The pandemic has given many people a chance to work remotely. Perhaps, you have seen your friends or relatives working remotely and wondered how you could join them with no experience or remote working skills.
We are here to give you hope because it's possible to get a remote job with little or no experience.
Studies show that employee engagement and productivity have remained high or improved due to working from home. As a result, many employers have embraced the remote working model, which is flexible and promises excellent results.
So this is an excellent time to take advantage of the new trend and secure the job of your dreams. We will show you how to get a remote job with no experience in seven simple steps.
Read on.
1. Assess Your Skills to Know What You Have, And What You Lack
If you are keen on job advertisements, you have noticed that the employers list many must-have skills and experience. You can easily get intimidated when you don't have the skills listed.
However, no one can have all the traits needed. Employers only list those traits to get candidates with the most must-haves.
So don't get intimidated.
Go through many job advertisements for the position you are interested in. For instance, if you need to apply for a remote software development position, check the requirements and list them down.
When you go through three to four ads for the same position, you will get an idea of the needed traits. List them all and start ticking what you have and what you don't.
Vital skills that you should have as a remote worker include:
- Strong communications skills
- Software knowhow skills - mainly using work collaboration tools
- Time management skills
Move to the next step.
2. Connect Your Skills to the Job Position of Your Interest
Your goal is to show your employer that you meet most of the required skills/traits. And since you may not meet all of them, you should prove that you are capable by capitalizing on what you already have as you work on improving the skills you don't have.
For instance, if you once led a software development team, a general phrase like 'I lead a team' would be too generic. Be more specific and mention something like 'I led a team of 20 people and increased the production rate by 50% in 2020.'
Specific statements show employers that you are competent and can increase your chances of getting a job.
3. Familiarize Yourself with Remote Working Tools
Remote employees don't work in the office - but they should keep in touch always. As such, you should be familiar with both the project management tools and communication tools that remote employees use. Examples of common tools that you may need to know about include:
- Note-taking apps such as Microsoft OneNote, Notion, Coda and Google Docs
- Video conferencing apps such as Microsoft Teams and Google Meet
- Project management & communication tools like Slack, Discord, Asana, Click Up and Trello
- Security tools to protect your data. Examples are Bitwarden which is a free tool available for Mac, Windows, iOS, Chrome, Safari, and almost everything
Note: the tools are many, and you may not know each of them. However, you should know how they are used, so you don't have a hard time once you get the job.
4. Update Your Job Application Documents
Now that you know the skills needed and the common remote tools, your next step is to update your job application documents. These documents include:
Resume
A resume is a written document that shows your qualifications, work experiences, and other strengths. Your resume should clearly highlight accomplishments and technical skills.
Since many other people are applying for the same remote job, your resume should be perfect. It should be:
- Concise but detailed
- Visually appealing
Cover Letter
A cover letter allows you to get more personal when applying for the job. You should tell the employer why you are fit for the job and what you will achieve given the opportunity. The right cover letter should be formal, concise, and enjoyable to read.
Note: you may also showcase your personal projects, freelance works (if any) or tell your story. You can build a website with no-code tools like Webflow or Wix if you don't know how to code. If you are a marketer, having some knowledge of tools like Webflow really helps. When you highlight your skills, you will attract the firms willing to work despite the skills you lack.
As you improve your skills with time, you should also update your portfolio. An updated portfolio shows employers that you are tech-savvy; meaning that you can be trusted for a remote job which requires minimal supervision.
5. Set Your Profile on Social Platforms
Now that you have a professional cover letter and resume, you can go ahead and upload them on social platforms.
Examples of such platforms include Twitter and LinkedIn. Build a profile on Twitter, share and connect with others in the same industry. Growing a Twitter profile gives you a competitive advantage.
LinkedIn is a networking platform that connects you to serious employers. All you need to do is create a good profile and add your photo, qualifications, skills, and contacts.
6. Apply For Jobs on Remote Job Sites
Before applying for a job, check the company website. Check their about page, learn about the company and people behind it. Check their company culture, what they do and see if you are interested in it.
There are hundreds of job portals and websites for remote job opportunities. Every portal has a search option to enter a keyword and get the results. The keyword should be the job you need. For instance, you can type something like "software developer" and see the results for related job opportunities.
7. Prepare For the Interview/ Job
The interview can either be virtual or physical. Be prepared. If it's physical, be there in time. However, most firms will ask for a virtual interview because, after all, you will be working remotely.
Here are a few tips to perfect your virtual interview:
- Test your technology - 30 minutes before the interview, confirm that you have a stable internet network and that your phones, computer, cameras, and other accessories are all working.
- Limit distractions - sit in a quiet place.
- Research about the company and recruiters to gain more knowledge and increase your confidence when answering company-related questions.
When the interview is done, follow up.
Apply to 30-50+ jobs, getting a remote job is hard and you will be competing with people from all over the world. Also, a lot of companies might take long to give you any response; some take weeks to months to get back so have patience.
Are you ready to start working remotely? Find remote jobs on: https://remote3.co/web3-jobs.
