Be a Stand-Out Candidate: Remote Work Search
Remote work has seen a huge rise in popularity over the last few years. While it was already growing, the COVID-19 pandemic caused it to skyrocket out of necessity. However, many people are still working remotely thanks to the benefits it brings. For employers, remote work means reduced overhead, greater productivity, and happier workers. For employees, it allows for greater flexibility and the opportunity for a healthier work-life balance.
But, the popularity of remote work has caused the job market to become somewhat “saturated” with potential candidates. Even if you have experience and skill, you might have a hard time standing out if you don’t take a few extra steps.
So, what can you do to get ahead in a candidate pool that seems to be ever-growing? How can you be the candidate a potential employer looks at and wants to interview right away? Let’s cover a few effective and helpful tips that can make your remote work job search more successful.
Understand Common Hiring Practices
More companies are hiring remote workers across the globe. Not only is it cost-effective for businesses, but it allows them to pull candidates from a larger talent pool, so they can ensure they’re getting the best people for each role. You might be that person for a specific job, but it’s important to understand the hiring processes of companies doing a lot of remote work.
For example, some companies practice cluster hiring, where they recruit several remote workers from one specific area of the country. Some of the benefits of this practice for businesses include:
- Increased diversity
- Greater inclusivity
- Boosted collaboration
- Better connection and communication
Take a look at companies that might be looking for employees in your area. By showcasing where you’re from and how close you are to the “cluster” you’re looking for, you could stand out and become a part of a smaller pond of candidates, rather than competing against an entire ocean of prospective recruits.
Leverage Remote Skills
Once you have an idea of what a company is looking for and how they’re hiring, it’s time to leverage your skills to fit the needs of a business that’s going remote. The skills you’ve built that are necessary for a specific role will always be important. However, leveraging skills that will help you stand out as a remote employee is just as necessary if you want to be desirable. Some of those skills include:
- Working independently
- Maintaining productivity
- Strong communication
- Time management
Including those things in your resume and cover letter will likely cause an employer to give you a second look. It can also help if you have some of the current in-demand skillsets for landing a remote job. Things like marketing, web design, HR skills, finance, and customer support are all trending right now in the remote world. While you don’t need to be an expert in those areas, you might consider capitalizing on those skills if you’re having trouble standing out from the crowd.
Foster Strong Connections
One of the greatest benefits of remote work can also be a potential drawback, depending on the people involved. We’ve seen great advancements in technology over the last several years. That’s what has made remote work possible for so many people. In fact, technology has become a great equalizer in recent years, allowing businesses to level the playing field for disadvantaged and underrepresented groups. That’s great for employers as it allows them to choose from a more diverse group of candidates, but it also means more competition for recruits.
The advancements in technology haven’t just made remote work more accessible for everyone. They’ve also made it easier for people to stay connected. However, some remote employees have a hard time feeling like they “belong” if they’re not getting enough human interaction.
You want to find a healthy balance that works for you from the start. As you’re trying to network throughout your job search, don’t be afraid to reach out to people and start conversations. If you get selected for an interview, prepare yourself for a video chat or phone call. Get comfortable using different modes of communication to connect with people, because you might never actually meet them face to face.
By showing that you’re comfortable using technology to communicate (and showing that you can use it well), you’re more likely to stand out to a potential employer. No matter where people are working, strong communication in the workplace is essential. When you understand how to use technology to your advantage and know how to communicate across multiple channels, an employer will not only see you as a great team player, but a potential leader in the future.
The rise of remote work is a good thing, but you’ll have to reach a little further to stand out as a candidate than you would have five years ago. Thankfully, with a few extra steps, you can prove to any potential employer that you’re the right person for the job, and stand out in your hiring pool no matter how many people you’re competing against.
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Content Contributor:
Ainsley Lawrence is a freelance writer from the Pacific Northwest. She is interested in better living through technology and education. She loves traveling to beautiful places and is frequently lost in a good book.
