Remote working has become a fantastic alternative to traditional work options in the past few years. The rise of freelance, telecommute, and remote task-based jobs have given new meaning to a job field that was traditionally dominated by stay-at-home parents. If you've never worked remotely, however, the transition can be a daunting task. The plethora of listings, some real and some fraudulent, along with the competition in most remote fields, means dedication and perseverance are essential to securing the job of your dreams.
Examine Your Resume
The resumes that worked well for you when you were looking for an in-person job might not be the best choice now. Resumes need to be updated, and some of the experiences you proudly displayed on your resume may not apply to this new environment. If you have experience working on your own without direct supervision, this will appeal to someone hiring for a remote position. Even if your current or previous positions were mainly in-person, any work-from-home experience can help.
Identify Your Work-From-Home Skills
A list of your most important soft skills is great for a resume. When looking for online or work-from-home positions, make sure that you emphasize the skills that are appealing in this new environment. In many cases, good teamwork and great negotiating abilities may not suit your new role. Hiring managers will be looking for self-motivated individuals, people that are self-driven and can work well without supervision. Qualities like time management, organization, and effective communication are all good additions.
Scan Job Boards
The majority of freelance or remote positions will come from job boards. Websites like Indeed, Monster, ZipRecruiter, and Glassdoor have hundreds of new listings every day. Keywords like work-from-home, remote, freelance, telecommute, and online will all give you a ton of results. You can further narrow down these results depending on the position you are looking for. Many of these openings require partial remote work, meaning you can visit the office and work from home at different times. These are great positions for those just transitioning into the remote working field.
Keep an Eye Out for Fraudulent Listings
When you're scanning job boards and websites, there are certain precautions that need to be taken. The rule of thumb? If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Look for listings that appear on multiple boards and are from the same company. Be leery of companies that do not have profile pictures or logos. Jobs like data entry, claims processing and accounts receivable are the most likely to be scams. Always research companies before submitting personal information.
Learn to Network
If you're looking to begin a foray into the freelancing world, networking can help you find potential clients. Small businesses often look for content creators, artists, and website designers to help gain publicity. Ask friends and family if they know anyone that would be looking to enlist the services of a freelancer. When you eventually find clients, ask them to leave reviews of your work. This will help further your reputation.
Follow-Up on Applications
When you begin to apply to remote positions, make sure to follow up with hiring managers. Often, remote positions have hundreds of applicants, so it's important to find any way possible to stand out. Phone calls and emails to the human resources departments help you stick out in their memory. When they review your application, they'll remember your dedication to the position and will pay closer attention to your cover letter and resume.
Connect With Other Remote Workers
Websites like Reddit and Twitter have plenty of forums and threads that online workers and freelancers use to connect. They share grievances, experiences, and can even help each other find work. Online work can be lonely, so finding a close support group and connecting with others that work similarly can provide a little relief.
Build Your Social Media Presence
Linking professional social media accounts on your resume and website is a great way to show your employer your personality and interests, but it's equally important for you to use these sites for the best of your networking ability. Building a presence means potential employers and those interested in your services will begin to contact you. Having a large following isn't always necessary; simply staying active and interacting with others can benefit you in the long run.
Be Flexible and Willing To Adapt
You might be looking for a job that is in the field you specialize in, but so is everybody else. Adaptability is key in finding a work-from-home job. Expand your search to jobs that are related to your field. For example, if you're looking to be a freelance writer, there are other avenues to look into, such as:
- Data Entry
- Proofreading and Editing
- Transcription
- Resume Writing
- Product Description Writing
- White Paper Writing
Finding the perfect position may take time, even years. Flexibility and being willing to start off somewhere totally different from your end goal will help you build a resume and gain experience.
Look into Different Avenues
Remote work can be difficult. Sometimes, working for free might be necessary. This is a gamble that needs to be weighed seriously. Guest writing is a great way to build an online presence and gain experience, but it often doesn't pay well, if at all. If you currently work in-person at a company, consider asking your employer to begin to work remotely, even if it's part-time. Not all online work is entirely online, so think about looking into partially remote or even positions that require occasional travel. With dedication and adaptability, the goal or finding work online or remotely is completely attainable.
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