Do This Before You Start Searching for Remote Jobs

You are reading this guide because you want to search for remote jobs, but you have no idea where to start. It is understandable. We all take different paths but getting started is the best decision you have made today. Please read on.

The remote job search started six years ago, and so many mistakes were made. This impacted how long it took me to receive my first interview. It was through desperation I reached out to my network.

My first successful remote job interview was thanks to a guy I met at an in-person WordPress event in 2007. Like all cool kids back then, we added each other on Facebook and became friends over the years.

This is the path I found myself taking, but if you do not have a network, it is not a strategy which, will work for you.

So, start here before searching for remote jobs.

Have you made this mistake?

The first thing most people will do is browse a job site and start to search. This will lead to two things: they will apply for remote jobs in bulk, and frustration will appear after receiving no interview invites.

How do I know this? I made this mistake and failed.

Create a remote job profile

You need to take a different approach, and it will take time. Be prepared to take action and block out at least 1-2 hours.

Find somewhere you can concentrate and be distraction-free. The first thing you are going to do is create your remote job profile. Last year, my coaching clients went through this exercise with a high success rate.

What is a remote job profile?

In recruitment terms, a company will create a job profile to highlight the skills and experience they are looking for in a specific role.

For you, we have tailored this exercise to find your perfect remote job. We have also found it helps when shortlisting jobs to apply for and helps you prepare your resume for the world to see.

You might have worked in a specific role for years. You might know what job you want to apply for, but this exercise is still worth completing. It is an opportunity to think if this is the type of work you want to continue doing as you transition from the office.

Download our free workbook

To receive the workbook our coaching clients worked with last year, simply subscribe to our weekly remote work email and confirm your email address. You will then be directed to download the workbook.

If you are already a subscriber, download it from the latest email.

The workbook is split into three sections: work & lifestyle, skills analysis, and experience. You will be asked a series of thought-provoking questions. Write down your answers as you go through the sections.

Why do you need to create a remote job profile?

While working with a client last year, she talked a lot about her passion for photography. She is an experienced accountant and was working for a Fortune 500 company. Working in the corporate world can be soul-destroying and, she was keen to leave it behind.

Through this exercise, she found her perfect remote job working for a company specializing in teaching photography. Her role was still in accountancy but a niche she is passionate about. This made her love the profession again.

It took the steps in this exercise to make her realize she had more options than initially thought.

Are you a good fit for remote work?

You could quit a well-paid office job with a good pension, then a few months later realize remote working is not for you. What if the company is not a good fit for your goals and aspirations in life?

Creating your remote job profile will help you make the right decision.

Remote workers need certain personality traits and skills to be successful. You need to be able to work on your own initiative. Your communication skills have to be exceptional because you will be working with a team working in different time zones.

This exercise will help you realize if remote working is for you. If you do not enjoy working in isolation, you will find working from home difficult.

The next steps

Once you have completed this exercise, the next step is to search remote job boards. We have written a guide on how to find remote jobs. Please subscribe to our free, weekly email and start learning.