How To Hire A Remote Engineer?

According to statistical records, India is among the
15 most badly affected economies due to the global pandemic. Most IT companies are still struggling to survive the consequences of
the situation. Social distancing has to be maintained as mass gatherings
may have a negative impact. This has underlined the need for a remote hiring
process for engineering talent. High-tech companies have experienced
sustainable growth after hiring more remote engineers. According to a
survey report, 83% of developers want jobs that allow them to work from remote
workspaces. This has been beneficial from the industry’s perspective, too.

Skills of a Remote Engineer

Now we will try to identify the qualities one should look for in an
efficient remote engineer.

Technical skills are certainly an essential element of the true
potential of an ideal employee. But we also need to consider the
importance of soft skills, some of which are described below:

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1. Communication

Communication is the basis for efficient functioning. Robust communication
is the key to form a better understanding between people. Thus, the
developer must be fluent in the native language or the professionally
spoken language. Besides, a remote engineer should be able to convey their
ideas to colleagues efficiently. Only then can they avoid conflicts and
confusion. One must hire a professional who can successfully present an
important idea to team members.

2. Teamwork

Teamwork is the summation of all efforts of team members to achieve one
common goal. To work in a team, every member must sacrifice his/her
personal interests and work together. Therefore, one must look for an
employee who can efficiently work in a team and produce relevant outputs
for the company.

3. Adaptability

Adaptability is another compelling quality that a remote engineer needs to
possess. Thus, adaptability is the flexibility to learn new technologies
and develop communication skills. One should not stick to old technologies
alone. One should try to learn different programming languages to complete
any task mandated by the organization. The remote work culture includes
shifting of job schedules, which the engineer is expected to be flexible
with.

4. Problem-Solving Skills

Problem-solving is not something to accomplish with textbook knowledge. It
demands rigorous showcasing of multiple skills. To deal with any critical
problem, one must first understand its elemental nature. However, with
experience, the knowledge and ability to solve problems quickly and with
ease will develop. Also, a remote engineer must be patient and devote more
time to learning. Eventually, they will become masters at handling
challenging problems.

5. Creativity

Being creative for a technical person means the ability to solve complex
problems in innovative ways and search for new solutions. Only then can
one perform well as a software developer. Some of the primary areas in
which one can display their creativity are web development and Android app
development. So, the hiring manager should assess the candidate’s creative
abilities during the interview.

Ways to Hire Suitable Remote Engineers

So far, we have looked at the essential qualities of an agile and
efficient remote developer. Now, we will discuss the steps that HR
managers should follow to hire a remote engineer.

Step 1 – You should mention a well-defined job title,
describe it, and mention the CTC package and other perks.

• Job Title: One should finalize the job title by
  considering all the aspects of the post.
• Job Description: A well-presented job description
  can give the candidate a clear vision to self-assess and decide if
  they have the qualifications for the post.
• Remuneration: The hiring manager must mention the
  annual package, stipend during the training period, and other perks.

Step 2 – You must explain the selection process. To
filter the better candidates, the firm can mention a few eligibility
criteria first, conduct several screening tests, and finally schedule
virtual interviews. Some companies prefer candidates with more experience.

1. Set Essential Eligibility Criteria

First, mention the necessary eligibility criteria to apply for the
designation. What are the technical skills and academic performance the
candidate must have? Therefore, in this step, a large number of candidates
are typically filtered out.

2. Screening Test

You can conduct aptitude, verbal, and logical tests of 30-minute or longer
durations to further reduce the candidate pool. These tests will help you
determine if the candidate’s basic technical knowledge is suitable for the
post. However, you can do it virtually through a video conference as,
currently, on-site interviews can be avoided.

3. Technical Round

For technical positions such as a remote engineer, two interviews are
conducted — technical and HR rounds. The hiring IT company must arrange a
coding contest or some other test to judge the candidate’s technical
ability. Therefore, it is the most crucial part of the hiring process. In
this phase, the company can get to know the underlying technical skills of
the candidate and if they are suitable for the job. The hiring team can
also assess peer performance through this round. The technical round
provides sufficient opportunity for the hiring team to assess the
candidate’s relevant skills. These skills will be thoroughly tested every
day once the selected candidate is on the job.

4. Interview

If a candidate clears all the rounds mentioned above, there is a higher
chance of them getting the job and the company securing the right
resource. Therefore to confirm that, a virtual interview must be arranged.
In the HR round, communication skills can be tested. The hiring manager
must also ask about the candidate’s salary expectation and experience. In
case the hiring manager is not sure the candidate is suitable for the
post, they can ask their peers for inputs.

5. Offer Letter

If everything is checked off and the candidate is deemed eligible for the
post, the company must confirm them with an offer letter. With this, the
selection procedure is completed.

Recruitment Process for Project Managers and Senior Engineers

Project managers and senior engineers shape the technical departments and
their outputs. Newly hired developers work under the supervision and
expertise of these personnel. Thus, the recruitment of competent managers
and senior engineers is critical to the overall success of the departments
and the organization as a whole. A company must invest sufficient time and
efforts to streamline the recruitment process and tweak the criteria as
required. With the assessment and hiring of team leaders being a
challenging task, the above-mentioned process must be particularly solid
and effective.

Advantages of Hiring a Remote Engineer

Now, we will discuss some of the benefits of hiring remote engineers:

1. The pandemic situation has adversely impacted the financial situation
   of many IT companies. Additionally, the need for a reduced workforce
   and social distancing in the workspace has made the appointing of
   remote developers a good option.
2. Companies can hire remote engineers based on their requirements and
   location. The hiring of remote engineers can also bring about cost
   efficiencies for the organization.
3. According to the most recent statistics, only 23% of employees want to
   work without taking any kind of break. So, to get effective
   contributions within a specific period, hiring remote developers can
   be a beneficial option.
4. With telecommuting, remote engineers can do their job effectively from
   any geographical location.