Set Yourself up for Success: How to Land Your Dream Remote Job

It’s clear remote jobs come with plenty of perks. Workday flexibility is one, while a greater ability to find the right balance between your professional and personal lives is another. Then there are those considerable cost savings with no need to commute, a very attractive thing in these current economic times.

As such, it’s no surprise that remote jobs have soared in popularity in recent years. Mid-2023 saw 12.6%  of Australian job postings being remote roles, a significant rise from 4.4% prior to the pandemic. Industries with the highest share of remote jobs postings are insurance, consulting and strategy, information and communication technology, marketing and communications, and software development.

If you’re like 1 in 3 Australians keen to work fully remotely, what you’ll find here is a comprehensive guide to securing remote opportunities, including reasons to go remote, whether remote work is right for you, the different types of remote jobs, plus how to ace the job application and interview process.

Why go remote?

Remote work is alluring for many reasons. It offers unparalleled flexibility, allowing you to design your workday according to your preferences, energy levels and personal commitments. Being able to personalise your work environment in this way, not to mention fewer in-person distractions, often results in greater levels of productivity. This is beneficial both for you and your boss.

Then there’s the cost savings – on transport, meals and office attire. Every cent saved is important in these financially difficult times.

While saving commuting costs is wonderful, it also offers significant benefits for your mental health. Depending on where you work, the daily stress of dealing with traffic or public transport can take its toll. Remote work addresses this problem by giving you time back, allowing you to carve out a better work-life balance.

Finally, remote work can give you access to a wider range of job opportunities, some of them even global. This exponentially expands your career prospects, whilst giving you important exposure to diverse cultures and experiences.

Is remote work right for you?

While remote work offers numerous benefits, it’s essential to assess whether it aligns with your preferences, work style and personal circumstances for it to be a success. Here are some factors to consider:

• Self-motivation: Remote work requires a higher level of self-discipline and motivation to stay focused and productive without direct supervision.
• Communication and problem solving skills: Effective communication is crucial in a remote setting, as interactions with colleagues and supervisors are all done virtually. You also need to be able to problem solve and make tough calls without support at times, especially if your colleagues are in a different time zone.
• Tech savviness: Being comfortable with technology is an essential when working remotely. You’ll be reliant on digital tools for communication, collaboration and task management.
• Home environment: Consider whether your home is conducive to remote work. Do you have minimal distractions and a place you can work in ergonomic comfort?
• Work-life balance: At times, working at home can blur the lines between your personal and professional life. Reflect on whether this suits you, as well as if you have strategies you can implement to separate the two without it mentally impacting you.
• On a similar note, remote work can get lonely at times as you miss out on many impromptu chances to connect with colleagues. It’s good to make sure you have ample opportunities to keep up your social connections outside of work.

Understanding remote work definitions

Now that you’ve decided that remote work is right for you, let’s explore the different work from home terms you’ll encounter in your job search.

Fully remote jobs are sometimes referred to as virtual jobs, online jobs or as telecommuting. These are positions where you’ll rely entirely on digital tools and platforms to carry out your tasks.

Flexible jobs are similar, giving you the freedom to choose your hours and work location. Note that some may require you to engage in hybrid work – where employees have the flexibility to work both remotely and in a traditional office environment.

You may also come across the term ‘distributed workforce’. This means the company has employees spread across different geographic locations, often working remotely.

Landing a remote role

To stand out, you need to be able to showcase your suitability for remote work. A tailored resume and nailing the interview are of course crucial for success.

Ensure your resume stands out for remote job applications

It’s common for recruiters to use automated software to scan job applications. If yours isn’t customised to the remote role you’re applying for, you risk it being rejected before it even reaches human hands.

To begin, this general guide gives you a step-by-step process for creating a comprehensive resume.  Once completed, you should optimise it for the remote roles you’re interested in. Here’s how:

1.    Tweak your objective statement

This snapshot of your professional identity is the first thing hiring managers see, so it’s important to make the best impression. Equally important is to clearly state you’re looking for remote work. Feel free to note down specifics, such as being open to hybrid or fully remote work environments. Be sure to include your desire for remote work in your cover letter as well, further explaining why you’re interested in this type of work as well as the company and specific position you’re applying for.

2.    Hone in on relevant remote skills

Highlight your remote work readiness by showcasing your communication, time management, self-sufficiency and adaptability skills. Aim to include work accomplishments that illustrate these abilities, along with your honesty and trustworthiness. If possible, use quantifiable metrics in these examples, ones that demonstrate the impact you’ve made, regardless of whether they were remote or in-office.

3.    Highlight any previous remote positions

If you’ve previously worked remotely or in a hybrid environment, emphasise this. What notable achievements did you make – did you improve workflows or processes, spearhead virtual team-building initiatives or implement remote training programs?

Include a section explaining your experience with remote technology, such as platforms and collaboration tools (Zoom, Google Drive, Microsoft Teams, Slack etc.). If you want, you can mention your ability to learn new technologies quickly, as well as any hardware or software you have that might be relevant to the position.

Interviewing For Remote Job Success

So your remote job applications have been successful and you’ve landed a few interviews. There’s a strong chance your initial interview will be AI-led, or an on-demand/virtual interview. Sounds tricky? It needn’t be as long as you understand the format, any potential challenges, and are well prepared to answer the questions. Here are some of the most commonly asked remote job interview questions, with advice to help you prep:

1.    Have you worked remotely before?

If the answer is yes, highlight your successes and discuss why working remotely suits your work style.

If the answer is no, you can still pinpoint your strengths and apply them to a remote context. For instance, offer up relevant anecdotes about times you’ve worked across time zones, managed a fluctuating schedule, or had to act quickly in the face of change.

2.    Which collaboration tools have you used?

Showcase your adaptability to various platforms and emphasise your ability to quickly learn new technologies. Mention specific instances where you’ve used tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, or Zoom to streamline communication and enhance teamwork in both remote and traditional settings.

3.    How would you rate your communication skills?

Aim to provide a balanced evaluation of your communication style by acknowledging your strengths and demonstrating a willingness to grow and adapt.

4.    How do you stay organised?

Discuss the tools you use to stay on top of deadlines and priorities, such as task management apps, calendars and project tracking software. Emphasise your ability to maintain clear communication channels and effectively manage tasks independently, especially in a remote work environment.

5.    Why do you want to work from home?

Focus on the benefits of remote work, such as increased productivity, flexibility and improved work-life balance. Discuss how remote work aligns with your personal preferences and allows you to optimise your work day, while maintaining a comfortable and conducive work environment.

Further remote job support

Securing a remote job requires a strategic approach, from crafting a standout resume to mastering the virtual interview. By understanding the nuances of remote work and adapting your job application process to suit, you can unlock a world of exciting remote career possibilities, ones that will give you greater flexibility, autonomy and fulfilment.

At Adecco, we have decades of experience helping candidates like yourself find a new role that is properly aligned with their interests and career aspirations. Working across 60 countries and spanning 12 key specialisations means we have an ever-changing rotation of new roles, many of them either fully remote or hybrid. Please connect with one of our specialists to find out more.