How to Find Remote, Work from Home Jobs: 5 Steps
Max Hilliaka
Many say working at the office could be more productive and interesting than working at home. Also, they assume that working from home isn’t high-paying at all. Are they right? Honestly talking, no. In 2024, you can find the job of your dreams, have a high salary, and become a successful professional only due to work from home. All that you need is some help to start.
Our guide of 5 main steps is ready to provide you with this help. Read it carefully — it will answer all your questions about how to find a remote job. So, let’s dive into this interesting journey!
Step 1: Identify Your Skills and Preferences
We truly believe the work should bring satisfaction and calmness. If you want this for yourself, the most important is to start with understanding your skills, experience, and what kind of work environment suits you the best. There are 4 things you should find out before actually searching for the perfect remote job:
- What are your core skills? Skills can be hard (such as programming, graphic design, writing) and soft ( communication, problem-solving, time management). Think about your professional strengths and make a list of your hard and soft skills.
- What are your remote job preferences? After defining your skills, decide which types of roles you’re interested in. Examples include software development, cybersecurity, customer service, design, and marketing. Don’t forget to decide if you want a full-time job, part-time job, freelance project, or contract work beforehand.
- What work environment suits you the best? Remote jobs are different: some have flexible schedules and some require setting hours. So, you should decide whether you want a job with fixed hours or one that allows you to choose when to work. Also, some remote roles require constant collaboration, while others focus on independent tasks.
- Small preparation before applying for remote jobs: research which skills are currently sought after in the remote job market. This is necessary because maybe you need to upskill or acquire new competencies to expand your job prospects. For this, we recommend you browse job boards and remote work websites.
This preparation work may look unnecessary and frustrating but believe us: if you spend some time and listen to all our recommendations, searching for a remote job will be much easier.
Step 2: Update Your Resume and LinkedIn Profile
Okay, now you finally know what you are good at, what your hard and soft skills are, and what you are looking for. Now it’s time to update your resume and LinkedIn profile based on the previous step. Remember — your CV should be relevant to the job you’re looking for, without any unnecessary information. But don’t be afraid! We’ve prepared detailed information that will help you update both.
First, highlight relevant work experience whether it was remote or offline. However, if you’ve worked remotely before, don’t forget to highlight this in your CV. Second, write skills that are important for freelance jobs in your resume and LinkedIn profile. Usually, remote jobs require skills like self-discipline, time management, communication, and problem-solving. Third, include specific remote tools you know how to work with because employers want to know that you’re comfortable with remote work technology. We recommend you mention some communication tools (Slack, Zoom, Microsoft Teams), project management software (Asana, Trello, Jira), and file sharing and collaboration tools (Google Workspace, Dropbox, Notion).
Okay, we’re done with the CV. Let’s move to your LinkedIn profile. Start with headline optimization. Your LinkedIn headline should clearly explain what you do and include keywords related to the type of remote job you’re looking for. For example, “experienced customer support specialist.” Also, remember to add work skills to the LinkedIn skills section. You can just copy them from your CV. Last but not least — turn on the “open to work” feature. It will help recruiters know that you’re actively looking for job opportunities. There, you can also set your preferences, specific industries, and job types you’re interested in.
Small recommendation from us: if you’re going to apply for different job positions, don’t forget to customize your CV for each job application. An employer should see only relevant information in your resume.
Step 3: Use Job Search Platforms Specializing in Remote Work
Many people looking for high-paying jobs at home have problems with the question of where actually to look for companies to work in. We decided to help with this and created a list with 8 remote job websites and platforms:
- JobsCollider is the biggest platform for remote and work from home jobs, covering tech, customer service, design, marketing, and even more niches. It’s a perfect place to start your remote job search.
- FlexJobs is a subscription-based platform that is perfect for serious jobseekers even if it charges a fee.
- Upwork is a platform that focuses on freelance projects and covers a wide range of industries and skills.
- Freelancer is an excellent platform if you’re looking for contract-based or gig work.
- AngelList Talent is perfect for those looking for remote positions at startups, especially in tech.
- LinkedIn is also an amazing job search tool that can provide specific remote job opportunities.
- Glassdoor allows reading reviews from current or former employees, giving insights into the company’s remote work culture.
- Indeed besides being a general job search platform, has a remote job search filter that can help you find remote job opportunities.
Of course, these aren’t all the tools you can use for a remote job search, but these are the most popular and the most convenient to use.
Step 4: Network Online
Without any exaggeration, networking is one of the most powerful things if you want to find a remote job. People always help each other, so it’s vital to build connections in online communities and learn from others’ experiences.
Start with remote work forums and social media groups. Honestly, LinkedIn groups and Facebook groups are one of the best platforms for networking. There are so many opportunities for remote job seekers, freelancers, and digital specialists. You can connect with other professionals in these groups, ask for advice, and find job leads. Also, engaging in discussions, sharing articles, and asking questions will help build your reputation.
Attending virtual networking events and webinars can also help you meet new people and present your professionalism. For example, events like Remote Work Summit and Virtual Job Fairs on platforms like Eventbrite are invaluable for connecting with potential employers and learning about industry trends.
One more thing — be confident in your expertise! Position yourself as a helpful and knowledgeable professional by sharing advice, tips, and resources. Answering questions on forums like Quora, Reddit, or LinkedIn is a perfect way to build connections with people in your industry and find work from home opportunities.
Step 5: Prepare for Remote Job Interviews
Job interviews are one of the most stressful things for people who are looking for a remote job. However, there is nothing to be scared of, especially if you know what to do.
First, during the interview, be prepared to discuss your past work experience. If you have worked remotely before, mention specific projects, responsibilities, and how you successfully managed them from a home office. Talk more about your personal work achievements and how you helped the company to become better and more successful. You may also be asked about your failures, and in this case, you should be honest, but mention how it taught you to work on yourself and become even more experienced than before.
Second, practice answers to behavioral questions, designed to understand how you handle various situations. Expect questions like “Describe a situation where you had to solve a problem on your own” or “How do you communicate effectively with team members when working remotely?”
Third, prepare your questions for the interviewer. Showing interest is crucial if you want the company to hire you. Good questions include “How does the company ensure smooth communication between remote team members?”, “What tools and systems does your team use for collaboration?” or “How does the company measure performance and productivity for remote employees?”
You can also practice the interview with some of your friends to be 100% prepared for the real dialogue with an employer.
We hope this article was interesting and helpful for you. Make sure to follow these 5 steps, and we can guarantee that a few weeks after you will have an amazing remote job with a high salary and amazing team workers.