How to Land the Remote Job of Your Dreams

For decades, remote work has been at the core of the ‘lifestyle design’ movement.

When Tim Ferris’s bestseller The 4-Hour Workweek was first released in 2007, he spoke at length about the life-changing benefits of remote work, whether that be finding an online job or convincing your current employer to let you work remotely.

In the pre-COVID days, this seemed like a pipe dream for many, especially in 2007 when the book was first released.

Fast forward nearly 25 years (and amidst a pandemic), you’ll find remote jobs are plentiful! When businesses were forced to implement work from home measures, they realized the benefits of this new working landscape. Research estimates that by 2025, 70% of the world’s workforce will be working remotely for a minimum of five days a month, meaning more work from home days.

Several large businesses like Twitter and Facebook have already made remote jobs a permanent solution.

There are numerous benefits to working remotely for both employees and organizations. Employees find that remote jobs offer better work-life balance, less commute stress, and their pay goes further. It allows them to live in more affordable areas and create a workspace that suits them and their needs. Overall, those who work remotely are happier!

If you are looking for remote jobs, now is the time! Plenty of industries are hiring for remote positions. Although there are more jobs, there is also more competition. With more highly-qualified people facing unemployment, job competition has skyrocketed.

To help you secure the remote job of your dreams, we’ve put together this mini-guide that will give you the leg up! So get ready to say goodbye to the dreadful commute and hello to increased flexibility.

10 Steps To Land Your Dream Remote Job

If you want to land your dream remote job, you will have to put in the work. With so many advantages to working remotely and more people applying to jobs, the competition is steep. These ten steps will help guide you, and help you find a job you love!

1. Look at remote job boards and websites

It’s unlikely that you are going to receive an email in your inbox with a remote job offer (and if you do, it’s likely a scam). Instead, you will have to pursue these job opportunities and look for remote work job postings. Whether you are looking for a remote software engineer job or software architect gig, use a remote work job board to find the biggest selection of remote jobs.

2. Write down your non-negotiables

What must your future job have for you to be happy? Figure this out and write it down. Be specific - this includes the salary, hours, vacation days, and health benefits. Next, write down your wish-list items. These are the things you’d like to have but could live without, like a home office expense account or annual bonus. This will help you narrow down postings and give you a list of questions to ask in your interview.

3. Connect with friends, family, and previous co-workers

Networking can help get you in the door! Do you know someone who is currently working remotely? Reach out to them and let them know that you are on the hunt for a remote job yourself. They may know of an option or have some helpful tips that will help you get the job.

4. Apply to various industries

In 2020, there was a significant increase in people applying to positions outside of their previous industry. This is because of the high number of people who found themselves laid off after spending up to 20 years working with one organization. The same job that you had previously may not have a lot of openings, so you should consider other opportunities that utilize the same skillset.

Here’s a great example. If you were the Director of Labour at an Airline but were laid off due to cut-backs, there is a good chance you won’t find the same position in the aviation industry. That said, your experience working with a unionized, remote workforce would be advantageous to a multitude of other industries. Apply to a variety of jobs. Getting a job can be a numbers game, and depending on the jobs you are applying to, you will likely have to apply to many until you find the perfect match.

5. Tailor your resume to the job posting

You should definitely apply to an abundance of jobs but this doesn’t mean firing off the identical resume to each one. This will almost guarantee you won’t get called for an interview. You must tailor your resume to the job you are applying to. In some cases, if your resume doesn’t include specific keywords, HR professionals won’t even see it. You must ensure your resume is optimized, containing similar keywords that are in the job description.

Print out the job posting and highlight the keywords and skills they are looking for. Then look at your resume. Make sure each one of these is included. If you don’t have the same experience or skills, do you have something similar? If so, include it!

You can tweak your resume to make it appear much more relevant, depending on how you organize your employment and education. Organize the most pertinent information first, as hiring managers typically spend less than one minute on a resume before deciding.

6. Write a stellar cover letter

Sometimes job applications will make a cover letter optional. It’s not. If you really want this job, you need to write a cover letter. It’s a crucial component that will highlight your experience and background. If you are changing industries, this will help connect your previous role to this new one. Further, if there are any gaps in employment, you can explain why. Your resume is just a screenshot where your cover letter tells a story.

Tailor your cover letter to the job posting as well. Be as specific as possible, highlighting achievements, awards, and accolades. If you really want to work from home with a remote job you love, spend the time personalizing every resume and cover letter you send out. It will be worth the extra effort.

7. Keep at it

Looking for a job can be draining, and you may feel like giving up, but it’s super important to keep at it. Remote work has a lot of competition, but the more resumes you send out, the more likely you will get an interview for an incredible job! Try and set a schedule, for example, every Sunday you apply to five jobs. The more you do, the more likely you will find a job.

8. Build up your skillset

As you are looking for your new job, you may notice that many job postings are looking for experience with a specific type of software or program. This is a great time to improve on those skills. There are plenty of virtual courses you can take, many of which are free, that will give you the relevant training and experience they are looking for. This will make you a more competitive candidate.

9. Prepare for a remote interview

As if an in-person interview wasn’t nerve-wracking enough – a remote interview has a unique set of challenges. Once your resume has been selected, you will likely have a brief phone interview and a video interview through Zoom or Skype.

Make sure your computer, internet, microphone, and camera have been set-up in advance. Your future employer needs to trust that you can work remotely, and if you are applying to a remote tech job and can’t figure out Zoom, they may not be that confident. Test your system, and make sure you have a clean, professional-looking background.

You want to display your personality and professionalism as well. This can be more challenging to do remotely, so make sure you dress professionally and smile often! Lastly, display your enthusiasm and expertise for the role and company. Do your research on the company and tell them how you can help them reach their organizational goals.

10. Follow-up

You need to go above and beyond to stand out. To do so, send a follow-up to the person(s) that interviewed you, thanking them for the opportunity. This shows a greater level of professionalism and your passion for the position. Most importantly, it will set you apart from all the candidates that skip this step.

Landing the remote job of your dreams is the easiest it’s ever been. With more companies and positions now permanently remote, there is an increasing amount of opportunity. Although it is easier, it’s not easy. It still takes work and effort on your part.

In his notorious remote lifestyle book, Tim Ferris had said, “Someday is a disease that will take your dreams to the grave with you.” If you want to work from home, there is no better time than the present to start pursuing a high-paying, rewarding remote job. Take a look at the many remote job postings listed on our job board and start pursuing your dreams – today!