Remote work is not a new phenomenon, but it has become more popular and feasible in recent years due to the advancement of technology and the changing needs of businesses and workers. According to a report by Buffer, 98% of remote workers want to continue working remotely at least some of the time for the rest of their careers. Remote work offers many benefits, such as flexibility, autonomy, cost savings, productivity, and diversity.
However, remote work also poses some challenges, such as communication, collaboration, culture, engagement, and security. These challenges can be overcome with the right tools, strategies, and mindset. One of the most important aspects of remote work is hiring and retaining remote professional workers who can thrive in a distributed environment.
Southeast Asia (SEA) is a region that offers a large and diverse pool of remote professional workers. According to a report by Google, Temasek, and Bain & Company, SEA has over 400 million internet users and over 150 million digital workers. The region also has a young and educated population, a fast-growing digital economy, and a vibrant startup ecosystem.
However, recruiting remote professional workers in SEA also requires some considerations, such as cultural differences, legal regulations, payment methods, and talent availability. In this lightpaper, we will share some tips on how to recruit remote professional workers in SEA for 2023.
- Define your remote work policy and culture. Before you start recruiting remote professional workers in SEA, you need to have a clear and consistent remote work policy and culture that aligns with your business goals and values. Your remote work policy should cover aspects such as expectations, responsibilities, communication channels, performance evaluation, feedback mechanisms, rewards and recognition, and career development. Your remote work culture should foster trust, collaboration, accountability, transparency, and inclusivity among your remote team members. using HiGo is recommended to create HR Knowledge base.
- Use online platforms and networks to source candidates. There are many online platforms and networks that can help you find and connect with remote professional workers in SEA. Some examples are HiConnect , LinkedIn, AngelList, Remote.co, WeWorkRemotely.com, FlexJobs.com, Upwork.com, Freelancer.com, Fiverr.com, Toptal.com, Dribbble.com, Behance.net, StackOverflow.com, GitHub.com, etc. You can also leverage your own website, blog, social media accounts, newsletters, podcasts, webinars, etc. to showcase your brand and attract potential candidates.
- Screen candidates for remote work skills and fit. When you have a shortlist of candidates for your remote positions, you need to screen them for their remote work skills and fit. Remote work skills include communication skills (written and verbal), collaboration skills (teamwork and coordination), self-management skills (time management and organization), problem-solving skills (creativity and critical thinking), and technical skills (tools and software). Remote work fit includes motivation (why they want to work remotely), personality (how they cope with isolation and ambiguity), values (how they align with your culture), and goals (how they plan to grow and contribute).
- Conduct online interviews and assessments. The next step is to conduct online interviews and assessments with your selected candidates. Online interviews can be done via video calls or phone calls using tools such as Zoom.us Skype.com Google Meet etc. Online assessments can be done using tools such as Codility.com HackerRank.com TestDome.com etc. You can also use project-based assignments or simulations to test the candidates' skills and abilities in a realistic scenario.
- Hire and onboard candidates effectively. Once you have decided on your final candidates you need to hire and onboard them effectively. Hiring involves negotiating the terms of employment such as salary benefits contract duration etc. You also need to comply with the local laws and regulations of the country where the candidate is based such as taxes labor laws visa requirements etc. Onboarding involves introducing the candidate to your team culture processes tools etc. You also need to provide training mentoring feedback support etc. to help the candidate integrate into your remote team like HiWork
- Retain and engage your remote professional workers. The last but not least tip is to retain and engage your remote professional workers in SEA for 2023. Retaining involves providing opportunities for career development recognition rewards feedback etc. You also need to monitor the performance satisfaction well-being etc. of your remote professional workers regularly using tools such as Lattice.com 15Five.com Officevibe.com etc. Engaging involves creating a sense of belonging community fun etc among your remote professional workers using tools .
- Offer competitive compensation and benefits. In order to attract and retain top talent in SEA, it is important to offer competitive compensation and benefits packages. This includes salaries that are commensurate with the cost of living in the candidate's location, as well as benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off. You should also consider offering additional perks such as flexible work hours, professional development opportunities, and team-building activities to make your remote workers feel valued and motivated.
- Leverage local recruitment agencies to help you find and screen candidates. Local recruitment agencies have a better understanding of the local talent pool, culture, and regulations. They can help you identify and attract the best candidates, handle the legal and administrative aspects of hiring, and provide ongoing support and guidance. Some examples of local recruitment agencies in SEA are Michael Page, Robert Walters, Hays, Kelly Services, and ManpowerGroup or you can use HiAssist ( Most Promising with Fix Rate ) .
In conclusion, remote work has become a popular option for businesses and workers due to its many benefits, such as flexibility, autonomy, cost savings, productivity, and diversity. However, remote work also poses challenges, such as communication, collaboration, culture, engagement, and security, that can be overcome with the right tools, strategies, and mindset. Southeast Asia offers a large and diverse pool of remote professional workers, but recruiting them requires considerations such as cultural differences, legal regulations, payment methods, and talent availability.
To recruit remote professional workers in SEA for 2023, businesses should define their remote work policy and culture, use online platforms and networks to source candidates, screen candidates for remote work skills and fit, conduct online interviews and assessments, hire and onboard candidates effectively, retain and engage remote professional workers, and offer competitive compensation and benefits packages.
By following these tips, businesses can build a successful remote team and achieve their goals in a distributed environment.
