I’ve often wondered about people’s perceptions of remote recruiting. After doing it for several years now, I’ve realized that the reality is much different than many people think.
I remember when I couldn’t wrap my mind around how an entire team of remote recruiters could be productive and efficient. But those days seem long gone, as all I can see today are the positive aspects of working outside of a traditional office.
Here are the top five benefits to being a remote recruiter:
1. No commute
The frenzy of the morning and afternoon commutes is the woe of many people. Fighting your way on the roads or on the train can take hours every week! Audiobooks and podcasts help, but most workers will tell you that’s just making the best of a bad situation. It certainly doesn’t prepare anyone for a productive workday.
As a remote recruiter, I get an average of 5-10 hours back in my week – more than a full day. Just the thought of commuting now makes me cringe and wonder what in my life I’d have to give up in exchange. I also save money on gas, and more importantly, I can reduce my impact on the environment by walking to my workspace instead of driving.
2. Better health
How many times have your sick coworkers shown up to the office because of their workload? Working from home has been such a blessing as someone who caught every virus that was passed around the office. I’ve had one cold in two years and only had to call in sick once. My previous bosses had positive things to say about my performance but could never quite understand how I was sick so often. As a remote recruiter, that’s not a problem.
Plus, I eat healthier. I have greater control over my daily choices and don’t have to deal with the temptation of the vending machine or potluck.
3. Stronger loyalty
I may not be in the same physical space as my team, boss or company. But thanks to the flexibility and all the other perks that come with remote recruiting, I feel an increased sense of loyalty to all of them.
My sense of employee engagement is stronger than ever. Anytime I’ve considered looking elsewhere, I think of all I would be giving up. Here I am, and here I remain.
4. Increased productivity
When I originally started with my team, I went on-site as needed. Those days were filled with chatter and a revolving door of wonderful coworkers giving updates on their vacation, their dog, their grandma, or their toddler’s new words. While I genuinely enjoyed each story and bonding with coworkers, it still took hours out of a day that I should’ve been spending on my work.
Let’s also not forget the abundance of meetings that can drain the day. While well-planned meetings can be valuable, those without a clear agenda aren’t the best use of anyone’s time.
5. More mobility
If there’s a decent Wi-Fi connection, I can do my job anywhere. I recruit positions all over the U.S. – San Francisco, Denver, Philadelphia, Miramar and Tucson. Major perk: I didn’t have to relocate and uproot my entire life to take my position. I’m truly grateful to not be a victim of career geography, where in order to get the job you want you have to change where you live.
I’ve had this conversation with candidates more than once. Sometimes, moving is just not an option for someone – or at least not a desirable one. Removing that part of the career progression conversation has greatly reduced my stress and given me hope for my future endeavors.
I’m obviously a big fan of being a remote recruiter, but there are also advantages to working in an office that I’ve not talked about here. It all depends on what you want out of your career and work-life balance.
Remote recruiting offers perks that benefit your health, well-being and career – providing an overall positive experience. If you’re ready to be a remote recruiter, check out Cielo’s open roles.
About the expert
Former Recruiter, Cielo
More for you
