The 5 Skills that All Remote Workers Should Possess this Year

Jessica Williams
Published Feb 15, 2024


Although the remote working strategy has been a choice for many for more than 10 years now, more organizations had no other option but to let their employees work from home when the Covid-19 pandemic struck. The changes experienced in the working world might have a lasting impact in the coming years.

Human resource and hiring managers will need their employees' remote working skills when conducting interviews. Although workers can succeed at remote working, they will need specific skills. Organizations will also need to make necessary adjustments. They might not need the skills that they valued a few years back. The following are the five skills remote workers should have during the hiring process:

1. Employees Should be Independent


Most people love working from home because of the freedom that it provides. They would prefer working from their comforts while wearing slippers and casual clothing instead of the tedious commutes and having to wear proper outfits. Others may enjoy working from home since it keeps them away from nosy workmates. However, most of them don't consider the loneliness of not having co-workers.

The first days of working from home may seem enjoyable, but that might change when it becomes a routine. The only communication with colleagues may be through voice and video calls and chats. As the hiring professional, anyone you hire should understand this and be ready to work alone at all times. They also need to know how to manage their working time without supervision.

2. Workers Need to be Cooperative


Organizations that need remote workers should look for those who don't require follow-ups to accomplish various tasks. Managers should follow up on workers during the first days to avoid failed projects due to a lack of cooperation and communication. However, they should learn how to balance to avoid their workforce being overly independent. Even though remote workers need to be independent, they should collaborate with others to help the organization achieve its objectives.

Hence, they should put their egos aside, participate in all needed virtual meetings and team activities, listen to what others have to say, and do more than the management expects of them for the company's good. Working in collaboration enables the smooth running of the organization.

3. Virtual Employees Should Have Inner Motivation


When working from home, there has to be something that motivates someone to continue working even when they don't feel like it. Since remote workers have no colleagues or managers to monitor and cheer them on, they need to have something to motivate them to continue working to accomplice their goals. People that always require someone in authority to keep telling them what to do may not succeed at remote working.

As an HR professional, you should hire employees who can motivate themselves to continue working no matter how they feel at different times. Most people get motivation from accomplishing things, avoiding failure, and being perfect, among other things. You should find out what motivates an employer before hiring them to achieve the best from them.

4. Workers should be Organized


They need to be organized since the remote workers will have minimal or no supervision. They will have to manage their time, projects, and communication. No one enjoys working with a disorganized person. They drag everyone behind by always submitting their assignments late, failing to follow procedures, and never having what is required.

Organizations should identify the right platform to centralize and manage communication and project management. In addition, good employees should adopt a system that enables them to complete their responsibilities and tasks in time.

5. Employees Should Adapt to any Changes that Arise


Every professional understands that there are days when projects don't go as planned. Additionally, everyone who has ever worked from home knows that one faces more than work stresses when working remotely. You might have to handle restless kids, problems with the internet, and other distractions. Unfortunately, these things are inevitable.

Skilled remote working professionals should know how to navigate the issues that may come up during working times to continue being productive. Since they should possess top-notch adaptability, time, and project management skills, they will know what to do to complete the tasks needed. Adaptability will help other team members to trust the employee.

HR professionals and interviewing personnel should ensure their remote working employees possess the above five skills before hiring them. With these skills, the professionals will be sure of having a productive team that enables the organization to meet its goals.

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