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The number of remote jobs has exploded over the last 18 months, thanks in no small part to the COVID-19 pandemic. Workers are increasingly planning a pivot to working remotely permanently and luckily for those that do, they are increasingly plentiful.

However, there are a few key things to keep in mind when targeting remote jobs. In our expert guide below we explain everything you need to know about how to make sure your next job is a work-from-home one and get it fast.

Where can I find remote jobs?

An increasing number of websites and job portals now cater to remote workers and companies. Most notably this includes the biggest players in the market such as:

  • LinkedIn
  • Indeed
  • Google
  • Facebook
  • Robert Half

However, whilst there are plenty of big names now advertising remote positions, it’s also worth looking at some sites focusing exclusively on work-from-home jobs. For a wider range of remote roles try:

  • Remoters
  • We Work Remotely
  • Flexjobs
  • Upwork
  • RemoteOK

Whilst you will find a far more dedicated experience from these more specialized providers you will also come across a lot more temporary and freelance positions. It’s best to try a mix of sites to find the type of job you really want or need.

Get your resume ready for remote

Like with any job, getting ready to go remote requires a strong resume.

Using an online resume template is an excellent starting point to save time and quickly create a professional-looking application doc. It will also help you to quickly tweak and edit your profile for the individual needs of any remote jobs you come across.

However, when preparing your file, you’re going to need to target a few key areas a little differently than you are normally used to. We look over these little tricks below.

What work experience should I include in a remote work resume?

Your work experience should be the highlight of any resume and that’s still the case if you’re going for a remote job. However, where things differ a little bit is how you package them.

You’ll still need to keep everything in reverse chronological order and list achievements and activities in bullet points. What you’ll do instead is place a lot more focus on autonomous tasks you managed and any previous remote work or professional experience.

This might include:

  • Travel for work
  • Remote learning
  • Previous experience of working from home

Of course, a lot more of us will have experience with working from home after the pandemic. Therefore showing how you have relevant skills and an aptitude for remote working has never been more important, as we’ll see below.

Name the top skills for remote companies

Your skillset is an important ally to showing employers you have what it takes to work remotely full time.

There is a plethora of tools and abilities that may give you an edge with remote positions and you need to get these down on your application. Flexjobs recommends making special note of the following software:

  • Zoom
  • Google Workspace
  • Dropbox
  • Salesforce
  • vSphere

Aside from championing your familiarity with the precise professional skills needed for the specific job you’re targeting, you should also highlight personal skills that demonstrate your aptitude for remote roles in general. This can be demonstrated with any of the following abilities:

  • Organization
  • Communication
  • Teamwork
  • Planning
  • Focus
  • Time management
  • Adaptability

Acing a remote interview

Getting your resume right for a remote job is the first step, getting through a remote interview is the final hurdle.

Of course, the norms for interviewing remotely are a little different from conventional in-person meetings. However, some requirements are still expected.

First of all, make sure to arrive on time. It is a good idea to specially set up your equipment about half an hour in advance of your start time in case of any technical gremlins.

You should also try to maintain a comfortable and alert posture, making sure to smile where appropriate. Maintaining a natural demeanour such as this counts for a lot when you don’t have the usual social cues of face-to-face interviews.

Last but not least, make sure, as Robert Half recommends, to find a quiet place in your home to hold the interview. Ideally, this should be a low-traffic area where family and other distractions won’t upset the flow of the meeting.

We’ve all seen the viral video of a TV interview being crashed by younger members of the family and that’s the last thing you want is to be in that position when chasing a remote role.

Getting hired remotely, in reality, isn’t very different from getting a job normally. However, it’s vital to show that you have the right aptitude to work autonomously and by using the guide above you’ll be able to overcome these challenges quickly.


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