More and more companies are hiring remote workers now and more job-seekers are looking for remote work than ever before. If you are interested in the flexibility and freedom that comes with working from home, there are steps you can take to increase your chances of getting one in a competitive job market.
We will explore how to optimize your resume, network effectively, and showcase your skills and experience to help you find the perfect remote job for you. Let’s get started!
Focus on Your Relevant Skills and Experiences
If you want to increase your chances of being hired for a remote job, it's important to focus on highlighting your skills and experience that fit well with the role you're applying for. Showcasing how well you 'fit' shows hiring managers that you have the right skills and experience to join their remote team and be a productive member on your first day. This makes you an attractive job candidate, increases your chances of being hired, and sets you up for success in your new role.
How to Highlight Your Matching Skills
When applying for a position working from home, showing off your remote working skills and experience makes a big difference. Here are some key tips to help you focus your applications:
Read job descriptions for attractive remote working opportunities and find out the most important 3-5 skills companies are looking for.
Write these skills down - and don't forget these can be anything from technical skills with particular software to time management and problem-solving skills.
Create a list of your matching skills and experience.
Always highlight your experience with working remotely, whether that's full-time, on certain tasks, or on one project.
Use strong, action-oriented verbs to describe specific tasks you've completed and the results you achieved. The University of Boulder Colorado created this detailed list of strong action-focused verbs to help you highlight your skills in applications.
For more detailed information and guidance on what most companies are looking for, take a look at the Top Skills Needed for Working from Home.
Take Online Courses and Earn Certifications
Taking online courses and getting relevant certificates is a great way to demonstrate your skills and your interest in professional development. At a time when there are many applicants for each job, this can help you stand out as an excellent candidate and show any potential future employers that, for you, staying up-to-date in your field is a priority.
Employers are interested in hiring people who take opportunities to learn new software, technology, techniques, and practices in their field. Making your own way to these learning resources is proof of your active involvement and interest in improving. Having certifications or advanced degrees can also make you more competitive in the job market and could lead to higher pay.
Take Control of Your Networking and Job Hunts
Networking and contacting potential employers can be an excellent way to find job opportunities that would not come to you another way. By actively looking for and connecting with companies with a history of hiring remote workers, you can increase your chances of being considered for a remote position. It also makes it clear that you are interested in remote work and motivated to find it. Hiring managers often accept applications for jobs that have not been advertised, and will find candidates that are highly motivated very attractive.
For more information on networking and job hunting successfully, take a look at the articles below:
Be Flexible with Your Work Schedule
The world of remote working is often international, so it's important to be flexible and open to working different hours or in different time zones. International remote teams rely on the flexibility of their members to meet regularly, share information, and effectively communicate. Being flexible shows that you are ready and happy to make changes to support your team, and that you can work effectively in an international company.
Wrap Up
Although remote work does create some new challenges, it brings a variety of new opportunities too. If you can refocus your resume, applications, and interview answers to highlight how well your skill set fits the role, demonstrate your interest in improving as a professional, and use your network to find extra job opportunities, you can significantly improve your chances of getting the remote job you've been looking for.