A FlexJobs survey of 2,100 people who worked remotely during the pandemic found that remote work is here to stay! Fifty-eight percent of respondents said they would look for a new job if they weren’t allowed to continue working from home in their current position after the pandemic. Another 65% want to work remotely full-time post-pandemic, while 33% are hoping for a hybrid work arrangement (some days in the office, some days at home).
Looking for a job is stressful enough. But, looking for a remote job, particularly if you’re unfamiliar with how different the process can be, is an added layer of difficulty. So, we asked the career coaches at FlexJobs for their expert advice on looking for a remote job.
10 Questions and Answers About Finding Remote Work
1. What are the current trends in the remote job market?
Before the pandemic, approximately 5% of the entire U.S. workforce worked remotely. However, by the spring of 2020, that number was up to 43%, and by February 2021, more than half (57%) of people worked remotely.
Because remote work helped companies weather the worst of the pandemic, many are making the shift to remote work permanent. Approximately 80% of CEOs say that they expect a more widespread remote workforce with the growth of full-time remote work expected to double over the next five years. As a result, 69% of large-company CEOs plan to downsize their office space, and a whopping 89% of people expect their jobs to be at least partly remote after the pandemic ends.
The job postings at FlexJobs already indicate that remote work is here to stay. Compared to 2020, job listings for remote work increased 76% over 2019 postings. On May 3, 2021, alone, remote job postings were 20.4% above what they were on February 1, 2020.
2. What kinds of remote jobs are there?
At FlexJobs, we have over 50 career categories with remote and flexible job listings. However, certain fields consistently post the most open remote jobs. They are:
Some of the most common and popular job titles are:
There are plenty of surprising remote job titles, too. We’ve seen postings for remote home stylists, senior traffic engineers, and teleradiologists.
And no matter where you are in your career, you can find a remote job that fits into your career plan. Entry-level remote jobs are posted in categories like finance, bilingual, and sales. But you can also find remote C-level jobs like CMO, CFO, and CTO across a variety of career categories.
3. Are there certain companies that are known for hiring remote workers?
Since 2014, FlexJobs has compiled a list of the top 100 companies for remote work. And though there have been countless changes in how companies approach remote work over the years, there’s also been a consistent cohort of remote-friendly companies like ADP, Dell, and UnitedHealthgroup that have made our Top 100 list every single year.
4. Why do some jobs have a location requirement if it’s 100% remote work?
Many people think that remote work and work from anywhere jobs are the same. While a work from anywhere job allows you to work and live anywhere in the world (think: digital nomad), the reality is that 95% of the remote jobs that the FlexJobs researchers find have location requirements, whether that be a specific state, city, country, or even region.
State and federal regulations in the U.S. may dictate where companies can do business, which determines locations where employees can work from. Similarly, tax law may determine which states companies can conduct business in.
The role may require state-regulated licenses or certifications. Or, the job may include specific sales regions. Employers sometimes want staff close to a physical office for occasional in-person meetings or to live close to clients for face-to-face interactions.
5. What kinds of technology and tools should I know to be a successful remote worker?
Remote employers use all kinds of platforms to get the job done, so it’s vital that you can work with many different technologies. What employers look for in remote candidates is someone with experience in remote tools and technology.
For example, experience with a project collaboration tool and virtual conference technology is helpful, but it doesn’t necessarily matter which program you used, as long as you have the skills and experience. When reading a job description, note the remote technologies and tools the company uses. If you don’t have experience with them, develop your knowledge and understanding of these tools with online tutorials, or explain how your experience on a similar platform is transferable to the one the company uses.
Popular remote technology platforms include:
- Slack
- Google Suite
- HipChat
- Trello
- Teamwork
- Asana
- Jira
- monday.com
- Zoom
- Microsoft OneDrive
- Microsoft Teams
- Skype
- DropBox
- Calendly
6. What do I need to know about virtual hiring and interviewing?
Employers want candidates that are a good fit with the company culture and possess the experience, skills, and abilities listed in the job posting.
Interviews are usually conducted over the phone and via video calls. Some of our top tips for remote interview success include:
- Test your technology before the interview to download or update any necessary software and to work out technology bugs
- Conduct your video interview or phone screening from a quiet location
- Make sure your background is clutter-free and professional
- Speak slowly and clearly
- Use active listening to avoid accidentally interrupting your interviewer
7. Do I need to write a cover letter for a remote job application?
We definitely recommend you write a cover letter for every job you apply to, remote or not!
Many applicants don’t write cover letters, especially if the job posting doesn’t request one, so including a cover letter can set you apart from the crowd. It’s an excellent opportunity to showcase your skills and accomplishments as they relate to the role.
Cover letters don’t need to be (and shouldn’t be) lengthy, and taking some time to create one can really help your application. Worst case scenario? The employer doesn’t read it. But, by writing the cover letter, you’ve already started explaining why you’re the right person for the job.
8. As a remote worker, do I have to supply my own equipment, or will the employer provide things like laptops?
It depends on the job and the employer. Some employers will provide you with equipment, while others expect you to already have your home office outfitted. Your employer may provide staff with a stipend or reimbursement up to a certain amount for you to purchase whatever equipment you need.
Usually, if specific equipment is required, it’s listed in the job posting. But, if it’s not, this is a great question to ask during the interview! Also, asking for reimbursement or equipment stipend is something you could ask for during the negotiation process.
9. Why am I not hearing back from employers after I apply for a remote job?
If you don’t hear back from employers during the application stage, there may be something about the resume or cover letter that isn’t resonating with the hiring manager. Ask yourself some of the following questions to see where you might be getting tripped up:
- Are you tailoring your cover letter and customizing your resume for each application?
- Do your cover letter and resume highlight your remote work experience?
- Is your resume formatted so the applicant tracking system (ATS) can read it, and does it include appropriate keywords?
- Are you following all the requests in the job posting, including any required information or answering specific questions posed by the employer?
10. Is my age a problem when I apply to a remote job?
While your age isn’t specifically a problem, “ageism” (when people make assumptions about you based on your age) can happen. It’s unfortunate and sometimes out of your control, but ageism can be a part of the job search. Here are some recommendations to help make sure employers focus their attention on your experience rather than your age:
- Include only the last 10 to 15 years of your work history
- Remove graduation dates
- Use a current resume format (i.e., don’t include an objective or “references available upon request)
- Keep your technology skills current and include a technology section on your resume to highlight said skills
- Use a current email provider like Gmail as other services (AOL, Hotmail) are more outdated and could give your age away