4 Tips for Landing a Top Remote Job

Many benefits come with choosing a remote role: little to no commute, more casual attire, and increased efficiency and productivity. So, it’s easy to see why many people are keen to land remote jobs. However, the required skills and experience are somewhat different for remote jobs than in-office roles. So, below are five tips for making your next career move and landing a top remote job.

1. Tailor your resume for a remote position

You might already have a resume to work from, or you might be starting from scratch; either way, you need to make sure that your resume reflects your desire to work remotely, and the skills needed to do so. If you’ve had any remote experience in the past—perhaps a remote internship or a side hustle—be sure to shout about this. If you don’t have relevant experience, make sure you highlight your transferable skills such as communication, organization, and attention to detail.

It’s also worth mentioning skills that have become synonymous with remote work, such as being able to use platforms like Zoom, Google Hangouts, Microsoft Teams, etc. Plus, you need to tailor every resume you submit to the specific role and company, as well as ensuring that you use the right keywords mentioned in the job posting to ensure you look like a perfect fit for the role.

2. Sharpen your remote skills

If you don’t possess skills needed for remote roles, you can simply sharpen your skillset. The good news is there are plenty of online courses and resources to help you do this. For the most part, you’ll want to bolster your technical skills, such as learning how to use platforms like Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Slack.

It’s also a good idea to work on some softer skills such as remote collaboration, organization, and problem-solving. And even if some courses seem redundant (if you feel you're already proficient-enough in certain areas), you’ll never regret sharpening your skillset—and doing so could give you an edge when it comes to competitive remote positions.

3. Perfect your virtual interview skills

If you’re applying for a remote job, the likelihood is that the entire hiring process will also be remote. So, it pays to work on your virtual interview skills. This means knowing how to dress professionally despite not being face to face, always testing devices and internet connections beforehand, choosing a distraction-free location, and, of course, thinking about how you’ll answer common interview questions. Although virtual interviews can be nerve-wracking, preparing thoroughly can help you to feel more at ease and lead to more successful interviews.

4. Gain some relevant experience

Finally, previous experience is always a big selling point for employers, but if you’re just starting out in your career or haven’t worked remotely too much before, you might not have a lot of relevant experience to shout about. So, in order to boost your chances, it can be helpful to get some experience under your belt, no matter how big or small.

To do this, you could do some freelance work, take on a remote internship, or engage in some remote volunteer or nonprofit work for a short time. Doing this will help you to boost your remote skills—and give you some very interesting talking points to highlight on your resume and in your interviews.

Andrew Fennell is the founder and director of Job Description Library and StandOut CV, two leading UK careers advice websites. He is a former recruitment consultant and contributes careers advice to publications like Business Insider, The Guardian, and The Independent.