With the work-from-home model becoming more common each day, the number of remote jobs for the taking also skyrockets. So to be able to tap into the many opportunities at our disposal right now is a matter of knowing where to look.
Some head straight to Google and search “remote jobs” or “home-based work” and check the first page, but we’ve compiled a few more efficient ways to go about remote job hunting.
1. Refine job search
Instead of going through every job board, there is or Google’s first page of search results, visit websites specializing in remote jobs. They are always a better, more reliable resource than mainstream search engines designed for traditional, in-office roles. The job listings on these sites are also vetted for legitimacy to assure the role isn’t a scam. Some remote work-centered hubs we’ve found are Flexjobs, We Work Remotely, and Remote.co.
2. Job boards aren’t everything
Opportunities can come from anywhere. While job boards offer the best way to narrow your search, it wouldn’t hurt to check listings on social media sites like Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Often, companies post about new openings on their social pages before investing in job boards. There are also groups on Facebook updated with the latest online job opportunities. If eyeing a certain company, their social media pages will likely share job opening announcements, so be sure to follow and like their company page. Never overlook making regular visits to the“Careers” or “Jobs” page on their websites as well.
3. Use niche sites
For those who already have a specific job or industry in mind, niche sites make the job search easier because they usually put all related job openings in one place for a more streamlined search. A few examples of niche sites are Angel.co (tech startups), GitHub Jobs (web development), MediaBistro (media or advertising), GoodFood Jobs (food industry), and Idealist (non-profit sector).
4. Know the right keywords
Employers use different terms in their job listings and descriptions so it is important to find which ones they commonly use. To make sure to find all potential remote job postings, use terms like “remote,” “home-based,” “work from home,” “virtual,” “online jobs” or “telecommute.” The same goes for the job titles. For example, the project manager might be referred to in the listing as “product manager” or “project coordinator.”
5. Go beyond the current location
Most job sites show job listings from a searcher’s location by default, but in the remote field, location is no limitation. So when looking for remote jobs, widen the search criteria by removing the location constraint.
6. Know which jobs can be done remotely and master the requirements
The remote work model is bigger than ever and still growing. Jobs in customer success, administrative support, multimedia, and information technology are among the most common. Content writing is another sprawling field spanning across all industries and not dependent on collaborating in an office setting.
While reading through remote job postings, make a list of the common requirements that these positions look for in their ideal candidate. Also, take note of the more technical skills that employers prefer in an applicant such as knowledge of certain digital tools. Take time to learn them and add them to an online resume that can be uploaded to sites like LinkedIn or Indeed to make it easy for employers hiring to find you.
7. Look for remote-friendly companies
There are companies that are completely office-less, which means business is solely done remotely. Find them easily by researching with keywords like “completely distributed” or “100% distributed.”
