What do I need to consider when looking for remote work?
Looking for remote work isn’t as simple as browsing through the online job boards. There are some considerations you’ll need to think about before jumping into this new way of working. Some full-time roles will need you to stick to the hours of their main office. For example, a company based in the United States may want you to work local hours and some companies even prefer you to reside in the same country. This may limit how far you can live away unless you and your boss are happy for you to work unusual hours.
You should also think about the type of remote work culture you’d prefer. Maybe you’re an introvert who doesn’t need much social time spent with your company. Or perhaps a bi-monthly online happy hour meet-up would help you stay focused and involved with your team. Stability is another factor to consider. While freelancing or running your own company may provide you with the ultimate freedom, it can also be more of a risky move than working in a salaried role.
What kinds of jobs let you work remotely?
Remote opportunities can include full-time jobs, part-time roles, freelancing, contract work, or running your own business. Many career fields are more remote-friendly than others. As you browse job boards for remote work, you’ll find plenty of openings in marketing, copywriting, data science, software engineering, and many more.
While most remote work roles are full-time positions, don’t rule out part-time, contract, or freelance work. Working a job that isn’t full-time gives you more of a work-life balance and they’re also an excellent way to test the waters of remote work or even experiment with a new career.
What are the best remote work job boards?
Once you have a better idea of the type of remote work you’re interested in, you can start searching for jobs. While many job boards show all types of jobs, it may be best to focus your search on platforms that specialize in remote and flexible work. You can also toggle the filter to ‘remote’ when browsing for jobs on LinkedIn, or we suggest browsing the following websites:
How do I apply for remote work?
Once you’ve found a remote role that takes your fancy, it’s time to create a thoughtful and well-written cover letter and resume. Writing cover letters and resumes for remote roles means highlighting more than your skills and experiences for the job, though. You should also list your remote skills and experiences.
If you have any experience working remotely, mention it in your cover letter and resume. If you haven’t worked remotely before, you may need to do some digging to show off your remote-savvy skills. If you’ve worked with clients abroad, then you’ve already coordinated meetings and collaborated on projects across time zones. These are all skills and experiences that remote companies will value, so mention anything that stands out. Even if you haven't worked with anyone outside your physical office, that doesn’t mean you don’t have the right skills for remote work.
Employers with remote positions will look for applicants with skills like time and task management, self-motivation, and focus. Being comfortable with technology and having proactive communication skills will also work in your favor. Think about the skills you have that show your self-motivation. Is there a project you worked on with little direction or oversight? How did you complete it? Make sure your resume highlights your technological skills. After all, being comfortable using technology and basic troubleshooting is essential for remote work. Highlight all the programs you’re familiar with, such as Microsoft Office, Salesforce, QuickBooks, and any video conferencing, collaboration, or document sharing tools. You may find that you have far more remote skills than you initially realized.
How do I interview for remote work?
Ahead of an interview for a remote work job, make sure you have a reliable connection. Be sure to download and test your connection, so you don’t have any issues during the interview. Check that everything works with your equipment. Make sure wherever you’re having the interview looks tidy and professional. Check the area behind you to make sure it’s clean and uncluttered.
If you don’t have a home office, is there somewhere you can go to ensure you won’t be interrupted during the interview? If you’re not used to video interviews, practice answering questions on camera, either alone or with a friend. Speak your answers out loud while looking at your computer camera. While it may feel strange at first, practicing ahead of time can help calm your nerves before the actual interview.
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