With remote work on the rise, learn how to hire, onboard, and lead remote teams successfully —and keep productivity high.
How to conduct remote interviews
No on-site interview? No problem. Master the art of video interviewing and find creative ways to highlight your company culture online so you can get to know your candidates from anywhere — and vice versa — while bringing travel costs down.
TIP 1
Set clear expectations up front.
Let remote candidates know in advance which video conference tools you use so they can download any necessary programs ahead of time.
TIP 2
Create and share a tech backup plan.
Let candidates know what to do if the connection is poor, like turning off video or switching to a phone if all else fails.
TIP 3
Practice active listening.
Avoid looking down at notes while the candidate is speaking and wait a few seconds before responding to allow for delays.
TIP 4
Choose your location carefully.
Pick a quiet, well-lit setting, check your camera and sound, and silence all notifications.
TIP 5
Be friendly, considerate, and emotive.
Give an overview of what the interview will cover and use clear body language, like nodding.
47% of companies use video interviews
How can remote recruiters and hiring managers build a strong working relationship?
* Create an agenda so both parties can prepare ahead of time
* Discuss market data to set expectations on talent availability
* Review and share successful people you know in the same role
“Just sending a candidate a link to a video interview can be jarring. … Give guidance about the experience and what’s expected from the interview. » Imo Udom, Chief Product and Strategy Officer at OutMatch
Did you know?
Companies have found that remote work increases productivity and reduces their bottom line.
* American Express found that employees who worked from home were 43% more productive.
* By offering more remote work options, Dell saved $12 million a year in office space costs.
* The average employee is willing to give up 8% of their wages for the option to work from home.
How to onboard remote employees
A successful virtual onboarding experience hinges on two things: creating effective lines of communication & getting your new remote hires set up with the technology they need.
* Confirm your new hires are set up for success.
* Order equipment, set up internal systems, and confirm their at-home space is ready before the first day.
* Create a remote onboarding roadmap.
* Set clear expectations for new hires and stakeholders by providing a detailed schedule.
* Download this sample schedule for a five-day onboarding program.
* Don’t squeeze every onboarding session into one day.
* Space meetings and training sessions out over your new hires’ first week to give them time to settle in.
* Schedule a virtual meet-and-greet with the wider team.
* Create an opportunity for new hires to meet the entire team or company so they begin to form team bonds.
* Set up regular check-ins.
* Schedule regular check-ins with their managers and encourage co-workers to set up virtual get-to-know-you sessions.
39% of employees have technology issues during the onboarding process
Tip: Create and share an FAQ for solving common tech issues during an interview.
“We didn’t want to transition everything into a full day virtually. We felt we could best do that with shorter bursts spread over a week.” Kelly Chuck, Learning Partner at LinkedIn
5 tips for managing a remote team
Whether your team is fully or just partially remote, remote management must account for various challenges that dispersed employees face. Focus on team bonding and strong communication.
TIP 1
Schedule regular check-ins.
Trust remote employees to work autonomously, but staying connected is important too. Be sure to touch base regularly.
TIP 2
Create an easily accessible go-to guidebook.
Document and share processes in one centralized location so employees always know where to look for information.
TIP 3
Focus on outcomes, not individual activities.
With less visibility into remote employees’ day-to-day tasks, measuring outcomes is the best way to evaluate their productivity.
TIP 4
Help employees feel connected to your culture.
Organize virtual, culturally engaging events so the whole team can get together beyond work.
TIP 5
Build strategic lines of communication.
Teach employees to be responsive online, and schedule regular virtual meetings to quickly share key information with the team.
How do I maintain engagement with a partially remote team?
Remote employees are more likely to feel left out, which may hurt engagement. Try these activities to foster inclusion:
* Organize a virtual watercooler so everyone can join the conversation
* Encourage on-site employees to take virtual coffee breaks with remote peers
* Send remote employees a surprise on their birthdays or for special occasions
« I’ve started to schedule more frequent check-ins with my team, really trying to leave space for discussing personal situations. » Amy Schultz, Former Product Recruiting at LinkedIn
21%
Communication and collaboration is still the biggest struggle for 21% of remote workers
Article by LinkedIn Talent Solutions, 01st July 2021
Photo by imperioame from Pixabay.
