=”12″ text_letter_spacing=”2px” text_line_height=”1.2em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”center” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”20px||20%|” custom_margin_tablet=”20px|||” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet”]<\/p>\n LESLEY VOS<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”4″ column_padding_mobile=”on” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”1200px” custom_padding=”0px||0px|” custom_padding_tablet=”0px|||” custom_padding_phone=”” use_custom_width=”on” custom_width_px=”1200px”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.6.5″ text_font=”PT Serif||||” text_text_color=”#363636″ text_font_size=”20″ text_line_height=”1.4em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”60px||0px|” custom_margin_tablet=”40px||0px|” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet”]<\/p>\n Remote work requires a high level of self-motivation. Working from home means that there\u2019s no direct supervision, so the employee needs to get work done on their own.<\/span><\/p>\n When hiring remote employees for your business, look for signs that they\u2019re self-motivated and accountable.<\/span><\/p>\n Where?<\/span><\/p>\n Check their previous work history.<\/b> Was a person promoted at their former job? How long did they stay with that company? Changing workplaces every few months looks strange and suspicious, don’t you agree?<\/span><\/p>\n Surf their social media accounts.<\/b> What are their hobbies and interests? Do they seem like self-starters? Do they <\/span>build connections<\/span><\/a> with influencers and opinion leaders in their niche?<\/span><\/p>\n Watch their behavior during an interview.<\/b> If a candidate doesn’t seem enthusiastic or motivated, this is a red flag for you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Remote employees don’t have a manager looking over their shoulder and checking they are working, so they need to master the art of self-motivation by all means.<\/span><\/p>\n To some extent, time management relates to self-motivation, too.<\/span><\/p>\n Your remote employees need to know how to manage their time efficiently and complete projects on time.<\/span><\/p>\n Of course, that\u2019s important for in-office employees, too, but the consequences of poor time management are more pronounced for remote teams. You\u2019re not there to spot the signs that a project is falling behind until it\u2019s too late to help.<\/span><\/p>\n And though tools like time trackers can help you <\/span>train employees<\/span><\/a> and monitor what they are doing throughout the day, whether in office or remotely, their poor self-time management can lead to missed deadlines and lower work quality.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text disabled_on=”on|on|” _builder_version=”3.27.4″ text_font=”PT Serif||on||” text_text_color=”#363636″ text_font_size=”16″ text_line_height=”1.4em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”center” max_width=”140px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”10px||60px|”]An educator and seasoned web writer, Lesley contributes to publications on career, lifestyle, and self-development. Visit Bid4Papers blog or join @LesleyVos on Twitter to say hi and see more works of hers.
\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.6.5″ text_font=”PT Serif||||” text_text_color=”#363636″ text_font_size=”24″ text_line_height=”1.5em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”720px” custom_margin=”0px||0px|” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet”]<\/p>\nWho is the ideal remote employee?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Flag 1: They can’t verify work experience<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Flag 2: They can’t communicate on all channels<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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One more detail to consider:<\/span><\/h4>\n
Flag 3: They lack self-motivation<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Flag 4: They can’t manage time<\/strong><\/h4>\n