The world has been flipped on its head over the past few months. The spread of COVID-19 has had a massive impact on U.S. businesses; more people are working from home now than ever before. For hiring professionals, this is the ideal time to look at perfecting your remote hiring efforts.
After all, how you attract, recruit, and retain top talent is more crucial right now than ever before. You’ll want to ensure your hiring practices are cost-effective, and that your processes are as efficient as possible.
In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know about hiring remotely; from the moment you advertise your jobs, to onboarding your new hire.
Make Necessary Changes to Your Job Adverts
Your job adverts are a candidate’s first insight into the role and your company, so they’re an extremely important piece in the recruitment puzzle. At the same time, how you communicate with candidates during this challenging time is vital.
We strongly advise acknowledging the current situation in your job adverts. Otherwise, potential applicants might not know whether you’re still hiring for the role or not. Alongside this, it shows that you’re putting yourself in the candidates’ shoes.
There are a few ways to do this. Firstly, you might state that due to COVID-19, your hiring process may come up against some delays, but you will seek to do your best to keep applicants up to date on the progress of their application.
Alternatively, you may specify that interviews will take place over video calls or that the role will be home-based, to begin with.
Whichever approach you take, use this as an opportunity to reassess your job adverts in general. A well-written advert is crucial; use a succinct opening paragraph to introduce the role and company, before breaking it up with bullet points to describe the responsibilities, and the experience/skills required for the job.
Master Your Video Interview Technique
Next up, you must ensure you’re a whizz at video interviews. With the amount of technology out there, these are super easier to set up. Whether you use Zoom, Skype, or another tool, at Resume-Library, we’ve even introduced a new feature on our site where you can schedule and host video interviews, directly through our platform.
Because you aren’t able to meet with candidates face-to-face, how you interact with them over video calls is massively important. You’ll want to ensure you’re selling the role and company, while also building up a strong rapport and showing an interest in what they have to say.
For that reason, it’s good practice to keep these interactions as professional as possible. Make sure you dress appropriately and ensure the interview starts promptly at the agreed time. Alongside this, eliminate any distractions; switch your phone to airplane mode and turn your emails off. You’ll want to give the candidate your full attention.
Improve Your Level of Communication
As mentioned above, communication is key right now. We’re all feeling uncertain, especially those out of work and desperately searching for a new job.
For that reason, it’s important to keep the lines of communication as open as possible right now. Make sure you’re acknowledging applications and letting candidates know if they’ve succeeded.
Alongside this, be sure to give as much information as possible when arranging interviews and give constructive feedback after them, too.
If there’s going to be a delay in the decision-making process, communicate this. How you navigate this strange time will be remembered; the importance of a good employer brand isn’t going to disappear anytime soon.
Try to pick up the phone and then follow this up with a summary email. This verbal communication is extremely important when it comes to remote hiring.
Finally, be prepared for some tough questions. Savvy candidates will be keen to know how the company is navigating COVID-19 and whether it will profoundly impact the business in the future.
Making Your Hire
If you can make a hire right now, that’s great. Many companies are having to hold back on their hiring efforts, while others are able to push forward and carry on as normally as possible.
One point to note here is that you may not be able to offer some of the salaries or perks you’ve been able to promise candidates previously. So, try to be upfront about this. The labor market is shifting, and while candidates previously held power, this will soon change, so they may be prepared to lower their expectations in order to secure the job.
Alongside this, you must consider how you will onboard them into the role. What can you send them in advance to prepare? How can you start communicating with them more about the company?
These are important questions to ask yourself. Remember, the onboarding process starts as soon as someone accepts your job offer, so don’t hold back.
Master Your Remote Hiring Efforts
The current situation is tough. But it’s important to seize the opportunities that are available. If your company can afford to, then push forward with your hiring efforts as much as possible but be flexible to any delays that may crop up. Good luck!