November 30, 2017

4 Most Important Interview Questions For Remote Employees

Remote working relationships take a new level of trust, communication, and dedication from employees and employers alike. When looking to hire a remote worker, adjust your interview process to ensure you’re finding only the best candidates. To help you choose the right person for the job, here are four interview questions for remote employees you should always ask.

Have you worked remotely before and what makes you thrive in this environment? – Not everyone is cut out for working remotely. This type of work favors those with strong organizational and communication skills. That doesn’t mean that you should pass on the perfect candidate because they don’t have remote experience; just keep it in mind so you can manage the team member accordingly. Someone with a successful remote history may need less direct help with task management than someone who is new to the game.
If you have a problem you need help with, but none of your team members are online, what would you do? Problem solving skills are key for remote workers because there may be times they have to work through issues alone before anyone else is available. What steps would they take to contain a problem, and then how would they communicate that to the rest of the team? Your remote worker will need a degree of independence in order to step up in difficult situations.
How do you manage your time and keep tasks organized? This will help you gauge how the candidate does work in general, as well as the communication style you may need to manage them. Additionally, it’s a great way to rule out people who don’t have the skills needed to keep up with new and changing tasks. Time management and organization are a must for remote workers; trust and productivity are at the heart of the relationship.
Do you work best on tasks with a team or by yourself? What you’re looking for here will greatly depend on the position you’re hiring for. Are you needing someone who will be working on tasks mostly solo, or will they be in constant communication managing a team of workers? Don’t let the remote aspect fool you, both working styles can thrive in this setting. The key is making sure you choose someone that fits with the job and current team, otherwise the fact that they’re working remotely could exacerbate the problem.

Hiring remote workers provides you with a flexible and cost-effective solution for your business. Take the time during your interviews to ask the right questions and fully evaluate candidates to ensure you’re finding your perfect employee.

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