Since the global pandemic, everyone is familiar with remote work. But remote work was on the rise even before everyone was sent to work from their home offices. And Noel Andrews, CEO of JobRack, has been on the front lines of the remote work surge for a few years.
JobRack is a marketplace that helps connect companies with remote workers living in Eastern Europe. Their business model is different from other recruitment agencies, both in their niche focus and the values that they operate with. We chatted with Noel on a recent episode of the Stride to Freedom podcast. He told us why JobRack is different, how to build a remote team, and why Eastern Europe is a valuable talent pool.
Why Remote Work?
Companies are coming around to remote work. It was a necessity during the pandemic, but now it’s quickly becoming the norm. Hiring remote workers allows companies to expand past their geographical area to find top talent.
JobRack focuses on employees in Eastern Europe for a few reasons:
- Highly skilled and educated workforce.
- Excellent English language proficiency.
- Lower cost of living and salary expectations than North American or Western European employees.
Besides focusing on Eastern Europe as a region, JobRack also focuses in on a few industries, with software development and engineering as the most in-demand skillset.
What this means is that companies can bring on high-quality candidates at a lower cost than hiring someone from their own geographical area. If leaders and managers prioritize connection and communication, they can build a strong, engaged remote team.
JobRack vs. the Gig Economy
There’s a lot of chatter about the “gig economy” these days, with companies like Upwork leading the way to connect freelancers and businesses. JobRack, however, is squarely not part of the gig economy. They connect companies with team members, not freelance or contract workers.
Also, unlike Upwork or other freelance marketplaces, JobRack enables employees and companies to make private salary arrangements. Upwork takes a cut of any financial arrangement which means the freelancer is not truly part of the company’s team.
Because remote team culture is so important for success, it’s also important that remote team members feel valued and connected to their workplace.
Leading with Clarity and Kindness
JobRack’s value proposition is how they lead with kindness and clarity, always focusing on how to help people. It might seem overly simple, but it’s something that not all businesses focus on. Through their work, JobRack is able to help both businesses and employees, creating opportunities for professional and personal growth.
Noel prioritizes a few things in his company:
- Clear communication, even about challenging topics like salary.
- Straightforward advice, whether that leads to getting more business to JobRack or sending them elsewhere.
- Checking in with team members and prioritizing team culture.
- Prioritizing connection with employees to help everyone feel part of the team.
This approach has helped Noel build his own company and remote team culture. He encourages other leaders and business owners to do the same. Remote teams don’t h
ave to mean less connection or engagement—there are so many ways to build strong teams where people are enthusiastic and committed to their work. Remote work is changing the world, one employee and one company at a time!
If you want to check out the full conversation, listen to the Stride to Freedom podcast. You can also check out JobRack’s website to learn more about what they offer.
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Show Notes + Transcript:Â
Noel Andrews: LinkedIn
JobRack: Website/LinkedIn
Noel Andrews: Email
Webinar Transcript:Â
Building Remote Teams and Sourcing Employee Talent in Eastern Europe
