1. Self-discipline

Self-discipline is the ability to stay motivated to accomplish a goal. It’s an important work-from-home skill for employees in nearly every industry.

Remote workers typically need discipline to complete their responsibilities without the direct oversight of a manager. Successful remote workers should be disciplined to balance work and personal tasks while maintaining strong job performance.

How to hire for self-discipline

To attract disciplined candidates with the ability to work autonomously, consider these tips to write your job description:

• Describe the self-directed nature of the job.

• Mention that candidates need to meet deadlines regularly.

• Note the importance of skills such as self-motivation, discipline and time management.

Assessing the skill

To determine if candidates have self-discipline, consider these assessments:

• Work scenarios: Describe a situation where the candidate encounters a non-work-related activity when working from home, and ask how they would respond.

• Personal assessment: Ask the candidate to assess their self-discipline skills in a remote setting.

• Experience: Ask candidates about a time they exercised self-discipline while working from home.

Roles where this skill excels

Roles that require self-discipline typically include:

• Graphic designer: This role requires self-discipline to meet deadlines, stick to the client’s creative brief and collaborate with colleagues.

• Writer: Writers are often given deadlines and must have the discipline to organize and prioritize their work within the given time frame.

2. Self-motivation

Self-motivation is an employee‘s drive to take action and progress. Some workers are naturally self-motivated, while others develop the skill by encouraging, challenging or rewarding themselves.

In a traditional workplace, employees are often motivated by the professional environment and the presence of managers and colleagues. When working from home, workers must have self-motivation to complete their tasks. This skill is necessary in all industries and jobs, particularly those with minimal oversight.

How to hire for self-motivation

To attract self-motivated candidates when writing a job description, consider these tips:

• Asking for applicants who can handle limited supervision and check-ins

• Requesting the best skills for remote work, including proactivity, emotional intelligence and self-awareness

Assessing the skill

You can assess self-motivation in candidates by:

• Asking experiential questions: Ask candidates how they have previously motivated themselves and overcome challenging situations.

• Creating professional scenarios: Explain a scenario where a candidate might need to motivate themselves and see how they respond. Listen for self-motivation strategies such as goal setting and rewards.

• Checking references: Ask candidates’ references if they’ve displayed self-motivation.

Related: Self-Starter Interview Questions

Roles where this skill excels

Self-motivation may be a useful skill for positions including:

• Sales representative: Sales representatives are often paid on commission, so they must motivate themselves to pursue leads, build relationships and close deals.

• Virtual assistant: This role often requires self-motivation to complete various tasks on a tight schedule.

3. Communication

Strong written and verbal communication are essential work-from-home skills. They enable employees to share information, ask questions and express themselves. Without in-person interactions, remote workers must communicate proactively and intentionally. This skill also helps employees build productive relationships with colleagues.

Communication is typically important for roles that require extensive collaboration or client interactions.

How to hire for communication skills

Here are several ways to write a job description that can attract candidates skilled in communication:

• Include job duties that require communication, such as client meetings or team presentations.

• Ask for applicants with skills such as empathy, public speaking and active listening.

• Mention that candidates must be available for regular meetings and calls.

Assessing the skill

You may determine if applicants have communication skills by:

• Observing: Assess phone and email interactions with candidates. Note how clearly and effectively they convey each point.

• Role-playing: Set up a situation, such as a client call or a manager meeting, and ask the applicant to respond as they would on the job.

• Interviewing: Consider asking communication interview questions.

Roles where this skill excels

Communication is typically an important skill for jobs such as:

• Customer service representative: Employees who provide customer service must communicate clearly, calmly and empathetically.

• Client services manager: These professionals work extensively with clients and generally require high-level communication skills.

4. Adaptability

Adaptability helps employees remain flexible in a working environment. It’s essential when working from home due to its autonomous nature.

When employees are adaptable, they can comply with changing expectations, tasks or working hours to meet deadlines.

How to hire for adaptability

When writing your job description, these tips can help attract highly adaptable candidates:

• Request applicants who can effectively manage shifting responsibilities while working remotely.

• Highlight desired adaptability skills such as open-mindedness, problem-solving and strategic thinking.

Assessing the skill

To assess a candidate’s ability to remain adaptable while working from home, consider asking:

• Practical questions: Ask adaptability interview questions, such as how candidates approach tasks or responsibilities.

• Behavioral questions: Ask candidates how they respond to learning a new skill or being tasked with duties outside the scope of their role.

Roles where this skill excels

Jobs that require a high level of adaptability may include:

• Administrative assistant: This role often requires candidates to manage multiple tasks and readjust priorities throughout the day.

• Staff accountant: Accountants typically use accounting software and comply with state and federal regulations that continuously evolve.

5. Time management

Time management enables employees to use their time efficiently to complete job duties. It requires workers to organize and prioritize their task list, track deadlines and stay focused.

Strong time management is one of the best skills for remote working in any industry. Workers may have an easier time avoiding distractions and completing tasks on time.

How to hire for time management skills

To attract applicants with time management skills, you can include several elements in your job description:

• Refer to time-sensitive job duties, such as meeting short or frequent deadlines.

• Indicate that you prefer applicants who can set goals and stay organized.

• Mention skills such as setting boundaries, managing stress and following a schedule.

Assessing the skill

To assess time management skills, use these strategies:

• Ask open-ended questions: Evaluate how candidates manage their time while working from home.

• Create a prioritization scenario: Observe how candidates approach various tasks and ask about their methods. Note remote skills such as organization and prioritization.

• Inquire about experience: Ask candidates if they’ve worked in roles that require careful time management.

Read more: Time Management Interview Questions

Roles where this skill excels

Time management is an important skill for jobs, including:

• Assistant project manager: This position requires employees to manage their time efficiently and help team members do the same.

• Chief marketing officer: This position oversees all marketing activities for a company, requiring the employee to allocate time appropriately for each priority.