EPISODE
46
Remote Hiring and Working: Insights from 'Of the West' with Jessie Jarvis
EPISODE LINKS.
SHOW NOTES.
Remote Hiring and Working: Insights from ‘Of the West’ with Jessie Jarvis
In this episode of McFarland Minutes, host Natalie McFarland sits down with Jessie Jarvis, the Founder and CEO of ‘Of the West.’ Jessie shares her journey and the creation of ‘Of the West,’ a platform revolutionizing how employers find talent within the agricultural and western industries. The conversation dives deep into the importance of remote work, the challenges and opportunities it presents for both employers and job seekers, and best practices for creating an effective remote working environment. Key takeaways include tips on crafting compelling job descriptions, the significance of onboarding, the utility of organized and detail-oriented work habits, and the necessity of clear communication. Tune in to gain valuable insights on remote hiring and working, as well as to hear about the successes and lessons learned from Natali’s and Jessie’s personal experiences in the industry.
00:00 Introduction to McFarland Minutes
00:33 Special Guest: Jessie Jarvis
01:37 The Impact of ‘Of the West’
04:29 Discussing Remote Work
12:00 Top Tips for Employers on Remote Hiring
22:56 The Importance of Personal Touch in Rejections
24:17 Crafting Heartfelt Rejection Letters
26:10 Effective Onboarding for Remote Employees
28:35 The Value of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
30:32 Top Tips for Remote Job Seekers
36:35 Creating a Productive Remote Work Environment
39:49 The Benefits of Outdoor Workspaces
41:57 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
ABOUT THIS EPISODE.
Welcome to the latest McFarland Minutes where Natalie McFarland sits down with Jessie Jarvis, Founder, and CEO of Of the West. They dive into the intricacies of remote work, offering insights from both the employer’s and the job seeker’s perspectives. Whether you’re looking to hire the best talent or land your dream remote job, these insights will guide you on how to navigate the remote work landscape effectively.
Embracing the Remote Work Revolution
In today’s fast-paced world, remote work is becoming a popular choice for companies and job seekers alike. In the discussion, Natalie and Jessie explore how companies like Of the West are pioneering this shift by starting as fully remote organizations. Jessie explains the importance of representing diverse sectors and communities effectively by having a distributed team across the United States.
Key Considerations for Employers
When it comes to hiring remotely, Jessie and Natalie shared their top recommendations:
1. Crafting a Stellar Job Description: It all begins with a well-defined job description. Ensure it highlights the strategic nature and requirements of the position to attract qualified candidates.
2. Utilize Screening Questions: Use tools like Of the West’s screening questions to filter candidates more efficiently, saving time and effort.
3. Prioritize Onboarding: One of the most common pitfalls is neglecting the onboarding process. It’s crucial to provide new hires with clear guidance and the resources they need to succeed from day one.
Preparing Job Seekers for Remote Opportunities
For job seekers aiming for remote positions, the competition is fierce. Jessie emphasizes the necessity of having an outstanding resume to stand out in a crowded field. Additionally, understanding your own working rhythms and creating a conducive workspace is vital for success in remote roles.
Creating Effective Remote Workspaces
Natalie and Jessie agree that the physical environment plays a crucial role in remote work productivity. Whether it’s setting up a home office away from personal spaces or finding alternative places to work, having a distinct workstation can significantly improve focus and work-life balance.
Final Reflections and the Road Ahead
Both Jessie and Natalie stress the importance of communication and the need for regular updates in a remote setting. This transparency builds trust and ensures that remote teams can function seamlessly despite the physical distance.
For those interested in hiring or seeking jobs through Of the West, you can visit their website or follow their social channels for updates and opportunities.
Conclusion
The transition to remote work presents unique challenges and opportunities for both employers and job seekers. Through practical tips and shared experiences, Jessie and Natalie shed light on how to navigate this landscape effectively. Whether you’re an employer striving to build a robust remote team or a job seeker looking for your next remote opportunity, these insights can help guide your journey.
For more discussions like this, subscribe to the McFarland Minutes and be sure to check out the Leaders of the West Podcast for further inspiration and guidance from industry leaders.
IN THIS EPISODE.
Jessie Jarvis
Founder & President, Of The West
https://jessiejarvis.com/
https://ofthewest.co/
Jessie is a wife, mother, third-generation rancher, podcast host, and the Founder + CEO of Of The West.
She was born and raised on her family’s cattle ranch in Southern Idaho, which at an early age, instilled in her a deep appreciation for the American West.
Jessie’s superpower is connecting. Connecting people with people.
Connecting people with answers.
Connecting people to solutions.
Connecting people with encouragement.
Connecting people with conversation.
That desire to connect people, and her unmatched passion for the ag + western industries is what led Jessie to create Of The West, a job platform built specifically for the two industries. Since it’s launch in 2021, Of The West has helped hundreds of companies find their next employee, and has also been recognized as the ‘Official Job Platform’ of the American Quarter Horse Association, National Cutting Horse Association, and Miss Rodeo America Inc.
Of The West is also home to a sister platform, Directory Of The West, a creative directory specifically designed to connect people with industry freelancers, creatives, and experts. Through The Directory, you can find top notch talent who can help you execute a project, speak to your members, market your products, bring your vision to life, and so much more. These talented professionals have businesses rooted in ag + western. They understand what you do, because they do it, too.
Jessie is also the host of Leaders Of The West, a top-ranked podcast for innovators and change-makers in the ag and western industries. The podcast’s mission is to foster a community of pioneers, innovators, and leaders who want to be at the forefront of what’s next. Leaders Of The West has ranked as high as #3 on Apple Podcasts Career’s chart, and in the Top 50 in both Apple Podcasts and Spotify’s Business charts.
Jessie and her husband, Justin, have two children (Jhett and Jaxyn), and are working to carry on the legacies of their family ranching operations. While they’re proud beef enthusiasts, what they love even more than beef is the ability for people to have food choices, because they believe that all of agriculture’s production methods have an important place on the dinner table.
Whether it’s helping someone find their next job or employee, creating deep, relatable conversation via a podcast episode, speaking on stage, or sharing glimpses of their life online, Jessie’s goal is to create an atmosphere for conversation and connection, in an effort to ensure that the ag + western industries are here for the next generation(s).
ABOUT YOUR HOSTS.
NATALIE MCFARLAND
PRESIDENT, FOUNDER
MCFARLAND PRODUCTIONS
After freelancing her way through college, Natalie established McFarland Productions in 2014, which has continued to grow rapidly over the last few years. Her passion and focus have always remained the same; capturing, understanding, preserving and promoting Ranching, Farming, Western Lifestyle and AgriBusiness. She has always had a love for the western culture and even at a young age it was unmistakably clear she would someday find a career serving the industry.
Natalie grew up on a small ranch, rodeoed, showed horses in a variety of disciplines, showed livestock, and participated in 4H and Oregon High School Equestrian Teams. She has trained herding dogs and started colts, worked with sheep and cattle and has had the experience of racing to finish up a hayfield before a rainstorm hit. She understands the joys, sorrows, wins, losses and hard work of ranchers and farmers. That’s why McFarland Productions can produce authentic marketing campaigns for the businesses, organizations, events, and brands of the western and agriculture industry – it’s who she is.
With a passion for building community surrounding brands, Natalie focuses on building real connections between companies/brands and the people that make up their community. Telling the stories of your customers and making them apart of the brand’s story is her main focus. Creating real, human, meaningful connections and strengthening community within the western and agriculture industry through strategic marketing services.
SCOUT FOSTER
DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC STORYTELLING
MCFARLAND PRODUCTIONS
Scout’s faithfulness to the agriculture and western sports industry is rooted in tradition. Growing up in Central Florida, she stood by her family as they supported different sectors of the industry, including raising beef cattle, bucking bulls for local rodeos, and spending weekends with her grandparents who lived on Disney’s Wilderness Preserve.
Moving away from The Mouse, Scout graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Nation’s top agricultural communications college at Texas Tech University in 2022.
Now residing in Crockett, she and her husband, Lane, keep busy raising beef cattle and bucking bulls with her family. Scout also loves gardening, raising chickens, reading, and her two dogs: Rue and Dill.
