07 Sep Top 5 Job Hunting Tips for Aspiring Remote Workers
Remote work offers a plethora of benefits. From saving thousands a year on commuting costs, to avoiding the soul sucking morning drive, sitting for 8 hours in a dank, lifeless cubicle, not having to work around sick & infectious co-workers, never being late because of traffic, or missing a day because of weather or transportation issues…I mean I could go on but this sentence is already too long.
But it’s not all about you. Employers want to know that you can contribute & produce without needing to be constantly managed. They want to see that when it’s time to work you’re 100% present & productive during the time they’re paying you to be there. It’s still a job. Don’t treat it like it’s an inconvenience to your personal life & a disruption to your afternoon errands.
Landing a remote role—and excelling in it—requires more than longing for these personal advantages. Managers who run remote teams want to know that your work ethic, communication & productivity will be just as good or better than if you were in the office.
I’ve worked with remote clients & teams for over 15 years as a business owner, project manager & as a member of remote teams. In that time I’ve had to suffer through working with potential clients, bosses & teammates who had a terrible remote presence. Camera & lighting so poor that you couldn’t even see them, sound so bad that it was painful to let them speak. Just an overall inability (or lack of care) to grasp how to use their own tools. The more you have to struggle to communicate with someone the more you don’t want to.
I’ve learned a few things over the years about improving not just my own remote communication, but that of clients & colleagues. Here’s a few tips to demonstrate to hiring managers that you’re not just ready to work remotely, but that you can thrive at it.
1. Target your applications
Focus your job search on companies that are committed to remote work. Applying to local companies with office within driving distance of your home in hopes they’ll make an exception for you is unlikely to work.
There are a ton of disingenuous recruiters & hiring mangers out there pulling the old bait & switch to attract more applicants . Posting the role as hybrid or remote until you understand the conditions & “small print”. During the interview don’t be so scared of losing the opportunity that you don’t ask questions to make sure the role is what they claim.
There's a lot of competition (duh)
Working remotely means more responsibility, not less. For every 5 candidates who misconstrues remote work as an opportunity for mid-day errands, there are seasoned professionals who are well-prepared & fully equipped to contribute effectively from day one. You’ll be competing against them.
3. Invest in your tools
In the early days of pandemic-induced remote work, many made do with whatever equipment was provided. Today, when you say you want to work remotely, you’re saying you’ll be responsible for your own tools & infrastructure. It’s doubtful that any organization will provide you with all of your preferred tools. As you go, it’s crucial to invest in your workspace & the tools & peripherals that you are most comfortable & productive on.
As a remote worker you are no longer limited to the one size fits all, cheapest equipment the company could buy in bulk. You’re free to build the workspace that you like. It’s not about how much you spend, it’s about how well you use what you have. As a remote worker you’re in charge of your workspace & tools that you use no different than a carpenter or mechanic. You need to be willing to invest in yourself to be successful.
4. Have some security awareness
Being in the office where all the infrastructure & tools are controlled by the company is far different than being in the wild (remote) & being responsible for it yourself. Even in office careless & untrained employees are the biggest threat to a company’s security. As an aspiring remote worker you need to convey your understanding of at least basic security awareness. Assure potential employers that you can manage your devices securely & mitigate risks at home or on the road. No one wants to hear that your 3-year-old “somehow” gained access to your work laptop & went on some sketchy sites. That’s not the 3-year-old’s fault or the company’s, that’s yours.
Your company computer is not a perk.
It is a tool to be used for company business. NEVER use your work computer for personal business or entertainment. No excuses. Seriously, whatever “what if…?” scenario you’re thinking of…don’t. If you’re at home you have access to your other devices. If you’re traveling for work take a personal device with you.
Also consider this, if/when you’re laid off it’s usually without warning & you’ve likely already lost access to your work laptop by the time you’re told. Whatever personal items you have on there, is theirs now.
If your work arrangement is BYOD ( Bring Your Own Device), follow the rules. For best practices; if you can’t buy a laptop just for work, create a separate work profile on the computer you’re using, password protect it, and only do work things on it using work tools. No exceptions. No Amazon. No YouTube. No “I was just checking…”. No.
Your work email is not yours.
You don’t own it, you don’t control it. The company has access to it’s inbox. It’s for work, not personal business. DO NOT use your work email to sign up for personal accounts.
The company should also provide you with rules & security policies. Follow them at all times. There are no excuses.
5. Remote means being on camera
Video conferencing is a HUGE part of remote work. Whether you’re a freelancer or an employee, the tools that allow us to work remotely are the entire reason this is possible.
Managers who lead remote teams don’t want to hear you whine & constantly question why you need to be on camera. When they interview you, they’re observing your presence & comfort with being online. They’re imaging that this is how you will look & engage in team meetings. The better you look on camera, the more it adds to your perceived credibility.
If you ever read CEOs claim that being in office is better for face to face collaboration, how utterly terrible people are at digital communication is one of the excuses driving this mind set.
I also suggest keeping regular grooming habits during the week so that you’re never caught off guard & can be ready to rock & roll on camera when needed. Again, this is still a job.
Conclusion
The advice above can’t overcome the difficulties of the current job market, or lessen how much competition there is for remote roles these days. Even experienced workers who have been remote since long before COVID are experiencing the same pain points.
However, when opportunity does strike being remote savvy will make you stand out against competing candidates who think remote work is about their work/life balance. It is not. Sure, you will personally benefit from a remote work arrangement, but don’t fall into the trap of thinking it’s about you. The company cares about what’s in it for them. Understand their concerns & you’ll be in a much better mindset to show them that you’re exactly what they’ve been looking for.
