About the author
Before commencing the search for a remote job, remember you are competing against talent from around the world. The chance of being shortlisted for an interview is considerably lower.
Being multi-skilled will make you stand out from your competition and more employable. Be creative when applying for remote jobs by considering what you can bring to the company to achieve its goals.
If you have applied for a few vacancies and were unsuccessful, here are the common mistakes when applying for a remote job.
Not Focusing on Quality
When applying for remote jobs, your initial response will be to contact as many companies as possible.
If you are lazy and apply for remote jobs with the same resume and cover letter, will you cut corners when performing in the role you are applying for? Think about it from an employer’s perspective.
Designate a time of day or week when you will focus on applying for remote jobs. Ensure no distractions or plans will make you want to rush the application.
Focus on applying for one remote job at a time.
Take time to examine the required experience and skills for the job. Make sure your resume and cover letter feature these requirements. Failure to do so will prevent you from passing the shortlist phase.
Proofread your resume and cover letter before sending them. Use a service like Grammarly to check for spelling and grammar mistakes. Ensure the brand name is spelled and written correctly. For example, don’t type WordPress when the brand is WordPress.
Not Researching the Company
As previously stated, standing out when applying for a remote job is essential. The best way to do this is to research the company. Look for information about the founder and the history behind the brand.
Read reviews on sites like Glassdoor to learn about the work culture. Find interesting facts about the business to include in your cover letter. Search for the company or its founders on social media and engage by asking and answering questions.
Is the company running any campaigns or initiatives you can get involved in? Dig deep into their services by browsing the company website and thinking about how you can help with your skills and experience.
How can you improve the business? For example, you’re applying for a customer service role and browsing reviews. Several people are unhappy because of a specific feature or service. In the cover letter, you would suggest improvements to deal with the common issues that customers are having.
Sending a Mudane Resume and Cover Letter
Tailor your resume and cover letter for each remote job to increase the chance of being interviewed. When writing up your previous roles, read the job description and include the skills and experience that match the job.
The cover letter should focus on what you offer the business. How can your skills help increase revenue, attract more customers, or improve the experience for current customers? Also, include the small nuggets of information you’ve found while researching the company to show attention to detail.
Using the No-Go words
Remember that you’re applying for a job that just happens to be remote. While it’s okay once working remotely, don’t mention that you want to work from home or that you have expertise and love traveling while working.
It sends the message that you’re only applying because it’s remote.
Putting in Minimal Effort
You should have noticed a common trend in all of these mistakes.
You won’t be able to get away with putting in the minimum amount of effort when applying for a remote job. Rather than applying for vacant positions in bulk, take your time and focus on one.
These are a few of the more common mistakes that people make when applying for remote jobs. Implementing these changes will increase the chance of being shortlisted for an interview.
Share This Guide
How to get a remote job
Continue Reading