Everything You Need to Know About Finding Remote Work
Welcome to the Remote Work Era
Whether you’re searching for a full-time job or you want to supplement your income, looking for remote work is much easier in this day and age.
Then vs. Now
Previously, doing remote work was inflexible, in that it was usually done on a part-time basis, typically for a smaller salary or wage.
In other instances, companies and businesses who permitted remote work tended to incorporate a hybrid work model (a combination of working remotely and on location). This was detrimental if you had to contend with transport-related issues (high costs of petrol, travelling from afar, a poor public transport system, etc) or if you were living in another country, which meant getting passed over in favour of other job candidates who worked in close proximity.
Now, thanks to evolving technology and more flexibility from employers, remote working can be done virtually anywhere and anytime. Additionally, it’s possible to either keep your current job while working remotely in a part-time capacity (or as an independent contractor), or to work full-time – all while earning a tidy income!
Job Search 101
When searching for remote work online, keep in mind the following three factors:
- Pay Close Attention to Key Terms
As you scour various job listings under your preferred career field/industry, it’s important to note what key terms they use so that you can narrow down your search. If listings use terms such as “remote work”, “virtual job”, “work from home” or “work from anywhere”, then these are the listings worth exploring further.
For example, if you’re a full-time accountant who wants to work as an accounting tutor in your spare time, but only via an online space, you would do well to search for listings by tutoring companies that contain these aforementioned phrases.
Don’t completely discount listings that also offer a hybrid structure – after all, this can lead to increased productivity, improved collaboration, and the ability to socialise and learn from your superiors and colleagues in person.
- Break Down Your Skills
To work remotely, you need to demonstrate a strong sense of self-discipline, possess effective time management and communication skills, be comfortable with technology, and be able to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
When applying for a position, you will need to highlight these skills in order to stand out among other applicants. While you can touch upon these briefly in your CV, you can ideally expand on them further in your cover letter, a skills assessment or during the interview phase.
For example, perhaps you’ve set up a dedicated workspace – complete with a home office set-up and functioning Wi-Fi connection – in your home. Here, you are able to focus on your workload without any distractions. What’s more, you make use of time-tracking apps so that you not only dedicate your time and efforts to performing certain projects and tasks, but also to show employers that you are sticking to your work schedule.
Additionally, you utilise apps such as Slack, Google Meet and Zoom to communicate with your peers, plus you are familiar with basic troubleshooting methods when it comes to tech-related issues (poor connectivity, sluggish performance, etc).
By providing examples like these, you will be able to persuade potential employers that you are equipped to work remotely.
- Watch Out for Scams
Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for fake job listings to make the rounds on job websites. This is when scam artists will pretend to offer so-called “remote work” in order to con you out of your personal and/or financial information.
If you happen upon job listings that sound too good to be true – eg. if it promotes “quick money”-earning opportunities, or they are eager to hire applicants on the spot without checking your credentials or interviewing you – then chances are that these listings are scams.
Similarly, if the “employer” or “human resources manager” asks you for your financial information, or they require an upfront payment, then it is clear that they’re only after your money.
If you’re unsure about the intentions behind the listing, conduct online research into the company and/or persons who are advertising the position. Also, if the listings consist of multiple spelling/grammar errors and information inconsistencies then take this as a sign that these listings are not legitimate.
Ready for Remote Work!
With this know-how in mind, you are now ready to search for remote work opportunities – good luck!