So you want to work from home and have decided to search for a new remote job—but how do you separate the quality remote jobs from the rest? Here are six tips to help you find the remote job of your dreams.
1. Learn What to Search For
Finding remote positions can feel hit or miss, but the process is more straightforward when you know what to search for. As you start reading more remote job descriptions, you’ll notice a trend in their language; ‘fully remote’, ‘work from home available’, and ‘temporarily remote’ are the top three.
If you want to work from home all of the time, then narrow your search to positions listed as ‘fully remote’. If you don’t mind going into the office a few days a week, then ‘work from home available’ suggests that you can work remotely part-time. And if you only want to work remotely for the foreseeable future, then a ‘temporary remote’ position will give you that freedom with a secure office-based position afterward.
2. Search on Dedicated Remote Working Job Sites
Companies can post remote job adverts everywhere, but if you’re set on only seeing remote opportunities, you’re best off searching dedicated remote working job sites.
There are quite a few specialist remote sites to choose from, including Working Nomads, FlexJobs and Remote OK. Do be aware that some of these sites charge a fee to view all of the information in their job posts.
If you prefer not to use these sites, then you can always stick to conventional job sites such as Indeed or Totaljobs; just be sure to filter your search to only show remote opportunities.
3. Take Advantage of Your Professional Network
Another great way to find genuine remote working positions is by utilizing your own network. The chances are that someone you know also knows someone who's hiring. Publish a post to your LinkedIn explaining the kind of position you’re looking for and ask your network to share it.
You’ll be surprised how much reach you can get by utilizing social media to expand your job search, and your proactive approach will help you stand out to potential hiring managers.
4. Don't Limit Yourself by Location
One of the many positives of remote working is that you can do your job from anywhere. In fact, you can do your job from any country! So why are you limiting your job search to your local area?
If you plan to work entirely remotely, there’s no reason to limit your job search to your city or even your country. There are hundreds of global remote companies out there that hire people from all over the globe. So, expand your search and see what comes up from further afield.
5. Research the Company Before Applying
Whether they’re a company you’ve heard of before or not, it’s always wise to research a potential business before you apply for a job there. What are people saying about them online? Are they hiring for lots of positions? Do they align with your own interests and values?
Taking the time to research a company thoroughly can be the difference between finding a good remote job and finding a great remote job. Another reason why you should always research a company before applying for a role is to make sure that they actually exist. Employment scammers are a real thing and use enticing remote roles to gain applicant information and scam them of their money.
6. Watch Out for Red Flags
Finally, if you’re looking for a quality remote position, you need to be aware of some of the most common remote working red flags. Does the job advert have a complete job description? Will your employer provide training and support? How long has the job advert been up? Does the hiring manager get back to your queries quickly?
There are many red flags to look out for when applying for a remote job, and they can be a good indicator of the quality of the role and the kind of employer you’ll be working for.
Finding a Genuine Remote Job Online
Job hunting for a quality remote job can be full of obstacles, but genuine, high-quality remote positions do exist—you just need to learn how to find them.
Hopefully, these tips will help you on your way to securing the remote job of your dreams. Just be sure to research the company and job role thoroughly, and to watch out for scammers and red flags.