Remote work became the standard several years ago when Covid drove everyone into their homes. Even three years later, offices aren’t what they used to be. People are slowly returning to the more conventional brick-and-mortar form of employment, but opportunities are still plentiful for people who would like to work from home.
The tech industry is particularly well adapted for remote collaboration. The people involved tend to have a firmer grasp of digital communication tools, and the work itself is often flexible enough to be done anywhere.
In this article, we take a look at how you can successfully navigate the remote tech job market and find reliable work.
Step 1: Decide How You Want to Package Yourself
The way people get hired is a little weird. On the one hand, you are obviously selling something. Your services, your time, your skill, and your expertise. So you want to be able to present your application in a way that makes those things seem valuable.
On the other hand, the employer is also selling something. A salary, benefits, and a positive work environment. They want someone who can meet all of their needs. You want a job that is an adequate combination of enjoyable and lucrative.
In the best hiring situations, both of these interests are met. To make that happen, you need to start by figuring out how you package yourself. What is your professional persona? This is kind of a “personal marketing,” consideration, but there is more to it than that.
Ideally, you shouldn’t just be telling potential employers what you think they want to hear. You should be evaluating your talents, and presenting an accurate reflection of what you are willing to bring to the table every day for years to come.
Once you’ve established what that looks like, you can…..
Step 2: Look for Listings that Hold a Strong Appeal
You don’t need to make remote work your only qualifier. Perhaps back in the day, there weren’t enough remote jobs to go around, and folks looking for work couldn’t afford to be choosey. These days, it’s pretty standard to at least allow the option for remote work.
Don’t settle. Bad-fit job replacements result in high rates of turnover, but it’s often possible to detect these situations early on. Try to find a company that matches your cultural expectations. You can often learn more about a company’s attitudes by taking a look at its online presence.
You can also find out what former employees have to say by browsing review sites, like Glassdoor. Ideally, you will find a business that is a good fit for you as an employee. Not only will this make your time on the job more pleasant, but it will also increase your odds of finding a position you can hold for a long time and grow into.
Step 3: Leverage Connections?
This is an optional step (you can tell because of the question mark). But a little bit of networking can be helpful if you go in with sensible expectations. First of all, it’s important to understand that people very rarely hand out jobs to their friends or family members just for the heck of it.
That’s not to say that it has never happened. However, businesses are all about turning a profit. They will usually opt for finding the best person for the job over anything else.
Networking doesn’t come with any guarantees. It does allow you to jump in line. Let’s say you are interested in a job that looks like it could be very popular. It’s remote and the company is looking for applicants from all over the world.
They may receive several hundred job applications. Chances are, the HR person responsible for this phase of the decision won’t even read most of them. They will sort through the slush pile with AI, narrowing it until the numbers are more manageable.
There is a decent chance your submission will be dead on arrival. But wait. You see on LinkedIn that an old pal from your college days works at this company. They know you’re honest goods.
This connection probably can’t hand the job to you. They can help earmark your submission to make sure it gets read. Advantages like this can make a big difference in your career, so study up on your connections as you work to find a remote job.
Step 4: Interview
Remote interviews are largely similar to in-person ones. Do, however, keep in mind that the interviewer will probably want to get a feel not just for how well you can do the job, but how well you can do it on your own.
Skills to try and highlight include:
- A familiarity with digital technology. What remote collaboration tools have you used before? What were your experiences with them?
- A self-driven attitude. You also want to show them that you can be counted on to get things done on your own. Remote work usually involves a lot more self-direction than in-person jobs. Demonstrate as best you can that you are up for the task.
Freelance or Full-Time?
Tech professionals who are interested in working from home often give freelancing a whirl. Essentially, this is akin to opening your own small business. You set your rate, learn how to market yourself, and take on only jobs that interest you.
It lacks the stability of full-time employment. If you aren’t finding jobs, you aren’t getting paid. However, it is worth considering for people who want to maximize their flexibility and autonomy. It is possible to make as much or even more money working freelance.
It is also a viable way to earn as you wait for a full-time job, or even supplement your income once you get one.
Remote work opens the door to many unique opportunities. Don’t be afraid to feel outside of your comfort zone a little bit and seize the opportunities you find.
