The state of work has undergone unprecedented change over the past year due to COVID-19 pandemic. Everything about work is changing faster and having a choice of work environment and location is now a key factor for many job seekers when searching for better job opportunities.
In 2020 there were an estimated 59 million Americans working as independent workers. A report by FlexJobs and Global Workplace Analytics shows that most remote workers have a higher salary than those who work from the office; the average annual income for most remote workers is $4,000 higher than that of non-remote workers, the study says.
In some ways, finding a remote job is very similar to finding a traditional one. However, some points should be addressed in finding a remote job like looking for the right company that hires remote workers and the right job. In this article, we share 6 easy tips on how to find the dream remote job.
Why A Remote Job
The most obvious reason why people want to work remotely is that it offers them a more flexible work-life balance. For instance, remote employees who are parents can be present with their children and working at the same time, while employees who are pursuing their studies can also benefit from remote working. In fact, many remote workers are inspired by their new way of working and their surroundings. Remote jobs revived the passion of many employees to work.
How to find a remote job
Tip 1: Apply from credible websites
One of the best things about finding remote jobs is that you can use different websites like ZipRecruiter or Flexjobs to find remote jobs that suit your interest and that you can do from anywhere. But before you spend time looking for remote jobs, you should first determine if you can do your dream job from anywhere. Some positions are more flexible than others and the higher level the position, the less flexible the employer will be.
Secondly, it is important to collect and know very well your field or industry. This will give you some insights into the possibility of remote work and can help you decide on the position to apply for.
Tip 2: Apply for many remote jobs
Whether the job you apply for has a remote job as an option or not, use your application to show your interest in working remotely. The fact is the more you apply to remote jobs, the easier it will get. Remember that you don’t really need experience working remotely to apply to these jobs. So, mention your desire to work remotely in your cover letter and on your resume. Ensure that your resume/CV is proofread, I personally use Grammarly on my website and I do recommend it to many candidates. It helps in drafting clear, confident writing, eliminates grammar errors, and is free.
Tip 3: Use Keywords
The easiest way to find remote jobs is to use some keywords like “remote job” or “telecommute jobs” that don’t require a specific location. When you focus on applying to remote jobs, you have access to a lot more jobs than when you apply to jobs in your country/city. So, ensure to use the right search terms, keywords and of course, include the title or industry that you’re interested in.
Here are just a few of the common ones FlexJobs says you should be aware of:
- Distributed workforce: When you and everyone you work with work remotely
- Work at home (or work from home): When you work at home
- Virtual job: When all the work is done online or in a virtual office
- Work from anywhere: A job without any geographical restrictions
- Agile workforce: A flexible workforce
- Another way to find remote work is by transitioning into it. You can seek out roles that have the potential to be done remotely, and discuss telecommuting once they have some tenure with the organization.
Tip 4: Research the company
Research the company and do your homework. For every one legitimate remote job, there are approximately 60 to 70 remote job or work from home scams.
Usually, work from home ad scams use words like “Unlimited earning potential,” “Investment opportunities and seminars” or “Quick money.” The second way to know if the remote job is a scam is when you are asked for personal financial information or early in the interview process or as part of your application. Or The job requires upfront expenses from you.
Check out the company’s website and remember that while a company job listing might not mention remote work, they could be open to the idea. By doing a bit of research on the company and positions you want to apply for, you can determine where you might be able to work from home. That way, you can find the best remote job for you.
While there are jobs that are 100% remote, some require you to be in the office a few days a week. You must read the job description carefully to understand the job specifications and if there is any location requirement.
Tip 5: Skills required for remote jobs
Discipline, organization, and a good work ethic are all essential for working remotely. When you work from home or elsewhere, you are not really supervised but you need to prove you can do it. You might be asked during the job interview some behavioral questions to show those skills. So you want to use stories from your past experiences that highlight your self-motivation and organization skills.
If you have some remote work experience, talk about it during your job interview, and explain how you’ve been able to anticipate and overcome challenges.
Tip 6: Remote job interviews
As you progress through the application process, you will have to complete an interview with one or more companies.
You should be able to demonstrate your skills during your virtual job interview and be prepared. The ability to master virtual job interviews is important at this stage because you will show the employer that you can excel as well with clients or other employees. So practicing virtual job interviews will help you prove yourself to the company. During the interview, you can also ask questions about the company and how they work with remote workers.
Below some remote job interview questions examples that you can prepare for:
- Where do you work when you’re remote?
- Why do you want to work remotely?
- How do you handle distractions?
Once you’ve decided to accept a remote job for a company, and you’re ready to start working. You will have to submit some onboarding paperwork like tax forms, legal agreements, and more.
Final Thoughts
Many recruiting websites make it very easy to search for remote job options, I believe that now is the perfect time to become more resilient and be open to any opportunity. Finding a remote job could be your saving grace.
