As advances in technology and communication take place, businesses are growing more comfortable looking outside of their local areas for the best technology talent. However, managing a global remote team poses many complexities. So while there will always be some bumps in the road when hiring a remote team, a few tips can make the process much smoother.
First of all, be as specific as possible about job requirements — applicants will base proposals on the information given. Include things such as deadlines, availability, communication requirements, skills requirements and software and hardware required to complete the job. Also, when interviewing, ask as many questions as possible to make sure they fit the requirements and assess any additional considerations for the job, such as new applications or hardware the employee will need when considering budget and timing requirements.
Once you’ve hired a team, set clear expectations around deliverables with your remote team and communicate regularly. You can use chat and other technology platforms to assess progress and communicate when a change in direction is required. Evolving technology plays a huge role in alleviating some of the difficulties of managing a remote workforce.
In addition to these tips for hiring remote workers, looking at other things can help the outsourcing process. Be sure to evaluate the applicant’s personal characteristics, such as integrity, intelligence and work ethic. Most employee relationships fail due to a lack of the right balance of these qualities. Determining an applicant’s motivation, identifying his or her skills and assessing knowledge are also crucial to success — not only for hiring remote employees, but anyone.
Gary Swart is CEO of oDesk, a provider of verified remote work.
