The freedom remote working provides is worth the patience and effort needed to find a remote job. It can take time but focus on quality over quantity of applications, and you will increase your chances.

Before you start the search, there are a few tasks that you might want to complete. You may have worked in a specific role for many years, but now is a good time to re-assess if it’s the type of work you want to do remotely. Why?

Personality traits are required to work remotely, including being self-motivated and working alone on your initiative.

Employers will be looking for good communicators keen to learn new skills and can work to deadlines.

Here are four ways to find a remote job and work from home.

Remote Job Boards

The place to start would be by browsing through remote job boards, and there are many to choose from. Here are my top 3 based on my experiences searching and applying for remote jobs.

Remoteok.com – This remote job board features the broadest range of jobs. You can quickly view the details without clicking on the job listing, saving you time.

WeWorkRemotely.com – An easy-to-use website with a great selection of jobs, including non-IT roles. Simple to browse on mobile phones, which is necessary when searching on the move.

Remotive.io – Less selection of jobs, but they highlight that the job is for US-only job searchers, so that saves a lot of time. There is also a community behind the jobs board, which is worth looking at to network.

To find more, go to your favorite search engine and type in remote jobs or ‘remote job boards, and you’ll find many sites to choose from.

Here are a few pieces of advice about remote job boards:

Keep a lookout on the date the jobs were published on the board. You do not want to spend a few hours applying for a closed role.

Get super specific in your search. Narrow down the industry and any other search filters the job board allows you to choose.

Ask your Current Employer to Work Remotely

Do not assume your current employer will not allow you to work remotely. Companies are looking to reduce the cost of office space, so a more distributed workforce is a huge benefit.

Think about your role and how it might be improved by working at home.

The best way to start this process is to talk with a direct manager and ask them for their opinion.

Think about the benefits of working from home, but from a company perspective, not yours. Be flexible, and say that you are willing to work remotely on a trial basis or start working from home on a specific day of the week.

Use your Network of Contacts

Initially, your response might be that you don’t have a network, but if you are on Facebook, that’s the first place to start.

Inform family and friends that you are looking for a remote job. How are people to know that you are looking for a job unless you mention it?

Word of mouth is still a powerful way to market yourself.

Another option is to be active on social networks like LinkedIn. It’s a platform to showcase your skills and reach potential employers.

Search for networking events in your local area on sites like Eventbrite. Who knows what role these people will play in the future when searching for a remote job? It’s sometimes not what you know but who you know.

Reach out to Companies

The action-takers will be successful at landing a remote job. The easy option is to apply for jobs, submit your resume/CV, then sit back and wait.

You must give the company or recruiter around ten days and then ask them for feedback. You will only learn what employers want by asking about your mistakes in the interview selection process.

Of course, some companies will not respond, but at least try and reach out.

Next, when searching for a remote job, create a shortlist of companies you would like to work for. Spend time researching the company and finding a person to contact.

Send your resume/CV and a cover letter highlighting why you want to work for them and what you can bring to the company.

Stand out, be an action taker, and start to open doors because that is the only way to land a remote job successfully.

Two other essential reads are my articles: People make common mistakes when applying for remote jobs and must-read tips on landing a remote job.