The year 2024 is anticipated to be a pivotal year for the future of work as organizations continue to adjust to the changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath. Remote work, which was once a limited option for certain employees, has now become a widely accepted reality for many. A Gartner survey suggests that 74% of CFOs intend to permanently shift some workers to remote work post-pandemic.
Source – https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2020-07-14-gartner-survey-reveals-82-percent-of-company-leaders-plan-to-allow-employees-to-work-remotely-some-of-the-time
Nevertheless, hiring remote resources is not without its obstacles. Hiring remotely necessitates a distinct set of skills, strategies, and tools compared to traditional hiring. Let’s discuss and examine the top six challenges when hiring remote workers in 2024 and how to surmount them.
1. Talent Shortage:
The talent shortage is one of the biggest hiring challenges that organizations are expected to face in 2024, especially for remote positions. As remote work continues to become more popular, the demand for qualified remote workers is expected to increase, particularly in the tech sector.
According to a study by Korn Ferry, by 2030 there will be a global shortage of 85 million tech workers, leading to a loss of $8.5 trillion in revenue. This is due to a combination of factors, including a lack of investment in training and education, demographic shifts, and changing skill requirements.
To overcome this challenge, organizations need to widen their talent pool by exploring non-traditional sources of talent. This includes tapping into freelance networks, online job platforms, and gig workers. These workers may offer a flexible and cost-effective solution for filling remote positions, especially for short-term or project-based work.
In addition to this, organizations need to invest in upskilling and reskilling their existing workforce. This involves identifying skill gaps and providing training and development opportunities to help employees acquire new skills that are in demand. This can help to create a more diverse and inclusive workforce while also reducing the impact of the talent shortage.
Overall, organizations that are proactive in addressing the talent shortage by exploring new sources of talent and investing in employee training and development are more likely to succeed in hiring and retaining qualified remote workers in 2024 and beyond.
2. Snagging Qualified contact quickly
The process of identifying and attracting qualified candidates for remote work can be more complex and time-consuming than traditional hiring. The fast-paced nature of remote hiring means that organizations must act quickly to secure top talent before their competitors do.
One of the biggest challenges is identifying and sourcing qualified candidates quickly. Remote hiring often involves a larger pool of candidates from all over the world, which can make it challenging to find the right fit for the position. Additionally, the competition for qualified remote workers can be intense, as many organizations are vying for the same pool of talent.
To overcome this challenge, organizations need to be proactive in their sourcing efforts. This can include leveraging online platforms and social media to identify potential candidates, attending virtual job fairs and conferences, and building relationships with remote work communities.
Another key strategy is to streamline the hiring process. Organizations can reduce the time it takes to hire by using technology tools such as applicant tracking systems (ATS) to automate the screening process and video conferencing tools for remote interviews. This can help to speed up the hiring process and allow organizations to make offers to qualified candidates more quickly.
3. Selecting the right candidate:
Evaluating candidates for remote positions can be difficult because it’s not always easy to assess their skills, work style, and cultural fit without face-to-face interaction. This can result in making a bad hire, which can be costly and negatively impact productivity.
One of the key factors in selecting the right candidate for a remote position is to have a clear understanding of the job requirements and the skills needed for success in the role. Hiring managers should have a comprehensive job description that outlines the specific skills, experience, and qualifications required for the position.
To assess a candidate’s skills, hiring managers can use various tools, such as online assessments, skills tests, and simulations. These tools can help to evaluate a candidate’s technical skills and competencies, allowing hiring managers to make more informed decisions.
In addition to technical skills, cultural fit is also an important factor to consider when selecting a remote worker. Hiring managers should look for candidates who share the organization’s values, work ethic, and communication style. This can be evaluated through behavioural interviews and reference checks.
4. Time-zone differences
When team members are working in different time zones, it can be difficult to coordinate schedules for meetings, calls, and other collaborative activities. This can lead to communication issues, as team members may not be available at the same time to discuss important issues or answer questions.
Moreover, working across time zones can also affect team morale, as it may require team members to work outside of their normal business hours or disrupt their work-life balance. To overcome this challenge, organizations can use technology to facilitate asynchronous communication, such as instant messaging or project management tools, which allow team members to communicate and collaborate on their own schedules. Organizations can also establish clear communication protocols and policies that take into account time zone differences and set expectations for response times and availability.
5. Bridging the GAP:
This challenge refers to the difficulty of finding candidates with the right skills for remote positions. Remote work requires a different set of skills than traditional office-based work, and it can be challenging to find candidates with the necessary technical and soft skills to succeed in a remote environment.
For example, a software development company may require developers with specific technical skills, such as proficiency in a particular programming language, to work on remote projects. However, in addition to technical skills, remote developers also require a range of soft skills, such as strong communication, time management, and self-motivation, to succeed in a remote work environment.
Without these soft skills, remote developers may struggle to collaborate effectively with their team members, manage their workload, or adapt to changes in the project timeline. Bridging the skill gap for remote positions involves finding candidates with both the technical and soft skills required for the job and providing them with the necessary support and training to succeed in a remote work environment.
This may include offering professional development opportunities, providing mentorship, and coaching, or investing in tools and resources that help remote workers stay connected and productive.
6. Not offering a flexible work-schedule:
However, if a company does not offer flexible work hours to remote workers, it can make it difficult to attract and retain top talent. In today’s competitive job market, offering flexible work hours is increasingly becoming a standard expectation, particularly in the tech industry where remote work is prevalent.
A lack of flexible work hours can also create retention issues among current remote employees. Without the ability to set their own schedules, remote workers may feel constrained and frustrated, leading them to consider other job opportunities that offer more flexibility.
To overcome this challenge, companies should consider offering flexible work hours to remote workers as a way to attract and retain top talent. Flexible work schedules can include options such as part-time work, job-sharing, or the ability to set their own schedules. This can help create a more attractive work environment for remote workers and foster a sense of trust and autonomy, leading to higher levels of job satisfaction and productivity.
How can we help?
As an IT services and solutions provider, Intelegain Technologies can help organizations overcome the hiring challenges faced when hiring remote resources in several ways:
- Talent sourcing: Intelegain can help organizations widen their talent pool by sourcing and identifying qualified candidates through its extensive network of professionals and partnerships with job boards, online platforms, and staffing agencies.
- Candidate selection: We can help organizations evaluate and select the right candidates for remote positions by providing a range of screening and evaluation tools, such as technical assessments, behavioural interviews, and cultural fit analysis.
- Onboarding: We can help organizations onboard remote workers by providing training and resources that help new hires adapt to the company culture, communication protocols, and work processes.
- Time zone management: Intelegain can help organizations manage remote teams across different time zones by providing tools and resources that facilitate real-time collaboration, communication, and scheduling, such as project management software, video conferencing tools, and time tracking software.
- Bridging the skill gap: Help organizations bridge the skill gap for remote positions by providing upskilling and reskilling programs that help existing employees acquire the technical and soft skills required for remote work, as well as providing training and mentorship programs for new hires.
In conclusion, hiring remote resources presents a unique set of challenges that organizations must overcome to succeed in the new normal of work in 2024. From talent shortage to time zone differences and bridging the skill gap, these challenges require new skills, strategies, and tools that are tailored to the remote work environment.
Intelegain Technologies can help organizations overcome these challenges by providing talent sourcing, candidate selection, onboarding, time zone management, and upskilling and reskilling programs that enable organizations to build and manage high-performing remote teams. With the right approach and support, organizations can leverage the benefits of remote work and stay ahead of the competition in a rapidly changing business landscape.
