Today, there is a rapid increase in the number of remote workers worldwide. Just in the United States, according to Simovic (2021), more than 4.3 million people work remotely. This amounts to 3.2% of the entire workforce.
On a larger scale, Steward (2021) reported that 16% of companies are operating fully remote globally. We may say that this is a small percentage but this number just proves how much the work setup has grown and evolved through the years.
The disruptions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic have pushed a lot of workers to shift from the physical office to the digital workspace. Workers are certainly spending more time off-site than ever before. Various industries not only have seen the potential of remote work to be the sole roadway for continued operations in these challenging times; they are also looking at implementing it post-pandemic.
Upwork (2021), a leading freelancing platform that unites companies with those looking for a shot at remote work, predicts that by 2028, 73% of all the workforce’s departments will have telecommuters. Such did not just transpire due to great demand but also because of the advantages this work setup provides for both the employer and the employee— lesser overheads in electric consumption, reduced carbon footprints, feasible work-life balance, incomparable experience, flexible work schedules, and strategically pandemic-responsive.
These things make up for the reasons why a remote job has become a work preference for many. But, how do we transition ourselves from the typical nine to five offices to the gig workspace with no experience? Read away.
5 Tips To Help You Land A Remote Job
1. Do a self-assessment.
You might not have extensive work experience in this industry but you may have the makings of a responsible remote worker. Skills deemed important and required include being a self-starter, disciplined, accountable, and analytical. As you will have to work asynchronously, your leaders will not keep a special eye on you and therefore you must function and deliver without always getting told what to do.
Despite having colleagues who work in different time zones and schedule flexibility, you still have to be punctual with the time you committed to the role. Effective communication skills are also essential, this is crucial for telecommuting since it is not like your usual office where you can verbally express yourself right away. You will have to put everything into writing and send it via your work chat platform.
2. Find the job you think you can commit to.
Having the rudimentary skillset, you can now check which remote job is suitable for you and your personality. Yes, you should base your choice on your personality. The job needs to be a preference close to your heart.
A virtual assistant job might be best for organized newbies, fast encoders can start with a data entry role, the tech-savvy might just be like the developers in Mexico, those who love socials can kick off by being a social media manager, while the creative ones will just find content writing a piece of cake. Working remotely requires motivation and willpower — you do not want to work be working for something in your solitude, without anyone to talk to.
3. Make your resumé responsive to the needs of the employer.
Aside from checking whether you have the proper equipment (laptop and internet connection) to perform the tasks, you must now craft your resumé. You want your resume to carefully enumerate and in detail explain the skills and any job experience you have accumulated over the years.
In some way, your past experience may be relevant but be sure to know enough so you can respond when you are asked to elaborate. Perhaps you being a member of the student council back in college has helped you sharpen your problem-solving skills and customer service. If you have no physical or remote work experience, capitalize on your character, attitude, skills, and traits — you are free to explain how these can be an advantage for you and how you can put them to use in your prospective workplace.
4. Create an online presence on professional social platforms.
Starting in the digital world requires you to have an online presence. Luckily, it is free to create your own profile on one of these primary professional networking sites: LinkedIn, Plaxo, Quora, Viadeo, and Upwork.
LinkedIn is ideal and highlights your qualifications and work experience. As you go from one remote job to another, you have to update your profile from time to time. Through this platform, you can communicate with businesses, headhunters, and recruiters directly. You may also search for specific jobs you are interested in and may submit an application directly.
5. Hopscotch on job boards.
Job boards have a plethora of job vacancies and listings updated every day. ROCS Grad Staffing has provided both physical and remote employees to work on short or long-term positions, project-based, and temporary workers for over 400 great companies and organizations.
UpWork, CareerBuilder, Nexxt, and Indeed are popular and reliable job boards too. There, you can create your profile and easily use the platform to explore many different opportunities.
One may think that finding a remote job without any relevant experience is difficult, but the reality is that opportunities do not come by themselves, you need to find them. In the digital world, the possibilities are endless — though you have to trust the process and be patient. Good luck!
Check out:Â 7 Soft Skills Every Entrepreneur Must Have To Survive In The Business World
