Finding and engaging exceptional remote talent is more crucial than ever given 70% of the global workforce is expected to be working flexibly in some capacity by 2025. As a hiring manager, where should you start your search to build a world-class distributed team?
This comprehensive guide will walk you through the top 5 talent pools I‘ve used successfully over the past decade to locate high-quality prospects excited by the location freedom and autonomy remote work provides. I‘ll share insider tips, real-world examples and actionable recommendations so you can start connecting with your next top-performing virtual employee or contractor.
Let‘s dive in!
Why Go Remote?
Before getting into the details on where to hire, it‘s important to understand why building out a remote workforce is becoming so critical for any growing company.
Here are five of the biggest benefits:
1. Access the Best People Globally
Local talent pools lack diversity and specialization compared to recruiting globally. No matter your industry, role or seniority needs, remote arrangements expand your options 10X.
2. Reduce Costs & Improve Flexibility
Between office space/utilities, equipment and related overhead, remote talent is typically 15-20% cheaper per employee. You also scale up and down faster.
3. Boost Productivity & Performance
Studies by Harvard Business Review, Airtasker and others reveal remote professionals work more hours and complete more tasks than on-site peers.
4. Improve Employee Satisfaction
Between schedule flexibility and reduced commuting, remote workers report much higher job satisfaction – up to 80% in some polls. Happier teams mean better retention and recruitment.
5. Enhance Company Culture
Counterintuitively, distributed teams can foster deeper connections through more intentional collaboration tools and remote social events. The emphasis shifts to output over attendance.
Clearly, there‘s never been a better time to take advantage of this remote revolution when hiring. Now, let‘s explore those top talent sources…
1. Targeted Remote Job Boards
Dedicated remote work job sites…
2. Global Freelance Marketplaces
Popular freelancer platforms include…
Case Study: Toptal
As an example of the quality of talent on freelance marketplaces, Toptal stands out….
3. Professional/Social Networks
Beyond conventional job searches, business-oriented social media platforms represent rich environments for sourcing specialized remote workers open to new projects.
For instance, LinkedIn now has:
- Over 800 million members globally
- Features like Corporate Pages and Sales Navigator to identify outbound talent
- Tools to post roles viewable only to members with desired skills/background
I‘ve also used GitHub successfully to connect with developers excited to collaborate on open source and side projects listed on my profile. This establishes initial relationships I can develop into contractor agreements.
4. Work Collaboration Platforms
Remote teams rely on a growing suite of software platforms enabling easy communication, task management and content collaboration. Many of these tools offer integrated talent pools.
For example:
- Hubstaff Talent – Attract from their global pool of 2M+ independent professionals already familiar with their software stack
These types of talent sources embed key systems remote workers will be utilizing already within your hiring pipeline – reducing onboarding and technology adoption hurdles substantially.
5. Traditional Recruiters/Staffing Firms
Even with increasing remote hiring happening directly, traditional external recruiters and staffing agencies still play a pivotal role – especially for mid-large company talent needs.
Specialist staffing firms focusing explicitly on flexible/remote placements include:
- HireRemote – Boutique firm with strong Director+ and executive placement record. Particularly globally diverse slate.
Leveraging recruiting subject matter experts lifts the sourcing burden while providing seasoned assessment of candidate workplace readiness in a remote or hybrid team environment.
Other Notable Sources
Beyond the main channels outlined above, here are some additional more unconventional locations I‘ve successfully located fantastic remote hires:
- Industry Events – Conferences like SaaStock and Meetups through Meetup.com host professionals open to new remote gigs.
- Slack Communities – Engaged specialty Slack groups like Startup Study Group and Indie Hackers often have job channels.
- FlexJobs Forums – People offering their services and recommendations surface in their Talent Communities.
- Publications – Commenters on sites like Hacker News or subscribers to newsletters may be open to discussions.
- Coworking Spaces – If you have a distributed team hub location, talent often circulates through interested in flexibility.
The key is to leverage communities relevant to the type of role/skills you‘re after. Warm connections convert better than cold contacts.
Best Practices for Onboarding & Managing
To ensure your new remote hires thrive…
The remote work revolution is here to stay. Following the sourcing strategies and talent pools outlined above will lead you to stars ready to elevate your organization no matter where they‘re located globally.
What tips do you have for finding great remote team members? Share your experiences in the comments below!
