5 Ways to Find a Fully Remote Role Right Now

In the US, 81% of people who have been working from home during COVID-19 say they want to continue a hybrid or remote work model when the pandemic ends, according to a 2021 State of Remote Work report by Owl Labs.

Are you among them? If so, there’s plenty of good news: a full quarter of all professional jobs in North America will be remote by the end of 2022, research from data scientists at Ladders shows. 

Still, that doesn’t mean you’ll automatically receive this benefit — not all employers are open to remote work arrangements. If you’re on the hunt for a role that allows you to work from home, here’s what to do. 

1. Show off your remote-work skills.

Package yourself correctly to show off your remote-work skills. Think about it from the perspective of the employer. If you were hiring, what would you want to see in an employee who won’t be working on-site? Self-starters are certainly attractive because hand-holding is practically impossible in this scenario. They will also want to see time management, technological proficiency, communication, and collaboration in your arsenal. Make sure you present these skills on your resume and in your cover letter.

2. Network.

Network on LinkedIn. Network during online events. Network in-person. This is an important step you should take no matter what kind of job you want, but it’s especially critical when you’re looking for a remote role because you need a way of getting your name out there and building trust with a prospective employer who may never meet you face to face — and having someone who can vouch for you will go a long way.

3. Try Fairygodboss’ job-search tool.

Have you taken a look at our job page? You can filter according to criteria like industry and location — including remote. This will allow you to separate roles that will require an in-person presence as opposed to those that are more flexible or fully remote.

4. Check out job boards and search tools.

There are plenty of job boards and job-search tools that specialize in fully remote or flexible positions. Try engines like:

• FlexJobs
• Hubstaff Talent
• JobsPresso
• JustRemote
• Remote.co
• WeWorkRemotely

5. Be wary of scams.

Unfortunately, there are many scams out there, so you need to be careful and have your guard up. Never give away sensitive personal information like your banking account number or social security number early on in the hiring process — this is usually only necessary later on if, for example, the company needs to run a background check or is setting up direct deposit. Moreover, you shouldn’t have to pay money during the application process. If you have any doubts, Google the company to see if others have been victims of scams there. You can try the Better Business Bureau, too.

In today’s world, there are many remote work opportunities. You just have to be smart about it and have a strategy in place for securing a position that allows you to reap the rewards of working from home.

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This article reflects the views of the author and not necessarily those of Fairygodboss.

Laura Berlinsky-Schine is a freelance writer and editor based in Brooklyn with her demigod/lab mix Hercules. She specializes in education, technology and career development. She also writes satire and humor, which has appeared in Slackjaw, Points in Case, Little Old Lady Comedy, Jane Austen’s Wastebasket, and Funny-ish. View her work and get in touch at: www.lauraberlinskyschine.com.

What’s your no. 1 piece of advice for someone who’s looking for a remote role right now? Share your answer in the comments to help other Fairygodboss members!