If you’re looking for a remote job, there are a few things you should do before applying. Here are the few things one must do before applying for a position as a remote worker.
1) Create a personal website or a digital portfolio for yourself
It doesn’t cost much to create a personal website to market yourself to potential remote employers. Sites like WordPress, Wix, and Squarespace help you design professional websites even if you lack coding experience. If you don’t want to spring for a website, you can always create a portfolio of your achievements and make it available for download on your LinkedIn page or other social media platforms. Having one ready to go also makes it easy when you’re asked for one to complete an application. A portfolio of your best work is the perfect complement to your resume and cover letter.
2) Research
One of the first things one should do before applying for the position of a remote worker is to do some research on the company, check their website and social media accounts to see if they’re interested in hiring a remote worker, and if not, it could mean they don’t hire from home or that they only hire in-office employees.
3) Create an updated resume
If you haven’t updated your resume recently, now is the time to do so. Make sure all of the information is up-to-date, including contact information and references. If possible, include a cover letter detailing why you’re interested in working for this company and how your skills fit its needs.
Prepare answers to common questions. Before interviewing with any company, it’s always a good idea to prepare for common questions that may come up during the interview process.
4) Know where to look for remote jobs
If you’re waiting for the perfect remote job to show up on Monster, CareerBuilder, indeed, or LinkedIn, you’re going to have a bad time because they’re in low supply. Since most companies don’t advertise a remote workforce, you’ll need to perform a bit of sleuthing to find the best places to work, or you could just head over to We Work Remotely and browse open remote positions all over the world.
5) Job description
Know what kind of work they expect from their employees. If you’re interested in this job, find out what kind of work they expect from their employees and how much freedom they give them with their schedule (do they require work hours during normal business hours or do they allow flexibility?). This way you’ll know if it suits well with your schedule.
6) Research their culture and values
If you find out that the company hires remote workers, you should look into their culture and values. Can you see yourself working there? Is there a lot of travel involved? Does it seem like a good fit for your lifestyle? These are all important questions to ask yourself before deciding whether or not to apply for the position.
7) Internet
Lastly and most importantly, ensure you have a fast internet connection. So, your network doesn’t keep disturbing you while you’re working, it will not look professional if your network keeps going off.