Whether you’re looking for remote work or your goal has long been to find a role with more flexibility, working from home has become increasingly appealing.
In fact, studies show that people who have the option to work from home are 87% more likely to like their jobs. Since finding work from home roles can be challenging, we’ve outlined the steps to take in order to locate your ideal remote position.
Understand the Remote Job Market
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, more people are undoubtedly searching for remote positions. And while some companies are experiencing layoffs and hiring freezes, there are many who are still hiring or have an increased need for new employees
To that end, we’ve partnered with FlexJobs, a company that focuses solely on remote or flexible positions. For a monthly fee, they vet each position on their site so that your search is streamlined and concise. Instead of weeding through various job boards as you look for work from home roles, FlexJobs does this for you.
Pardon our interruption—this is Career Contessa. Join us for this episode of The Femails where we share tips on how to land a remote job with advice from Purva Dandona, head of talent acquisitions at Goalbook, a company hiring remote employees.
Listen to the full episode over on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google Podcasts. A full transcription of the episode can be found here. Now, back to the article.
We’ve also recently rounded up two lists of companies who are currently hiring for remote positions here and here. The positions include teaching opportunities, sales, recruitment, data analysis, and more. Since more companies are forced to transition to remote workforces, the options for work from home jobs are vast.
Perfect Your Job Search Tactics
A trick we’ve touted a few times that comes in handy when searching for a remote position is to make yourself familiar with keywords in job descriptions. If you’ve located a role that seems intriguing, noting the keywords in the posting will help you learn exactly what that employer is seeking.
From there, you can work to ensure that your communications with that potential employer - your cover letter or resume - mention those keywords. For more on how to successfully read a job posting, check out our downloadable guide.
Another tip is to participate in virtual networking events for remote work. Online job fairs allow job seekers, recruiters, and hiring managers to connect. Taking part in these opportunities will give you a feel for a company’s culture and help you more easily determine whether they’d be a fit for you.
Tailor Your Resume
Before you begin your search for remote work, revamp your resume.
Keywords in job descriptions come into play again here. To refine your resume for a certain role, make sure you’re utilizing those same keywords to describe your skills. Be honest, of course, but make sure that your descriptions match what the employer is looking for. We’ve got various sources that will help you perfect your resume.
With regard to interviews for remote positions, you’ll likely be participating in them virtually, of course. These ideas will help you prepare for a remote interview. Make sure to find a quiet space, dress the part, and troubleshoot all of your equipment.
It wouldn’t hurt to run a practice session with a friend or colleague so that you have peace of mind about the logistical aspect of the interview.
Once your environment is prepared, refine your interview skills. Our job interview checklist will help, and so will reading through these 10 common interview questions. Be prepared to explain the reasons for your desire to work from home and how you’ll effectively manage a remote schedule.
Make Your Search Easier
If you’ve ever searched online for remote work, you know that it can be daunting to find flexible positions. Since FlexJobs supplies only those roles that are flexible, work from home, or remote, you’ll save time and energy throughout the application process. Each position is vetted by their team, and they provide other helpful resources as well.
