Applying for any job, remote or office-bound, requires an excellent resume and cover letter. You know that. You’re proud of your work, but you’re looking for flexibility and perhaps a chance to stay out of the cold or jump into your ski clothes, whichever suits you.
Getting the right blend of “I’m dedicated to my job” and “I don’t want to come to the office” takes forethought beyond typing “remote work” into a search engine. Luckily, we’ve got your back.
Below, we will discuss the answers to the following:
First, you need to know that every company has a different definition of “remote.” Some may mean that you can work anywhere at any time, but others may put restrictions on your geography or time.
Some job advertisements say remote, but then they qualify that by saying, “in X area.” That probably means that they want you in the same time zone or available to come to the office for meetings or other company events.
Others qualify “remote” with “must be able to work X time zone hours.”
Remote vocabulary
Be aware that if you apply for remote work, chances are your prospective employer will want you to have not only the hard skills necessary for the job but the ability to work independently. Yes, you will have access to coworkers and your supervisor, but you must be able to function mostly on your own.
Also know that depending on the type of work you do, your employer may be monitoring your time spent working, your activity online, or the tasks you complete. Whether you find this more intrusive than the boss physically watching you in the office is a matter of your temperament and comfort level.
The top attributes recruiters want to see in candidates seeking remote work:
So how do you assure employers that they can trust you to get the job done well from a city halfway around the world or your basement office? And how do you get the interview in the first place?
The key is honesty. Make sure it’s obvious what type of remote work you are looking for. Use the summary of your resume and your cover letter to explain why you want remote work and what you can accomplish independently.
Highlight any technical skills that will make the transition to remote work easy for you. If you have already worked remotely, make that clear and use examples of your remote achievements throughout your application.
A couple of don’ts