Your Guide to Landing and Excelling in Remote Jobs
During the Pandemic, many people found themselves working remotely by necessity, but fast-forward to today and the early kinks of working away from the office have been ironed out—motivating people to stay remote or seek full-time positions that will allow it. In fact, the rise in interest in remote work, driven by key perks such as increased flexibility and better work-life balance, has completely transformed the job market. Ready to make remote work your calling? These steps will help you prep for a remote role, show you where to look, and help you thrive away from a traditional on-campus/office setting.
Tailor Your Resume and Cover Letter
A good starting point for your new remote work adventure is to spend some time updating your resume and cover letter to highlight any previous remote work experience and relevant skills. Specify that you’re looking for remote work and think through examples of projects you managed remotely to ensure your remote successes are featured prominently. Include the remote-relevant tools you’ve mastered like Zoom, Google Drive, and Microsoft Teams. Ensure your materials leverage buzzwords specific to remote job postings, such as “remote team collaboration,” “virtual project management,” “telecommuting,” and “digital communication.” Using keywords and phrases like these will ensure that your application shows you understand the landscape and will help you stand out to potential employers.
Jump Into the Remote Work Search
You can always search for full-time remote positions using the usual websites, such as LinkedIn, Indeed, and Glassdoor, but don’t stop there. It this new remote world, several new resources have cropped up. Here are some of the reliable and reputable platforms that specialize in remote listings:
In addition to applying for traditional company roles, you may want to explore some of the available freelance platforms like Upwork and Fiverr. Depending on the type of position you’re looking for, starting with remote contract work can give you more experience and opportunities to build your remote work portfolio, and ultimately make you more attractive to potential employers.
While you’re searching, networking should always be part of your plan. Tap into your existing connections, but you can also explore remote work-related networking groups and meetups. Engaging in these communities can lead to job referrals and valuable insights into the remote job market, as well as offer great ways to socialize and build a community once you have found your new remote job.
Succeeding in Remote Interviews
Technical preparedness may sound like an obvious first step but it’s easy to take technology for granted. Ensure you have a stable internet connection and functional hardware available wherever you’ll be taking the interview. Familiarize yourself with the video conferencing tool your future employer uses (typically Zoom and Microsoft Teams) to avoid any surprises or technical issues during interviews. To create a professional environment, set up a quiet, clutter-free interview space and dress just as professionally as you would for a live interview. Practice reminding yourself to maintain good posture and eye contact to make a positive impression, and read up on other important and practical tips.
It will be very important to take some time to practice your answers to the more common remote interview questions, such as:
- Why do you want to work from home?
- Have you worked remotely in the past?
- How do you stay organized and connected from a virtual workspace?
- What kind of digital collaboration tools have you used?
You’ll want to hit on themes around time management, self-motivation, remote collaboration, and adaptability. Your goal is to effectively demonstrate your ability to work independently and efficiently while still being a reliable and communicative teammate, so be sure you are armed with plenty of examples from your experience.
Thriving in a Remote Work Environment
Once you’ve landed your remote dream job, set yourself up to thrive just like you would for any other position. As a practical starting point, make sure you have an ergonomic setup for productivity and comfort, and create an organized workspace with minimal distractions conducive to focus and efficiency. Foster effective communication and collaboration by becoming an expert at utilizing the company’s preferred virtual communication tools, and set regular check-ins with key team members.
While feeling connected will be vitally important, so will setting clear boundaries to achieve the work-life balance you set out for. You may need to schedule regular breaks or task yourself to get up and walk around the house between meetings since you won’t have other people around you making that happen organically. Many people also benefit by adding a “shutdown” time on their calendar and when it’s time, literally shutting down/closing their computers and moving away from their desk area helps keep a divide between work and home (without leaving your “building”). Make a plan that will work for you so that you’ll stay productive and motivated while protecting your personal time.
If you’re willing to adapt and prepare, the remote work revolution offers unprecedented opportunities for flexibility and work-life balance—fundamentally transforming how we approach our careers. With the right preparation and mindset, you can navigate this new landscape confidently and ultimately thrive in a new remote role.
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About the Author: Sara Jane Todd is a marketing and communications professional with 20+ years of experience across various disciplines and industries. Sara’s biggest passion is developing clear, concise, compelling messaging and branding—ensuring a consistent voice across all marketing touchpoints. She believes that same philosophy applies to how you market yourself.