I’ll admit it, when I first realized it was finally time to leave my desk job and find a remote position, I had no clue how to get one. I scoured the internet for help, and along the way I ended up in a webinar from Flexjobs which covered that very topic. Using some of those ideas and a few I stumbled upon on my own, I landed my first, full-time, 100% remote position within a few months! (Also, check out more tips about this in How To Get A Location Independent Job). Because remote employers have a much larger pool of work from anywhere candidates, they are allowed to be super picky, so you want your resume to stand out and be specific to the uniqueness of a job fit for a digital nomad. Here are 3 smart things to add to your cover letter to get a location independent job:
1) Say you can work alone
One of the big issues for remote teams is that people tend to romanticize location independent jobs before they get them. They are super cool and suit a lot of people perfectly, but they are still jobs, and working solo from your computer can get lonely. Admitting upfront that you recognize and acknowledge some of the common struggles with remote work is key to a pro location independent cover letter. Don’t forget that if you’ve done any direct sales like Avon where you were able to work from anywhere, that counts, too! (Oh, and if you’re still looking here’s great some websites for finding location independent jobs.)
Example: Although I work well with teams, I am incredibly self-accountable so I thrive operating independently as well. I’m able to organize my work with no supervision, and I’m an excellent self-motivator.
2) Talk about your remote experience
Even if you’ve never had a location independent job before, you’ve probably done some type of work remotely. Resumes are about highlighting your assets, right? Don’t forget that sometimes you’ve learned skills outside of the office. About 25% of the classes I took in college were online, so I let them know I was experienced at working over a computer and could troubleshoot any connectivity issues. Don’t lie, just start digging into the real experience you do have, and flaunt it!
Example: I’m experienced working remotely and have over 15+ years’ experience with computers. This means I’m able to quickly and efficiency troubleshoot any connectivity issues that may arise.
3) Create an online portfolio (it’s easy!)
My blog blossomed from a need for online writing samples as I researched how to find remote freelance work, but you don’t have to be a writer or even a creative to create a little place of the web that shows you can jump on board with a 100% virtual company. Most of these companies operate completely online and through cloud software, so they are going to love to see that you already have a grasp of simple computer and internet skills. If you’ve got work to show, get it online. Even simply uploading your resume to a special spot on the web shows you have basic internet skills (which you’ll need, and companies know this). I was able to upload an image to my website, but if you don’t have a site, start a free one or search for online portfolio sites, a ton of them are free! And if you’re still curious about what types of jobs you could apply to that are 100% remote, here are 11 Work From Anywhere Jobs I’ve written about previously.
I hope this helps, and if you’re a remote employer or have any other ideas on some smart things to add to your cover letter to get a remote job, please comment below!
Ready to get serious about your work from anywhere job search? I whole-heartedly recommend Flexjobs, the site where I found my first freelance writing gig. There are zero scams on their site and they have their own 100% remote team, too!
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