Remote work doesn’t sound new right? You might have heard of it and perhaps thought it ain’t your cup of tea. But when an unprecedented crisis forced everyone to switch to remote work overnight, you might have started getting second thoughts of working remotely. Right? I mean, the perks of remote jobs far outweigh the ones in traditional 9-5 jobs.
Moreover, companies have started thinking about Remote work as a long-term solution. That definitely corresponds to more remote opportunities up for the taking! When everything looks like falling in place, why is it difficult to find remote jobs?
If you are somebody who is already working remotely and looking for a change
Or someone who is charged up and curious to try working remotely
But, not sure how and where to find remote opportunities, my friend you have come to the right place!
In this blog, we will try to answer your common questions like “I’m not sure if remote is right for me”, “Where do I start looking for remote jobs”, and more…
Let’s uncover things that are essential to work remotely. From building a work portfolio, finding out the right platforms for remote jobs in 2020, to acing the remote interview we got you covered!
First things First
Whether to switch to remote work or not?
The dilemma is REAL!
The fact is that not all jobs are feasible for running remotely. In fact, some industries and domains like Information & Technology, consulting, Web developers, digital marketers are fully capable of functioning remotely. To keep things tidy and the insights here shall revolve more around the tech community and their perspective of working remotely. If you are seriously considering remote work, one question you should ask yourself before looking for remote opportunities
Is remote right for me?
It is important to have a satisfactory answer that helps you weigh your decision of working remotely. A few things that usually attract people towards remote work are their personality. Generally, introverts feel more comfortable taking up remote work than extroverts. For some, it is more of financial freedom, better work-life balance, and avoiding the commute. As the State of Remote work survey from Buffer states, 21 percent admitted, not having to commute is a big benefit of remote work.
To actually find an answer to the question above, here are some qualities that might make it easier for you
Qualities that align with Remote work
1. Good written & verbal communication
Perhaps the one golden practice that every remote work thrives on is Communication! There is a slim chance that one will end up a successful remote worker with poor communication skills. Communication either through video conferencing or written emails is paramount to exchange ideas and collaborate with your teammates and manager who are located elsewhere.
2. Motivated & Focussed
Motivation is an important quality that helps a remote worker succeed. The ability to focus, stay productive, and work to accomplish tasks expected of you is crucial. If you can motivate yourself and get back to work in a home environment, then you are a good fit for remote work.
3. Time management
Remote work is a challenge when it comes to managing time. If you are somebody who has to look after domestic chores and also give time for work, it is a big deal. Therefore, setting aside specific time for work and also personal works makes you a good remote worker.
4. Self- starter
Are you somebody who had a hard time working on your school tasks in the absence of your teacher? If yes, you should probably re-think remote work. Self-starting is an innate ability that gets you back to work, even when there’s nobody over your shoulder. Amidst every distraction around you, if you still can get your work done, you are a good fit for remote work!
5. Tech-savvy
Remote work involves constant usage of tools and technologies to keep in touch with office members. Therefore, it is important to know about the technologies and tools to pick and use the right ones.
6. Collaborative
It is easier to think of collaboration in a physical office space with teammates around you but when you are working from home, it is not easy anymore. Therefore, being collaborative is an essential quality of remote work.
Freelancing vs Full-time
Now that you are clear about the qualities that take to be a successful remote worker, deciding between opting freelance projects or joining a firm that’s offering a full-time remote position gives a direction to your career.
Of course, each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Hence a carefully thought out decision becomes necessary.
Working full-time remotely is a huge commitment from an individual to an organization for a long time & gives you some degree of financial stability every month. Whereas, freelancing allows you to work for people being free of any employment obligations & it can be erratic. Too many gigs at some time and only a few at other times.
Therefore, align your qualities and decide your options based on the advantages each has to offer
Building a work portfolio
Remote work is more about demonstrating what you can do and are capable of. That’s where working on building a strong portfolio helps in landing a perfect remote job by distinguishing yourself from the herd.
There are ways to build your portfolio and here are a few
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Social media game & Networking
Social media isn’t just for people who wish to share personal life with friends and family. But can be a huge plus for those who leverage it being on top of recent trends.
Knowing where your potential employers or clients are, helps to differentiate the channels to engage better.
For example, staying active on LinkedIn conversations, engaging consistently in subreddits & forums.
Adding value by sharing insights on niche topics and commenting thoughtful opinions on other people’s posts gives you credibility. A proper strategy helps you reach a larger audience who truly mean business to you.
Even if it takes a quantifiable amount of time from your daily schedule, it’s worth it for opportunities that lie ahead.
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Good GitHub profile
I won’t say every recruiter attaches the same importance to GitHub projects when it comes to closing an open position. But, what actually qualifies for a good GitHub profile? Quality projects in the form of websites, mobile apps, utilities, plug-ins, and contributions on other user’s projects become supplemental evidence to your ability as a developer.
If you are a fresher and have a solid Git profile along with good grades, it adds great value to your candidature. Recruiters identify you as the best fit even if you happen to be weak in other areas.
Focussing on the aspects like Readability, Functionality, performance, and variety help you easily increase your chances of landing a good remote job.
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Website to Showcase your work
Recently, I happened to come across a senior UI/UX developer who had a history of working with big companies like Microsoft, a start-up in silicon valley. Now he had turned himself into a full-time remote worker. Wondering why am I telling you this?
He had presented his work and professional abilities through a custom website. The site had highlights of his previous projects for various companies, his vision, and a testimonial from the Product Manager at Microsoft!
Anybody who viewed his projects could get a sense of his credibility in UI/UX space. More importantly, it had a ‘Contact Me’ page, where any client could get in touch with him immediately. Nicely crafted websites showcasing your potential has the ability to fetch your clients or employment opportunities. Remote workers should make the most of this
Knocking at the right doors
1. Job Boards
Job boards are commonplace to look for remote job opportunities. However, not all job boards are equally reliable and hence the need to scrutinize.
There are plenty of job boards in the market that keep posting jobs and not all keep the job listings updated. So the question is which job boards to follow?
Let’s look at some of the good ones
a. We Work Remotely
This is one of the top remote work job boards where one can find the latest remote opportunities. You predominantly find Full-time programming jobs on this site. However, they also have an exhaustive list of open jobs in categories like design, product management, copywriting, digital marketing, customer support, finance & legal etc.
b. Remotive
Remotive is one of the sleek and user-friendly remote job boards which has updated listings of jobs in multiple categories.
The job lists are updated every day and cover categories from software development, design, product, marketing, sales, and customer support.
To apply, the job list takes the user to the respective company website for further process of application.
c. Hubstaff Talent
One of the great job boards to find remote job listings. On this, one can find both part-time and full-time jobs with various compensation packages.
This site also has an advanced search feature and filter options through which one can find exactly what he/she is looking for without wasting much of time.
The categories of job listing here range from pure technical positions, design, product management to sales & marketing, copywriting, and Business consulting.
d. Remote.co
This platform is known for handpicking the relevant remote jobs and listing them on their site. If you are somebody who’s looking for any remote opportunity (freelance or full-time), this is another great job board to find your best opportunity.
They too feature jobs which include various categories such as developer, product, marketing, sales, design, customer service, and QA for various companies.
e. Flex jobs
Known for the tag ‘flexible jobs’, Flex jobs have been listing hand-screened job opportunities from the last 10 years and have the best job options in fifty-plus remote job categories.
They have a very sophisticated system built around their offering & provide great insights, learning opportunities, and skill tests for individuals on their job board. Also, they take a great deal in protecting their registered candidates from fraud in the name of flex jobs.
Check them here!
2. Freelance/Remote developers communities
These are another great way to find your dream remote job. These are basically the technology companies that connect tech talent with companies across the globe from Freelancing, part-time, and Full-time opportunities.
They have a standard vetting process in place. Every individual who wishes to land a remote opportunity has to go through the process. This helps to maintain the top-quality talent in the community.
Tech companies like Toptal, Crossover, Crewscale, and few others have been active in connecting top talent with good companies across 150 countries.
If you are a developer looking for exciting offers, you should definitely sign up on our platform.
Ace Remote Interviews
A major difference between traditional in-person interviews and remote interviews is how it’s conducted! The online mode of interviews exposes candidates to a different challenge altogether. Few of you may not be accustomed to online interviews or all your past interviews could be in person.
No worries! Here we have listed a few tips to help you with your remote fact-to-face interviews
1. Choosing the right place
This is very important because your surrounding environment plays a big part in how smoothly the interview proceeds. Choose a place that’s very clean, presentable, and away from all distractions at home. Make sure you put things in place before the interview. A good comfortable place also helps ease your nerves during the interview
2. Optimize your video profile settings
There are a lot of candidates who think it’s not a big deal having the same funky nicknames as the usernames and casual profile pictures for an interview too.
It doesn’t look professional. Make yourself clear to avoid confusion during the interview with an appropriate username that helps identify you.
3. Double-check all the technical stuff
Remote interviews are possible because of technology. A mutually agreed video interview application or a video interviewing software used by the company itself can be the means of conducting interviews.
A strong WiFi connection, sorting audio, and video issues before the actual interview is very important.
4. Practice video calling
It might sound lame but how many of us actually look at the camera lens and not the screen while speaking in a video call? Not many rights?
We are always looking at the interviewer on-screen while answering the questions. But to establish eye contact, you should start looking into the lens.
Practice talking to your friends on a video call and try speaking by looking at your camera lens and collect feedback from friends later. This shall help you to take interviews confidently.
5. Dress to express
Like your dressing matters in the in-person interviews, it is equally important to wear stuff that makes you look a professional. A nice light shade formal shirt or a blouse adds a lot of meaning to the virtual interviews.
6. Awareness of your body language
The fact that you are being observed while you answer stuff, calls for a body language that’s confident. Your facial expressions, the way your hands move, and a loud, clear voice during the interview makes it a perfect combination.
Conclusion
“Help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it,” said Dumbledore to Harry Potter. Similarly, opportunities are always there in remote work for those who seek for it in the right way!
Remote work will continue to soar and redefine how we work! For those who are in a dilemma, no better time to think remote than now! Get started!
P.S. We have a remote developer community of over 16000 and are adding exciting, top talent every passing day!
If you want to be a part of this revolution, join our community today! Sign up here!
