About the author

Darren Cronian, the author of this guide, has spent nine years securing remote jobs and building a successful freelancing business. His goal is to help people find remote work. Read more >

The fact that you are reading this article is the first step to escaping the office and quitting your 9-5 job. Deciding to work from home is a difficult decision, so make sure you are working for a company that embraces remote working.

Spending time researching the company will assist you in the application process but also help you decide if its the right employer for you. In this article, I highlight 6 must do tasks before applying for a remote job.

6 Must Do Tasks Before Applying for a Remote Job
Learn about the work culture

The reason why you are looking for a remote job is that you want more freedom. You want more to spend it with loved ones or do the things you are passionate about in life – and who would blame you?

So, working at a company that expects you to conform to a strict work schedule will not suit the lifestyle you want to create. Knowing this before you go through the effort of applying for the role is advantageous.

You can do this by browsing the website and reading the pages about the company and any career content they add to their pages.

Read reviews on Glassdoor

Glassdoor is a site where employees can leave reviews. Not every company will have a profile, but it is worth searching to see if any reviews are left by current and ex-employees.

Bear in mind that some disgruntled people will leave reviews, so be objective when reading through.

Do many people talk about the long work hours and micromanagement? You might see a common trend, which you need to look for. These are a few signs that this might not be your company.

Search for the company on search engines

Search for the company and founders’ names on the likes of Google and Bing will unearth any news, customer reviews, and negativity around the company. This is especially helpful if you are applying for customer-focused remote jobs because it might offer insight into the company’s performance.

Learn about the founders.

Knowing the founders will give you an idea of what makes them tick. This will help you understand the work culture. What is their story? Why and how did they start the company? Do they have ambition and drive, or are they just going through the motions of running the company?

Find podcast interviews or any other content of the founders discussing the business. Pay special attention to news articles and PR releases. Are they a forward-thinking company that moves with the times, or is it not going anywhere?

Find out if the company is fully-distributed

What is a fully-distributed company? , all of their workforces are based around the world, working in different timezones, and are remote working. They understand remote working, particularly when people want flexibility in work and life. Why apply for jobs with full-distributed companies?

In my experience, fully-distributed companies are the best to work for because they do not expect you to sit at a desk for 8 hours working.

Reach out to the company with questions

What’s the point in putting in all that time and effort to update your resume, write a cover letter and prepare for an interview if the role isn’t what you are looking for? Find out the Head of Recruitment or HR within the company and contact them by email or social media.

Don’t be worried about reaching out and asking essential questions like salary range, work culture, etc.

Did this article help to apply for a remote job? Hopefully, this article will help you decide if the company fits your needs and provides you the freedom and flexibility you desire before applying for a remote job. Subscribe to the Hive, my free, weekly remote working email, and get more advice to help you become a successful remote worker.

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