How To Find Remote Jobs: A Complete Guide

VivaNomadia 22 January, 2024

We are living in an era where flexibility and independence are highly valued. Remote work strikes here. It has created a new dimension in today’s employment scenario. One of the major perks of having a remote job is that you’re not limited by geography or the local job market. In this article, you will get to know how to find remote jobs according to your time and skill preferences.

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After Covid-19 hit and more companies are shifting to online to reduce office and logistic costs, opportunities for remote jobs have increased drastically. Also, workers are preferring more flexibility, making it a win-win situation for both employers and workers in most cases.
However, It also comes with some challenges.

Since there are no geographical boundaries to apply for these jobs, competition is much higher than in the local job market. In today’s blog, we’ll get to know about how to find a remote job. It will guide you through the process of securing remote employment and navigating the dynamic landscape of the digital job market.

How to Find Remote Jobs: Step-by-step process

To find a remote job you have to go through a process. Here are 7 step-by-step process, you can follow to get legitimate remote jobs online-

1. Find your skillset

The first and foremost thing before applying for a remote job is having an actual skillset. By utilizing skills that can solve real-world problems, you can earn money in return. This skillset, consider both hard skills (technical expertise) and soft skills (communication, patience, adaptability) will be your first step in finding a job online.
There are plenty of skills that you can learn online and leverage for freelancing or remote job opportunities. Some of them include-
1. Graphic Designing
2. Video Editing
3. Digital Marketing
4. Programming
5. Online Teacher, and so on

To delve deeper into some of the best remote jobs, check out-
15 Best Digital Nomad Jobs

2. Make your portfolio strong

Having a portfolio or career overview is a must, whether you’re applying for local jobs or remote jobs. Create a clean-cut and attractive portfolio that succinctly showcases your skills and accomplishments. For remote positions, highlight experiences that demonstrate your ability to work independently and efficiently. Include relevant projects, certifications, and any remote work experience you may have.
Nowadays, you can create your portfolio on LinkedIn or by having a portfolio website using WordPress which can take about 30-45 minutes.

3. Specify That You’re Looking for Remote Work

Always pay attention to the wording used by companies in job listings to ensure clarity about your objectives and the company’s requirements. In your portfolio, state your objectives clearly. Get familiar with terms that look the same but have different meanings, such as “work from home,” “work from anywhere in the world,” “distributed workforce,” “telecommuting,” “hybrid,” etc. Specify whether you are open to a full-time or hybrid model, or both. Also, highlight any other preferences, especially regarding location. Some companies seek location-independent workers within a specific region (e.g., “working from anywhere in the US”). Often they operate in a hybrid model. Filter your preferences based on job listings and proceed to the next step, which is searching for jobs.

See also- 13 best part time remote jobs

4. Search for Remote Jobs

Now that you have skills, a good portfolio, and a clear intention of working remotely, you need to know where to search for remote jobs. Some job boards focus on all types of jobs, while others are specifically dedicated to remote opportunities. Both types have their advantages and disadvantages. Let’s discuss one by one-

•Specialized Remote Job Boards:

There are platforms specifically designed for remote job seekers, such as We Work Remotely, Remote OK, Jobspresso or FlexJobs. Refine your searches using filters such as job category, employment type, and location preferences to get more accurate results.If freelancing is your preference, platforms like Upwork and Fiverr allow you to bid for jobs category-wise.
Pros:
– Specialized sites focusing on remote job listings
– Properly maintained platforms catering to remote workers.
– Advanced filters for precise job searches.
– Some remote sites charge up to $300 to post a job, indicating a higher level of commitment from employers.
Cons:
– Niche limitations
– Less recognized
– Subscription fees (not all though)

•General Job Boards:

Nowadays, most general job boards include an option for remote workers. When searching on common job boards like Indeed, Glassdoor, LinkedIn or ZipRecruiter , include specific remote-related keywords. Include words like “telecommute,” “virtual,” or “remote” in your search queries to identify remote job listings. Additionally, take advantage of LinkedIn‘s job search feature by using the “Remote” filter in the Location section. Follow companies that actively promote remote work to stay updated on their job postings. Also, utilize job alert features on these platforms to receive notifications when new remote job opportunities matching your criteria become available.

Pros:
– Wide range of opportunities
– Diverse industries
– Familiarity and Accessibility
Cons:
– Not that great for remote workers because of limited remote-specific filters
– Higher competition
– Less specialized information

Also, networking and industry-specific platforms can help you to uncover hidden remote job opportunities. Join industry-specific forums or online communities. Engage in discussions, make connections, and stay updated on job postings shared within these communities.

5. Meet all criteria

While searching for jobs, review the job listing carefully and make sure you meet the specified criteria. This includes technical requirements, experience levels and any additional skills or qualifications. Enhance your applications to highlight how your skills align with job requirements. Before applying for the jobs, research the companies to see if you like the company’s culture and environment.

6. Applying for Remote Jobs

Once you meet all the criteria, it’s time to apply for the job. When applying for remote positions, be sure to submit a well-written cover letter and resume. Highlight your skills and ability to work remotely by showcasing how well you manage your time, communicate clearly, and collaborate in virtual settings.

However, if you don’t have any remote work experience, consider finding relevant experiences that highlight your knowledge and skills in remote settings. Reflect on objectives when you have demonstrated skills relevant to remote work in previous roles. Consider times when you’ve collaborated flexibly with colleagues across different time zones or demonstrated your ability to be a self-starter, requiring minimal direct supervision. Customize your cover letter to show your excitement about the remote side of the job.

Employers often look for certain qualities in applicants which are-
– Familiarity and ease with technology
– Soft skills like communication skill
– Commitment to the work
– Proficiency in task and time management
This personalized approach helps the employer see how well-suited you are for the remote work environment.

7. Cracking the Remote Job Interview

This is the final step. After applying for remote jobs, employers will call you for an interview if they find your portfolio fair and impressive. Often, the interview is taken via virtual interview platforms like Zoom, Google Meet or Skype. So, prepare thoroughly for remote job interviews by familiarizing yourself with these platforms. Emphasize your experience with remote collaboration tools and demonstrate your adaptability to a virtual work environment. Be prepared to discuss your remote work experience, time management skills, and ability to stay motivated and productive without direct supervision. In the interview session, employers might ask questions that might not be from your field. Don’t be scared and answer confidently.

•Common Remote Job Interview Questions–

Similar to any regular interview, a remote job interview will have common questions like “Tell me about yourself,” “Why did you apply for the job?” and “What are your strengths and weaknesses?” Be sure to prepare for these, but also take note of some specific questions related to remote work, such as:

1. How do you stay organized and manage your time while working remotely?
2. How do you handle different time zones when collaborating with a global team?
3. What strategies do you use to stay motivated and productive in a remote work environment?
4. How do you ensure effective communication with remote team members?
5. Describe a situation where you faced challenges while working remotely and how you overcame them.

These are some of the most common yet important questions that are often asked by the interviewers. Preparing thoughtful responses to these questions will showcase your remote work skills, problem-solving abilities, and adaptability, making you a strong candidate for the remote position.

Like any other job, it takes time to get a remote job, especially according to your wishes and preferences. But as you gather knowledge and experiences of working remotely, you get closer to being able secure job that comes with great opportunities. By considering your unique skills, highlighting remote-friendly experiences, and demonstrating your enthusiasm for virtual work, you can set yourself on the path to success.

Thank you for sticking with us this far. We tried our best to guide you on how to find remote jobs. Don’t forget to share your thoughts with us down in the comment section. Until then, happy reading and happy nomading!!

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