Hiring Remotely Requires Different Tools
Remote hiring is not just in-person hiring with video calls substituted for in-person interviews. The best remote-first companies have rebuilt their hiring process around async-first workflows - candidates submit video introductions, complete structured work samples, and receive feedback through documented evaluations rather than gut-feel coffee chats. The right tools make this process both more efficient for recruiters and a better experience for candidates.
Remote hiring data from Greenhouse shows that structured hiring processes (scorecards, work samples, standardized interview questions) result in 28% better 12-month retention compared to unstructured hiring, regardless of whether hiring is remote or in-person.
Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) for Remote Teams
The ATS is the center of your hiring operation. Here are the top choices for remote-first companies:
- Ashby: Best for remote-first startups - modern UX, strong analytics, built-in scheduling. $300-500/month flat pricing makes it cost-effective for growing teams
- Greenhouse: Best for structured hiring at scale - most robust scorecard and structured interview tooling. $6,000-$25,000/year depending on headcount
- Lever: Best for CRM-style pipeline management - strong for proactive sourcing-driven recruiting. Acquired by Employ Inc.
- Workable: Best for small remote teams - easy setup, good value at $149-$599/month
- Breezy HR: Budget-friendly option, good for under 50 hires/year at $0-$399/month
Async Video Interview Platforms
Async video tools allow candidates to record answers to interview questions on their own time, eliminating scheduling friction for early screening:
- Spark Hire: Dedicated one-way video interview platform; $149-$499/month; widely used for high-volume screening
- HireVue: Enterprise async video with AI-scored response analysis; pricing on request
- Loom: Informal but effective - ask candidates to record a Loom walkthrough of their portfolio or a solution to a problem; free-tier works fine
- Willo: Remote-focused async video interviews; $75-$300/month; designed for remote hiring workflows
Work Sample and Skills Assessment Platforms
Work samples are the most predictive hiring signal. These tools make them easy to administer remotely:
- Vervoe: Role-specific skills assessments with AI grading; $228-$599/month
- Codility: Technical coding assessments for engineering roles; pricing varies by volume
- HackerRank: Coding challenges and take-home projects; free to $499/month
- TestGorilla: 300+ skills tests across technical and non-technical roles; $75-$400/month
Remote Hiring Best Practices
Beyond tools, these practices separate great remote hiring processes from mediocre ones:
- Write job descriptions that explicitly describe async work expectations and required tools
- Use structured scorecards consistently - every interviewer rates the same criteria
- Include a paid work sample in final rounds - shows the actual work, builds mutual commitment
- Move quickly - remote candidates often interview with multiple companies simultaneously
- Give candidates a realistic preview of remote culture, tools, and communication norms
The best signal of remote work readiness you can observe in an interview: how the candidate communicates async during the hiring process itself. Clear emails, prompt but not frantic responses, and well-organized materials all predict remote success.