Corner Office Anywhere

Whether you want to work from anywhere and everywhere, like me, or want to work from home, the first step is to land that remote work opportunity you’ve been eyeing. You may face tough competition, and need to make sure that your application addresses not just the skills needed for the job, but also the skills needed to succeed at being a remote employee. I’ve been hiring candidates to work remotely for ten years. Here are the things that I’m always looking out for in my hiring candidates to make sure they’ll be a good fit for our fully remote office:

Be explicit about the communication tools and tech you are familiar with

Remote work can add an extra layer of difficulty to remote work communications, so it’s a real help to managers if you are already up to speed with common collaboration and communication tools. It may seem obvious that workers should know how to use video-conferencing, chat, file-sharing, and project management software tools in this modern age, but many do not. Make it crystal clear in your resume under a ‘skills’ section or similar by literally listing the tools you’ve worked with before. Even if these are not the exact tools used by your potential employer, it will show that you have put in the time to learn about these tools and that you understand their value.

If you have depth of knowledge with a particular communication tool, make sure to highlight a related project. For example, if you built or maintained the shared guidelines for your previous job or came up with an automated way to notify your teammates about common tasks, that shows real value for a remote working environment, even if it isn’t necessarily central to your main role.

Use clear and concise written communications at all application stages

You will mainly communicate with your remote colleagues in written form, even more than you might in an in-person office. Use the application process to showcase your ability to get your point across quickly and professionally. You don’t need to be the next Hemingway, but use short, complete sentences. And for the love of Yoda, please spell check everything you send to a potential employer.

I also suggest using an informal tone. Outside of a very few old-fashioned industries and particular employers, you are better served by projecting casual friendliness. This a trend for all office workers, and especially important for a remote job application, as you may have fewer opportunities to convey that you’ll be a positive presence in the (virtual) office.

Show stellar initiative

Working remotely means that there is no one around you to notice the physical cues that you are having a tough time with something, or to spontaneously bump into and have a brainstorming session with. Great remote employees have the gumption to make things happen and to reach out about problems without being specifically asked. It can be hard to put yourself out there at work, but doing this without resentment comes naturally to the best remote employees.

You can and should highlight your outstanding initiative in your resume. However, the very best way you can convince your potential remote employer that you have this key skill is to show it. Some standard job-hunting skills come into play here, like highlighting your research of the company and interviewers, following up promptly with the hiring team, and making sure to ask thoughtful questions.

Go further by thinking about whether there is a way to go above and beyond in the hiring process. I especially love it when a candidate is able to tactfully offer some feedback on the hiring process while they are going through it. If you can come across as playing on the same team as your potential remote employer from the very beginning, it will make you stand out as a stellar candidate for a work from home position.

Anyone who has gumption knows what it is, and anyone who hasn’t can never know what it is. So there is no need of defining it.

Lucy Maud Montgomery

Highlight your ability to manage your own time

Be that person who gushes about their obsession with their planner or note-taking system. The ability to keep yourself on task, and to use your time wisely, is a prerequisite for any potential work from home employee. This doesn’t mean that you need to be a militant or flawless worker. In fact, if you can be honest with yourself and your potential employer about what tends to distract you, AND can articulate how you compensate for that day-to-day, that will show integrity and make you shine even brighter in your interviewer’s eyes. 

Don’t forget about communicating that productivity, either. Butts-in-seats is an illusion even if those seats are in a cubicle farm, but it is still a crutch that many managers are using even in a remote environment. Every boss is worried about their employee’s productivity. Even your potential peers will want to know that you’ll pull your weight. Try to get across in the application process how you typically broadcast what you’re getting done – and not getting done – to your colleagues. Accountability is key.

Consider the company or team’s location

Believe it or not, your hiring team will be considering where you work even if you are applying to a fully remote position. Maybe most of the team is in a single time zone, or is required to be available during certain core hours, or there will be budgetary concerns about flying you in from a distance for periodic in-person meetings. ‘Work from anywhere’ does not always mean ‘work whenever you want to’.

Be cautious about broadcasting your work from home location without knowing what the employer’s expectations are. You may consider leaving your home address off of your resume and application unless you know where the ‘home’ location is for the position. It precludes the hiring team from filling in the gap with assumptions about what might not work.

Please, please, do not lie to a potential employer. It is a terrible way to start a relationship. On the other hand, it is fair to evade a question or be selective with the truth if it is not relevant to the hiring process. Don’t volunteer information about your intended work location. Do be honest if you are directly asked a question about your work location, but be careful to only answer the actual question that is asked. Do not to be defensive about it, but let them ask follow up questions if they actually need them instead of assuming you owe them answers about your personal life.

If you’re planning to be a digital nomad like I am, questions about where you live can be even tougher. Even in casual conversation I usually first tell people where my original hometown is. If further pressed, I will mention the city I’m “based out of” even though I spend little time there and don’t maintain a home there. People reflexively ask these types of questions when getting to know a person, and they may have no deeper meaning. Try to steer the conversation away from this topic.

When and if you do need to reveal your location, make sure to hammer home (no pun intended) how you plan to make seamless communication a priority. Do this even if the job posting or the hiring team does not specify a required location. However, you may learn during your application process that your location does pose a potential problem to the employer. If this is the case, confront it head-on. Go for the gold and try to convince them otherwise, or to be open to their caveats and punt that issue until after there is an offer on the table. But understand that if there are geographic limitations involved, the job may not be for you.

Finding a remote job can be challenging, but you’ll set yourself up for success by following the five tips above. Don’t miss out on future updates and more helpful tips – subscribe to our newsletter today!