Given the benefits of working from home, more and more Americans are taking to remote work. According to a 2023 HR survey, many employees feel locating another job will be quite challenging. Specifically, 37% of these individuals reported that finding a new job would be either “somewhat” or “very” hard. But don’t let that number discourage you.
In the current job market, there are many opportunities for remote jobs. In fact, 65% of our nation’s workforce is leaning into remote jobs today and employers are searching for candidates with the specific skillsets necessary to succeed in this new fully virtual environment.
Some people who want to work remotely might need more preparation to face the obstacles that come with working from home. It’s not just about having relevant experience and abilities related to the job tasks; applicants need to possess certain skills in order to succeed as a remote worker.
To make your resume stand out from the others, you’ll want to include all the essential remote work skills that will make you a desirable candidate. Here are 5 essential skills you should add to your resume to find a remote job:
1. Digital communication skills
Having an aptitude for digital communication is increasingly important in the modern workplace. It goes beyond simply being able to talk with others – it means managing emails efficiently and responding quickly and accurately to avoid misinterpretation.
Additionally, digital communication involves being comfortable with organizing and managing video calls and virtual meetings, creating and reading reports that share key data points with those who need them, and keeping in touch with team members or clients in a timely manner, both in a synchronous and asynchronous environment.
Consequently, you’ll need to show exactly how you’re proficient in digital communication by specifying tools and platforms you’re familiar with. You can write in your resume that you’re experienced in digital communication and demonstrate this by including examples of how you’ve used it on the job, like in the following:
- “Managed an average of 3 daily virtual meetings with distributed teams, ensuring clear communication and collaboration.”
- “Created easy-to-understand reports that were shared digitally with 30+ stakeholders, resulting in better decision-making.”
- “Successfully communicated with customers and addressed complaints via email and video chat, leading to a 22% increase in customer satisfaction ratings.”
2. Time management
Time management is critical in any job but especially so when working remotely. It can be difficult to stay on track and meet deadlines when you’re working in a different location and even a different time zone from the rest of your team or employer. You’ll need to show you have the self-discipline to manage your time efficiently and get things done without being prompted to.
You can demonstrate your time management skills by providing examples of successfully organizing tasks, setting goals for yourself, and meeting deadlines even when working independently. This shows that you can prioritize tasks, manage multiple projects at once, and stay focused even while multitasking.
3. Social networking
The ability to use and control social networks has always been a sought-after professional skill, but its demand has skyrocketed in recent years.
If you have experience in managing social networks for businesses or personal accounts, then list skills such as “social media management,” “social networking,” and “online community building” on your resume. Don’t forget to include concrete examples of how you’ve applied these skills, which platforms you’ve worked with, and the results you’ve achieved on a given timeline.
Additionally, you can prove that you’re proficient in this area by listing any relevant courses you’ve taken, certifications you possess, or any related projects that have been successful, even if it’s managing a personal project like a YouTube channel.
When writing about your social networking capabilities in your resume and cover letter, make sure to include links to any relevant accounts and pages so potential employers can get a better idea of what kind of work you’re capable of by experiencing it directly.
4. Tech skills
If you search on LinkedIn or any other job boards, most companies that offer remote jobs require some technical skills such as coding, software engineering, data science, and web development, among others. To get a good idea of top tech skills to include on your resume, look into which skills some of the best remote companies to work for, like Zapier or Atlassian, are seeking out.
To be in the running for these jobs, you must have a solid understanding of the technologies used by these companies. Throughout your resume, you’ll want to show specifically how you’re proficient by providing details and examples.
You can also highlight any relevant courses or certifications you’ve taken to give your tech skills more weight, especially if you don’t have any formal education or extensive practical experience. Even if they don’t directly relate to the job, including them on your resume shows your adaptability to potential employers. In fact, given how quickly technology is developing, employees’ ability to quickly learn new software and systems is a highly sought-after skill.
If you’re very skilled when it comes to tech and you have a portfolio of projects, websites, or applications you’ve built, you can differentiate yourself from other applicants by using a resume template that stands out that includes a portfolio section to showcase your best work.
5. Research skills
Finally, when working remotely, research skills are essential. You must be able to effectively search for information online and quickly find the answers you need in order to do your job well, especially when you’re working autonomously.
Employers want to hire people they can trust to get the job done even if they’re out of the office. If you’re a student or a fresh grad, you can list any relevant research projects that you’ve completed or courses that you’ve taken on your resume, like in the following:
- “Successfully conducted extensive research into [X] over a period of 6 months.”
- “Successfully completed an independent study of [Y] using [A] methodology with 300+ participants.”
Market yourself for a remote job correctly
When looking for remote positions, listing essential skills isn’t enough. To make sure you’re attracting the remote positions that fit you, make it clear in your job application and resume where you’re located. Many remote positions have certain location requirements and restrictions, whether it’s by state, by country, or by timezone.
Depending on the job, you can list your address, leave it out, or state “remote” or “location independent” in its place. If time zones are more important to an employer and you’re temporarily located abroad, be sure to specify where you’re based and your hours of availability.
If you’ve held remote jobs previously, like as a freelancer for example, list this information under your experiences by putting “remote” instead of the company’s physical location. This allows potential employers to see you’re already experienced with remote positions, which in turn boosts your credibility.
Don’t neglect to emphasize these details when writing your proposal letter either. Reassure the hiring manager how remote work has benefited your previous employers and how your remote work will benefit the company you’re currently applying for.
Finally, make sure that your resume is formatted in a way it can easily open and display correctly regardless of the environment, application, or device it’s viewed on. Having a unified and professional look demonstrates to a hiring manager your attention to detail so make sure you double-check your resume file type and stick to a professional file name that makes assessing your application easier.
Bottom Line
Mentioning the skills discussed in this article will help you increase your chances of getting hired for a remote position. If you find yourself lacking in some areas, don’t panic, and more importantly, don’t lie on your resume. If you don’t have the necessary skills for that dream remote position just yet, remember that you’re a work in progress.
This doesn’t mean you can’t take a chance and apply for a remote job without experience now. However, you’ll need to build a strong case to prove yourself to a hiring manager.
Make a good impression by crafting a tailored resume and cover letter and demonstrating the steps you’ve taken to be their ideal candidate. Learning and developing essential skills by taking online courses and certifications, for example, will make you a highly attractive candidate in the near future. With the right preparation and mindset, getting hired for a remote job won’t be as daunting as it seems.
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