Working remotely offers a unique flexibility and since its boom in 2020, the desire for remote work—and remote workers—remains. Many introverts, parents, and folks who need flexibility are drawn to remote work to have the best of both worlds: the security of a full-time job, without the commute.
How to find remote jobs can be a little more complicated.
Read this guide for tips and resources to help you find your next remote job.
How to find remote jobs
Remote jobs aren’t unicorns—there are a lot more of them than you might think. The key is knowing where to look and how to effectively search for these opportunities.
Not all companies and job descriptions use the term “remote work” to indicate the work environment. Some other terms you might look out for include:
- Agile workforce
- Virtual job (or online job)
- Work from home (or work at home)
- Telecommute
- Work from anywhere
These terms all point to the flexible work cultures remote workers are looking for. Different industries may favor certain terminology, so notice what words appear most frequently in interesting job descriptions. If you see your sector uses “virtual” over “remote,” or “telecommute” over “work from home,” these can help focus your search terms during your job search.
Search remote job boards
Remote job boards are great for finding hidden work-from-home jobs. Here are some of the sites to visit for remote roles:
Use popular job search engines
The traditional job boards include remote positions, too. Glassdoor, Indeed, and ZipRecruiter have options to search for and discover remote positions.
The search bar on Glassdoor gives you the option of entering the location as “remote.” Meanwhile, LinkedIn makes it easy to filter jobs by work environment, whether on-site, hybrid, or remote.
Some remote opportunities will still have a location city listed. This is because many applicant tracking systems, or ATS, automate posting job descriptions to various job boards. A human resources rep using one of these systems might forget to change the default location setting before publishing the job description on the web. So, the company might post a remote job listing in the city where it is headquartered.
Search the body of the job description by reading it thoroughly. Or search for the keywords with the help of the command search prompt: Ctrl+F for Windows or Cmd+F for Mac.
Jobs by Jobscan
Find your next remote role with Jobs—the job board with the latest opportunities on your Jobscan dashboard. If the role on Jobs only lists a country as its location, it’s likely remote.
It’s easy to find the perfect remote role and immediately start optimizing your resume with Power Edit. Once your resume has all the keywords from the job description, you’re ready to send off your application. Whether you’re looking to level up into an executive position or are an entry-level applicant just starting out, Jobs has opportunities for every level.
The opportunity card will save your resume, the job description, your cover letter, and your notes, so you’re ready when you’re contacted for an interview.
See Jobscan’s Ultimate List of Companies Still Hiring – Updated Live
Company career pages
If you have specific companies in mind, visit their websites. You can find all their open roles on the careers page. Often, they’ll also have information about their remote work policy.
As you find job openings that interest you, research the company. Check its values and work-from-home policies and make sure they align with yours before applying.
Online communities and networking groups
Don’t just rely on public job boards for openings. Use your network and online resources. Explore unique places to find open roles and make new connections, like:
- LinkedIn connections
- Professional organization networking groups
- Social media like X or Instagram
If you’re targeting a specific company or are open to new jobs, use methods beyond job boards. Going beyond the public posting can personalize you to potential colleagues and make your interest memorable.
Applying for remote jobs
Remote work has widened the applicant pool. So, it’s vital to optimize your resume and use keywords from the job description. The ATS houses all the resumes for a particular job posting. Hiring teams use the ATS to pull the best candidate to review for interviews based on the keywords included in the resume. If your resume has the right keywords, chances are, the ATS will rank you as a strong candidate for the role.
But what are the right keywords?
Tailor your resume for remote job postings
Keywords are often skills, degrees, or prior experience that hiring managers specifically ask for in the job description. Using the same language and key skills can give you an edge over other applicants.
You can tailor your resume by meticulously reading over each job description and pulling out recurring or highlighted keywords. Then, spend your time writing a unique resume for each job. But this process can take hours to do effectively.
Instead, you can create a base resume with all your critical experience and skills. Once you have that, you can enter Power Edit from the job opportunity in Jobs and start optimizing your resume in minutes. The tool will parse your resume and the job description and show you the missing keywords you should add.
By working off a base resume, you can easily optimize your resume for each job with few major edits. This will save you time and get you ready to hit “Apply” much quicker.
Important skills for remote workers
Your keywords and skills will vary by job title and industry. However, there are universal skills employers look for in remote workers. These soft skills—proficiencies that translate easily from one job to the next—are highly desirable in a remote environment. These roles often call for strong skills like:
- Technology skills: Including Zoom, Google Suite, Microsoft, and other job-specific tech.
- Communication skills: Since you’re not in-office, proactive communication through Slack, email, and other communication tools is highly desirable to employers.
- Time-management: Many remote workers control their own schedule, but still need to meet deadlines and make meetings.
- Self-motivation: Remote work allows for more autonomy, meaning you are responsible for keeping yourself focused and on-task to meet objectives.
Show off these skills on your resume with specific and measurable examples. Include the tech you’re familiar with. Also, explain how you handle projects, deadlines, and team communication.
How to avoid remote job scams
Be on alert for scammers—job seekers looking for remote positions are sometimes targeted with opportunities that are too good to be true. When you can’t find a job and you’re ready to take on anything, you’re at the greatest risk of victimization. But you can avoid scams by being aware of common red flags.
- If your research finds little info or a lack of transparency, trust your gut. Something may be off about those contacting you.
- Beware of organizations that seem desperate to hire. They may ask for confidential information, like your bank information or social security number, right away.
- A legitimate job won’t ask you to make any payments or purchases to work or be hired.
- If the organization is skipping job interviews or reference checks, it’s a red flag that something isn’t right.
Do research by searching for the company name. Dive deeper by looking into any alerts by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or other regulatory bodies.
FAQs
The best way to look for remote jobs involves a strategic approach:
1. Use Remote Job Boards: Start by visiting job boards that specialize in remote opportunities, such as Remote.co, We Work Remotely, and FlexJobs. These platforms focus only on remote positions and often feature listings from companies across various industries.
2. Leverage Professional Networks: Use professional networking platforms like LinkedIn. Make sure your profile highlights your interest in remote work and search for job postings using relevant keywords like “remote,” “work from home,” or “telecommute.”
3. Company Websites: Identify companies known for offering remote work and check their careers page for open positions. Some organizations focus on posting jobs on their own websites before sharing them on job boards.
4. Optimize Your Resume and Cover Letter: Tailor your resume and cover letter. Highlight skills vital for remote work, like self-motivation, communication, time management, and knowledge of remote tools.
5. Join Remote Work Communities: Engage in online communities and forums focused on remote work. These groups often share job leads, tips, and support for job seekers.
6. Consider Freelance Platforms: If you’re open to contract or freelance work, consider platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, or Toptal. These can sometimes lead to long-term remote opportunities.
Getting hired for a remote job can be competitive, but achievable with the right approach:
1. High Competition: Remote jobs often attract a large number of applicants from around the world, which increases competition. You’ll need to stand out by showcasing your skills, experience, and adaptability to remote work environments.
2. Relevant Experience: Employers prefer candidates with remote work experience. They want proof of productivity and time management outside of a traditional office.
3. Technical Skills: Familiarity with remote work tools (e.g., Slack, Zoom, project management software) is often a requirement. Highlighting your proficiency with these tools can boost your chances of getting hired.
4. Strong Communication Skills: Since remote work relies heavily on digital communication, strong written and verbal communication skills are essential. Be sure to show these in your application materials and interviews.
5. Persistence and Patience: It might take some time to land a remote job, especially if you’re new to this type of work. Staying persistent, continuously improving your application materials, and applying to many positions will increase your chances of success.
Securing a remote job can be tough. But, being well-prepared, adaptable, and proactive can help.
