What Qualifies as a Good CV for Hiring a Remote Candidate?

There's a significant difference between hiring a remote candidate and someone who will be a member of your team in the office. After all, remote workers bring specific attributes to the table: their work-life balance, mobility, and freedom from office politics. In fact, their CV and experience often need to be more scrutinized than a local hire. However, the actual hiring process is similar.

As a recruiter, if you want to add a remote worker to your team, you need to consider the following factors:

Commitment

Every company wants committed employees. If a candidate is going to join the company and put their blood, sweat, and tears into their project, the least they can do is stick to office hours. 

The remote worker should practice self-discipline and enthusiasm when getting the job done. Moreover, they should focus on the tasks and not waste time. Make sure it's you, not them, who makes the call when it's time to wrap up the work day. 

Communication Skills

A great team operates successfully through open communication. Make sure the remote candidate you hire knows how to speak up. The remote communication process must be transparent so they can talk openly to the team. This way, you'll be able to spot a bad apple before they throw a spanner in the works.

Time Zone

Time zones are crucial when hiring a remote candidate. While it might seem more manageable if your team member is always available, it's not. A remote employee should be accessible during the "regular" business hours unless it's a freelance position and the hours are flexible.

Attention to Detail

Unlike working in a physical office, you need to be more diligent about what a remote worker does when you don't see them. The best thing to do is set up a weekly or monthly review over the phone. The worker should be able to explain their progress and check-in with you on any issues, ideas, and concerns.

An Aptitude for Technology

A remote candidate must be knowledgeable about current technologies. It's not enough if they can work with a computer in a general sense. They must know how to use the programs and software crucial to the role they’ll be filling. If they don't know how to use specific software, they'll need to be willing and able to learn how to do so.

Problem-Solving Skills

When working alone, resources can be limited. As such, the remote employee must have the problem-solving skills to overcome any issues. A remote worker must be self-sufficient and be able to get out of a sticky situation. 

Final Thoughts

If you're looking to bring on remote employees, make sure you're doing everything you can to ensure they'll be successful. The remote employee must be able to trust they're in a remote position because of their ability to work alone, not despite it.

Today's remote workers, who are much more likely to be young, digital natives, need a different approach. You must ensure their work will contribute to your team's work and make the company flourish.

Hire the best candidates by having them take assessment tests for jobs they’re applying for. Kandio is a skill assessment platform that can help you gauge the right person for your company’s opening—try it for free today!