More and more companies are using remote workers to do their work. Remote workers are workers who you communicate with online or via the phone who do not work for you in person. They accomplish their tasks at their own location, sending over items via the internet.
Benefits of Using Remote Workers
The main benefit of using remote workers is cost. These types of workers are much more affordable for various reasons. Firstly, they tend to charge less than you would be paying an hourly employee. Second, you only have to pay them for the work they actually do. Another benefit is that you have a larger selection when choosing the right person for the job. You are not confined to the talent locally available, but can span out over the entire world instead. Remote workers also tend to put out more work than hourly employees because they are not confined to a specific shift. They can work at any time they so choose and simply send the work over to you when they are finished.
Jobs To Use Remote Workers For
You can use remote workers for nearly any job not requiring physical attendance. Here is a list of the jobs remote workers are most frequently hired for, however:
- Web Design
- Customer Service
- Content/Writers
- Accounting
- Marketing
- Payroll
Sites To Find Them On
If you are interested in finding some remote workers for your company, you should start by looking at the main freelance websites. These sites include Odesk, Elance, Freelancer, Guru, Freelanced, and iFreelance. New sites are popping up everyday so it doesn’t hurt to do an online search for new sites if you can’t find anything on those main ones.
Reviewing Applications
When reviewing applications for a job you have posted on any of the various sites you should take great care. While the possibility of hiring remote workers is fantastic, there are a few downsides. First o all, you aren’t meeting these people so you have no idea if they will hold up their end of the bargain. Here are a few tips to ensure you hire the right person:
- Avoid anyone who sends a ‘copy and paste’ form letter.
- Always ask for examples of work they have previously completed. Delete any applicants who did not send examples.
- Write a phrase or word somewhere in your article and ask all applicants to paste it at the top of their application. This ensures that the entire description has been read.
- Weed out any applicants who don’t meet the necessary qualifications you have set.
- Pick a few applicants and ask them to do a test prior to hiring them. Choose the applicant who has performed the test in the most timely and professional manner.
Contracts & Moving Forward
If you use one of the sites we mentioned they will set you up a basic contract. You still need to decide how much you are going to pay your remote workers, when they will get paid, and how long the job is for. Remote workers have probably already ‘bid’ on your contract, thus stating how much they would need to be paid in order to complete the job for you. This is always negotiable, although you don’t want to low ball anyone if you want high quality work. You can opt to pay per project, per week, biweekly, or monthly. Jobs can last any duration, from the completion of a single project to an indefinite position. Remember to treat your remote workers much like you would those who work for you in person. Keep in contact, and ask that your remote workers send you emails detailing their progress each day. Doing this can help increase productivity and strengthen the boss-employee relationship.
