Welcome back to our job search series. So far we’ve explored tips for finding your entry-level role and navigating a career change. This week we’re going to dive into a lifestyle we’re interested in: remote jobs.
Telecommuting can be one way to bring flexibility to your career while retaining many of the employment benefits that come with working for a company. Some companies offer fully remote positions, while others have adopted a hybrid model, whereby employees work remotely on some days and gather in the office on others.
With remote work, you gain the freedom to work from anywhere, whether your preferred environment is at home, in a coworking community, or even on the beach. This can facilitate the development of a fuller sense of work-life balance or work-life integration.
At the same time, you may sacrifice some of the social elements of the workplace, such as face-to-face meetings with colleagues and classic water conversations. You’ll also need to manage your own dedicated workspace and motivate yourself to stay on task without the social cues an office can provide.
If you want to experience both sides of these pros and cons, consider pursuing a hybrid role. Otherwise, if you feel the pros outweigh the cons, you may enjoy a completely remote role.
How to find remote work
For the most part, the remote job application process is the same as the regular application process. You will likely need a resume, cover letter and, in some cases, a portfolio or work samples. You will need to think about your career goals. And you will need to prepare for your interviews.
All that said, looking for a remote job can be unique in some ways. Here are some tips for remote job hunting:
1. Research the types of jobs that are typically remote. Maybe you already have some roles you’d like to imagine. Remember, however, that in order to work remotely, you’ll usually need to find work that you can do with just a device and an internet connection. Generally speaking, you are looking at industries like IT, digital marketing or customer support. Check out our guide to high-paying remote jobs that work from home to start your research.
2. Filter your job searches by “remote”. Many companies have adopted remote work policies during the pandemic, but some have returned to the office full-time or on hybrid schedules. The result is that there are now fewer remote roles than a few years ago. Many online job search sites, such as LinkedIn and Indeed, allow you to filter your search results to only show you remote or hybrid positions. This way, you can eliminate search results for in-person jobs and only apply for roles that have been pre-approved by organizations for remote work.
3. Prepare for a video or phone interview. No matter how comfortable you are on Google Meet or Zoom, it’s still a good idea to prepare for the challenges unique to this style of interview. For example, you may need to practice using an unfamiliar video conferencing tool, find a quiet space for the interview, or establish rapport with your interviewer without the visual and non-verbal cues of an in-person meeting. For more ideas, check out our Zoom interview tips guide.
4. Prepare to describe how you deal with remote work. Although many companies have introduced telecommuting policies in recent years, a recruiter can make sure you can work productively outside of the traditional office environment. Prepare for any discussion on this topic by:
- Looking back at previous remote work or study experience
- Thinking ahead about the future telecommuting situation
- Describing specific strategies and practices you can use to make your remote work experience more productive, such as using asynchronous collaboration software and setting up a home office you feel comfortable with
Quick tip: If you took a course on Coursera, the things that worked for you when you were learning online may be the same things that will work for you when you’re working remotely. You can relate your success with online, asynchronous learning to how you plan to succeed in a remote work environment.
Preparation for remote work
The technical skills you’ll use to do a good job remotely are the same technical skills you’d use if you worked in an office. However, there are some workplace skills that can be particularly useful in a remote environment.
That’s all for this week. Next week, we’ll close our job search series with the problem of returning to work after a career break. I’ll see you then!