Find the Right Remote Job for You

By Madison White on June 30, 2020

Our world and especially our workforce have changed dramatically since the global outbreak of Covid-19. Whether you have recently lost a job, been furloughed, or are just setting out in a new job market, there is a strong likelihood that you might be looking for remote work. Because of the risks involved with office spaces, more and more companies are opting to hire people to work remotely rather than require them to come into an office. If working remotely is something that you’re interested in, this is good news as many companies are now more open to remote workers than they probably were before. However, just like any job, just because it is remote doesn’t mean that it is going to be the right fit for you. Make sure to dive into the following criteria to help you find a remote job that fits your needs.

1. Not all remote jobs are created equal

Don’t be fooled into thinking that every remote job will be exactly the same. Like any job, things can vary wildly between different roles and companies. Before you accept a position, make sure that you know what you are getting into by asking the right questions and doing your research.

Remote jobs are often appealing because they offer more flexibility than a regular job, but some remote jobs are more flexible than others. Some remote jobs still require you to be working from 9-5 or other regular office hours. You can expect to be emailing with your coworkers and being required to attend meetings (virtual ones) during these times alongside your other work. These are likely to be fulltime roles rather than freelance work. On the other hand, taking on various freelance gigs does offer almost complete freedom beyond meeting expectations and deadlines. You will have to do extra work of seeking out different projects and keeping yourself motivated and meeting your deadlines on your own.

Make sure that you think about what you value. If you are looking for stability and a sense of community within your role, you should be looking for a full-time, probably regular-houred positions rather than freelance gigs. If you value complete freedom to work on projects that you care about and you don’t mind not having coworkers and meetings to deal with, then you should steer more on the freelance side of things.

2. Don’t forget to network

Remote jobs offer the benefits of not actually having to go out and network and socialize, which can be a huge plus for some people, but that doesn’t mean that you can just stop networking altogether. Many freelance and remote job opportunities are posted digitally via job searching websites or other freelancing platforms, but that doesn’t mean that all of them will be there. Because turnaround can be so quick on some remote jobs, some companies don’t bother to post them at all and will instead have a handful of remote workers they will contact when a job becomes available. This is where networking comes in. You need to make sure that you become one of the people that the company contacts first. This may be difficult to do at first, but after some successful projects and skillful networking, you’ll be well on your way.

Networking digitally is made much easier by job-based social media like LinkedIn. Don’t be afraid to add people within companies that you know take on remote workers. Taking an interest in them and what they do is a great way to build connections and form the relationships you need to score those jobs.

3. Capitalize off of previous experience

So far we’ve covered what to look for and how to network, but what do you need to do to actually land the remote job that you want? Something to keep in mind is making sure to capitalize off of any previous experience you may have that is relevant to the job. Are you great at keeping your own schedule and meeting deadlines? Are you detail-oriented and will make sure the work you submit is high quality? Do you excel in communicating through email? All of these qualities are perfect for any type of remote work.

Additionally, feel free to mention any software that you are familiar with. This shows that you are technology literate and is a big plus if there is any crossover with what that company already uses. Don’t forget to add social media as well. Many companies are looking for someone to take over their social media accounts through remote work.

Conclusion

Finding the perfect remote job may seem daunting as you scroll through an endless list of ads. How do you know what is right for you? Checking in with yourself about what environment you work best in will help you find the right remote opportunity.

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