9-5, Monday-Friday, in-person office work are all relics of the past. Let's revolutionize how you live by changing how you work.
How to Find a Great Remote Job
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When I started Remote Work Prep in 2018, there was plenty of advice on getting a remote job, but very little on succeeding in one. That's why I've focused on helping people thrive after they're hired. However, I've been getting this question non-stop lately, so I thought I'd quickly address it. TLDR below 👇 | Read this on the web | Subscribe​ Getting a remote job is not the same as an in-person role. The biggest mistake I see people make is approaching a remote job search the same way they would a traditional role. They focus on job boards like LinkedIn, craft the perfect resume, and practice the standard interview questions. This approach forgets one of the key remote work differences: judgment. When it comes to judgment, the difference is between external measures vs. quality of work. In the office, you probably heard advice like "dress for the job you want" or "be the first in the office and the last to leave". These are external measures. Even though they really have no relevance to how well you did the work, they were the metrics used in the office to judge. This is why acing interview questions that had nothing to do with your day-to-day and having impressive names on your resume got you in the door. When working from home, colleagues can't see what you're wearing most (if not all) of the time. This, plus the difference in presence, means you can no longer use external measures to judge the work. Instead, it becomes all about the quality of work. Are you meeting expectations? Are you communicating progress? These are the things that now matter in how your work is being judged. Remote companies that recognize this change update their hiring practices to focus on proof of work and replicate the job they're hiring for through written interviews, paid hiring tests, trial hiring, and more. So, instead of the usual search, try this: Build Your "Proof of Work" PortfolioIn the remote world, proof of work wins over fancy resumes. Traditional resumes list skills, but remote hiring managers often need more tangible examples. This is awesome for people who didn't attend fancy schools or haven't been employed by top-name companies, but it takes some upfront effort. To stand out, create a portfolio showcasing your work to highlight what you can achieve. This portfolio could include:
This also opens the door to virtual serendipity. You never know who will come across your proof of work portfolio. Instead of having to go after remote opportunities yourself, the remote opportunities might start coming to you. This has been my experience with Remote Work Prep. I started sharing my approach to managing remote teams, and startups, agencies, and creator teams started coming to me to help them run their teams. Use Vetted Job BoardsEveryone recommends the same job boards for remote roles (FlexJobs, Remote OK, etc). However, these boards have two problems:
Instead, I recommend looking for roles in places that do the vetting for you.
Check out my list of 50+ async-first remote companies if you'd like to apply directly to vetted companies with great cultures and no RTO risk. Join Niche Virtual CommunitiesRemote companies often hire within niche communities and trusted networks. I highly recommend getting involved in industry forums and virtual communities in your field (like People Geeks for HR professionals or Rands Leadership for tech management roles). This allows you to connect directly with team leads and may even expose you to roles before they're publicly posted. Generic job boards like LinkedIn will leave me flooded with unfit applications. I've hired my best people from niche communities like the ones mentioned above. Final Tips:Customize your application. Make sure to personalize your cover letter and application answers for each position. This is your opportunity to stand out. Quality wins over quantity. Research what's important to the company and bring it into your application material. Demonstrate how your skills align with their unique needs. Mention your experience with remote collaboration tools and async communication. Leverage your network. It's much easier to trust and hire someone you've worked with before. Don't be shy in asking for referrals or introductions. Continue building connections and strengthening your portfolio. And lastly, please be kind to yourself. Demand far exceeds supply when it comes to remote opportunities. The job search process is brutal in a normal market (and this is not that). Please lean on support systems, check out resources like Never Search Alone, and prioritize your mental health. I'm rooting for you. ​ TLDRLooking for a remote job? It’s not about traditional resumes anymore. Here’s how to stand out:
Landing a remote role takes time and persistence, but with the right approach, you can find a great opportunity. ​ Quote of the Week​ In Other News​How I took advantage of 3 arbitrage strategies​ ​ ​ In Case You Missed It​Communication Best Practices for Global Teams​
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9-5, Monday-Friday, in-person office work are all relics of the past. Let's revolutionize how you live by changing how you work.
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