As a business owner, you have a ton of responsibilities to juggle on a daily basis. There are numerous aspects that must be taken care of in order to successfully manage a company, ranging from handling email to managing employees and monitoring project updates. However, all these tasks take up too much valuable time. Have you thought about hiring someone that could help? More importantly, have you thought about hiring virtual employees to expand your team? 

For instance, if you’re running an immigration law firm and can’t keep up with case preparation and other administrative tasks, it might be wise to hire a virtual immigration paralegal to help you out with the workload. But where do you find good virtual employees? How do you make sure the person you find is right for your needs?

Below, we’re sharing 5 tried and tested strategies that can help you hire the virtual employees you need.

1. Know Where to Look

While there are numerous online job boards that you can use to start your search for virtual employees, they are not the only option. In order to do this properly,  you must conduct research and keep an eye out for prospective hotspots that may provide you with the talent you want. 

If you are looking for freelance virtual employees, then your initial impulse might be to visit a platform such as Upwork. However, using a special service is a better approach to hiring virtual employees. Seek out companies that promise transparency and authentic talent. 

For instance, if you are looking to hire virtual executive assistants to help with time-consuming administrative tasks and allow you to focus on what matters most, then an experienced virtual assistant service is your best bet. These professionals put each virtual assistant through a strict vetting process, making sure you get the right employee for your needs. 

2. Use Technology for Your Hiring Process

When hiring your virtual employees, you will likely use an app like Zoom to conduct a video interview with the applicants. This is a smart move because when recruiting virtually, you can easily miss a candidate’s professional demeanor and facial expressions if you decide to conduct the interview via phone or chat. Despite the fact that it’s a virtual role, you want to be sure the applicant is still professional and competent.

However, video platforms are not the only tools you can use to make sure you find the best candidate. Remote hiring technology like talent sourcing, applicant tracking, and onboarding can identify, sort, communicate with, and onboard applicants and help significantly improve your virtual hiring process. 

3. Evaluate the Skills and Experience

As soon as you have a short list of the top candidates, be sure to evaluate their skills. For example, you can give them a pretend scenario where they must deal with an upset customer. This is a great test as it will demonstrate their level of proficiency, attention to detail, and ability to manage difficult customer scenarios.

In addition, try to find someone who already has experience with remote work. It is advantageous to hire virtual workers who have prior experience working remotely because they are already aware of the duties and qualifications necessary to execute a remote job.

4. Talk About More Than the Job

Talking to and asking questions about an applicant’s background, family, education, and prior work experiences will provide you with a clear understanding of their mindset. In addition, you might base your discussion on their values, interests, and how they overcame challenges.

This will enable you to recognize their advantages and determine whether they could readily fit into your company’s dynamic. 

On the other hand, you also have a role to play as an employer. Given how many businesses offer virtual opportunities these days, you need to make your organization stand out to top candidates. Selling your company culture to prospective new workers is one of the simplest ways to accomplish this. 

Building an inclusive workplace culture with your remote employees is crucial because, according to studies, approximately 40% of applicants have declined job offers due to a lack of inclusion. In order to build an inclusive company culture, you should make sure to check your values and systems, promote transparency and open communication, and always lead by example. 

5. Get Your Team Involved

Finally, don’t forget to involve your existing employees in the decision. It’s important to seek feedback from other team members, especially from the people with whom the selected candidate will be closely collaborating.

Team members should get the chance to speak with applicants and ask questions to learn more about them. This makes it possible for everyone to understand how a new recruit will fit into the company culture, which is a crucial but frequently disregarded consideration.

Final Thoughts

One of the simplest methods to increase your staff rapidly and streamline work processes is by hiring virtual employees. However, your company’s productivity and success will largely depend on whether you find the right ones for your company. If you use the tips in this article, you’ll be able to hire only the best candidates quickly and cost-effectively.