According to Gartner, 82 percent of company leaders will allow employees to work remotely “some of the time” going forward.

We’re months into a pandemic that shows no signs of letting up, and on a personal and professional level, nearly everyone is being forced to adapt. With millions of employees settling into the work-from-home (WFH) lifestyle, it seems reasonable for everyone to finally invest a little time, money and energy into making the home office just a little more comfortable and efficient.

While working out of a small or shared living space presents its challenges, there are simple steps you can take to elevate your work-from-home experience even in these tough times. In fact, with the right mindset, you can still achieve all your goals from a cozy, hyperconnected office space.

Powering Through the Pandemic: Don’t Forget About Tech

Once you’ve designated an area to call your own and established healthy habits, it’s time to talk technology. After all, without the right IT infrastructure in place, you could quickly fall behind at work. Employees and executives who have advanced IT professionals in their corner have the best chance of being able to thrive and work anywhere, anytime, which will be what it takes to excel in the new norm.

Technical Considerations for the Work-From-Home Office

• Mobile Device Management: If you are managing a remote workforce and working from home yourself, chances are you’re using both personal and work-issued mobile devices to connect with colleagues, clients and prospects. With so much on the line, you need to protect your data with professional security measures similar to the ones that fortify your office. Consider granting remote access via virtual private networks (VPNs), which enable users to safely connect with your network through secure means. Another option is to secure proper mobile device management services from your local managed services provider.
• Secure Remote Access: When your team is relying on remote access to your organization’s network, nothing could be more important than cybersecurity. Protect your valuable data by adhering to best practices for storage and transmission. Make sure your business is tracking who is logging on, in addition to when, where and what documents are being accessed. Remember that you can control settings to prevent information from getting into the wrong hands, but you have to be proactive.
• Remote IT Support: When teammates are depending on one another every step of the way, nothing could be more important than communication — and it will suffer if your Internet is the weakest link. Make sure you have the top service around and access to around-the-clock IT support to prevent a dip in productivity once businesses migrate online. By hiring the expert IT support you need, your employees will never miss out on video conferences, messages and emails, alerts and notifications, file updates and uploads, automatic backups and more.

When nothing could be more important than productivity, your work-from-home office needs to deliver the same technical stability that you depend on when you go in for a normal shift.

But how, exactly, is all of this supposed to happen during a pandemic? In reality, your remote workforce doesn’t need an in-house IT team to stay efficient. Give your employees access to around-the-clock support by hiring professionals who can deliver world-class remote IT support.

How We Can Help

If you’re ready to expand your workforce and provide remote workers with unbeatable IT support, Resourcing HQ (RHQ) is prepared to connect you with your next IT professional. We are an IT staffing firm located in St. Petersburg, Florida, and we specialize in connecting businesses with top talent to fill your most important job openings.

RHQ simplifies the hiring process by matching impressive candidates with clients searching for the perfect IT professional. When your employees are set up with first-class IT support, your business can avoid technical glitches that can hurt your bottom line. Contact us today to learn more about our candidates.

Safely staying open during a public health crisis means adapting the way you do business to meet fast-evolving state and nation-wide mandates. As some businesses re-open their doors to employees and clients alike, others are finding it easier to use a remote approach to daily operations, which raises an important question: How do you hire new IT talent during a pandemic?

The need for IT staff has skyrocketed amid COVID-19 closures. As many organizations move to a remote work policy, they are realizing the need for new software, training, and IT experts to make this transition not only possible but also effective.

How to Hire IT Staff During a Pandemic

1. Move to Video Conferencing: When it comes to interviewing potential new hires, a cloud-based video conferencing platform like Zoom is the way to go. With handy new security features that require a password, ‘admit’ attendees to the meeting room, and boot attendees from the call, this easy-to-use tool has quickly become a fan favorite. But if you’re not a fan, there are several video conferencing alternatives to Zoom.
2. Conduct Internal Training for Digital Interviews: While some employees might be well-versed in video conferencing interview practices, others might not. For this reason, it’s important to train any team members involved in the interview process in not only how to use your company’s video conferencing platform, but also acceptable conduct on the call. Even digitally, your employees still represent your organization’s image. Consider defining: the importance of timeliness, appropriate language, attire, lighting, background or filter, and noise level for the call.
3. Pay Attention to References: Now more than ever, references matter. Since meeting in person isn’t often feasible or advisable given the current health crisis, relying on the input of other IT professionals is paramount. Anyone can claim to have expertise in a certain area. You’ll want to take extra precautions to ensure you’re pursuing a candidate with valid credentials and a good track record.
4. Ask for Employee Referrals: If you’re struggling to find the type of IT talent your company needs to thrive, consider offering an incentive for employee referrals. You might not know where to find top-notch systems engineers, IT architects, or IT admins, but individuals already in your IT department could likely help you successfully fill those roles.
5. Onboard Remotely: Once you find the perfect new IT expert for your team, it’s time to onboard them. This will likely need to take place remotely. Work with your human resources team to ensure everything they need to know about benefits, equipment, system training, and professional expectations is covered within their first week on the job.

If all of this sounds a bit overwhelming, that’s understandable. Even under normal conditions, finding, hiring, and retaining quality IT talent is a challenge. In areas like compliance cybersecurity, it’s even harder. At Resourcing HQ, we understand this challenge and we’re ready to augment your team with temporary IT professionals to meet your immediate needs. To learn more about this offering, contact us now.