Great question. You are smart to ask, why? Knowing what you are going to be up against will increase your chances of being hired into a remote job.

When going into the unknown, it’s good to discover the challenges and find solutions, so you can get to the finishing line. More so, if you are new to searching for remote jobs and not sure where to start.  What challenges will I face finding a remote job?

The stress of finding a remote job

They say finding a job is one of the most stressful things you will do in your life, alongside moving home and getting married. If you have recently lost your job and are desperate to find a new one quickly, this comes with additional pressure.

Easier said than done, but keep calm. Take it a step at a time as you go through the remote job process. Keep positive and spend time realising your value to a company and what you can offer them.

Not sure where to start

The recommended read below will give you all the steps you need to get started, but in short – think about your skills, experience and passions in life. Is there a remote job that fits all of those three areas? Search Remote job boards and identify roles that you would be suited to and start from there.

Recommended read: 10-Steps to Landing your Perfect Remote Job

You will find lots of tips for working remotely in our library of articles.

Getting noticed

Not getting a remote job interview can be a frustrating experience and lead to a lack of confidence. The truth is, landing a Remote job is very competitive, and you have to stand out to get noticed.

Part of my work with clients is helping them stand out because 98% of people will do the bare minimum to land a remote job. All it needs is a little bit of creativity depending on the role you’re applying for.

Here’s an example: Applying for a design role? Redesign the company logo, mock-up an improved user interface for their product, or, create improved social media designs. Upload it to a site like Dribbble, and send them a link in your cover letter.

Lack of support

Searching and applying for remote jobs can be a lonely experience, but it doesn’t need to be. You could chat with friends about their experiences applying for jobs. Or, subscribe to the Hive, my free weekly remote work email and get support in your email inbox, every week.

It’s my goal to make Hivevine.com into a comprehensive resource for people who want to become a remote worker, so there’s a lot of support around here. You can email me any questions, or watch my YouTube videos and comment.

Fear of failure

Fear of failure within remote job interviews can stop you from performing and reduces the chance of being hired. Visualise any negative outcomes when applying for a remote job and write them down.

These will be your fears. When they are written down, you can think about how to tackle them and move forward. Sometimes it’ll be a mindset shift, or, just taking action can result in squashing your fears.

Listen to this remote work podcast episode, where fear of failure is discussed at length. You will hear about my own fear of failure when making the difficult decision to quit my employer of 24 years to work remotely and travel around the world.

Struggling to get invited to interviews

There are many reasons why you might not be invited to an interview, some are out of your control. You mustn’t let this affect your positivity and continue to take action and apply for remote jobs.

After all, it is their loss if they did not see the value you can add to the company, right?

But, you might be making one or more of the common mistakes that applicants make, so this article will help you identify any areas for improvement.

Lack of experience

The simple truth is that many companies want an applicant who can step straight into the role and start with very little onboarding.

That said, smarter companies are thinking long term and search for someone with less experience, but will grow into the role. Within your resume, include your work experience but, also think about what other skills you have that could add value to the business. This will help you stand out.

Mindset challenges

Our mindset plays a massive role in the ability to land a remote job. Doubting your abilities, fear change and making the wrong decisions will result in failure. The only way to move forward is to take action.

One strategy that has never let me down is going with my gut instinct.

If during the interview process, you are feeling that the company and/or role is not for you, then identify why that is, and if you feel the same after, remove yourself from the process. It’s important not to make any rash decisions.

In future articles, the mindset challenges will be covered in more detail. Please subscribe to my free remote work email and receive notifications when new content is published on the website. Hopefully this article has helped you answer what challenges will I face finding a remote job?