Remote work is here to stay. According to Owl Labs, 16% of companies worldwide now operate fully remotely. However, 39% plan to require employees return to the office moving forward. Those who have been working remotely want to continue, with Buffer finding 97% of remote workers want to continue working remotely, at least some of the time, for the rest of their careers.
For those who are looking to switch to a remote job, how do you get started?
I’ve spent the last 7 years working remotely or flexibly in Tech. After on dozens of hiring processes as the hiring manager and applicant, these are the steps I would take today if I were looking for my first remote job.
DO YOUR RESEARCH
Start by getting to know the market. Learn what types of companies are hiring, what types of are open, and what types of skills are in demand. The objective is to end up with a clear target list of jobs to go after.
I would take a two-pronged approach for researching remote jobs:
1. Research open roles & required skills
2. Find companies you’d love to work for
ROLE / SKILL-BASED RESEARCH
First, dive into what positions are out there. The objective is to identify roles that catch you’re eye, and the skills related to those roles, even if you don’t have them yet.
Use some of the following websites:
Traditional sites:
1. Linkedin
2. Indeed
3. Company website
Remote work sites:
1. Remote.co
2. Flexjobs
3. AngelList – startup / remote jobs
Linkedin will be your main hub. For any job that is posted publicly (not all are), it will be posted on the company website and at least one, probably all, of these traditional sites. Many hiring managers will also promote openings on Linkedin.
If you already have an idea of what type of role you’re interested in, you’re at an advantage here.
Look up keywords related to the following:
– Specific types of positions you are looking for (e.g. marketing analyst, project manager, etc.)
– Departments you’d like to work in (e.g. sales, operations, customer support)
– Experience / skills you already have (e.g. English, project management, communication, analysis, etc.)
– Skills you are learning / want to learn (e.g. SQL, Python, google analytics)
If you have no idea where to start, start by researching in-demand remote jobs, along with entry-level analyst jobs.
Here are some great areas to break into a Tech/Sofware company:
– Customer Support
– Sales Development, Business Development (SDR, BDR)
– Sales (Account Executive, Account Manager)
– Project Manager
– Data Analyst
These are roles, particularly the entry-level ones, that might not require much in-field experience, and relevant skills can be learned via online courses.
During this analysis, take note of:
1. What jobs jumped out at you
2. Companies and/or industries that seem interesting
3. What skills did those jobs & company seek
COMPANY RESEARCH
The objective here is to create a list of target companies you’d love to work for, and see what types of positions they have open.
Again, if there are already certain companies you’ve heard great things about, products you love using, or industries that pique your interest, add them to the list right away.
Here is where Google is our best friend. Start with the following:
1. Companies hiring the most remote workers
2. Top remote companies to work for (example list)
3. Best companies to work for (not remote-only)
As you begin to create your list, Glassdoor is an amazing resource to dive deeper into the employee experience at each company.
For each of these companies, look into any openings on the company website and on Linkedin.
SET UP ALERTS
Now that you have a list of companies and jobs that you want to target, create Linkedin alerts for any new job openings at those companies or in those roles you’re targeting.
1. Go to Linkedin jobs
2. Set up a search by role keywords, company, experience level, and make sure to select the “Remote” or “Hybrid” filter
3. Once you run the search, select “Set Alert”
4. Manager your job alerts by going back to the jobs page and selcting “Job alerts” – set the frequency and notification settings of the alerts.
Now, you’ll now know as soon as new target roles open up.
NETWORK
This is where most people go wrong. They have target companies and roles in mind, prepare their resumes and start applying online right away. By all means, you can apply online, but the odds of even a screening interview are VERY low, particularly if you don’t have direct relevant experience.
In my experience, out of every 100 candidates who apply online only 2 or 3 would get to an initial interview with me as hiring manager. 98% don’t get to a screening interview.
To get hired, you need to stand out. The differentiator is networking.
Let’s say you’re looking for a marketing role and Amazon is one of your target companies.
Open up Linkedin and dive in with your existing network:
1. Within your existing network, is there anyone working in marketing?
2. Any connections working at Amazon? Or working in marketing at Amazon?
3. Anyone at Amazon or in an interesting marketing role who went to your university? Or in the same profession network or volunteer organization as you?
Existing connections and those from shared backgrounds or networks are the best place to start. Reach out to these folks to learn about their experiences and how they got to where they are. They also be able to introduce you to others who can help.
Next, search Linkedin for Amazon employees or alums who have jobs that jump out at you. Reach out to them to ask to pick their brains for 20 mins, either in person or virtually.
I like to start with people in my area, and like to use some variation of the following:
“Hi Sam, as an aspiring marketing professional, your experience at xxx in yyy jumped out at me. I’d love to pick your brain to learn more about your experiences. If you’re up for it, could I buy you a coffee next week and talk marketing?”
Some will accept, and many will respond with a counteroffer that’s even better. This approach got me a guided visit of Tottenham’s stadium and a one-hour sit down with their Head of Marketing. I couldn’t believe it.
For those outside of your area, the same general format could work, asking to pick their brain for a short period of time, usually 15-20 mins. Those 15-20 mins almost always end up being 30-45, and it’s much easier for someone to offer a stranger 15 mins to help than 30 mins or 1 hour.
In many cases, the hiring manager and/or recruiter will post about the role on Linkedin. This is an opportunity to pounce. First, check if you have any connections in common with that person. A warm intro is the best way to get your foot in the door. If not, reach out to both the hiring manager and recruiter via Linkedin direct message. Express your enthusiasm for the company and role, attach your resume / cover letter, and ask to connect to discuss the team and role. This got me an interview at a top software company without any direct connections (again… couldn’t believe it).
BUILD YOUR SKILLS
Researching, applying and networking will take time. During this process, focus on building skills that your target companies and jobs are working for. Job descriptions are your best friend; they will tell you exactly what companies skills hiring managers are looking for.
Go to Youtube, Udemy, Coursera, Linkedin Learning, etc. and start a relevant course right away. The more you can show a learning mindset, the more you will set yourself apart. Even if you don’t have experience in the field, showing you’re actively working on it will often be enough. Add any relevant certifications or ongoing coursework to your resume and Linkedin profile. Most positions have relevant skills that can be learned independently for free, show your enthusiasm for the role and jump in!
If you want to go one step further, build a project for the target company. For example, if you want to work for the data analytics team at Google, put together a sample project for that team. Find any publicly available data, make your own assumptions and sample data, and send your process, assumptions and findings in executive-ready format to HR, hiring manger, or anyone you can contact from that team or company. More on a great way to do this below.
RESOURCES
One of my favorite resources out there comes from Austin Belcak, who has some great, outside-the-box approaches to finding the job you want. Check out his post on landing a job without applying for great ideas to implement in your journey.
Other resources mentioned:
Remote job sites & resources:
– Remote.co
– Flexjobs
– AngelList
Remote data:
– Buffer 2022 State of Remote Work
– Owl Labs Remote Work Stats
– Owl Labs State of Remote Work 2021
Let me know your thoughts, questions, and own techniques you’ve tried in the comments below!
