Want to know how to get a job remotely, but don’t know where to start?
If you’ve already started applying, you know that finding a job can be a daunting task. After applying for dozens of jobs, there is still silence.
Or maybe you’re feeling overwhelmed and haven’t started yet, and that’s okay too.
The good news is that most people apply for jobs haphazardly, without much thought, without care, without intention, without research.
My friend, this gives you a huge advantage. By putting in a little more effort, you can show the employer that you are hardworking, skilled and experienced, and a quick learner.
After reading this post, you’ll get a list of practical next steps to confidently plan and approach your remote job search.
Let’s dive in!
1. Learn new skills
Remote jobs can be highly competitive. If you want to know how to get a job remotely, start by learning a new skill.
This is not to scare you, but to encourage you to be a great applicant and do everything you can to stand out from your competition.
If you read a job description and don’t know what to do, take a course on it.
YouTube, Coursera, Udemy, and edX are all great places to learn at an affordable price. Need more? Holly’s huge list of free online courses is here.
2. Network
Most people are intimidated by the word “networking,” so start “connecting” instead.
It is best to start with an informational interview.
If there’s a company you’d like to work for, see if they have any LinkedIn connections and reach out. Not to get a job, but to learn more about the company.
Connecting is as easy as joining a Facebook group or attending a virtual meetup.
Many people may not reply to your messages or emails, but that’s okay. Don’t take it personally. Please keep contacting us until you receive a response.
3. Be clear about what you want
If all you’re thinking about right now is how to find a job remotely, you’ll quickly become overwhelmed by the search process.
First, what kind of remote job do you want? 100% remote, hybrid, mostly remote and in-person meetings, or a few trips a month or year?
Next, consider your working hours. Do you want a full-time job with benefits, part-time work, contract or freelance work?
Also, consider your time zone. If you’re looking for a job that requires a lot of meetings, you’ll probably look for a company that’s in the same time zone as you, or one that overlaps by at least a few hours during the work day.
Of course, you’ll need to be clear about what kind of role you’re looking for, as well as other details that are important to you, such as company culture and company size.
4. Subscribe to companies you are interested in
Show interest in the company you’re applying to by following their social media channels, subscribing to their newsletter, following their website, and regularly checking for job openings.
The more you know about a company, the better you will be able to express why you want to work for it in applications and interviews.
5. Use a reputable remote-only job site
Searching for a remote position can be very frustrating, especially when a company is vague about whether the position is 100% remote, hybrid, or in-person.
If you’ve ever applied or interviewed for a job that was listed as remote, only to find out later that it wasn’t actually 100% remote, you know what I mean.
Considering the prevalence of employment fraud and fake job postings, it’s beyond frustrating.
Using a reputable remote-only job site allows you to focus on remote jobs instead of searching for dozens or hundreds of non-remote jobs that don’t interest you.
Some of the best free remote job boards to vet jobs include “The Remote Nurse,” “Rat Race Rebellion,” “The Real Way to Make Money Online,” “Nurse Fern,” and “The Work at Home Woman.”
There are also several platforms that offer paid subscriptions to vetted job listings, including Remote Job Membership, Hire My Mom, FlexJobs, Remote.co, and Virtual Vocations.
And of course, make sure you subscribe to our newsletter to receive weekly emails about the best remote jobs.
Check out these job search apps as well.
6. Be professional
Just because you’re interviewing from home doesn’t mean you have to be more professional than if you were coming into the office.
Always be punctual for interviews and respond promptly to emails and interview requests.
Dress professionally for the interview, even if the company looks casual. It’s always better to dress thickly rather than lightly.
These skills can either help or hurt your ability to get a job.
7. Send a follow-up email or note
When I was in college, career advisors would request that interviewers send a physical card or email to thank them for their time and follow up with them about the position.
That was over 15 years ago, and I still do this today.
Not only is this a thoughtful gesture, but it’s also a good way to keep your name top of mind and show the interviewer that you’re very interested in the job.
Do you think it’s scary? These posts have everything you need to write a follow-up or thank you email, so you can breathe a sigh of relief.
8. Organize your search
To avoid confusion, it is important to plan your job search.
Good organizational skills will also help you understand where you are in the application process and indicate when to follow up or take next steps.
A good place to start is to use the Work From Home Career Planner to organize your search.
9. Show off your communication skills
Communication skills are essential when taking on a remote role.
Read your email out loud again before sending to make sure your intentions are clear.
Ask current or former colleagues for feedback on what you do well and where your communication skills are lacking.
Also read easy tips to improve your communication skills.
10. Know how to use remote tools and apps
If you’ve worked remotely, think about the platforms and tools you used, such as Slack, Zoom, Google Meet, Google Workspace, Trello, and Asana.
When conducting informational interviews, ask current employees what tools they use.
When something is mentioned that you don’t understand, look it up and practice using it.
11. View previous remote experiences
This cannot be emphasized enough. If you have remote experience or work remotely in your current role, be sure to highlight this in your application and interview.
If you don’t have experience working remotely, consider looking for remote volunteer positions or part-time work to add to your resume.
Remote experience indicates that you can work independently, communicate effectively, and have some familiarity with basic technology tools and programs.
You can also ask former colleagues or managers to write testimonials or share a few sentences or paragraphs that describe their remote work skills.
12. Work on your online presence and brand
Having an online presence and platform can show interviewers and hiring managers who you are even before you have an interview.
This could be your LinkedIn profile, social media profiles, blog, website, or online portfolio of your work.
Substack and Medium are great options to show off your writing and blogging skills without having to worry about hosting or setting up your own website.
If you’re looking for a job in the media or creative field, use your online presence as an opportunity to showcase your creativity.
Have fun, but don’t forget to be professional.
13. Be persistent
If you ask any remote worker how to find a remote job, they’ll likely tell you to be persistent and keep looking. Yes, more people are applying for remote jobs than ever before. But most of them aren’t persistent enough to make that happen.
If working remotely is really what you want, keep doing it until you get it.
Also, if you’re applying for a new job and don’t get an interview or response, consider freelancing or volunteering to gain remote experience and use it on your resume.
14. Research jobs with the highest demand for remote work
The remote work landscape is changing regularly.
Some remote positions have become highly saturated in recent years, so do your own research.
Depending on your education and experience, jobs such as data analysis, web design, and network security often offer remote positions.
If you have customer service experience, customer experience jobs are a great way to get remote expertise on your resume.
You can also create a Reddit account and search topics and subreddits about remote work, such as r/RemoteWork and r/RemoteJobs.
15. Practice your interview skills
If you can get an interview but not a job offer, focus on your interviewing skills. If you haven’t had an interview yet, this will help you when you do.
First, learn how to prepare for and succeed in an online interview. If you’re an overachiever, which I am, you can also read these easy ways to ace interviews.
Remember that you are not the only person being interviewed. You will also be interviewed to see if the company is a good fit for you. Don’t know where to start? Here are 10 interview questions remote workers should ask.
16. Check the technology in advance
There’s nothing worse than being late for an interview because you forgot to update Zoom or couldn’t find the correct link.
Be sure to practice beforehand.
Please provide a link.
Please check for updates.
Reread the email to make sure you don’t need to do anything in advance.
If it’s a new video conferencing platform, download it in advance to learn how to use all the basic features like mute, video, and typing in chat.
17. Be bold and confident
You’ve probably heard that women are 16% less likely than men to apply for a job after viewing this article. Or that women only apply for jobs if they meet 100% of the requirements, whereas men apply for jobs if they meet 60% of the requirements.
Be confident in your abilities.
The truth is, getting a job is a numbers game, and the more you apply, the more likely you are to get hired.
Want to know how to get a job remotely? Apply for more jobs!
How to get a wrap-up for a remote job
Remember that finding a job can be a big process. The key is to not feel like you have to do everything at once, but to proceed in stages.
First, use Work From Home’s printable career planner. Next, make a plan to plan your job search. Enjoy job hunting tips and tips to speed up your job search.
If you already have a full-time job or are a full-time mom or student, don’t overwhelm yourself. Instead, try to take one step each day toward your job search.
Need more help finding a job remotely? Check out our Remote Job Membership. Monday through Friday, we provide guidance on how to avoid scams, create a standout resume and LinkedIn profile, navigate job interviews, and get new remote job leads.
