[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.20.0″ background_image=”https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Gemma.jpeg” custom_padding=”0|0px|30px|0px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”50px|0|50px|0″ custom_padding_phone=”” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,2_3″ admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”||223px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” disabled_on=”on|on|off” _builder_version=”4.16″ height=”200px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.0″ 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=”582px” custom_margin=”0px||0px|-42px||” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”0px|2px|0px|2px|false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” text_font_size_tablet=”52″ text_font_size_phone=”” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
What to Look for When Hiring Remote Employees for Government Jobs<\/strong><\/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=”4.16″ custom_margin=”-77px|||||” custom_padding=”27.2344px|0px|0|0px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”50px|0|50px|0″ custom_padding_phone=”” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,2_3″ column_padding_mobile=”on” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ 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” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/headshot-2.jpeg” title_text=”headshot-2″ show_bottom_space=”off” align=”center” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” disabled_on=”on|on|” _builder_version=”4.16″ animation=”off” sticky=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text disabled_on=”on|on|” _builder_version=”4.16″ 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|” global_colors_info=”{}”]GEMMA HART<\/a><\/span> Hiring remote workers for government bodies can be nerve-wracking to say the least.<\/p>\n The high standards of public sector organizations means there\u2019s very little room for error. At the same time, the remote hiring process can limit your ability to truly get to know candidates<\/a> on an individual level.<\/p>\n Though a remote hiring process certainly has its risks and challenges, approaching it with the right degree of care and a clear idea of what you\u2019re looking for can ensure you come out with a new hire who\u2019s a true asset to your team.<\/p>\n In this guide, we\u2019ll run through some of the key qualities and considerations every hiring manager should look for when hiring remote employees, and why they\u2019re important when hiring for a government body.<\/p>\n Before we get into the positives you should be aiming for during the hiring process, it\u2019s equally important to know what not<\/em> to do when you\u2019re looking to spearhead a successful recruitment drive.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a quick run-down of the most common mistakes and pitfalls everyone should be aware of when hiring remote government workers<\/a>.<\/p>\n Not setting clear expectations: <\/strong>Though the world is a lot more used to remote working setups than it has been in the past, there\u2019s still plenty of room for clashes with things like time zones, collaboration, and company culture<\/a>. These aspects of the job need to be communicated clearly as early as possible to avoid conflict further down the line.<\/p>\n Not screening or using poor-quality screening procedures: <\/strong>Unfortunately, remote positions can attract unethical candidates and other bad actors who might slip through the net. Fair Credit<\/a> explains, \u201cWhile background checks serve an important role in vetting job applicants, they can contain just as many costly errors as credit reports\u201d. When hiring for a government position, it\u2019s especially important to apply a thorough screening process, and also to ensure any background checks are done using a reputable provider.<\/p>\n Racing to the bottom: <\/strong>Hiring for a remote position gives you access to a huge pool of talent. If you\u2019re a hiring manager with a strict budget, this freedom can make it tempting to set your sights on candidates from a distant geographic region and hire at the cheapest rate possible. It\u2019s true that there\u2019s plenty of great workers out there who will work for a lower salary band than you may be used to. However, it\u2019s important not to let the prospect of cheap talent detract from your real priority: finding the person with the perfect skills and experience for the job.<\/p>\n Though you\u2019ll know exactly what you need when it comes to demonstrable skills and experience, there are certain broader qualities that can go a long way in remote government roles. Here are some of the best to look out for\u2026<\/p>\n In a remote-first working setup, managers have limited capacity to monitor peoples\u2019 work and make sure they\u2019re on the right track.<\/p>\n With communication usually kept to a few formalized meetings dispersed through your teams\u2019 calendars, you\u2019ll need someone who can demonstrate a results-oriented approach to their work, and a drive to deliver what\u2019s required of them by a certain deadline without a line manager to guide every last bit of their process.<\/p>\n By proactively looking for people who are happy to go it alone and deliver results in a way that works for their own style of remote working, you\u2019ll lay the foundations for a worker-manager relationship that doesn\u2019t rely too heavily on strictly-defined processes and can function seamlessly across regions and timezones.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#f7f7f4″ custom_padding=”0||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][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=”4.16″ 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||0px|” make_fullwidth=”on” custom_width_px=”680px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/2-1.jpeg” alt=”leadership” title_text=”Online,Conference.,Businesswoman,Using,Laptop,Making,Video,Call,To,Business” show_bottom_space=”off” force_fullwidth=”on” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.20.0″ custom_margin=”1px|||||” animation_direction=”off” animation=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#efefe9″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/3-1.jpeg” alt=”women’s leadership” title_text=”Skilled,Afro,American,Male,It,Professional,Freelancer,Working,On,Clients” show_bottom_space=”off” force_fullwidth=”on” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.20.0″ custom_margin=”1px|||||” animation_direction=”off” animation=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text disabled_on=”off|off|” _builder_version=”4.20.0″ 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=”16.3%|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” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Remote positions can attract unethical candidates and other bad actors who might slip through the net.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ 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=”20px||3.7%|||” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}”]GEMMA HART<\/strong> Government jobs are fairly unique in the kinds of soft skills they require of all workers.<\/p>\n On the one hand, modern government bodies need to leverage far-reaching and reliable datasets<\/a> to justify the decisions they make and forecast the impact of what they do. At the same time, government organizations are often required to interact with the public, communicating effectively with people from all backgrounds, and presenting information in a way that reflects positively on the organization itself.<\/p>\n Your remote employees don\u2019t have to be experts in data mining or public relations. However, finding people who can demonstrate both strong communication skills and a knack for examining data will ensure they come to the job with solid foundational soft skills and make it easier for them to understand the wider objectives of your organization.<\/p>\n For more support, check out this great guide from HiPeople<\/a> looking at \u201chow to assess communication skills in an interview and why they are crucial for hiring the best talent.\u201d<\/p>\n Across all sectors, professionals who are especially detail-oriented and hold themselves to high standards tend to thrive in remote positions.<\/p>\n Though excessive perfectionism can hurt more than it helps, if your candidates hold themselves to their own set of standards that go past what their organization or management are asking of them, you\u2019ll rarely have to worry about monitoring their output or intervening with their work.<\/p>\n One of the best ways to vet candidates for this in the interview stage is to specifically broach the topic of KPIs, looking to find out how they\u2019d organized their personal goals in previous positions, hear examples of KPIs<\/a> they\u2019d used in the past, and get a feel for their personal attitude regarding the cycle of setting and achieving benchmarks for success.<\/p>\n If they show a real passion for moving the needle forward, this is a great sign that they\u2019ll perform in a remote working relationship.<\/p>\n You can plan out an interview to be as detailed and rigorous as you like. However, the best way to see how someone will perform as a remote element of your team is to have them show you what they can do.<\/p>\n Before you start fielding candidates, make sure you have a test in place that covers all the most important traits you\u2019re looking for. A challenging test task will help to weed out candidates who are qualified but not motivated, and give you a tangible simulation of what working with each candidate will be like.<\/p>\n When you\u2019re armed with a tangible piece of work from your candidates and a sense of how well they perform on their own initiative, you\u2019ll be able to make a final decision with more confidence, and onboard someone who\u2019s able to hit the ground running.<\/p>\n
\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text disabled_on=”on|on|” _builder_version=”4.16″ 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|” global_colors_info=”{}”]Gemma Hart is an independent HR consultant working remotely from as many coffee shops as she can find. Gemma has gained experience in a number of HR roles but now turns her focus towards connecting with a wider community and sharing her thoughts and advice on workplace wellness and engagement within companies.<\/em>
\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.0″ 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” min_height=”929px” custom_margin=”0px||0px|” custom_padding=”||0px|||” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\nCommon Pitfalls when Hiring Remote Employees for Government Positions<\/h4>\n
What to Look for When Hiring Remote Employees for Government Jobs<\/h4>\n
A Results-Oriented Work Style<\/h4>\n
\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0||25px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][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=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”1200px” custom_margin=”|auto||auto|false|false” custom_padding=”0||0px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”0px||10px||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”” use_custom_width=”on” custom_width_px=”1200px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.0″ 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=”37px||2px|||” custom_margin_tablet=”40px||0px|” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet” custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\nAnalytical and Communicative<\/h4>\n
They Track Their Own Progress<\/h4>\n
They Can Perform When Tested<\/h4>\n
Final Thoughts\u2026<\/h4>\n