The modern job market offers more remote work opportunities than ever before. With advanced technology and shifting workplace norms enabling employees to work productively outside of traditional offices, remote jobs are becoming increasingly common across most industries. Whether you’re seeking full-time remote employment or just want the flexibility to work from home some of the time, there are now ample remote job possibilities.
If you’re looking to land a coveted remote position, use this comprehensive guide to learn the best approaches for finding remote jobs and setting yourself up for success in your search.
Optimize Your Resume
Customizing your resume helps you beat the applicant tracking systems and stand out when applying for remote roles. Here are some tips:
- Highlight relevant skills – Explicitly include skills vital for remote work like collaboration tools (Slack, Zoom etc.), self-motivation, project management, communication.
- Show remote experience – If you’ve worked remotely before, note it so employers see you can thrive in that environment. Quantify accomplishments from remote work.
- Emphasize flexibility – Remote employers want people who can adapt and work independently. Use keywords like “flexible”, “proactive”, “self-starter”.
- Add tech skills – Fluency with remote work tech is key. Include proficiency with video chat, cloud collaboration, virtual meeting and other software tools.
- Mention certificates – Getting certified in areas like project management, digital literacy or virtual communication can strengthen your resume.
Optimizing your resume demonstrates to hiring managers why you’re a strong remote candidate worth interviewing.
Engage Your Networks
Networking and seeking referrals from your personal and professional connections is critical when pursuing remote work. Tell friends, former colleagues and acquaintances that you’re seeking a remote role – someone may know of an unlisted opening. Reach out to people at target companies to learn about remote opportunities.
Join industry groups and online communities of professionals working in your field to expand your network, get insider tips and find job leads. Having allies vouch for you as a stellar remote worker can give you a big advantage, especially when competing against online applicants the hiring team has never met.
Show You Can Work Remotely
Since remote employers are concerned about productivity outside an office, you’ll need to demonstrate you possess the traits of a successful remote employee. During interviews, share examples that highlight:
- Self-motivation – Show you’re disciplined and driven enough to work autonomously without constant oversight.
- Communication skills – Convey through examples how you proactively reach out to colleagues and provide status updates when working remotely.
- Time management – Prove you can manage your time effectively and meet deadlines even when working with distributed teams and without in-person supervision.
- Accountability – Provide instances of how you take ownership over your work and deliver quality results when working on dispersed teams with remote coworkers.
Convince any doubters that you have what it takes to excel remotely by spotlighting your independence, focus and accountability.
Evaluate Company Remote Culture
Some organizations simply have stronger systems and cultures for supporting distributed employees. When assessing remote job opportunities, look for telltale signs of remote-friendly workplaces:
- Established remote policies and training – Do they have formal systems, tools and policies in place to onboard and manage remote workers? Is remote work training provided?
- Partial or fully distributed teams – A hybrid or fully remote company probably cultivates better remote collaboration than one where everyone else is on site.
- Remote leadership – Leadership that works remotely themselves is more likely to embrace remote work and understand managing distributed reports.
- Tech and communication norms – Does the company use modern video chat, collaboration apps, messaging, and project management tools suited for distributed work?
- Flexible schedules – Can you adjust your working hours? Flexibility enables better work-life balance when working from home.
Vetting company culture will help you determine if a prospective employer genuinely supports remote employees beyond just allowing telecommuting.
Be Ready to Interview Remotely
Remote companies will want to interview you remotely to gauge if you can communicate effectively over digital channels. To ace remote interviews:
- Test equipment beforehand – Confirm webcams, microphones and internet connections work properly on the devices you’ll use. Download any required software.
- Reduce audio/visual distractions – Make sure your interview space is quiet, properly lit and free from disruptions. Use a headset for best audio quality.
- Dress professionally – Appearing professional on camera will create a strong impression, even if just interviewing from your home office.
- Sell your communication skills – With no in-person interactions, you’ll need to be even more expressive verbally. Speak slowly, clearly and smile to come across warmly through a video call.
- Ask good questions – Questions signal your engagement. Research the company’s remote culture priorities to ask informed questions.
With preparation and practice, you can absolutely shine during remote interviews and clinch that remote job offers.
Conclusion
The rise of remote work means qualified candidates can expand their job search nationally and globally like never before. There are incredible remote opportunities available for those who know where to find open positions and how to craft an appealing application showcasing their ability to work productively outside a traditional office. Leverage the right digital tools, highlight relevant remote experience, activate your networks and ace the remote interview process. With focus and effort, you can land a fulfilling remote job that lets you work from wherever you want!
