In the first episode of the year - #350 – I talked about the job market and what to expect in 2025. In this episode, I want to dive into the unique challenges of looking for a remote position.
The upside is that you aren’t limited geographically in your search.
The downside is that neither is anyone else. Your competition can be fierce.
Remote jobs are becoming limited again—the percentage of fully remote jobs on LinkedIn fell from 18% in 2022 to 9% in 2023.
According to one website focusing on nonprofit jobs, remote postings receive 4.5 times as many applications as hybrid postings.
Let’s start with some good resources for remote jobs. If you’ve listened to my podcast much, you know how ineffective job boards can be – especially at mid to higher levels. Having said that, unless you are at the executive level, I recommend about 25% of your job search efforts be spent on passive strategies, which includes job boards.
Increasingly, job postings are stating whether the work is in office, remote, or hybrid. If it doesn’t and this is a deal breaker for you, I recommend attempting to contact the company’s HR department to get clarification before you waste time applying to a position where remote work isn’t a possibility.
Here are some favorite boards for remote work:
- General Job Boards:
- LinkedIn: Utilize advanced search filters to target remote positions.
- Indeed: A vast database, use keywords like "remote," "work from home," or "WFH."
- Glassdoor: Can provide insights into company culture and employee reviews.
- Remote-Specific Job Boards:
- Remote OK: A popular and well-regarded platform.
- AngelList: Known for tech and startup roles, with a strong remote focus.
- FlexJobs: Subscription-based, but often has highly vetted remote positions.
- Remote.co: Another comprehensive resource for finding remote jobs.
In an active (networking-based) job search, query “companies that promote remote work” or similar prompts to help with your list of target employers. Conversely, you could query “companies that don’t allow any remote work” to see if any of your target employers are on that list. Again – Glassdoor can also help with this information.
Here are some important considerations when deciding to seek remote work:
· Identifying Legitimate Opportunities: The rise of remote work has also seen an increase in scams. Be vigilant and only apply to positions from reputable sources. Never, ever send money or provide personal information upfront.
- Legal & Tax Implications: Research employment laws and tax regulations in your location.
- Setting Up Your Workspace: Create a dedicated workspace that is comfortable, ergonomic, and free from distractions. Be prepared to discuss your setup in an interview and explain how you will minimize interruptions WITHOUT divulging personal information they can’t ask about.
- Maintaining Work-Life Balance: Set boundaries between work and personal time to avoid burnout.
- Tailor Your Approach: Tailor your resume and cover letter to emphasize skills needed for working remotely including time management, the ability to utilize collaboration tools, and the ability to work with remote teams.
- Let Them Know: If the job states that it is remote, be sure any positions you’ve held that were remote or hybrid are indicated as such on your resume. LinkedIn also allows you to indicate remote jobs, so be sure to utilize this functionality.
- Prepare Your Stories: Expect the interview process to include at least one behavioral question around your success in working remotely. If you have never worked remotely before, utilize the “next best thing” approach to answering their question.
- Know What the Company Means: Some remote jobs can be performed from anywhere, at any time; others can’t. Get clear on what your work hours are expected to be and whether you will be expected to only work from home.
- Don’t Neglect Your Other Non-Negotiables: Make sure you are looking at the company and the opportunity holistically, not just whether it provides a remote opportunity. What else have you identified as being essential to your job happiness and success? Does this company also possess those characteristics?
- Don’t Get Caught in a Change of Location: We’ve all heard that Amazon required all employees to be in-office as of January 1, 2025; Walmart and JPMorgan are doing the same. While you can’t be 100% sure your job will remain remote, do your homework and ask the question at the interview to increase your chances that the job will remain remote.
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