5 Questions to Ask When Hiring a Remote Worker

Information technology is changing the workplace and impacting the way companies are hiring and selecting their best employees. When interviewing candidates for remote jobs, it’s a good idea to ask how the prospect functions on a daily basis. You need to get a clear picture of how they balance personal life with work life, and if it’s something they can manage well.
 

1. How Long Have You Been Working Remotely?

Being familiar with your candidate’s history as a remote worker gives an idea of their work ethic. The IT worker may be new to freelancing or independent management of tasks. If so, you could end up spending more time on quality control than is necessary.
 

2. Why Have You Chosen Working Remotely as a Career, and Where Do You See Yourself in the Future?

Get a candidate to voice their thoughts about personal and professional goals. This shows where they would fit in, whether it’s a permanent or contracted position. They may be looking for more flexibility or work/life balance, and that’s fine. But they must still have your company’s best interests in mind. And, above all, they must demonstrate a commitment to carrying out given tasks.
 

3. How do you Prioritize Your Various Daily Tasks?

It’s easy for remote staff to get overwhelmed in any online business. That’s why prioritizing tasks is a vital skill. This could make or break their success–or your company’s.
 

4. How Will You Remotely Manage Any Potential Conflicts With Your Managers and Other Colleagues?

While technology prowess tops the list of skills your IT professionals should have, their personal skills count, too. Are they ready to handle conflicts that may arise? Those conflicts won’t take place in a conference room. Online check-ins, video conferences and hangouts will be your new space for communication. Employees that aren’t interpersonally connected can’t be team players on important collaborations.
 

5. When Working in a Remote Position, How are You Going to Handle Lack of Face-to-Face Contact?

Your employees should be able to plan for unusual working situations. In the case of an emergency, they should also be able to sort themselves out without relying on your office for immediate tech rescue.
 

In Conclusion

From the way a person keeps track of deadlines to the way they handle conflict, you can tell if working with them will guarantee success. In these cases, it’s the little things that matter, their personal strategies and remote team-work abilities.

We provide IT & EDI contract and permanent solutions, nationwide, across all industries, with companies of all sizes.