How Remote SharePoint Administration Works - Part One

Why would you want to hire a SharePoint Administrator to work remote?

Perhaps the first question to ask before answering how remote administration works, is why? The concept of someone working in an office, sitting at a desk, and being "seen" is an old, outdated one. Without going into all the reasons why companies save space and money having workers who telecommute, we'll focus on why you would want a remote SharePoint Admin.

The answer is simple. There is a real need for SharePoint workers these days. All you have to do is go to one of the top job search sites and type in SharePoint and you'll see that it's one of the hottest jobs right now. If you're a SharePoint professional and you post a resume, you'll also see a huge increase in phone calls from recruiters. [I sometimes get 15 or more calls a day] So, to the point [no pun intended] hiring a SharePoint professional remote is smart. You tap into all those people like me that are locked into their geographic location, yet can provide you with the talent and skills you need.

Here's the other thing. Many companies are installing, or planning to install or migrate to SharePoint 2010. They calculate it would take three to six months to get the job done and they "sic" recruiters on everyone asking for "contract work" at their location on a temporary basis. Okay, let's be honest. Yes, there are SharePoint gypsies out there for hire who don't have families or live out of a suitcase contract to contract. Chances are, while there are exceptions, you won't get the best talent hiring a SharePoint gypsy. Yet, you know the old saying, you get what you pay for. And if you want temporary workers, you get the temporary attitude as most people whether they admit it or not don't like living six months in one city, then three months in another, and so on and so on. Final truth..... many companies that hire temporary contract SharePoint workers [or any others for that matter], end up disappointed and go through several contractors before the project is done. Not a good scenario.

Where do we work anyway?

That's the real question here. Where do we work? In most cases, the SharePoint Administrator spends all his or her time in front of a monitor working "remote" tied into the server where SharePoint is installed. So realistically, the "job" of SharePoint Administration is at the computer......accessing a server. It's not the desk or the office. Inherently, all SharePoint jobs are remote. Whether they are working from an office at your location, or their office at home. And the only reason more are not working remote is the "stigma" that remote workers don't work! But is that really true? Or is the proof that the job gets done? And isn't that what you really want anyway?

You don't want to go through three or four contractors in a six month period to get a project done. So don't. Consider looking at the ENTIRE SharePoint talent pool and consider hiring a professional that works remote, and is happy to do so without all the expense of travel.

But how does remote SharePoint Administration work? Ahhhh, that my friends is a question for part two of this series. Stay tuned!