The luxury of working from home is turning into something workers expect from their employers. A study conducted by the Boston Consulting Group reveals that 89% of people expect to be able to work from home. The same report shows that nearly 50% of Filipinos prefer going completely remote.

It’s hard to find a company that allows you to work from bed when you come down with a cold though. It’s even trickier to find a role that enables you to work remotely 100% of the time. In other words, searching for remote jobs is challenging and frustrating.

Despite the difficulty, working remotely remains a great solution when the office is an undesirable location or when you’re travelling for an undetermined amount of time. Below, we outline tips to find and land a virtual role.

Questions to ask before searching

As excited you might be to work from home, you have to plan for it. Going in unprepared may lead you to send an application that’s a bad fit for the position thereby ruining your opportunity. Consider the following questions first:

“Do I want to work remotely all the time?”

Consider whether you want a full-time position with set working hours or a flexible role where you decide your own schedule. Some companies allow you to work as you please as long as you use a time management tool while others require you to login at certain times.

“Do I prefer freelance or full-time work?”

Ask yourself if you want to do 40 hours a week or more for the long term. If you’d like to work less than that, look for a freelance gig instead. Many contract jobs let you do a few hours at once then you get paid according to your output.

“What kind of position do I want?”

You may have a wide range of skills but you have to figure out what you want to do more specifically. Once you’ve decided, come up with a list of keywords. The more specific your search terms are, the easier it will be to find positions to apply for.

“Do I need additional training?”

There are plenty of resources online if you want to develop your skills for the job you’re aiming for. Skillshare has a large selection of courses though you have to go premium for the more advanced classes. YouTube is also a good place for learning and their videos come free.

“Do I need employee benefits?”

Not all employers offer benefits to their employees, especially those who are working offshore. If you’re self-employed, it’s more common to arrange for your pension and healthcare on your own. Making benefits a must-have is going to limit your choices so think about it carefully.

“Is my resume ready?”

Make sure your CV includes experience related to the positions you’re applying for. Ideally, you must create different versions of your resume for each position you want. Don’t forget to tailor your cover letter to the client rather than send a template.

“Are my documents organized?”

Create a folder to hold the digital copies of all of your important documents, such as your resume, cover letter, employment certificate, and portfolio. When possible, upload these on the cloud so you may access them anywhere as long as there is internet.

How to search for remote jobs

Now that you’ve answered the questions above, it’s time to proceed with the actual hunt for WFH jobs. Here’s how to make your search more effective:

1 – Broaden your network

It’s all in who you know so tap your network to find job vacancies. However, contact only people you’ve chatted, emailed, or connected with before. Avoid wasting your time on those who don’t know you at all as you won’t get a positive response for your efforts.

In crafting a message, try asking about their business or continuing a previous discussion. Then, talk about how you might be of service to their company but keep it short. Also, make it easy for them to refer you in case they’re not hiring at the moment.

2 – Tap hidden positions

Many businesses use online dashboards like Zoho Recruit to capture applicant information and handle applications. The problem is that none of these platforms allow you to search for WFH jobs on their sites. You’ll have to use Google functions to do that.

For example, the query “site:zoho.com content writer” lets you search the Zoho website for pages that contain the key phrase ‘content writer’. Filter the results using the Tools option and check back on a regular basis. Bookmark these searches for easy access in the future.

3 – Try cold emailing

Instead of waiting for opportunities to find you, it pays to take the initiative sometimes. Begin by identifying the kind of company your skills are most suitable for. Next, find a directory that lists businesses that are looking for remote professionals.

What follows is creating a pitch that is tailored to the recipient. You want it to sound personal while convincing that you make a great hire. Be sure to include links to your social media profiles and online portfolio, if you have one.

4 – Be the first

Recruitment is a long process so employers sometimes hire the first candidates to save time. When they don’t, it’s mainly because they aren’t convinced that any of the early applicants are a good fit. Thus, you want to be one of the first to send in your application.

Aim to leave a good first impression and show that you’re perfect for the role before anyone else does. Put a lot of care into your cover letter and be proactive with connecting to them on social media. Describe how you’ll bring results while remaining respectful.

5 – Keep yourself organized

It’s easy to get lost or overwhelmed when hunting for remote jobs. If you want to stay on top of your search, treat the whole process as a project. This means breaking it up into smaller tasks and making detailed checklists to ensure you complete all the necessary steps.

Set reminders for yourself for regular tasks, such as checking job boards or sending follow-up emails. Use tools like Trello or Asana if you want to take your productivity to the next level. These give you a realistic overview of your opportunities and let you prioritize your time.

Other tips for remote job hunting

• Update your LinkedIn profile by indicating the position you’re looking for on your headline.
• Track the answers you’ve given to creative questions so you know how to answer identical queries.
• Research the roles you’re interested in, including the average salary and common responsibilities
• Visit the corporate websites of prospective employers to get a better idea about their culture.
• Sign up for remote working website so businesses know that you’re available for a virtual position.

We know where remote jobs are

While technology makes it convenient for teams to collaborate online, it’s still challenging to find remote work. The number of people who want to work from home continues to grow so there’s plenty of competition. Getting your application to stand out is easier said than done.

The good news is that we at Remote Workmate make it simple for you to find remote jobs. We connect with businesses from around the world that are looking for virtual professionals like you. Not only do we give you access to opportunities but we’ll guide you through every step.