Ashley Stahl* has advice for the increasing number of people who were initially forced to work from home during the pandemic and now never want to return to the office.
The Work-From-Home Outlook for 2022 and beyond found that about 30 per cent of jobs will be hybrid and 15 per cent will be fully remote.
The report is a culmination of surveys and research conducted through the Instituto Technológico Autónomo de México, Stanford University, and the University of Chicago.
Couple that with a recent Pew Research study that found nine-to-17 per cent of workers moved away from where their main office was located during the pandemic.
Remote work isn’t going away, and more and more employees are preferring to work from home.
So, how do you find and secure a remote position?
Experts at FlexJobs, a job search site dedicated to flexible and remote opportunities, agree on 11 common missteps that can derail your remote job search.
However, as a career coach, I boil this down to three ‘musts’ when applying for remote work.
Begin your search with research: Not all organisations will be keen to hire remote workers.
Create a list within your field of employers that are remote-friendly and begin your search within a three-hour travelling time of your home.
This is because FlexJobs found that 95 per cent of remote postings included a location requirement — even when a position was 100 per cent remote.
Create a resume targeted towards remote work: The resume and cover letter serve as your formal introduction to the organisation.
Show your future employer you have the specific skills to handle remote work, including organisational and time-management skills.
Highlight how you use problem-solving and communication or other soft skills in remote environments.
Remember, remote work requires a fair amount of tech savvy to handle minor issues.
As a remote worker, you are your own tech support, especially when in a bind.
If you can show potential employers you can handle a tech crisis mid-meeting with a big fish, you’ll score some brownie points.
Reach out to your network: More than 85 per cent of all jobs are filled through networking.
Ask your network about remote work opportunities they are aware of that meet your requirements.
Conduct informational interviews with other professionals or managers at organisations you’re interested in pursuing.
Use sites like LinkedIn to find recruiters and HR staff responsible for filling vacancies and get to know them.
Ask questions about the organisation and what vacancies they’re looking to fill.
Don’t forget to say “thank you”.
Thanking your interviewer is an important part of the interview process.
It gives you the opportunity to show you were listening, you’re grateful for their time, and to answer/resolve any issues they have with your experience or qualifications that arose during the interview.
*Ashley Stahl is a career coach, keynote speaker, podcast host and author. In a previous life she was award-winning counter-terrorism professional. She can be contacted at ashleystahl.com.
This article first appeared at ashleystahl.com.
