Remote work has become increasingly popular in the last few years, and there are now over 6 million people working remotely in the United States. While it isnât right for everyone, having the freedom to work from anywhere can be a great perk that increases productivity and reduces stress. Continue reading to learn more on how to find out how to get a remote job in the United States here!
However, if youâre reading this, youâre probably ready to leave your 9-to-5 job and pursue one that offers more freedom and flexibility, which is great! You can work from wherever you want and spend time on what matters most to you. But before you say goodbye to your current employer and start applying to remote jobs, there are a few things you should know first.
If youâre looking to start working from home, you might think the country with the most remote jobs would be the best place to look for employment. While that may seem like the obvious choice, not all countries are created equal in this area, especially when it comes to money and career growth potential.
Tips on how to Get a Remote Job in the United States
Considering that the United States is one of the largest economic hubs in the world, itâs no surprise that remote jobs in the United States are plentiful. But with so many remote jobs to choose from, how do you find and land the right job? Here are a few tips to help you get started.
Is remote work for you?
Before deciding whether remote work is right for you, consider your own reasons for wanting to do it. Sometimes, weâre motivated by fear: If I donât do remote work, will I lose my job? Other times, we want freedom: I work 40 hours at my office; shouldnât I get 40 hours of freedom and flexibility elsewhere? Whatever your reason may be, there are good onesâand now more than ever. But before you make any decisions, ask yourself these questions: Do I really need to go remote? Can I handle working remotely from home or another location? What would happen if I didnât have that option available to me? Would I still enjoy my job as much as I do now?
What do you want from your career?
Before you can take steps toward finding your next remote job, you first need to identify what you want from your career. Are you looking for a chance to travel? Do you want more flexibility with when and where you work? Think through these personal factors and consider how they could affect your day-to-day responsibilities. Then, once youâve identified what matters most to you, itâs time to start your search! You may be surprised by just how many opportunities are out thereâitâs simply a matter of doing some research and getting creative.
Donât limit yourself to companies based solely in America; international companies are often open to hiring remotely if you have an exceptional skill set or offer something unique that can’t be found locally. And donât forget about independent contractors who might be able to help you land a remote gig without ever leaving your home country. The world is full of options, so donât feel like you have to settle for working at a single company or location. If flexible hours and locations make sense for your lifestyle, then why not go after them?
Decide whether to start over at home or seek something abroad
When it comes to remote work, you have two options: You can either apply for jobs where you live (such as in your home country) or move abroad for a remote job. Before deciding which option is best for you, make sure you understand what each scenario entails. Working remotely within your own country means that youâll likely need reliable high-speed internetânot always an easy featâand will likely face greater language barriers than if living abroad. The upside of working at home is that you wonât have to relocate and wonât need to learn a new culture. The downside? It might be harder to find opportunities, and there are fewer networking events available.
On the other hand, working abroad could mean learning about new cultures and speaking languages other than your native tongue. The upside? There are plenty of resources and networking events that cater specifically to ex-pats. The downside? You may not know exactly how things work in your new location, so you may have trouble finding help when you need it. Consider these factors before making a decision on whether to start over at home or seek something abroad.
Evaluate Your Skillset
Before you search for remote jobs, itâs important to take inventory of your skillset. What are you best at? Where do you excel? Make sure these skill sets are reflected in your resume and cover letter. And if thereâs something that isnât on your list of strengths (yet) but is applicable for a potential position, work it into a short I Can Learn This Skill paragraph or bullet point. It shows youâre eager to learn new things and willing to put in the extra effort. Both qualities will come across as highly desirable when interviewing with companies that value flexibility and self-starters.
You can also add any additional information that may be useful during an interview, such as: How long have you been working remotely? How did you get started doing so? Are there other companies where you could see yourself working remotely again in the future? Did you ever consider going back to an office job? Do you prefer working from home/coffee shops/hotel lobbies/the beach? Why or why not?
Know where to look â use online resources
Online resources like LinkedIn and GitHub can be great places to get your first remote job. For example, if youâre a programmer, check out Stack Overflow Careers (Stack Overflow is a popular programming Q&A site). There are often full-time positions advertised on these sites and theyâre very easy to apply for. If youâre not sure what kind of role you want, start by looking at some of these sites. You might find that it leads to more opportunities than just getting a remote job.
This is also a good way to see what companies look for when hiring remote workers â i.e., how many years of experience do they need? Do they only hire candidates with technical skills or are there other types of roles available? What about their benefits package? Once you have an idea of what to expect, you can decide whether or not working remotely is right for you.
Take baby steps and donât be afraid of rejection.
This is one of my biggest pieces of advice for people who want to get a remote job. I personally suffered from impostor syndrome when applying for remote jobs. I worried that I wasnât qualified enough, or that they wouldnât like me, or whatever other nonsense was keeping me from actually putting myself out there. But you have to jump into it and apply! And if your first application doesnât work out, donât be discouragedâthere are plenty more opportunities out there.
Take baby steps and donât be afraid of rejection; otherwise, you might never start your journey at all. Donât think about getting a remote job as something that will define you; instead, look at it as an opportunity to challenge yourself and grow professionally. Also: try not to take rejections too personally. Sometimes things just arenât meant to be, but you can always learn from them (and hopefully apply those lessons somewhere else).
How to Apply for a Remote Job in the United States
When youâre applying for a remote job, youâll want to tailor your resume and cover letter to reflect any previous remote experience. If youâve worked remotely in the past, youâll want to list the location of your job as âvirtualâ, so the hiring manager sees that you have experience with this type of job. Itâs also a good idea to use the words âremoteâ and âvirtualâ on your LinkedIn profile, application, and resume.
When working on your cover letter and resume, first explain the type of remote work that youâve done in the past. Next, detail the ways you benefited the companies youâve worked for remotely. Finally, explain why youâre interested and eager to take on other remote opportunities.
Aside from detailing your previous remote work experience, itâs also important to talk about your ability to work on diverse teams. This is often a component of working remotely, so highlighting your collaboration skills and ability to work with a variety of people will show hiring managers that you have the skillset theyâre looking for.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to finding a remote job in the United States, there are certain jobs and positions that suit remote work better than others. If you want to land a remote job in technology, sales, or customer service; youâll have an easier time of it than someone looking for an office-based HR position. However, if you can find your passion (and value) in working remotely, and your ideal employer is willing to let you work from anywhere, thereâs nothing stopping you! In conclusion, remote work has become increasingly popular over recent years as more companies start to see how valuable it can be. If you havenât considered remote work before, now might be a good time to look into it â who knows? You might just discover something new about yourself and where your true passions lie…in which case â congratulations! Check out other similar articles like this.
