How can I land a remote work position? I get this question all the time from stay at home parents returning to paid work or working parents looking to pivot their careers. If you have ever asked yourself this question, then you have landed in the right place! There are many facets to this question. Let’s break it down together.
What sort of work would you like to do?
The first step towards deciding what you would like to do is to take stock of your skills. What experience/skills do you have? It could be from paid work or your unpaid volunteer experience. What are your interests and passions? If you have a hard time pinning down what lights you up for work, or you want to explore your options then reach out to a coach for support.
What are some remote work options?
Depending on your skills and interests there are lots of options.
If you love writing, then being a freelance copywriter for any number of businesses could be a great option. Copy writers produce website copy, newsletters, marketing e-mails, blogs, or scripts for videos in a way that speaks to an organization’s target customers.
If you love influencing others, then look into social media management for brands or marketing communications positions.
If you are highly organized, then project or product management positions would suit your skillset. Excellent well-organized virtual assistants are always in high demand.
If you like working with people, then coaching, customer success/service, sales and business development managers, or running afterschool activities for kids are options to consider.
If you love houses, then architecture firms, interior design firms, or real estate companies have work that can partly or completely be done remotely.
If you are highly analytical, then a career in research, data analysis, finance, accounting, insurance, or bookkeeping offer remote work positions.
If you are a techie, then software developers and UX designers (customer interactions on a website) positions are often remote.
This is not an exhaustive list, but a great place to start. The pandemic has opened the door for many businesses to consider remote work options where they were not as common place before. It’s up to you to prove that you have the skills and commitment to do the work.
If you are interested in any of these options, then evaluate your current skillset. Have you demonstrated the transferrable skills to get you where you need to go? If not, consider taking on some volunteer projects or a short course through Coursera, EdX, Alison, or General Assembly to build your skill set.
Where do you find this work?
There are several job search websites that post remote work positions. Upwork is a database of positions for freelancers and small businesses.
There are also sites geared specifically to moms like The Mom Project for positions within companies and Allobee for freelance work. In Houston, sign up for Parents Pivot’s job search membership.
How to land a remote work job?
Highlighting the value that you bring to an employer in your resume and interviews is key to landing any position. There are specific experiences that you need to include when applying for a remote work position. Bring stories of times where you have demonstrated working from home. If you have ever held a volunteer position, then it was likely performed remotely. Draw from that experience and emphasize your communication strategies and strengths.
Practice, practice, practice. Get help from a career coach to think through the value that you bring an employer and get tips on effectively communicating those in your resume and interviews. Working with a career coach can help you get the clarity and confidence that you need to land the remote job you have been looking for.
We wish you the best of luck!
Anna McKay has been a career transition and leadership development coach since 2008. She is the proud mama of two kind-hearted and strong willed girls! After years as an expat in China and the Philippines, Anna founded Parents Pivot to help stay-at-home parents return to paid work with strength and clarity and working parents find careers they love. She offers online workshops, in-person training, return to work programs, and 1x1 & group coaching. Sign up for The Ultimate Return to Work Checklist and reach out for a complimentary 30 minute exploratory session if you are interested in learning more about what career coaching can do for you. Anna is also a MentorMama on SocialMama.