Tip of the Week: 5 Questions to Ask When Interviewing for Remote Positions

Thanks to modern office technology, traditional office barriers that held businesses back are being brought down. With the right technology solutions, workers can work at any time from any location. This has led many employers to consider hiring remote workers due to the ability to bypass the restraints of geographical locations. Yet, just because you can hire anyone for a remote position doesn’t mean that you should.

To get started, we’ve assembled a list of questions that you should ask prospective remote workers. This way, you can have a better idea of what you can expect from them and whether or not it will benefit your organization.

“Do You Have Remote Work Experience?”
One of the easiest ways to find out how well a remote employee will do is by asking them if they have any previous remote working experience. Although, keep in mind that even if they don’t have any remote working experience, it may not necessarily be a deal-breaker. You should consider their other qualifications, such as professional experience and reliability, above all else. It’s worth mentioning that a remote worker can grow accustomed to the specific demands of their position, and if they can create proper remote working habits, they can be counted on to perform to your specifications.

“What Remote Tools Do You Have Experience With?”
This is a question that you might ask at any job interview. You need to get a handle on what type of skill set the prospective employee has. They will need to adapt to new technology solutions, so you’ll want to look for experience with online collaboration tools. Solutions like email, cloud computing, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), and instant messaging should be at the top of your priority list, as you’ll want to ensure that they’re prepared to stay in contact with you throughout the workday.

“What Does Your Home Office Look Like?”
When you’re considering hiring a remote worker, try asking them about the environment that they plan on working in. It’s a reasonable request, and one that falls in line with your duty to ensure the overall success of their remote work experience. Their home office should consist of all the technology that they’ll need to fulfill their work role, while keeping distractions to a minimum. You might ask about the quality of their Internet connection, minimum technology requirements for the position, and so on.

“Can We Expect Regular Hours From You?”
Remote workers may be tempted to just waste time while out of the office by streaming Netflix or Hulu - or simply catching up on small household chores. You need to be able to count on your remote workers to keep a consistent schedule. You should ask them about their daily routines, such as when they take lunch and what their workplace habits are. You need to be sure that your remote workers will be available when you need to reach them.

“How Autonomous Are You in the Face of Conflict?”
This one is very important; if you hire a remote worker, can you expect them to find the resolution to a problem that directly affects the way that they work? Since remote workers are out of the office, they don’t have the luxury of turning around and asking someone for help. Therefore, they need to be prepared to handle any issues that may come up, and they need to have tried-and-true troubleshooting instincts to get them through the day. Provide them the tools that they need to succeed, and encourage them to contact someone who can assist them if they need help, whether it’s your internal IT department or an outsourced provider.

If you want to improve the way that you manage your remote workers, reach out to Horne & Benik. We can provide you with the tools that you need to guarantee productivity and optimal operations. To learn more, call us at (603) 499-4400.