Dreaming of a remote job? Here are our tips for finding one.

Welcome back to our job search series. So far, we have explored tips for finding an entry-level role and navigating a career change. This week, we’re going to wade into a lifestyle topic of interest: remote jobs.

Working remotely can be one way to introduce flexibility into your career, while still retaining many of the employment benefits that come with working for a company. Some companies offer fully remote positions, while others have adopted a hybrid model, which sees employees working remotely on some days and convening in an office on others.

With a remote job, you gain the freedom to work from anywhere, whether your preferred environment is at home, with a coworking community, or even on the beach. This can make it easier to develop a more complete sense of work-life balance, or work-life integration.

At the same time, you may sacrifice some of the social elements of the workplace, like in-person meetings with colleagues and classic watercooler conversations. You’ll also need to manage your own dedicated workspace and motivate yourself to stay on task without the social cues that an office can supply.

If you want to experience both sides of these pros and cons, consider searching for a hybrid role. Otherwise, if you find the pros outweigh the cons, you may enjoy a fully remote role.

How to find a remote job

For the most part, the application process for a remote job is the same as a typical application process. You’ll likely need a resume, cover letter, and, in some cases, a portfolio or work samples. You’ll need to reflect on your career goals. And you’ll need to prepare for your interviews.

All that said, remote job searches can be unique in some ways. Here are some tips for your remote job search:

1. Research the kinds of jobs that are typically remote. You may already have some roles you’d like in mind. Remember, though, to work remotely, you’ll typically need to get a job you can do with just a device and internet connection. Broadly speaking, you’re looking at industries like IT, digital marketing, or customer support. To start your research, check out our guide on remote work-from-home jobs that pay well.

2. Filter your job searches to “remote.” Many companies adopted remote work policies during the pandemic, but some have returned to the office on either full-time or hybrid schedules. The result is that there are fewer remote roles now than there were a few years ago. Many online job search sites, like LinkedIn and Indeed, allow you to filter your search results to only show you remote or hybrid positions. That way, you can eliminate search results for in-person positions and only apply for roles that organizations have pre-approved for remote work.

3. Prepare to interview by video or phone. No matter how comfortable you are on Google Meet or Zoom, it’s still a good idea to prepare for challenges unique to this style of interview. For example, you may need to practice using an unfamiliar video conferencing tool, find a quiet space for the interview, or create rapport with your interviewer without the visual and nonverbal cues of an in-person meeting. Take a look at our Zoom interview tips guide for more ideas.

4. Prepare to describe how you handle working remotely. Even though many companies have introduced remote work policies in recent years, a recruiter may want to make sure that you can work productively outside of a traditional office setting. Prepare for any discussion around this topic by:

• Reflecting on prior remote work or study experience
• Thinking ahead to a future remote work situation
• Describing specific strategies and practices you can use to make the remote work experience more productive, such as using software to collaborate asynchronously and setting up a home office you feel comfortable in

Quick tip: If you’ve taken a course on Coursera, the things that worked for you when you were learning online may be the same things that will work for you when you’re working remotely. You can relate your success with online, asynchronous learning to how you plan to succeed in a remote work environment.

Preparing to work remotely

The technical skills you’ll use to do your remote job well are the same technical skills you’d use if you were working in an office. However, there are some workplace skills that may be particularly useful in a remote environment.

That’s all for this week. Next week, we will close out our job search series with an issue on returning to work after a career gap. See you then!