How Can You Get a Full-Time Remote Job?

Working remotely has turned from an anomaly to a necessity and finally to a luxury most employees are expecting from their employers. Most employees are sworn by remote work and are ready to shift to companies that can accommodate remote working policies and offer remote positions. The pandemic has turned companies in favor of remote working, and most firms are looking to adapt to a hybrid model or allow their employees to work completely remote in the coming future.

This has led to fierce competition for remote jobs and employees who deliver well from a remote setting. However, remote working and remote positions are not without their challenges. The remote employees need to have a specific set of skills to effectively function in remote positions and be profitable for the organization.

But if you are ready to work from home and looking for a full-time remote job, then these strategies can help you find the right remote position and get hired faster.

So how do you get a full-time remote job in this competitive industry with so many options available?

Here is how you can land a full-time remote job in 4 easy steps.

1. Research and identify companies that prioritize remote work:

If your goal is to find a fully remote job, then that is where you should begin your search. Focus on companies that hire for remote positions and support remote employees. The past couple of years have brought about a significant change for remote work. Companies are more than willing to provide remote working options for their employees if they can bring the right results. Look for the companies that describe themselves as “remote-friendly” or “remote flexible”.

There are several platforms like Turing.com that are completely dedicated to helping employees find great remote positions. Instead of setting up filters for ‘remote’ on regular job sites, you can directly sift through these job sites for your perfect remote position.

2. Understand what remote employers are looking for

While the responsibilities of an employee do not differ whether he/she might be working from the office or home, there are certain requirements that are expected from a remote employee. The majority of employers look for trustworthy people and people who are really passionate about their work.

Remote employers need to avoid micromanagement and trust their employees to their work to create high-quality work. So, when you land an interview for remote work, you will be questioned about your day-to-day activities, personal habits, and work routines. They will be more interested to talk about you as a person to see whether you can be trusted to work without any supervision.

3. Prepare your resume specifically for remote work

Employers hiring for a remote position are looking for someone who can not only fill a role but also do it from a remote environment. And a resume is the first window of opportunity to show employers what you are capable of. You must emphasize in your resume that you have what it takes to be a great remote worker.

Mention any previous remote work experience in the resume. This could show your potential employers that you are capable of handling the work remotely. In case you have no prior remote work experience, then highlight all the key skills that are needed for a remote employee.

The top skills that employers look for in remote employees are:

• Time and task management
• Submission within deadlines
• The ability to work independently
• Knowledge of remote communication tools
• Adept at learning new technologies

Above all, you will be required to have great communication skills to converse freely with the diverse teams that come with remote-friendly companies.

However, if you truly want to show companies that you are more than capable, then send a video resume explaining all your skills, your niche expertise, and how you are the right fit for the position.

You can also maybe set up a workspace that you can highlight in your video resume.

Prepare for Remote Interviews:

It is highly unlikely that the interviews for remote positions will happen in person, so prepare for phone interviews and video interviews. One of the most important things you can do is to test your technology ahead of the interview to prevent any malfunctions during the call. Maybe even practice talking to the video and make sure you are in a place with a great internet connection, else it could lead to a disruptive interview.

Some tips you have to keep in mind during phone and video interviews are:

• Choose a quiet place
• Remove distractions
• Outline your talking points
• Look presentable and professional
• Prepare to answer common interview questions and remote-specific questions
• Be aware of the pauses and don’t interrupt
• Ask questions to show them your interest in the position

And, keep your tone consistent and professional throughout the interview. Even if you falter, pick yourself up and answer confidently.

Productivity and Remote Work

With remote working comes distractions at home, streaming platforms vying for your attention, the constant need to take a break, and negligence of the task at hand.

You have toiled hard to land the remote position of your dreams. Now, it is time to stay productive and deliver on the promise of efficiency.

How can you be productive when working remotely? Here’s how!

• Communicate often and transparently with your teammates. Use remote communication tools at your disposal to stay visible to your team members and stay on top of all the projects happening in the company.
• Take initiative and offer your expertise whenever possible. This could help you stay connected and develop good working relationships with your colleagues.
• While you set your own schedule and goals, make sure your manager is aware of them. Report on your work achievements on a regular basis to keep your boss and colleagues in the loop. This can help you avoid procrastination.

However, before you start your ‘remote specific’ resume or begin your search for ‘remote friendly’ companies, there is one important aspect you must consider.

Why Do You Want a Remote Job?

Think about why you really need a remote job:

There could be a number of reasons for going completely remote. It could be your health, family emergencies, or the pandemic even. However, before taking up remote work responsibilities, you must fully assess the gravity of your situation and understand why you want to work remotely. This requires a little research and self-reflection on your part. It pays to know if remote work is right for you, your lifestyle, and your career goals.

So why do you want to work remotely?

• Do you want to avoid the stressful commute?
• Are you introverted and work best when alone?
• Do you want to travel the world and work alongside?
• Going to the office seems redundant or stressful for you?
• Or, do you prefer staying close to home and family?

Whatever the reason that compels you to choose to work remotely permanently, ensure that you weigh the pros and cons before taking a nose dive into the world of remote positions and opportunities.

Pros of remote working:

• No commute: You don’t have to step out of your house unless you really need to. Remote work puts an end to the once dreaded and tedious commute, annoying rush hour traffic, and boring rides.
• Your own schedule: You are in charge of your own schedule. You can set up the timings that work best for you and work accordingly. Whether you want to work or just relax for a bit, it’s your call. Depending on your work function, you can choose to work whenever you want to.
• Work from anywhere: Literally, you can work from anywhere. Be it from the top of the Himalayas or from the beachside in Miami, it’s up to you. As long as you put in the work and meet your deadlines, no one can question your choice of location. However, ensure you have a strong internet connection before flying off to your favorite destination.
• Costs: Remote work can increase the weight of your purse. You save big on travel and the absence of eating out will definitely put money back in your pocket.
• Family time: The best part of remote work(other than cost savings) is increased family and personal time. You have more time to connect with your kids or parents, take your dogs for a long walk, and even revive old healthy habits or hobbies that were side-barred due to lack of personal time. While the flexibility of remote work allows for more family and personal time, ensure that it doesn’t invade your workspace or your work timings.
• Less stress and distractions: With no colleagues around to make unnecessary small talk and no one to lord over you, there is no stress or unwanted distractions. So, you can solely focus on completing your work and delivering it on time.

And that is not to say that remote work is not without its faults.

Cons of working remotely:

• Loneliness: Working alone five days a week can lead to loneliness pretty fast. Even with your family or dogs around, there is a sense of sadness that comes with working from home.
• Overworking: Working from home might conjure up an idea of underworking. However, that is not the case. In reality, more people lose the sense of personal space and office work and end up overworking. This results in a never-ending workday and employees often work themselves to the point of exhaustion. Burnout becomes very real, very fast, and leads to bad work habits that could disrupt the work-life balance.
• Underworking: Just like overworking, underworking is also an effect of remote work. Some people thrive in the office and work better when there is someone to oversee their functions. Without a constant presence of direct supervision, and negligence, productivity can drop in a remote environment. Depending on your personality, overall work ethic, and interest in job function, choose remote work or office work.
• No “water cooler moments”: People say creativity and innovation happen at impromptu moments at work. Being close to your coworkers can lead to more interpersonal communication and this could be lost with remote working.
• Limited team social activities: Companies, at times, organize team outings, lunches, and fun activities to improve team building. When working remotely, you could miss out on these social activities.

Remote work is not for everybody. Some people thrive in the office and others do their best work when working from home. Few require more in-person interactions to keep them motivated and productive. Once you are sure that remote life is the perfect fit for you, only then take it a step further.

Conclusion:

Remote working became the need of the hour when the pandemic struck us out of the blue. Even as the world began opening up, more and more employees are choosing to work from home. The appeal of increased personal time, a stress-free work environment, and more freedom has compelled employees to shift to companies offering work-from-home opportunities.

However, you must understand that finding and getting hired for a remote job is a lot different than traditional work opportunities. In addition to proving that you have the right skills for the job, you must convince the potential employer that you can work efficiently on your own and collaborate with the team effectively. Once you have gained the trust of your employer, it is all smooth sailing.

##Frequently asked questions:

How do I stand out for a remote job?

You can set yourself apart from the competition by talking about your remote experience, highlighting your collaboration skills, emphasizing your knowledge of remote communication tools, and most importantly, your communication skills. This can put you in the spotlight and help land your favorite remote gig.

How to balance work and life in a remote job?

At times, the difference between work life and personal time blurs in a remote working environment. However, with a set schedule and dedication to follow it, you can easily manage your work and personal life.

Are remote jobs here to stay?

By the looks of it, yes. As more and more employees are leaning toward remote working, companies are also introducing remote-friendly policies to make it easier for their employees. So, it is safe to say that remote work will not be going anywhere in the near future.