Essential Remote Work Tips for Job Seekers

It’s 2023, and remote work is in full swing around the world. In fact, it’s not going anywhere anytime soon, because remote work has become ubiquitous in many industries across the globe.

There are many reasons why remote work is so popular and important to modern professionals, and why companies nowadays support this new work model. For one, working from home promotes a healthy mindset and work-life balance. It also saves time by eliminating commutes and promotes productivity by centering work in a safe and familiar setting.

Whatever your reasons are for wanting to work from home, there are some key factors you need to consider when searching for a new work-from-home job. It’s not just about finding a remote position, after all, it’s about finding the right fit to support your professional goals.

Here’s what you need to do to achieve just that.

1. Understand the current state of remote work

Before you can find a remote job, and a company that fits your current needs and long-term professional goals, you need to understand the trends and the current state of remote work.

According to recent statistics on remote workers, remote workers are happier than those working in-house, and employers around the world experience less employee turnover because of that fact. But does that mean that you’re free to apply for any remote position without fearing that the employer will ask you to return to the office at some point?

Unfortunately, it doesn’t.

According to the same research, only 32% of respondents said they would like to work from home indefinitely, which may prompt some employers to bring people back to the office. What this data means for you, especially if you want to work remotely on a permanent basis, is that you have to be very direct when communicating your expectations to potential employers.

You need to communicate your needs during your interviews, and most importantly, you need to get the employer to tell you directly if their plan is to keep your position a remote one in the next few years.

2. Read the job postings carefully

Before you even get to the interview, scour the web looking for the right job opportunities. To do this efficiently, keep a job checklist on hand, which allows you to tick the boxes for different employers and prioritize the job postings you’ll be applying for.

This approach makes it easier to stay organized, and sharpens your ability to analyze postings quickly. You need to ask yourself is this job posting really remote or is it being advertised as such, with the fine print stating otherwise.

Because remote work has become so popular, certain employers will try to hook talented professionals with the prospect of fully remote work only to force them into the office shortly after they start. Be sure to prioritize job postings that clearly state if the position is a remote one, and if it’s going to stay that way.

Once you begin negotiating with the company, make this question a priority so everyone is clear on shared expectations.

3. Learn the tools necessary for effective remote work

If you are to thrive as a remote worker, you need to be on board with the tools and software frequently used in your industry. While companies often use proprietary tools or popular systems based on their unique needs, you want to have an understanding of how they use these tools.

Ideally, you will have extensive experience with the tools the company you’re applying for specifically uses. With that approach in mind, research the tools that companies in your field use frequently, and get acquainted with them.

For remote work, these tools are typically:

Project management tools
ERP (enterprise resource management) systems
Various communication tools
Video conferencing tools
Microsoft Office or Google’s suite of tools
Data storage and sharing tools

Managers in remote companies will also use remote team building tools to help remote workers connect, so try researching those as well so that you know what to expect when you join the team. This will also give you an edge during your interviews.

4. Assess career advancement opportunities

A common problem with remote work is that some companies see it as a way to attract employees to dead-end jobs and positions with zero perspective. Serious employers will treat a remote position like any other, but you have to be wary of the ones that view these positions as an opportunity to invest as little as possible in their new hires.

Make sure that the potential employer views you as a part of the team, and that they have clearly defined their training and career advancement programs. They should clearly outline these programs in their job descriptions, but it’s also something you need to ask during the interview process.

This information is especially important if you’re ambitious and want to grow as a remote employee. If you want to become a leader, one day having a team of your own and using delegation effectively to achieve great things for the company, you have to ensure that the employer is looking for leadership material.

5. Analyze the company and its track record

Remote workers can often be so enthusiastic about the prospect of working from wherever they want, they overlook clear red flags. Never turn a blind eye to the company’s track record when it comes to turnover, employee satisfaction, compensation, and the employer brand in general.

Aside from asking the right questions during the interview, research the company diligently before applying. This approach is partly important because it saves you a lot of time you would otherwise spend applying to the wrong companies, and partly because the employer may leave out their shortcomings during the interview.

With that in mind, be sure to research the company on Reddit, take a look at their social media comments, and analyze their reviews and ratings on Glassdoor. Next, go on LinkedIn.

There, you can find people who have previously worked at the company you’re interested in, which gives you the opportunity to connect and ask them if they can share their thoughts and experience. This information might be just what you need to make the right decision for your professional future.

6. Consider the culture of the brand

Ensuring the right cultural fit is one of the most important parts of a successful, thriving career at any company. Just because you’re a remote worker doesn’t mean that you’re on the outside, nor do you want to be.

When looking for the best cities for working remotely in the US and even abroad, consider how you fit culturally into the brand, and what the cultural requirements are. Brand identity influences these requirements, of course, as well as by the level of diversity and inclusivity.

If you position yourself as someone who merely works remotely and is on the outside looking in, then you position yourself as someone who’s not a real part of the team, and thus, easily replaceable. If you want to secure your position in a great company, then you need to become a part of their culture even if you’re not physically at the office.

To that end, be sure to research the culture that the company nurtures, the values they share with their employees, and the mission and vision that guides them. If these align with your own values and goals, you’ll have a much easier time fitting in.

7. Know your boundaries and stick to them

Lastly, don’t forget healthy boundaries. This mistake is the most common one remote workers make in an attempt to secure their position and become indispensable to their employers, but it tends to have the opposite effect.

As a remote worker or someone working from home, it can be easy to forget when your work hours end, and become constantly available to your employer. This behavior will lead to burnout and dissatisfaction with your job, not to mention it tells people they can get more out of you than they should.

Employers need strong remote workers that know their boundaries and their worth; they will respect you more if they know you’re not at their beck and call. Don’t lose sight of your boundaries and you will be more respected, more valuable, and a more successful remote worker.

Over to you

Remote work is here to stay, but that doesn’t always mean that finding the right job is easy. Whether you’re looking for a new remote job or you’re just now entering the remote work job market, you need to follow the right steps towards finding the best long-term fit.

Be sure to use these tips to avoid the bad apples in the batch and pick out the best remote work positions on offer in your region, country, and even abroad in 2023.

This article was provided by;

A seasoned writer and storyteller, Sara does her best to share her experience with the world and help brands and entrepreneurs find their voice. She loves the learning curve that comes with writing, so she gladly takes on new topics that will expand her own knowledge and expertise. The only thing Sara steers clear of? Anything resembling a comfort zone in life, as well as writing.