The rise of remote work has given companies new ways to access talent pools around the world in today's quickly changing workplace. While directly hiring remote workers is a common strategy, working with staffing firms that also provide remote placements is a frequently ignored alternative. 

 In order to meet the growing demand for remote work, staffing firms can help find and place remote workers for their clients. As we are all painfully aware of our experience through the pandemic, COVID-19 has accelerated the shift to remote work for many companies throughout the United States as well as abroad. 

Many businesses are now offering remote work options as a permanent benefit. This trend is creating new opportunities for staffing agencies, as they can help companies find and place remote workers. Staffing firms can fill temporary, temp-to-hire, permanent, and, more recently, remote positions.

There are several benefits to using staffing companies to find remote talent. 

Here are six unique insights into maximizing this tactic:

1.Access to a Diverse and Wider Pool of Talent:

Staffing agencies have access to a wider pool of candidates than businesses typically do. This can help businesses find qualified candidates that they might not have been able to find on their own. Staffing agencies also possess extensive networks and databases of pre-screened candidates, offering businesses access to a vast array of remote talent. However, what sets them apart is their ability to connect organizations with remote professionals who possess niche skills or industry-specific expertise. By capitalizing on these agencies, companies can gain a competitive edge by securing top-notch remote talent that perfectly aligns with their unique requirements. 

2.Streamlined Recruitment Process:

Hiring remote workers through staffing agencies can streamline the recruitment process. These agencies assume the responsibility of sourcing, screening, and vetting potential candidates, saving businesses valuable time and effort. Their expertise in evaluating remote candidates’ capabilities, work ethics, and cultural fit enables companies to swiftly identify the right individuals without going through an extensive hiring process.

3.Mitigating the Challenges of Remote Hiring:

Remote hiring presents its own set of challenges, including assessing a candidate’s ability to work independently, communication skills, and time management capabilities. Staffing agencies well-versed in remote placements understand these challenges and employ effective strategies to evaluate candidates for remote work compatibility. They can provide valuable guidance to businesses on creating effective job descriptions, conducting virtual interviews, and gauging a candidate’s suitability for a remote work environment.

4.Flexibility and Scalability:

Staffing agencies offer businesses the flexibility to scale their remote workforce up or down based on changing needs. This level of agility is particularly valuable for companies experiencing seasonal fluctuations, project-based work, or sudden surges in demand. Partnering with staffing agencies allows organizations to quickly adapt to evolving market conditions by seamlessly onboarding or offboarding remote workers as required.

5.Cultural Integration and Remote Team Building:

Building a cohesive company culture and fostering team dynamics within a remote workforce can be challenging. Staffing agencies can play a pivotal role in facilitating cultural integration and team-building activities, ensuring that remote workers feel connected and aligned with the company’s values and goals. By collaborating with agencies that prioritize cultural fit, businesses can establish strong remote teams that collaborate effectively despite geographical distances.

6. Reduced costs, increased productivity and improved employee morale:

Companies can save money on office space and other overhead costs by offering remote work options. In addition, employees who work remotely are often more productive than employees who work in the office, as they have fewer distractions and can work at their own pace. More importantly, employees who are able to work remotely are often happier and more engaged because they have more flexibility and can better balance their work and personal lives.

There are many different types of staffing agencies, and they each have their own specialties. Some staffing agencies specialize in certain industries, such as technology, healthcare, clerical, industrial, and/or professional roles. Other staffing agencies are full-service and offer roles in multiple industries. Selecting the best suited staffing agency for your business is important to successfully filling your roles. 

Staffing agencies can be a valuable resource for businesses that are looking to fill a specific position quickly or that need help finding qualified candidates. However, it is important to do your research and choose a reputable staffing firm. 

When a company decides to use a staffing agency, they will typically work with the agency to develop a job description and identify the skills and experience that they are looking for in a candidate. The agency will search their database of candidates and advertise for additional applicants, present the company with a list of potential candidates, and the company will then interview the contenders and make a decision about who to hire.

Remote openings available now on Indeed

Let’s see what is available for remote work as I write this article. A quick search on Indeed today, 5/22/23, for remote roles provided the following results, with a short list of six remote roles available out of several:

• Recruitment Specialist - 24-Hour Medical Staffing Services, California
• Technical Writer - Total Medical Staffing Agency - 
• Desktop Support Specialist - Healthcare System Staffing - Texas
• Production Artist - Masterminds Agency - Pennsylvania
• Outside Sales - Scion Staffing - New York
• Corporate Litigation Attorney - BC Staffing Agency - California

It’s interesting to note that several staffing companies also hire recruiters to work remotely for their own firms as well as for their clients. The position lends itself well to remote capabilities, as recruiters can reach out and speak with clients and potential job candidates from home as well as from the office. They can also interview and onboard remotely. 

In more general terms, here is a list of remote job titles and companies that staffing agencies have or are helping specifically to recruit and fill remote jobs on a temporary or permanent basis:

Remote Job Titles

• Customer service representative
• Technical support specialist
• Software engineer
• Data analyst
• Marketing manager
• Human resources manager
• Accountant
• Project manager
• Sales representative
• Web developer

Companies that have enlisted the assistance of a staffing agency or placement firm include: 

• Amazon
• Apple
• Google
• Microsoft
• Facebook
• Salesforce
• Adobe
• Oracle
• SAP
• IBM

Among the many businesses that are hiring for remote jobs, these are just a few. Staffing firms can benefit businesses by vetting applicants, offering training, and managing the candidate-company relationship. And managing the relationship is key. 

Effective communication is required more in a remote hire than in a typical hiring situation because remote jobs are considerably more isolated from a physical location. Since they don't regularly interact with their employers in person, remote workers are more likely to feel at ease communicating with the recruiter they built a rapport with to land their new position than they would with the HR manager at their company. 

We’ve discussed a lot on the company/client side of remote hiring. What about the job candidate/employee? 

Here are three employee benefits of working with a staffing agency to find a remote job:

• Access to a wider pool of jobs: Staffing agencies have access to a wider pool of jobs than candidates can find on their own. This is because staffing agencies have relationships with companies that are not always publicly advertised.
• Expertise in the hiring process: Staffing agencies have expertise in the hiring process and can help candidates navigate the process from start to finish. This can save candidates time and stress.
• Support: Staffing agencies can provide support to candidates throughout the hiring process. This can include providing guidance on how to prepare for interviews, how to negotiate a salary, and how to deal with rejection.

In-person and remote roles are typically available from staffing firms; of course, some are hybrid. You have to ensure you share with your recruiter if you’re only able or interested in remote work so they are aware when searching for roles. 

Ashlee Anderson, a Certified Professional Career Coach (CPCC) specializing in remote work, reminds us to “keep in mind that a lot of remote job openings have location requirements. This holds true for staffing agencies too. So, as you work with a staffing agency, don’t be surprised to see jobs that require candidates to live in select states and even specific cities. It’s completely normal.”

Being open and honest while working with your staffing agency is essential, as it is their job to find a position that is aligned with the career you are looking for. Communicate your goals and what you are looking for as specifically as you can, and then ensure you only accept a placement if it’s a role you actually want. 

Our main objective in running a staffing company for 35 years was to work with candidates who were open and truthful with us. We much preferred it if they declined the assignment if they didn't want the role we were offering, rather than if they accepted and either didn't show up for work or quit before it was finished.

Leverage staffing agencies to hire remote workers

Remote work continues to thrive, and leveraging staffing agencies to hire remote workers opens up unique opportunities for businesses. Access to a more diverse and wider pool of talent, a streamlined recruitment process, expertise in remote hiring challenges, reduced costs, increased productivity, and high morale make staffing agencies a valuable partner for companies seeking remote talent. By embracing this approach, businesses can unlock the full potential of remote work and stay ahead in the dynamic global market.

If you are looking for a remote job or need help hiring remote workers, I encourage you to work with a staffing agency. A staffing agency can support you during the hiring process, assist in finding the ideal position for you, and identify the best candidates for employers looking to expand their workforce. 

For software to run your whole business from one interface (including assistance in recruiting and managing remote workers), schedule a demo with COATS Staffing Software. Because of our staffing industry experience, COATS provides support, solutions, and resources that aren’t typically found with a software firm.