Looking for remote work? Here are some tips.
The first thing you’ll want to do, of course, is to learn if your industry (or chosen industry if it’s new to you) actually does remote work. There are lots of opportunities in some fields, and not many in others. If you’re struggling to find this out, try to connect with people in jobs you think sound interesting and ask.
Next, be sure you’re searching the right way. Many job boards have features that let you search for remote opportunities, either by entering that in the location box or by enabling s filter. There are also some job boards dedicated to remote work, but be aware that some of these charge for full access.
Next, be sure your resume indicates your ability to work with minimal supervision. If you’ve had remote jobs in the past, note that. If you haven’t, stress your autonomy and ability to solve problems on your own.
And, of course, be sure you’re ready to answer some tough questions in the interview. Note things like why you want to work from home, examples of how you do your best work, and so forth. Have some specific examples of key issues like communication and collaboration when you’re on a distributed team. (These can be from your personal life, but avoid giving too much personal detail, like talking about FaceTime calls with your grandkids. Instead, talk about using a video platform to stay in touch with friends and family.) Also, be ready to talk about how you deal with distractions, as those are a lot of the new reality. Be sure your stories have a beginning, a middle, and an end. You’re going to tell them about one time when one particular thing happened and you took these actions, and then what the outcome was.
When you’re interviewing for a remote job, be sure you have a dedicated space for the interview, as well as for the work itself. This doesn’t have to be fancy or anything, but it should be clear you’re not on your bed or lounging on a couch because that doesn’t convey the professionalism you want them to see. You just need a quiet-ish area with a fairly neutral background (a wall, a bookshelf) so that they can see you have a designated space to get your tasks accomplished.
Finally, if your work will involve conversations with others, consider investing in some technology. Good lighting, an external camera, and possibly an external microphone are good places to start. You can invest in a headset as well, but I actually prefer a cheap pair of plug-in earbuds with a microphone because they don’t run out of juice during a conversation and they’re not big and bulky. (Bonus: if they get stepped on or lost, you’re out about $20.) None of this has to be super-expensive, but it’s helpful to have. I recommend you start with good lights positioned in front of, and slightly above, you so the people you’re talking with can see you well. And please make sure you’re well positioned if you’re on camera! You should be looking straight-on with your whole head and the upper part of your torso in frame. Here are some good tips to show you at your best.
