Are you asking yourself, why can’t I find a remote job? Frustration and self-doubt can set in when you are not getting hired. Do not give in, keep positive.

There is always a reason, so it is time to sit down and be honest with yourself. Most people will be making one or more of the common mistakes, so scroll through this list and identify areas you need to improve. It’s important to be self-critical. Here are common mistakes when submitting a resume.

Not tailoring your resume or cover letter

The majority of people will go down the lazy route of applying for a remote job by submitting the same resume and cover letter.

It is important to tailor them to the role you are applying for. Recruiters can see when applicants are doing this and, it does not send a good signal that you are prepared to put effort into your work.

Not including important keywords

Hundreds of people will apply for a remote job, so many companies are using software to scan resumes and make sure applicants meet their initial criteria. AI software is becoming more popular.

If you have not used Key terms from the job listing in your resume for personality traits, skills and experience, then it is unlikely you will get shortlisted for an interview.

Not applying for enough remote jobs

Only apply for roles you are interested in and have the skills and experience, but only applying for one job a week will not bring you success. You will have to apply for more jobs to increase your chances.

Not standing out amongst your competition

Remember you are going to be up against candidates from all over the world and 99% of people will do the bare minimum to land a remote job.

How can you stand out amongst everyone else and get an interview?

This is where you have to be creative and think outside of the box a little.

Applying for a Copywriting role? Look through their website and submit a list of mistakes and areas for improvement. What about a Quality Assurance role? Download the software you are going to be testing and send them a list of bugs.

Not researching the company

Spend a little time reading through the company website – blogs and news sections can be a great place to start looking for information that you can use in your cover letter.

Do you have skills that could add value to a new client, service or product?

Read about the work culture because questions around this will come up in an interview. Spend time learning about the founders and story of the company.

Having information about a company can come in handy through the job application process and show you are keen to work for the company. Really think about the value you can bring to the company based on your skills and experience.

Not including remote job skills

Employers will be looking for previous remote working experience and, if you do not have any, then you need to think about the types of skills required.

Remote workers need to be excellent communicators, well organised and, can work with a team that is spread out amongst various time zones. Having experience of Remote tools like Zoom, Slack, Trello, Jira, will increase your chances.

Think about the role and make sure you include the remote working skills required. Most people applying for their first Remote job will not think of this, so it is a good opportunity to stand amongst other candidates.

Unable to get hired after an interview? These will be common mistakes.

Not answering key questions properly

When you are under pressure, it is easy to lose your track of thought and not answer questions fully, or, at all. Take a moment to think, breath and smile before answering any questions. The interviewer is not expecting an instant response.

Before the interview, take 5-10 minutes to think about the type of questions the interviewer could ask.

From experience, the first interview will be with the recruiter/HR, who will ask questions around work culture and remote working skills, as mentioned above.

The second and subsequent interviews will be around the role and your experience. The questions will be asked to gather if you have the knowledge they are expecting.

Bear this in mind when preparing for the interview.

Not enough experience

There is not a great deal you can do about this. If the company is looking for someone to fit straight into the role, then they will have higher expectations. Some companies are also looking for a candidate who they feel can grow into it over time.

Where possible, learn new skills to make yourself more employable.

Your personality does not come across

Being nervous can result in your personality, not coming across in the interview. Where possible, smile, engage with the interviewer and keep a friendly tone.

Talk as if you were having a conversation with a work colleague, rather than being monotone, basically talk like you are keen on the role and working with the company.

Which leads me on to the final reason why people do not find remote jobs.

Not showing enough interest

Make an effort to prepare for the interview by having questions written down. Share why you want to work for the company and what value you can bring.

Do not be fake but show an interest and a level of excitement of the potential working for them. Body language and facial expressions are another sign that the candidate is not really interested in the role.

So, the next time you ask yourself, why can’t I find a remote job, be honest with yourself and look through this list of common reasons.