While hiring employees gives you access to a massive new talent pool, it is important to remember remote workers are much different than in-person team members. From a self-starter mentality to good communication, there are several competencies every successful remote employee must possess. 

In working with talented candidates in positions ranging from eCommerce to operations, Magic Pace has narrowed down a list of hard and soft skills you should look for when hiring remote employees. No matter which remote job you are hiring for, be sure that candidates possess these 5 essential traits: 

1. Self-starter 

Since remote employees don’t have supervisors in the same room as them, they must be self-starters who can largely manage themselves. While employee productivity tools can help keep tabs on your remote workers, your best bet is to hire someone with an entrepreneurial and goal-oriented mindset. As Forbes explains, “They must be able to get up each morning, be productive, and accomplish their tasks day in and day out. If possible, look for potential hires who have previous experience working remotely.” 

2. Technologically savvy 

When the pandemic first hit, it created a huge rift between technologically savvy employees and those who were behind the times. Today, you simply can’t afford to hire someone who doesn’t possess a baseline knowledge of computers, mobile apps, and cloud-based services. If a team member spends precious time trying to figure out simple tasks like sending calendar invites, it will hurt your bottom line in the end. 

3. Good communicator 

Since they aren’t directly supervised, remote employees must be excellent communicators. For example, if your remote worker fails to ask questions about a certain task and does things the wrong way, it's lost time and money for your organization. 

A lack of prompt communication and feedback can quickly lead to frustration and decreased productivity in your organization. In many instances, the most frustrating part of poor communication is being left in limbo and unable to move forward without a clear answer. Conversely, the best remote workers tend to overcommunicate because they understand how their tasks integrate with their colleagues' workflows.

4. Critical thinker 

According to the Coursera website, “Critical thinking is the ability to interpret, evaluate, and analyze facts and information that are available, to form a judgment or decide if something is right or wrong.” While many people only consider remote jobs to involve simple tasks like data entry, critical thinking is a key trait for top remote workers. 

While you want remote team members to ask questions and communicate well, it's also important for them to solve problems independently. The best remote employees can learn as they go and make appropriate decisions to remain productive. 

5. Trustworthy 

Since you can’t regularly check in on them at the office, you need to trust that remote workers have your best interests in mind. Some nefarious individuals might try to access sensitive information for profit, while others might work multiple jobs at the same time and get paid for both. In any case, talking with work references and doing criminal background checks help ensure you only hire trustworthy people.