Outsourcing is more popular than ever before, and it isn’t hard to see why. A recent study found that remote work is successful for over 80% of companies, and it also allows business owners to save money by reducing office space. But how do small business owners find the best remote employees?
After all, there are tens of thousands of remote employees to choose from, and if you’ve never hired remotely you may be unsure where to start. Thankfully we are here to help!
Here are seven outsourcing tips for your business.
1. Outsourcing Tips For Your Business: Find Specific Candidates For Specific Roles
You can hire remote employees with a wide rage of specific skills; for instance, you can find writers, editors, graphic designers and even dog walkers! So create a specific brief with the role you want to fill, and look for someone who has relevant, specific experience that they will use. It can be tempting to hire a ‘jack of all trades’ in an attempt to get more for your money, but if the role is specific, the skills should be too!
2. Find Someone With A Good Track Record
If you’ve never outsourced work before you may be nervous about hiring a subpar worker, but you can avoid this by finding someone with a good track record. For instance, you could ask fellow business owners for suggestions, or you could check out reviews from an agency to see if their other clients are happy. This will increase the chances of you hiring a high quality worker.
3. Make Sure The Project And Schedule Are Understood
It is also important to make sure the person you hire understand the project (and the schedule) fully. Be clear about your expectations, your goals, your schedule and your budget, and find someone who is confident they can deliver the results you are hoping for.
4. Don’t Make The Cost Your Number One Concern
Cost is obviously an important factor, but if it is the number one concern when hiring someone new you may end up hiring the wrong person. Remember that hiring the wrong candidate will cost you more time and money in the long run, so don’t be overly frugal. So set a realistic budget, and take the time to find a quality candidate (rather than a cheap candidate).
5. Use Outsource Interview Techniques
Don’t hire someone after just a few emails; interview them like you would if you were hiring someone to work in your office. Set up a video call where you can learn more about their skills and personality, and take the time to check up on references.
6. Write A Contract
Create a contract that outlines the role, the expected performance, the budget and the hours. This will set clear expectations for your remote employee, which means there is less likely to be confusion further down the line. Don’t assume that your employee knows exactly what you want; be clear and concise!
Set (And Maintain) Reasonable Expectations
Finally it is important to have reasonable expectations. There will likely be an adjustment period as the remote worker settles in, and during this time they may have questions for you. Be patient and informative, and make it clear that they can reach out to you if they are unsure about anything. This will speed up the adjustment period, and it also means that the remote employee is more likely to deliver great results in the long run.
