How to Find a Remote Job

Being not constrained by geography or your local employment market is one of the best aspects of working remotely. You give yourself access to options you otherwise wouldn’t have if you include remote employment in your job hunt.

Finding remote work, however, has its own set of special problems, just like any other job search. You must show not only why you are the best candidate for the position but also why you are the ideal candidate for a distant position.

Use the Proper Language

The phrase “remote work” can be expressed in at least 19 distinct ways. When looking for a remote job, you should know the various terms used because no two businesses use the same one. Just a few of the typical ones are listed below:

  • You and your coworkers all work from home under the distributed workforce model.
  • Work from home (or Work at Home): Working from home
  • Virtual or online employment Every task is carried out online or in a virtual office.
  • Work-from-Anywhere: a position with no constraints on location
  • Agile Workforce: A workforce with flexibility

Of course, other additional terms also denote “remote labor.” But being aware of some of the more typical terms can enable you to narrow down your search.

Brie Reynolds, a former FlexJobs Career Development Manager and Career Coach,, advises job seekers to pay attention to the language employers use in job postings. For example, you may have noticed that businesses in your sector or area of work frequently use the terms “telecommute” or “remote” instead of “virtual. These details can help you narrow your search to the finest keywords for your specific professional objectives.

Not every job is equal.

That’s why you’re looking for a new job—you already knew that! However, not every remote employment is made equal. While some professions are entirely remote, many involve both in-office and remote work, or “hybrid” jobs. Make sure you thoroughly read the job description before applying so you don’t learn that you must be in the office three days a week after all.

Additionally, many stay-at-home professions that are entirely remote have a location requirement. It could be a nation, a state, or even a metropolis. Location constraints apply to remote jobs for several reasons, including:

  • Legal: The company may be prohibited from operating in or out of certain places due to government rules or licensing requirements.
  • Taxes: In some states, businesses can only pay employment taxes.
  • Travel: Even in a remote location, you could need to make frequent business travels, so being close to an airport is a must.
  • Clientele: Working remotely need not exclude ever meeting clients face-to-face. You might need to reside close to your consumers if you’re in charge of a certain area of them to enable meetings.

Fraud Alert

Unfortunately, scammers frequently target the “remote employment” job category. Common con artists use, but are not limited to:

  • Testing or reshipping of products undercover
  • processing rebates
  • Secret purchasing

Watch out for the following warning signs when looking for a remote job:

  • The advertisement includes phrases like “Quick money,” “Investment opportunities,” and “Unlimited earning potential.”
  • Early in the interview process or as part of your application, you will be prompted to provide personal financial information (such as your social security number or birth date).
  • You’ll need to pay upfront costs for the job.
  • Nobody contacts or even inquires about your references before making you an offer of employment.

It probably is if something seems off about the job description, the website, or even the recruiter. Before you divulge any personal information, trust your instincts and do some research. Investigate the business first. The Federal Trade Commission and the Better Business Bureau are excellent places to start.

The company name should also be searched on a search engine along with the word “scam” to see what results are returned.

A Remote Job Search

Now that you know the qualities to look for in a remote job ad, you must know where (and how) to look. If you’re looking for a remote job, you may want to concentrate your search on job search platforms specializing in remote and flexible work, like FlexJobs, even though some job boards may focus on all types of jobs.

What Remote Employment Options Are There?

Jobs that can be done remotely include contract, freelance, full-time, and part-time work. Furthermore, some professions are more conducive to working remotely than others. While there are many work-from-home opportunities in the fields of customer service, computer & IT, and data entry, there are also frequently openings in several other fields, including:

  • Medical & Health
  • Sales
  • Marketing
  • Education & Training
  • Accounting & Finance

 And more remote job categories

Even though many of these positions are full-time, they don’t discount the possibility of part-time, contract, or freelance work. So you can balance work and family life by picking a job that isn’t full-time. They’re also a great way to experiment with remote work or even a different line of work.

Applying for Jobs Online

You’ve located the ideal remote position and are prepared to apply. That necessitates writing a comprehensive and effective resume and cover letter for remote employment. But when writing cover letters and resumes for remote jobs, you must emphasize more than just your qualifications. You must emphasize your knowledge of and experience with remote work.

Promote Your Skills

Make sure to mention any prior experience you may have had working remotely in your resume and cover letter. However, if you haven’t worked remotely, you might need to look a little more to discover the necessary experience that highlights your adeptness at working remotely.

Your customers and coworkers should come first. Are they situated elsewhere? If so, have you ever planned a meeting in different time zones? Worked together on a project? How did you go about doing these things? Which program did you employ? Describe your achievements in these areas.

Even if you’ve never collaborated with someone outside your workplace, you may still possess the knowledge and abilities required for successful remote employment. Employers seeking candidates for remote employment desire the following skills:

  • Managing time and tasks.
  • Self-drive and concentration.
  • Acculturation to technology.
  • Proactivity in communication.

Consider the abilities you have that, for instance, show that you are motivated by yourself. For example, do you recall a job you finished with little guidance or supervision? What made you do that? What actions did you take to maintain control? What about a personal endeavor you undertook just out of desire? What motivated you to begin and complete it?

Because having a basic understanding of technology and basic troubleshooting skills is essential for remote employment, Reynolds advises that your resume contain a section showcases these abilities. “List all the programs you are familiar with, including general software like Microsoft Office, Salesforce, or Quickbooks and software specifically designed for remote work like web and online chat programs, video conferencing tools, document sharing, collaboration tools, project management, and more.”

Making a personal inventory can show you have many more “remote” skills than you previously thought, making you a great fit for the job.

Remote Job Interviewing

Planning for a remote job interview is similar to prepping for any interview in certain ways. In contrast, there are additional ways in which getting ready for a job interview remotely differs.

Prepare for the spotlight.

A phone call or video call is typically used for remote interviews. Again, this is a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate your IT knowledge. But be careful not to forget some practical elements of a remote interview.

Make sure you have a strong connection, for instance, if you know the interview will include using the internet. Cellular and WiFi connections are OK, but a cable internet connection is typically a better option. Test your connection and download it if necessary. Does your equipment function properly?

Consider where you will have your interview as well. Do you work from home? If so, does it appear expert? Look behind you and around you. Ensure that it is neat and clean. Is there a spot in your house where you may interview without being disturbed if you don’t have a home office?

Practice answering questions on camera before conducting video interviews, either by yourself or with a willing companion. Set up everything, then voice your responses aloud while addressing the computer camera.

So that you are prepared to leave when it’s time, take care of these items beforehand. The last thing you want to happen is to ask the interviewer to wait while you download the program, only to discover that your system isn’t compatible with it later.

The Questions

An interview for a remote position will involve conventional questions, just like any other interview. During the screening process, questions like “Tell me about yourself,” “Why did you apply for the job?” and “What are your strengths and weaknesses?” are likely to be asked. You can prepare and rehearse for those, but don’t forget to pay attention to some interview questions that are unique to remote positions.

  • When working remotely, where do you do it?
  • What makes you desire to work from home?
  • How do you deal with interruptions? or How do you maintain concentration?

These are only a few examples, but they give you a sense of the types of questions an employer might ask about remote employment. Also, don’t consider these to be unexpected interview questions. Instead, these inquiries enable the interviewer to determine whether you possess the necessary abilities to carry out the job successfully from a distance.

Summary

Discover which remote positions are best for you, how to differentiate yourself from the competition, and how to launch your distant career with this in-depth look at getting a remote job.

 

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