2 tips for hiring students, grads for remote jobs

Before and even during the 2019-20 school year, few employers paid much attention to whether the students and recent graduates they were considering hiring had the demonstrated ability to work remotely. That all changed in March 2020 and likely will never be the same.

At College Recruiter, all of our employees have worked remotely since 1997. Yeah, that long ago. So, we’ve learned a thing or two not just about how to adapt how we work when we’re rarely in the same place at the same time but also about who we hire. As you’ve no doubt discovered, someone can do superb work in an office environment but be a disaster when working from home. Others, like me, are far more productive (and happier) when working remotely than in a big cube farm.

Jessica Wise of HelpSquad recently shared with us two of the most important factors they use when hiring their conversion specialists, who serve as live chat sales and support agents and monitor and respond to the online visitors of their 1,000 clients. First, according to Jessica, it is important to determine if the candidate has “the confidence and ability to work independently once given direction”. Management is no longer a few steps away for questions and hands on training. New hires at HelpSquad must be fast learners and unafraid to dive into their work.

Second, when considering hiring someone for an entry-level, remote position, ask yourself if the candidate is a self-starter. “There may be times when management may be stuck in a Zoom meeting or on an important call with a client”, said Jessica. “For example, if a trainee is unsure of something, he or she must be willing to research online or ask a more seasoned team member for advice. If a new hire has completed all assigned tasks, he or she must have the initiative to be productive with their time by learning more about the company and their role, brainstorm ideas to contribute at the next meeting or offering their assistance to other team members.”

College Recruiter believes that every student and recent graduate deserves a great career. We’re all seeing more and more careers start with work that is partly and sometimes entirely remote. Fortunately for the more than 2.5 million students and recent graduates of one-, two-, and four-year colleges and universities who use our site a year to find part-time, seasonal, internship, and entry-level jobs, they’re almost all very comfortable with technology and working remotely after more than 12 years of working on homework and projects from their kitchen tables, dorm rooms, and apartments.