More and more people are applying for remote jobs these days, and remote work is recording an exponential rise.
And it’s not surprising! Remote work comes with great perks, including flexible work hours, the ability to work from anywhere without having to spend time commuting, and many more.
When you’re able to find work that doesn’t tie you down to a specific location or area, it creates a world of endless benefits; not only does it allow you to be location independent (meaning you can live anywhere in the world), but it also fosters productivity, allows you to create your own schedule and more often than not… comes with an increased sense of happiness and fulfillment.
The benefits of remote work and flexible schedules can be life-changing for so many folks, including workers with disabilities and/or chronic illnesses, parents or expecting parents, and others who might have trouble going to a co-located office daily.
When you think about the typical remote worker, it’s tempting to call to mind a digital nomad or youthful tech enthusiast. But we’re moving away from a time where developers and coders were the only people able to work remotely.
Today, there is an endless number of remote job opportunities in various fields that allow almost anyone to be able to secure a remote gig, but the biggest challenge for many is figuring out how to find and apply for a remote job to become a digital nomad.
Applying For Remote Jobs: 6 Things You Need To Know
Given that remote work is a fairly new phenomenon, many still have little to no knowledge of how it works, what it takes, and what it means to be successful as a remote worker.
That’s why we’re going to highlight some of the most important things you need to know when applying for remote jobs.
How To Apply For Remote Jobs: 6 Things You Need To Know
- Remote Work Allows You to Stay on Top of Your Busy Schedule
Working remotely gives you more control over your busy schedule. On top of working from anywhere, anytime, you can vary your workload as much as you need to.
- You’ll Need to Have Your Own Tech Devices and Tools
Invest in the right tools and consider spending a little more on good quality equipment. It’ll pay off in the long run!
- You’ll Require a Dedicated Work Space
If you’re serious about working remotely, you need to ditch your pajamas and find yourself a nice coliving and/or coworking space.
- Consider What Type of Remote Culture is Best for You
Remote culture varies from company to company. Make sure to compare different companies and send your application where you’re confident you’ll fit in well.
- You’ll Still Need To Tailor Your CV Properly
Make sure to highlight any skills and/or experiences that showcase your ability to work remotely, and as part of a remote team.
- Visit the Right Websites, Platforms, and Online Groups
Identifying a remote position that inspires your interest is the first step to securing great remote-based employment. But you can only do that when you are checking the right places.
Remote Work Allows You to Stay on Top of Your Busy Schedule
Getting a job that’ll fit into your schedule is an arduous task, especially if it requires you to work in an office. This is where remote-based employment proves valuable.
Working remotely gives you more control over your busy schedule. On top of working from anywhere, anytime, you can vary your workload as much as you need to. You can also choose to work when you’re most productive since there are no fixed hours.
On your time off you can relax under the sun on a warm beach, visit landmarks, go on an adventure… in short, make the most of your location independent lifestyle!
You’ll Need to Have Your Own Tech Devices and Tools
Invest in the right tools and consider spending a little more on good quality equipment. It’ll pay off in the long run! So if you don’t have a decent laptop already, make a point of buying one for yourself before applying for remote jobs.
You may also require getting a printer and a scanner, especially if you’re applying to a position that involves a lot of printing.
Last but not least, for effective sharing of files, you will need software such as WinZip, to zip and unzip files. Zipping and unzipping helps you compress and decompress various files so they don’t take up too much space on your computer.
You’ll Require a Dedicated Work Space
The idea of working from the comfort of your bed may seem appealing at first. But is it sustainable in the long run? The short answer is no. Sure, the first week will be great. But with time, you’ll soon start getting back pains and find yourself having fewer social interactions, which can lead to loneliness and feeling isolated.
That’s why it pays to have a dedicated workspace at home. Check out how to set up a productive (and healthy) home office in our post.
Alternatively, find yourself a Wi-Fi friendly café or a coworking space in your neighborhood. Or even better, a cool coliving space like Sun and Co.!
Such spaces usually make the lives of remote workers incredibly easier, by providing reliable infrastructure, the right work environment for maximum productivity, and a community of like-minded people to discuss and share ideas.
At Sun and Co., for example, when you come to our coliving all you need to worry about is buying a flight ticket to Javea, bringing your laptop and getting to work!
Side note: ensure you use a VPN like NordVPN every time you connect to a public Wi-Fi. Check out more tips on cybersecurity you need to be aware of when working remotely from public spaces.
Consider What Type of Remote Culture is Best for You
Every company has its own unique approach to remote work. Some companies have both remote and non-remote employees. Others have remote workers who work just a few miles away from the office and are required to report in person a few days in a month. And others are fully distributed, without even a physical office to go to.
Remote culture varies from company to company. It’s your job to compare different options and approaches to remote work, and just apply where you’re confident you’ll fit in well.
You’ll Still Need To Tailor Your CV Properly
When applying to remote jobs, even if it’s through word of mouth, you still have to make sure your CV is up to date and targeted to the position/company you are applying for.
Firstly, if you have had some experience previously in working remotely, make sure to highlight that. For employers, it would be great to see that you have done this before and they won’t have to engage too much in training and onboarding since you already are familiar which can give you an advantage.
Secondly, find a way to describe the home office and the nice setup that you have. This will show that you are fully prepared and that the setting won’t be a problem for you.
Third, make sure to highlight your teamwork and collaborative skills. Obviously, you are going to work in a team, and showing your skills of interacting with others, even virtually, will give you an advantage.
Visit the Right Websites, Platforms, and Online Groups
Identifying a remote position that inspires your interest is the first step to securing great remote-based employment. But you can only do that when you are checking the right places.
There are tons of Facebook groups that advertise vacant remote positions, including Digital Nomads Jobs, Female Digital Jobs, and Remote Jobs, just to mention a few. On top of that, there are many Twitter accounts and websites that specialize in remote job postings.
Keep reading to hear more about where to find remote work and how to apply for remote positions.
3 Unconventional Ways To Apply For Remote Jobs
Succeeding as a remote worker is something that is more attainable than most people think. Whether you’ve been on the scene for a while or you’re looking to transition from your 9 to 5 office job, not to worry, finding remote work in your field is getting easier by the day.
So if you are thinking about applying for remote jobs, here are 3 of our favorite ways to find remote work. Plus an extra out-of-the-box tip you might have not considered yet!
Targeted Websites
The easiest route to finding remote job opportunities would be a simple Google search, but it can be really difficult to sift through everything that there is out there.
It’s important to find promotions that you can trust and with a bit more clarity on what they have to offer. That’s why we love websites like Workew that allow you to post your resume and get free daily job alerts for a variety of professions. You can also sign up to newsletters from specialized websites such as Remotive, Pangian, NoDesk and many more.
Word Of Mouth
Another great, yet often underutilized way to gain new remote job opportunities is by word of mouth and networking in different groups. When you’re vocal about the work you do and the services that you offer, it allows people to keep you top of mind when it comes to new job opportunities and offers that they know of.
According to a Nielsen report, 92% of people trust recommendations that they hear from friends and family over other sources of marketing and they’d be more apt to hire someone that is a “friend of a friend”. When you’re consistently sharing your work, availability, and openness to remote job opportunities, it can open up a new world of professional opportunities.
Facebook Groups
Facebook might be the least conventional way to find remote work, but it works just the same. Most people hone in on LinkedIn when thinking about social networks to find work opportunities, but with the rise of Facebook groups that focus on remote work and the digital nomad lifestyle; you’re able to find ample opportunities and conversations regards job opportunities or new freelance positions within various companies.
Staying tuned into various conversations in Facebook groups might allow for you to encounter job offers for remote work, especially if the groups you’re participating in have a focus on remote work, travel and location independence.
Out Of The Box Bonus Tip
Finally, if you want to increase the amount of time you spend working remotely, Greg Caplan, CEO of Remote Year has specific advice.
When it comes to asking for more remote work time, he says, “the key to getting permission is thoughtfully and maturely presenting the business case of your ask. The best presentations include building a clear plan for how you will get your work done well as well as a clear communications plan to stay in sync every step of the way. In a remote environment, it’s important to over-communicate to make sure everybody is always on the same page.”
So before you even begin applying for remote jobs, have you ever considered pitching the idea of a remote position to your current employer?
Of course, this may require some preparation on your end before initiating the conversation, in order to help your boss feel comfortable with the idea of you becoming a remote employee.
Here are five tips to convince your boss to let you work remotely.
Final Thoughts
Working remotely surely does not provide the level of engagement associated with a fast-paced and diverse workplace, however, it comes with many perks and is increasingly becoming a standard practice.
Succeeding as a remote worker is something that is more attainable than most people think. Whether you’ve been on the scene for a while or you’re looking to transition from your 9 to 5 office job, not to worry, finding remote work in your field is getting easier by the day.
Knowing these things when applying for remote jobs will help you stand out as an excellent remote candidate.
You might also like:
- 5 Common Remote Work Challenges, And How to Overcome Them
- 5 Ways To Make The Most Of Your Digital Nomad Lifestyle
If you’ve found these tips useful, join the Sun and Co. Community to hear more! Follow us on social media and subscribe to our amazing newsletter to see what’s going on in Javea and in our house ☀️
