Time to read: 5 mins
Optimize Your Remote Job Search Strategy Summary:
- Searching for a remote job can be daunting with the overwhelming amount of remote opportunities out there.
- It is important to know establish what you want in a remote job before starting your search.
- Updating your resume and LinkedIn profile, virtual networking, and using keywords can help refine your remote job search.
We’ve all seen the shift that the pandemic had on the workforce. Now more than ever before, companies are offering flexible options for their employees and the availability of remote jobs has skyrocketed. However, without the typical location-based constraints, a remote job search can seem like a daunting task.
Knowing how to search and what to look for will improve the results of your remote job search.
Know What You Want
Before starting your remote job search, doing a little research beforehand will help you establish your priorities and make it easier to filter through the plethora of remote opportunities.
Consider the following:
-
- Is a remote job for you? This article has some things to consider before taking a remote job.
- Do you want fully remote or are you open to hybrid remote positions as well?
- Determine the job titles you are interested in and their variations.
- Would you be okay working for a company based in a different time zone?
- Do you want a flexible schedule or set hours?
Optimizing Your Remote Job Search
1. Update Your Resume
For any job, tailoring your resume to the specific job you are applying for will increase your chances of being considered. For remote jobs, this is even more important since you will be up against an even larger pool of applicants.
Aside from the job-specific skills, make sure to include remote-specific skills as well. Productivity tools like Zoom, Teams, GoogleSuite, Office 365, Slack, etc. are often used in remote working environments, so showcase your proficiency in these on your resume.
As for soft skills, be sure to note any skills that are important when working with a remote team. Being a strong communicator, proficient writer, adaptable, and collaborative are crucial to succeeding at a remote job.
2. Update Your LinkedIn Profile
Your LinkedIn Profile serves as a digital extension of your resume. Having a strong LinkedIn Profile will show remote employers that you know how to navigate a professional, digital space. Use these 7 Tips to Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile.
3. Know Where to Look
There is no shortage of remote jobs out there, so haphazardly applying to any and every remote job you see will not yield great results. On large job boards like Indeed, LinkedIn or ZipRecruiter, utilize “remote” as a keyword in your search. You can also use filters to view strictly remote jobs.
Another option is to go right to the source. Make a list of fully remote companies or companies that have remote options and go directly to their website to apply.
Staffing agencies like Profiles are an excellent way to find remote job opportunities. Even if a job doesn’t spark your interest right off the bat, there is a good chance one of our skilled recruiters can match you with similar or future remote job opportunities.
4. Utilize the Power of Networking
Sure you have heard it a million times: “Network!” But it’s true, networking is a great way to meet other people in the remote job world and learn about remote opportunities. Use LinkedIn to join online groups focused on remote work and engage with remote companies. You can also attend virtual networking events.
Don’t underestimate the power of your existing connections in your remote job search! There is likely someone within your professional network that either currently has a remote job or works somewhere with remote opportunities.
5. Stay Organized
As you find remote jobs to apply to, keep a running document or spreadsheet of everywhere you have applied.
Include:
- Job Title
- Company Applied to
- Date Applied
- Where you applied
- Point of Contact
- Anything else you think is important to note.
Keeping yourself organized will make it easier to follow up and communicate effectively with employers.
6. Research the Company
It is important to research the company before applying to avoid scams and also make sure you would fit well into their company culture.
If you find that your values and beliefs do not seem to align with the company, then it is probably best to skip applying to their jobs.
There are also many remote job scams out there, so be sure to look into the company and keep an eye out for red flags before applying.
7. Be Interview Ready
Applying to remote jobs also means doing your interview virtually. Be sure to familiarize yourself with remote-specific interview questions. Ensure that your devices are ready to go and that you have a professional background to sit in front of. It is harder for the interviewer to get a sense of your personality through a screen, so use these tips to ace your virtual job interview.
In Conclusion
A remote job search comes with its own set of hurdles and can be overwhelming. Luckily, there are many ways you can optimize your job search strategy so you can find remote jobs you are interested in and take the next step in your remote career.
To explore remote opportunities with Profiles, visit our Career Portal.
