Jan 25, 2023 • 5 min read
Remote work offers flexibility and freedom to employees and employers alike. With remote work, companies can offer flexible hours and locations without having to worry about commuting times or traffic jams. They don’t have to pay for parking spaces or office space. And they can save money while doing it.
But what does remote work look like today? What do remote workers actually do? How much does it cost? And how many companies already use remote work? We asked experts and conducted our own research to find out.
We found that remote work is becoming increasingly popular among both employees and employers. In fact, according to Gallup, one-third of Americans now work remotely part of the week. But why is remote working growing in popularity and how does it improve job satisfaction? Here are some reasons we think you should try it too.
1. Flexibility
Flexible scheduling gives people control over their lives. Whether it’s choosing whether to go into work early or late, taking off days during the week, or just being able to take vacations whenever they want, remote work lets us make decisions about our lives rather than having to follow rigid schedules dictated by others. It also gives employers access to a global talent pool.
2. Productivity
Studies show that remote candidates are more productive than those who spend most of their day sitting behind a desk. This is because they’re less distracted by co-workers and interruptions. Plus, they often feel more motivated to produce quality work since they aren’t under pressure to meet deadlines.
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Use the DigiWorks platform to hire, manage, and pay remote talent from all over the world.
Remote jobs allow companies to hire talent from a larger talent pool. You have access to a larger number of potential job candidates and conduct virtual interviews. This offers employees flexibility, meaning that they can choose how much or little they want to do each day. This is particularly useful for those looking to balance their personal lives with their professional ones. In addition, remote workers often enjoy better working conditions and fewer instances of discrimination. Major employers are not making use of virtual workers.
Organizations can find qualified candidates through social media sites such as LinkedIn. These platforms make it easy for recruiters to identify potential hires based on their skills and experience. Not only does this help organizations attract high quality applicants for their international team, but it also helps them avoid hiring unqualified individuals.
Companies that rely heavily on technology are especially well suited to hiring remotely. As the number of remote workers increases, so too will the demand for software designed to support remote teams. For example, Slack offers chat rooms where team members can communicate via video calls, voice messages, and text messages. Other tools include Trello, which makes project management easier; Zoom, which enables videoconferencing; and Basecamp, which provides task tracking capabilities.
Employees who work in a remote environment are less prone to feeling stress, anxiety, or depression. A study published in the Journal of Organizational Behavior found that remote workers reported lower levels of job dissatisfaction and greater feelings of autonomy as well as a strong work ethic. Another study conducted by Gallup showed that employees who worked remotely reported being happier overall.
Working remotely also allows people to balance their personal lives and work commitments better. People who work remotely typically spend more time with friends and families, and less time commuting to and from work. This gives them more free time to devote to activities outside of work.
Finally, remote workers are more productive. A survey conducted by FlexJobs found that people who work remotely are more engaged, satisfied, and committed to their employers.
The remote hiring recruitment process can be challenging. You want to make sure that your potential employees will fit well within your company and can adapt to remote culture. You also need to make sure that effective communication is high on your requirements list. But how do you find out whether he or she will adapt to working remotely? Here are some tips to help you find the best candidates for your team.
1. Know What You Want
Before you start looking for potential candidates, it helps to understand what type of employee you’re looking for. Who is your ideal candidate? Do you want someone who can hit the ground running? Someone who needs training? What skill levels do you require? Or maybe you just want someone who is familiar with your industry. Once you’ve got a clear idea of what you’re looking for, you’ll be able to narrow down your list of possible candidates much faster.
2. Find Candidates Who Fit Your Culture and Company Values
The next step is finding people who match your company’s culture. If you don’t already have one, consider creating a document that describes your company’s values. This way, you can filter out anyone who doesn’t align with those values.
3. Look For People With Experience
When it comes to hiring remote workers, experience matters most. So look for people who have worked remotely before. They know what it takes to succeed in this environment. And if they haven’t done it before, ask yourself why not. Is there something specific about their background that makes them better suited for the role?
4. What Kind of Skills Do You Need For Your Remote Company?
Do you require communication skills? Excellent organizational skills? What kind of response times do you want from your international employee? Do you want someone who requires minimal supervision? Would your successful candidate require high-level nonverbal communication skills? Are there any technical skills you require? How important is time management to you?
5. Think about your budget
While remote hiring it a lot more affordable than taking on a new on-site employee there are still costs you need to take into consideration when hiring an international employee for your team. You need to be willing to invest in some digital tools to make sure the virtual team has access to all the software and communication channels they need to operate efficiently. You also need to decide on a compensation package which differ depending on the number of hours you need your remote team member to work. While virtual workers allow you to save on overhead costs, certain tax obligations, and you are not obligated to offer a benefits package, you do need to make sure you are equipped to take on a remote worker. One way to make your remote hiring journey a lot easier is to get some assistance from a recruitment agency or hiring platform like DigiWorks.
Job boards are great tools if it’s your goal to reach a large audience during the hiring process. But they don’t always provide the best quality applications. Recruiting agencies are better suited for finding talent because they can target specific audiences based on skill set. Employers are a great way to source talent but beware of companies that use recruiters to fill positions. They may be looking for cheap labor rather than high quality remote talent. In addition, make sure to include details such as salary and location in your email messages. Former employees are another good resource for finding potential hires. They may be willing to work remotely depending on their situation. However, if you do not have a Human Resources Department and need to do some remote hiring for your administrative tasks, customer service and sales then using a platform like DigiWorks could be ideal for you!
If you’re looking for a more affordable and sustainable option you might consider making use of a hiring platform like DigiWorks. Virtual assistant companies or platforms like DigiWorks are amazing as they not only match you with pre-vetted and assessed remote workers that can take care of all your business needs but they will also handle all onboarding and payroll needs as well. Since DigiWorks’ talent are from emerging countries, the rates are much lower than the US minimum wage and you don’t have to deal with the risk of dealing with scammers or incompetent freelancers.
Websites are an effective way of finding out more about people and companies. If you want to reach someone who works remotely, it makes sense to look up their website or blog. You’ll learn a lot about what they do, how well they work together, and whether they’re interested in working with you. Then you can schedule some remote interviews.
You might even discover something interesting about yourself. For example, I’ve found that many remote workers have blogs or sites that discuss personal topics such as travel, health, or food. These posts give me insight into the person behind the screen and show me things like hobbies, interests, and personality traits.
If you contact a remote worker through their website or blog, you’ll make sure that you’re contacting the correct person. In some cases, there could be multiple employees sharing one email address. By reaching out directly to each employee individually, you’ll know exactly who you’re talking to.
In addition to making sure that you’re contacting a real person, you’ll also avoid wasting time and energy on irrelevant messages. When you send a generic email asking about availability, you risk getting a response saying “I’m busy.” But if you ask specific questions about their experience, knowledge, and availability, you’ll be able to focus your message on the most relevant parts.
When it comes to hiring for a remote or hybrid work model, there are many ways to go about it. You could start with a job board, like LinkedIn, and reach out to people you know. Or, you could use a recruiting agency. But what if you want to find someone without having to pay a fee? What if you don’t want to spend money on advertising? Well, you’re in luck. There are plenty of companies that allow you to hire directly through your network. Here are some tips on how to do just that.
This one might seem obvious, but LinkedIn is still one of the best places to look for potential hires. People tend to post jobs on LinkedIn because they want to attract attention. So, if you see something posted by a friend or colleague, you’ll probably notice it. If you don’t already have a connection on LinkedIn, make sure to add one. Then, send a request asking if he or she knows anyone looking for work. This way, you won’t waste your time reaching out to people who aren’t interested.
If you’re on Facebook, you’ve likely seen ads for recruiters. These recruiters often offer to connect you with candidates. They do this because they know that most people are hesitant to apply for a position online. Instead, they prefer to talk to someone face to face. So, if you want to hire someone, ask around. Ask friends, family members, coworkers, etc., if they know of anyone who wants to work. And remember, you don’t even have to tell them why you’re looking for help. Just let them know that you’re looking for a new employee.
Craigslist
Craigslist is another great place to find people. It’s free, easy to use, and you can post jobs for almost anything. However, Craigslist isn’t always reliable. For example, if you post a job on Craigslist, you’ll usually receive responses within 24 hours. However, sometimes you’ll wait weeks or months before receiving a response. In addition, you’ll have to deal with spam posts which can take a lot of extra time to filter through. To avoid this, try posting your ad on multiple sites. Also, be careful when searching for positions. Some people will post fake listings just to scam others.
Social media
Hiring funnels like LinkedIn and social media can be an efficient way to find talent. These tools allow you to communicate directly with experts who can provide insights into what you want to achieve. Social media allows you to reach out to tons of candidates. The next step is to prepare some interview questions and schedule some video interviews with your chosen candidates.
Use the DigiWorks platform to hire, manage, and pay remote talent from all over the world.
Hiring remote workers can save you thousands of dollars per month. But it takes planning ahead to make sure everything goes smoothly. Here are some tips to help you find great candidates and keep things running smoothly once you do hire them.
1. Understand what type of worker you want. Do you want someone who works remotely full-time or part-time? Are you looking for people with specific skill sets? What about personality traits? You might even want to look for candidates based on location. If you need a person who lives near your office, you might want to start there.
2. Find out how much each candidate is willing to work. Will they take advantage of flexible hours? How many days a week will they work? Will they travel? These questions can give you insight into whether a candidate is interested in working for you.
3. Make sure you understand the job requirements. This includes understanding what tasks must be completed remotely and what ones require physical presence. Also, think about what resources you need to provide such as equipment or software.
4. Ask candidates to send you references. References are important because they can tell you a lot about a candidate’s performance. They can also help you determine if a candidate is reliable.
5. Look for candidates who have been recommended by others. People tend to trust recommendations over resumes. So, ask around to see if anyone knows of good candidates.
6. Check online profiles. Candidates often list their availability on sites like LinkedIn and Glassdoor. Take note of where they live and what they do professionally. Know In Advance What You Need
If you don’t know exactly what you want, it’s hard to find people who do. If you’re looking for a job, make sure you know what you want in advance. Don’t wait until you’ve been offered the position to ask about salary or benefits.
1. Know How Much You Need
You might think you’ll just go out there and find someone, but if you don’t know what you really need, you won’t know what you’re getting. Your initial budget estimate might look great, but once you start interviewing candidates, you may realize you need something else.
2. Know What Skills You Need To Hire Someone Who Meets Those Needs
When you interview potential hires, you’ll probably talk about their experience and qualifications. But you’ll also want to discuss their personality traits. Do they fit well within your team? Are they easy to work with? Will they help others succeed? These questions aren’t always asked directly, but they can tell you a lot about a candidate.
3. Consider Whether They Fit Into Your Company Culture
This one isn’t always asked during interviews, but it’s crucial to your interview process. Some companies value loyalty over skill sets; others prefer diversity. Knowing what type of environment you want to work in will help you decide if you’re making the right choice.
Having clear expectations is essential for success in any project.
The best way to make sure you’re meeting expectations is to clearly communicate them. This includes setting expectations around timelines, budgets, deliverables, scope, and quality. For example, if you say “the project needs to be completed within three months,” that’s very different than saying “we’ll do our best.”
You might think that setting expectations too high will cause people to avoid taking part in the project. But research suggests otherwise. In fact, studies show that people actually perform better under pressure. They become more creative and innovative, and they work harder. So while you might worry that setting too many expectations will discourage participation, it could actually motivate people to exceed them.
So how do you know whether you’ve set reasonable expectations? Start by asking yourself questions like these: What are my goals for the project? How much time am I willing to spend on it? Is there something else I’d rather be doing? Will this project help me achieve my larger goals?
If you answer yes to all of these questions, then you probably have realistic expectations. If you answered no to some of them, you might want to reevaluate your goals and priorities.A Remote Team Is Not Something To Take Lightly
If you’re reading this article, chances are you’ve already hired remote workers at some point in your career. But how do you know if you did it correctly? And what happens if you don’t? This guide will help you build a successful remote team.
Hiring remotely is hard. You need to make sure you hire people who fit well together, communicate effectively, and work well independently. There’s no way around it — you need to invest time into building trust and rapport with each member of your team. If you don’t, things could go south very quickly.
Before you even think about hiring anyone, ask yourself these questions: Do I have the resources to support my team? How much bandwidth do I have to support my team members? What type of culture am I looking for? Are there any cultural differences I need to consider?
You might find that the answer to one question changes depending on another. For example, if you decide to hire someone based on his or her portfolio, you’ll probably want to see examples of projects completed by the individual. However, if you’re hiring someone because he or she fits your personality, you won’t necessarily care about their skill set. In short, you need to understand what you’re looking for before you begin searching for candidates.
Once you’ve found potential hires, you need to figure out whether they’d be a good fit for your organization. Start by asking yourself questions like: Does this person seem like a great fit for our culture? Would we be able to learn from him or her? Can we trust him or her?
While you might feel comfortable knowing exactly what you’re looking for in a candidate, you still need to make sure you’re open to change. As your company grows, you may realize that you need to add additional responsibilities to your existing roles. Or maybe you’ll decide to let someone go. Either way, you need to be ready to adapt.
In addition to making sure you have the right people, you also need to make sure you have the right tools to support your team. One thing many companies overlook is bandwidth. Bandwidth refers to the amount of data being transferred over a network connection. When you have too little bandwidth, you run the risk of slowing down everyone else on the network. Too much bandwidth, however, can cause problems of its own.
A recent study found that job seekers who change employers frequently are less likely to land a job because they lack commitment. In fact, changing jobs too often could indicate that you don’t want to work there long term. If you’re looking for a position where you’ll spend most of your time working with one client, it might be best to choose a role that fits your personality better.
If you’re considering applying for a job, consider asking yourself some questions about how committed you are to the organization. You can do this by asking yourself whether you’ve changed jobs within the same industry multiple times over the course of your career. This way, you can make sure you’re choosing a position that aligns well with your personal goals and values.
You can also ask yourself whether you’ve ever had to switch companies during the interview process. If you do, it’s possible that you haven’t been able to build up enough trust with potential employers. When interviewing with a new employer, it helps to show that you’re willing to put in the effort required to develop a relationship with your future boss.
Finally, employers look for people with soft skills and experience rather than just hard skills. While you may think that having technical expertise is important, research suggests otherwise. For example, according to a survey conducted by CareerBuilder, only 30% of recruiters believe that technical knowledge is essential to landing a job. Instead, they say that soft skills like communication, collaboration, and leadership are far more important.
Use the DigiWorks platform to hire, manage, and pay remote talent from all over the world.
Remote workers are an important part of a growing number of businesses. They help employees work faster, improve customer experience, and save money. If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to hiring one, DigiWorks is an amazing solution. The DigiWorks team will connect you with a global talent pool so you can find someone who is a great fit for you and your business!
DigiWorks is an easy-to-use platform that helps small businesses and start-ups hire amazing remote talent from around the world. DigiWorks offers a way for you to hire, manage, and pay people from all countries. If you find an amazing virtual assistant from the Philippines, a content writer from Nigeria, or an operations manager from South Africa – manage and pay your entire team from one platform with no hassle.