7 Steps To Land Your First Remote Job

By Maria Onzain

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Millennials are known for having different priorities than previous generations, but did you know that 85% of them want to work remotely, 100% of the time? A survey conducted by Flexjobs also reveals that Millennials have now become the largest generation in the workforce, so they are having a big impact on the future of the workplace.

Companies are also embracing flexibility and location independence, to help win the talent race. So, if you are thinking about getting your first remote job, it may be a great moment. All you need to do is follow these seven simple steps, to land not only the perfect remote job but also the lifestyle that you have dreamed of for so long.

1. Decide if remote working is for you

First of all, you need to consider whether remote working is actually the right fit for you. Make sure you think about both the pros and cons beforehand. You should also take into account the type of work you are looking for. First-time remote job seekers tend to think that location independent careers are only for web developers, writers or graphic designers. However, the truth is that an increasing number of companies are building distributed teams, hiring employees in finance, accounting and even in the health industry.

2. Show remote work experience on your resume and LinkedIn

Before you start looking for jobs online, you will need to update your resume and LinkedIn profile. To catch the recruiter's eye, you should highlight if some of your previous work was performed remotely. Even if it was only remote part-time, it would still show that you have the skills to work independently.

3. Look for the right keywords

Using the correct terminology is essential to find real opportunities. Avoid searching for terms such as 'work-from-home' or 'work-at-home' as these are mostly used by scammers trying to take advantage of people who want to start working remotely. Instead, 'remote job,' 'telecommuting job,' 'telecommute job,' and 'virtual job' are all very popular keywords among employers that hire for these types of positions.

4. Use remote job sites

Look beyond generalist job search sites and focus on sites that specialize in location independent opportunities. Some examples include Flexjobs, Remote.co, Remotive, Skip The Drive, Remote OK, Jobspresso, and wfh.io.

5. Apply and follow up

Focus on the positions you are genuinely interested in. To do so, narrow down the number of openings you apply for to just 3-5 jobs and concentrate all your efforts on those. Hiring managers will review hundreds of applications, so it is highly recommended to follow up with an email to the CEO or team leader.

This email will be a powerful weapon to differentiate you from the crowd, so use it wisely. Don't repeat what you said in your resume or cover letter. Instead, prove in this email that you have the skills they are looking for. If they are looking for a strategist, for instance, send them a 30-60-90 day plan, explaining what you would do if they hired you.

6. Research companies hiring remote employees

Not all businesses are open to hiring remote employees, and some of them may only accept workers within their same time zone. Therefore, to help, Flexjobs has put together a list of the top 100 companies hiring remotely in 2018. VIPID appears as the top company, followed by Appen and Conduent. However, according to their research, companies such as Amazon, Conduent, and Dell posted the highest number of remote jobs in 2017.

7. Nail the remote job interview

Face-to-face interviews and telephone interviews have their differences. Before the call or video-call, make sure that the technology you are going to use works properly. During the conversation, demonstrate you have the skills to deliver exceptional results and to work remotely. You should also transmit authenticity. As Jeff Haden explains in one of his articles for Inc.com, "in remote interviews, dialing back the corporate speak and acting like yourself makes you more trustworthy."

Overall, remote work will open the door to a much more flexible way of working. It is now possible to do what you love for a living while traveling the world, or working locally for a company based on the other side of the globe. Now that you know the seven steps that will guide you to securing your first remote job, you just need to put them into practice!

About the company...

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Our group of specialists are an organisation that helps our clients boost their online marketing by offering social media management services on a monthly basis.

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