Landing a remote role sounds pretty desirable for most people. The fact that there is no more sitting in traffic and more flexibility in your work program is attractive enough.
One of the best things about remote jobs is that you are not limited by geography, meaning that you can extend your job search beyond your local job market.
So, if you are looking to expand your job opportunities or have a flexible career, you should consider adding remote work to your job search.
However, a remote job is not for everyone. It comes with its own set of unique challenges. First, you have to demonstrate that you are the best applicant for remote work and can work responsibly with no physical supervision.
In this guide, we will take a deep dive into how to find remote jobs, types of remote jobs, where to find remote jobs, and challenges associated with remote jobs. So, let’s get started.
What Exactly Is a Remote Job?
The foremost principle of remote jobs is empowering employees to work and live wherever they love. So, a remote job lets you work from where you are most comfortable.
That comfortable space could be your basement home office, a coffee cafe, a coworking space, the beach, or changing workspaces every month.
Is a Remote Job Right for You?
Before jumping on the remote jobs bandwagon, you should first find out if remote jobs are right for you. This requires a lot of self-reflection.
You need to find out if it will fit into your working style and lifestyle. Besides this, you should analyze the pros and cons of this flexible working style.
Pros of Remote Jobs
- Work on your schedule. With remote jobs, you get to set your own schedule. Whether you want to watch Netflix over lunch hour, you have full freedom.
- No commute: If you hate wasting your time in traffic and annoying rush-hour subway rides, then you should try remote jobs.
- Work-life balance: If you love spending time with your family, you will love remote jobs. Of course, you don’t want them to interfere with your workspace.
- Work from anywhere: flexibility is one of the biggest benefits of remote jobs. You can decide to work at home or become a digital nomad and work anywhere in the world.
- Less costly: There are expenses involved in commuting and buying lunch.
- Office stress and politics: With remote jobs, there is no one that comes to disrupt you at your desk. You will also avoid office drama and politics.
Cons of Remote Jobs
- Loneliness: One of the biggest disadvantages of remote working is loneliness. Working a full week in a secluded home can lead to loneliness.
- Limited social activities: Remote jobs do offer space for social interaction with colleagues. When office guys are going out for a happy hour, remote teams will be locked in their homes.
- Underworking: If you are lazy and lack self-discipline, you may end up underworking. Unless you love your job, productivity can drop in a remote workplace.
- Overworking: Depending on your personality and discipline, you may find it hard to separate home life from work life. It may result in a never-ending work day and burnout.
- No water cooler moments: Sometimes, creativity and innovation thrive in a team setting. Physical closeness with your colleagues creates better interpersonal communication and the exchange of ideas.
How to Be Successful with Remote Jobs
If you are transitioning from an office setting, you may already be thinking of an ideal workspace, organization, and working tools.
That’s okay, but they are not the only things that contribute to the success of your remote career. Here are some tips that will help you succeed as a remote worker:
- Don’t be afraid to seek help: Whether you are a seasoned remote worker or new in the field, you should not shy away from asking co-workers and other experts for advice.
- Adjust to a self-management mindset: You don’t expect to transfer all your workplace methodologies into a remote setting. You should focus more on embracing liberating, empowering, and self-disciplined sets of values.
- Put emphasis on your workspace: If you have been productive in a conventional open office setting, you will most likely enjoy the same or even higher productivity with your remote workspace. It is crucial to think of where you want to work daily and what it should look like. Ensure that it is free from distractions.
- Establish a routine with friends and family: Typically, when you drive to your workplace, it signals to family and friends that you are busy with work-related duties. This is a different scenario from remote working. Families and friends sometimes find it hard to establish boundaries. So, try having a conversation with your close people about your working time and free time.
- Experiment with different working environments: Working from home might be the obvious choice for many remote workers. But this might be socially draining sometimes. So, you should consider outdoor workspaces and coworking spaces.
- Don’t forget ergonomics: Whether you are working from your coworking space, home office, or anywhere else, always prioritize ergonomics. Pay attention to your posture and seating arrangement.
- Have the right working equipment: Working remotely gives you the opportunity to work in various environments. So, if you are just starting out, you may not have all the equipment suited for this flexibility. Nonetheless, you should consider investing in quality working equipment such as a laptop, standing desk, external keyboard and mouse, webcam, noise-canceling headphones, and ergonomic backpacks or cases.
Top Sites for Finding Remote Jobs
Most job boards like Indeed and LinkedIn usually don’t have a separate page for remote work. This situation forces people to settle for remote jobs and gigs.
However, things have changed in recent years. Today, there are several remote job boards. We will cover some of them in this section.
1. FlexJobs
FlexJobs is one of the best remote job boards out there. This site offers a huge collection of part-time, full-time, and hybrid jobs that offer a perfect way to test your way into remote working.
On this platform, companies can post jobs for free, but prospective applicants have to pay a monthly subscription to apply for jobs on the site.
The good thing about FlexJobs is that it offers jobs in a wide range of industries and companies.
Apart from the paid services, there are several free resources that potential remote job seekers can take advantage of.
Also Read,
2. JustRemote
Each month, there are hundreds of new applicants posted on this remote jobs board. One of the most powerful things about this site is its job search feature.
Which helps you secure remote positions across several career specialties, including writing, software engineering, design, marketing, project management, sales, social media management, business, customer service, HR, recruiting, SEO, and accounting.
This remote jobs platform is designed specifically for remote job seekers to discover vacant remote jobs from around the globe.
They recently introduced a paid job search feature called Power Search. This new addition allows you to subscribe to premium job listings and easily find relevant remote jobs that typically don’t get advertised.
This paid option costs $12 per month, which is a worthy investment if you are a serious job seeker.
3. AngelList
There are several people who have gotten jobs through this site. The good thing about it is that it is free, and several jobs are uploaded each day.
Unlike other remote job sites in this guide, AngelList is tailored for start-ups. So, if you prefer working with early-stage startups, AngelList is your job board. You can create and list your profile for free.
Another impressive thing about AngelList is that it is intuitive. If you are interested in interviews, you just click ‘yes, I’m interested’. You can also leave some notes for the recruiting managers.
If the hiring manager likes your profile, they will call you up for an interview, as there is no need for the cover letter.
Another good thing is that potential employers can see when you were last active. So, try to remain active on the site.
4. Remote.com
As the name suggests, this job board is tailored for remote workers. It has several remote jobs, which you can access for free.
You can opt for a $19 option if you want additional exposure. And if you want to get a glimpse of who advertises on the site, just click on the ‘Companies’ page.
Another good thing about Remote.com is that you can know the compensation in advance before you apply for a job.
5. HubstuffTalent
This site allows you to search for hourly freelance jobs, fixed-price offers, and full-time remote jobs. So, it can be a great option if you are looking to venture into freelance work.
So, with several vacant remote roles ranging from design to development to marketing to social media to customer service, there is something for every job seeker.Â
6. Remote.co
This job board is part of FlexJobs but offers new job listings not found in FlexJobs. What makes it stand out from the crowd is the number of resources available on the site.
They have a fantastic blog resource and an FAQ page tailored for remote employees. Besides this, the site adds several quality job listings daily.
7. Pangian
Pangian is one of the fastest-growing online platforms for finding remote jobs and connecting with fellow remote employees based in over 121 countries.
Their remote job board currently boasts thousands of openings from hundreds of companies. But its real magic is in the close-knit community of remote workers and chat forums where you can learn from each other.
8. WeWorkRemotely
This remote jobs board doesn’t charge you to list on the site. It is also easy to use. You can easily navigate several offers without hassle.
The only challenge with using this platform is that it tends to have slower application response times.
Closing Thoughts
Remote work is not a new concept per se, but it became almost ubiquitous after the pandemic. More and more companies and professionals have adopted a remote working culture.
They are able to enjoy more flexibility, reduce expenses, and have a better work-life balance. We hope that this guide has prepared you to make the right decision.
However, you should keep in mind that remote working is not for everyone. You should weigh in if you are ready to leave a more sociable office setting for more secluded remote working.
Also Read:
- 5 Best Remote Working Platforms for Software Engineers in 2024[Pros & Cons Reviewed]
- The 10 Best Remote Collaboration Tools
- The 11 Best Remote Work Tools For Remote Teams in 2024
- Working Nomads. All You Need To Know About The Remote Work Job Board in 2024
