Why is it so difficult to find a remote job? This is a common question asked by many working professionals worldwide. Most of us are already aware of the perks of finding a remote job. From no commutes and congested working spaces to less financial constraints, remote work offers a lot of benefits. Most importantly, the primary benefit of remote jobs is flexibility. It means you can start your day at your desired time, unlike a traditional office job. 

However, regardless of these benefits, not everyone can find a remote job easily. Yes, it may seem like a time consuming task because of which many job seekers get disheartened. However, what if we tell you that the demand for remote work is still high? 

All you need to do is prepare for the right opportunities to apply and interview for. In this article, we will have a look at the current state of the job market and see some important tips on how to find a remote job quickly.

Are Remote Jobs Really Declining?

The remote working model offers benefits to both employers and employees. For instance, employers can save their operational costs and hire talent across geographical boundaries. Similarly, employees can achieve work-life balance and improve their quality of living. 

Companies are more likely to support and adapt remote-working policies because they increase employee engagement and enhance productivity. According to a report by Indeed, the number of job openings with the keyword “remote” increased by 377% from March to December 2022. 

Another report by Workplace Global Analytics mentions that remote work will increase by 77% in the upcoming decade. The World Economic Forum’s The Rise of Global Digital Jobs Whitepaper finds that the number of global digital jobs that can be performed remotely will increase by 25% (approximately 92 million). 

Now, let’s compare the status of remote working opportunities before and after the pandemic. Before the pandemic, the share of remote opportunities available was 4%, and after the pandemic, it has risen to 15%. 

Reasons is it Hard to Find a Remote Job

Finding high-quality talent is no longer an issue for companies because they can find skilled talent with remote employees. Despite such opportunities, you may still not be able to find a good opportunity because of the following remote work challenges. 

• Lack of Preparation for Remote Work

Work from home may sound like a good option, but are you ready for this off-site shift? Sometimes, you may not have the required resources to do remote work. This involves having stable internet access, a working laptop, and other relevant items. 

If you do not have such resources, it will be difficult for you to secure a remote job. Companies always look for employees who can manage off-site requirements efficiently. Especially if you are applying from a remote job portal, it is crucial to have an efficient work setup, as you are competing against an enormous pool of applicants. So, it is very important to create a productive working space that will give you an edge over other candidates.

• No Prior Remote Work Experience

Once you have decided on platforms for applying for remote jobs, you can now submit your applications. However, since you are applying for remote work, a remote-specific resume would be more effective. Try to highlight your hybrid or remote experience if you can. This will help the recruiters understand that you are comfortable working on remote jobs.

Mention about remote work tools that you have used. Some of the popular tools include- Google Meet, Slack, Airtable, Zoom, Trello, Zapier, etc. Along with this, highlight your experiences working with projects that involved online communication. This will help the recruitment team understand about how well you will be able to perform in the given job role.

Also, if you do not have experience, try to convince the recruiter that you can perfectly adapt to remote work opportunities and complete all the tasks without utmost dedication. 

• High Competition

Most candidates prefer remote work opportunities because who wouldn’t want to save on expenses that can be consumed during an on-site job? Hence, remote work job opportunities attract a large number of applications, and you need to stand apart from the crowd to get the job offer. 

Hence, it is best to highlight your unique skills and showcase to the recruiters that your experience and talent can be useful for the company. 

• Lack of Skillset 

One of the cons of work from home opportunities is that there is no face-to-face interaction. If the recruiter thinks that you lack self-discipline, time management, and strong communication skills, there are chances that you might get rejected. 

Hence, when interviewing for a remote work opportunity, highlight the fact that you have all the necessary skills to complete the project and fulfil all the job responsibilities. 

Tips to Find the Right Work-From-Home Opportunity 

There is a chance that you might be annoyed about the state of the job market and may be trying to give up on your dream of finding remote jobs. Getting such opportunities may seem difficult if there is less availability of jobs but more demand in the market.

However, there is always a way out to find good jobs, especially when you consider yourself among the professionals with high-quality talent. The following tips can assist you in finding a remote job in the present context.

Tip 1. Be an Early Applicant

Many of the remote jobs are getting hundreds, if not thousands of applications. However, the good news is that a large portion of those applicants may not be a good fit for a particular role. You will have to be very proactive every time while applying for remote jobs.

It does not mean recruiters or companies won’t reach out to you if you apply for the job days later, but the sooner you apply, the better.

Tip 2. Go Beyond Application

Job markets are always competitive, which means you have to put in some extra effort. Sending a good resume is not enough to get a work-from-home opportunity. Customize your resume based on the individual role you are applying to. 

You can also use AI tools to tailor your resume to the respective position. Highlight your skills and achievements that demonstrate your effectiveness at remote work. Try to niche your job applications and apply subsequently. 

Tip 3. Maximize Your Time for Remote Job Hunting

Make a specific schedule to spend time on your remote job search activities. Make sure to take frequent breaks because you can’t be glued to your computer or phone 24/7. Be vigilant about what you want out of your remote job and employer. 

This involves understanding what the must-haves about the specific role, culture, benefits, etc are.  Focus on those remote jobs only and ignore the rest. Sign up for any free AI job search or resume tools to make sure you do not miss out on important updates. 

Narrow down the particular companies you would want to work for that hire remotely. Then, you can set up alerts for your specific job field at the same organizations. 

Tip 4. Preparation for the Job Interview

You are likely to go through a video interview if you are applying for a work from home job. That is why it is always a best practice to be familiar with the different aspects of the specific interview to ensure you are ready.

Choose the quietest place with no distractions when giving interviews online. Be sure to inform anyone in your home of the time and where you’ll be conducting your interview, so you do not face any problems. Ensure the lighting source is not behind your system, and your background does not distract you.

Sign in about 15 minutes before your interview to ensure that your video and audio are working in a proper manner. Look at your interviewer and listen to the interviewer throughout while smiling and being confident. 

Finding a Remote Job Just Became Easier with Hyqoo! 

The future of remote work promises an excellent work-life balance for professionals. Finding the right remote job is not difficult, especially when you have all the details of the specific job requirements. However, you must look for the right opportunities at the right time to take advantage of the work-from-home scenario. 

If you are still on the verge of finding a remote job, Hyqoo is the best place for you. We maintain a talent cloud platform that enables qualified professionals to get remote job opportunities from all around the world. Join Hyqoo and become a part of our pool of pre-vetted professionals and secure a remote job easily.