Are you looking for your first remote job? Do you want to work from anywhere? If you answered yes to both questions, then keep reading. This guide will show you the exact steps to take to get your first remote job.
Remote work is the perfect solution for people who want to work from anywhere. It’s a great way to increase your productivity and flexibility. With remote work, you can take care of your business while you take care of your personal life.
If you want to work remotely, these are the steps to take:
Related posts
Free Online Jobs That Pay Daily [Some Instantly or Upfront]
14 Best Non-Phone Work from Home Jobs
Low-Stress Jobs For Introverts That Pay Well
Step 1: Decide if a remote job would work for you
Remote jobs are not for everyone. There are some personalities that are not well suited to work remotely. To assess if a remote job would work for you, ask yourself these questions;
- Are you self-motivated? If you lack self-drive and motivation, a remote job may not be the best one for you. Quite often when you work remotely, you are alone with nobody to keep checking on your progress. Without self-motivation, you will fail miserably working remotely.
- Do you love spending time with your family? A remote job is perfect for people who love spending more time with family like parents with young children. Due to the flexibility of the job, it is easy to schedule your work around your free time like when the kids are asleep for parents with young children.
- Are you introverted? Most introverts love working remotely because by nature they work best in solitude without interference from other people. Many are self-driven and do not need crowds to motivate them to work.
- Are you extroverted? Many extroverts hate remote jobs because they thrive where people are. Therefore if you are introverted, you may want to think twice before applying for a remote job.
Step 2: Assess the advantages and disadvantages of a remote job
A remote job has both advantages and disadvantages and you need to know what they are in order to make an informed decision as you consider how to get your first remote job.
Advantages of working remotely
- Say bye to commuting – with a remote job, you skip the drive to and from work every day and the traffic jams and other associated nuisances associated with commuting.
- Work from anywhere – with a remote job, you work from home or from any other place that is convenient for you. If you are one of those people who love traveling, you get to see the world as you work as long as you have the necessary tools to work on the go.
- More time with family – working remotely allows you to have more time with your family as you will more often than not be working from home where your family is. The flexibility of the job allows you to spend time with your family and attend to them whenever they need you because you know you can always schedule to work at a different time of the day.
- Flexible schedule – the nature of a remote job is that so long as you get the job done, you can do it whenever you want – you are not confined to a nine-to-five schedule. If you prefer working at night like me, you can relax during the day and work at night. You may also decide to work very early in the morning and leave the afternoon for other engagements away from work.
- No office politics – office politics can be so draining, especially for introverts who would rather stay by themselves and skip all the drama. Remote working ensures you endure less politics in the office because politics thrives when people are together.
- Lower costs – the fact that there is no commuting and no buying food out there is an obvious cost-saving measure that comes with working remotely.
Disadvantages of working remotely
- Can be lonely – working remotely can be a very lonely experience for extroverts who thrive when they are with other people. Such people would miss the lunch hour chats, the team physical meetings and just seeing people surrounding them as they work.
- Lack of work-life balance – much as you get the flexibility of working when you do it remotely, it is also true that remote workers tend to overwork. It is not uncommon to find remote workers working up to late in the night because there really are no office hours. If not checked, it can cause a lack of work-life balance.
- Distractions – there are many more distractions when you are working remotely. For instance, if you are a parent with young children working from home, you are likely to get many distractions from the children as you work. Other distractions may be from friends and family when they pop in to just say hi at the same time you have dedicated to work.
- Tools and equipment – you may be required to buy all the tools and equipment needed to work if you don’t have them or if your office is not already providing them.
Step 3: Identify Your Skills and Strengths
If you’re looking for your first remote job, it’s important to identify your skills and strengths. This can help you find a position that is a good fit for you and allows you to work from anywhere.
Some things to consider when assessing your abilities include:
-Do you have experience working remotely?
-Do you have excellent communication and organizational skills?
-Can you work independently and take care of your own deadlines?
-Are you able to work flexible hours?
There are many online resources and job search engines that can help you to assess your skills and strengths. Once you’ve identified your skills and strengths, it’s now time to research remote jobs and find the ones that fit your strengths.
Step 4: Research Remote Jobs
There are many ways to research remote jobs. Some of these include the following:
You can use job search engines, online job postings, or career websites
Many companies now post their job openings online. If you are looking for a job in a specific company, just open the company’s website and look under job openings or vacancies.
In addition, there are many job boards and career websites available online that you can use to search for jobs. A simple Google search for remote jobs plus your area of interest will produce hundreds of results that you can scan through and see if there is anything of interest to you.
As you continue with your research, ensure that you use the correct keywords to search for your dream job by being as specific as possible. Also, be sure to use the remote job filter so that you only get results of only remote jobs.
It is also important to note that some remote jobs are location-dependent. Before you apply, be sure to go through all the requirements and only apply for jobs that meet your expectations.
Talk to friends, family, or colleagues who work remotely
Other people who already work remotely can be a great resource for you when you are looking for a remote job. They will not only tell you what they did to get their jobs but also refer you to remote jobs in their companies or elsewhere.
Attend remote job fairs or networking events
Attending remote job fairs and networking events is another way to find your first remote job. These events are a great way to meet potential employers and learn about the latest remote job opportunities.
Be sure to dress professionally and bring a copy of your resume to networking events. You can also use these events to make connections with people who work in the industry you’re interested in.
Use remote job sites
There are many job sites dedicated to remote jobs. The ones I have found success with include FlexJobs, We Work Remotely, Just Remote, Let’s Work Remotely, and Angellist. They are easy to use if you know what you are looking for.
Other places to look
Other places where you can get remote job opportunities are the following:
If you already have a LinkedIn account, click on jobs at the top bar and then search the job postings by title or skill level. The great thing about LinkedIn is that it allows you to also search for jobs in a specific location or by filtering for remote jobs only. You can also set job alerts to receive jobs via email anytime the job you want is posted.
I did a simple search on LinkedIn for a remote writer job in the United States and found over 7,000 job postings as shown below. This is how powerful LinkedIn is. I have found jobs on LinkedIn that I could not have found elsewhere and it is all free, so give it a try.
Indeed
Indeed is another job site that allows you to search for jobs using job titles, keywords, or by company in case you are interested in working for a particular company.
They also allow you to filter the jobs using the date the job was posted, salary estimate, job type (full-time, part-time, or temporary), education required, experience level required, the company posting the job, and location. Under location is where you select that you only want remote jobs.
Step 5: Polish Your Resume and LinkedIn Profile
After doing your research and seeing the requirements of your dream job, the next step on how to get your first remote job is to polish your resume. Ensure that your resume and your LinkedIn profile which is also an online resume of sorts are both looking their best. Here are a few tips to help you out:
- Use a professional resume service if you lack the proper skills to make your resume shine.
- Ensure to use a modern resume format to help your resume stand out from the crowd of other resumes.
- Use impactful keywords and phrases in your resume.
- Make your resume easy to read and navigate.
- Use LinkedIn to build strong relationships with potential employers.
Update your LinkedIn profile
Your LinkedIn profile is one of the first things potential employers will see when they search for candidates. Make sure it looks modern and professional, and include all of the relevant information about your experience and skills.
Step 6: Apply for the remote job
For most remote jobs, the most common way is to apply online. Before you apply, make sure you have the following things ready:
-Your resume
-A cover letter
-A portfolio of past work to showcase your experience
To apply for a remote job, first, create a resume that highlights your qualifications for the position you are applying to. Also, have a cover letter that explains why you are a good fit for the job and why you would be a valuable addition to the team.
Also, provide a brief overview of your work experience and portfolio or demo reel to show your skills and abilities. Finally, submit your job application and await further communication from the employer.
Step 7: Prepare for Job Interviews
Interviewing for a remote job can be tough, but there are some things one can do to ease the process. For starters, ensure you are prepared for the interview. This means knowing the company and its mission, being well-versed in the company’s products or services, and having a good answer for any questions about the company.
Second, be confident and articulate. Make sure your answers are clear and to the point, and avoid common interview mistakes like being too quiet or fidgety. Finally, be professional and respectful throughout the process. Remember, this is an opportunity to show off your skills and show that you are a good fit for the position.
Step 8: Accept the Job Offer!
When you receive the job offer, it’s important to take it seriously and accept it. There is no harm in asking questions and getting clarification on any details. However, do not delay in accepting the offer – it can be difficult to find a new job, and you may not get a better offer.
Conclusion: Follow these simple steps and you’ll be on your way to your first remote job
This post provides an overview of how to get your first remote job. It covers steps one through eight, which include assessing if a remote job is for you, identifying your strengths, researching for remote jobs, preparing for interviews, accepting the offer, and being professional throughout the process.
If you have the right skills and are prepared, you can find a great remote job.