DEV Community: Daniel M. Wolken

How to Answer "Why Should We Hire You?" (With Sample Answers)

Daniel M. Wolken — Mon, 13 May 2024 22:21:00 +0000

Approaching this question effectively means highlighting your strengths in a way that aligns with the company's needs and culture. It's not just about listing your skills, but rather about telling a persuasive story that demonstrates how your individual abilities will translate into success for the team and the organization. Preparing your response in advance allows you to confidently communicate your fit for the position and your potential for contribution.

It's your opportunity to succinctly showcase your unique qualifications, relevant experiences, and the specific value you can bring to the role. Crafting a compelling answer to this question requires a blend of self-awareness and an understanding of what the employer is looking for.

How To Answer, "Why Should We Hire You?"

In crafting a compelling response to "Why should we hire you?", focus on your unique qualifications and specific skills that align with the job description, emphasizing accomplishments from your experience that reflect your suitability for the remote role.

Highlighting Relevant Experience

Use concrete examples of past experience that directly relate to the job you're interviewing for. Discuss how your previous roles have prepared you for the responsibilities of the new position. Be sure to mention any accomplishments that showcase your strengths and the positive outcomes you've achieved. For instance, if you increased sales by 30% at your last job, share this achievement to highlight your experience in driving growth.

Demonstrating Specific Skills

Identify specific skills mentioned in the job description, and illustrate how you've applied these skills in past positions. If the job requires strong organizational skills, describe how you successfully managed a project or coordinated an event.

Use quantifiable achievements to reinforce your examples, such as reducing expenses by a certain percentage through efficient resource management. Emphasize any unique skills or strengths that set you apart from other candidates and could give you an edge in fulfilling the remote job requirements.

Showcasing Your Fit for the Role

When answering "Why should we hire you?", it's crucial to demonstrate how your unique skills and values align with the company's needs and culture. Tailoring your response to reflect a deep understanding of the role and the organization will set you apart.

Alignment with Company Culture

Company culture encompasses the shared values, beliefs, and behaviors within an organization. To be the best fit, you need to articulate how your personal principles and work ethos mirror the company's culture.

For instance, if the company prioritizes innovation, illustrate how your creativity and willingness to take informed risks have driven past project successes. Similarly, emphasize your communication skills and teamwork capabilities if the organization values collaborative environments.

Expressing Your Passion and Drive

Your passion and drive are the engines of your professional journey. Relate stories of how your dedication to your field has delivered tangible results and underscore how this enthusiasm will translate to the mission of the company.

Use specific examples to show your relentless push towards professional growth and contribution, linking your career ambitions with the advancement of the organization. Remember, illustrations of your drive are as compelling as the credentials on your resume.

Demonstrate Enthusiasm and Cultural Fit

Employers are not just looking for skills, but also for someone who will fit well into their team and company culture. Express your enthusiasm for the role and the company, and explain why you think you'd be a great cultural fit.

Provide Examples

Back up your statements with examples. If you claim to be a great problem solver, provide a specific instance where you solved a complex problem. Real-life examples make your claims more credible and memorable.

Example "Why Should We Hire You?" Answers

When answering the question, "Why should we hire you?", tailor your response to align with the job description, highlight your unique skills, and demonstrate how you will add value to the company.

Entry-Level Candidate:

I am highly motivated and have a proven track record of academic success and leadership in extracurricular activities. Although I am in the early stages of my career, I am eager to learn and grow. My fresh perspective and unwavering commitment make me an ideal candidate to contribute to your team's success.

Experienced Professional:

With over ten years of experience in the industry, I bring a wealth of knowledge and a proven history of advancing company goals. My innovative approach to problem-solving and dedication to continuous improvement demonstrates that I am a candidate who will drive results.

Change of Career Candidate:

While I am venturing into a new industry, my background has equipped me with a diverse skill set that is beneficial in any field. Strong analytical skills and adaptability allow me to tackle challenges confidently. I am prepared to bring fresh insights and a new perspective to your team.

Conclusion

Remember, the goal is to succinctly convey that you have the skills, experience, and attitude that will make you a valuable addition to their team. Tailor your response to each specific job and company for the best effect. The key to a compelling answer is to be concise and specific about your qualifications while directly addressing how you can meet the employer's needs for the remote job.

If you are searching for a remote job and need help finding where to look? DailyRemote is a remote job board with the latest jobs in various categories to help you. Join like-minded people in our LinkedIn and Facebook community.

How To Get A Remote Graphic Designer Job?

Daniel M. Wolken — Mon, 13 May 2024 05:11:43 +0000

With the rise of digital technology and the increasing need for flexible work arrangements, remote graphic design jobs have become a sought-after career path for creative professionals.

As a graphic designer looking to work from home, you have access to a world of opportunities that allow you to harness your artistic abilities and design software expertise from any location. Platforms like DailyRemote offer a wide array of remote job listings, providing you with the chance to find employment that fits your lifestyle and career goals.

By pursuing a remote design role, you can develop visual concepts for clients globally, crafting everything from advertisements and logos to marketing materials and reports, all while enjoying the convenience and comfort of your own space.

Skills Required for a Remote Graphic Designer Role

To secure a remote graphic design role, you need to demonstrate a well-rounded set of skills. As a graphic designer working remotely, you must be capable of producing visually compelling graphics and designs that effectively communicate a desired message.

Technical Skills:

Proficiency in Design Software: Familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite is essential, including programs like Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. For web design tasks, knowledge of tools like Sketch and Figma can be useful.
UX/UI Design Foundations: Understanding the principles of user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design will allow you to create intuitive and attractive digital products.
Web Design: Basic knowledge of HTML and CSS may also be beneficial, allowing you to closely collaborate with web developers.

Creative Skills:

Art and Illustration: A good grasp of art fundamentals such as color theory, typography, and layout can greatly enhance your design of logos and branded materials.
Photography and Image Editing: Ability to capture and manipulate images may be required for creating unique visual content.

Soft Skills:

Communication: Clear and concise interaction is key for articulating design concepts and revisions with clients or team members.
Time Management: Since remote work offers flexibility, excellent time management will ensure deadlines are met.

Specialized Skills: Depending on the job, you may need to create animations or edit videos, which means knowledge of motion graphics tools will set you apart.

As a remote graphic designer, your portfolio will speak volumes. Showcase a variety of work that reflects your skills in graphic arts, web design, and other relevant areas. An impressive portfolio, combined with the right technical and soft skills, will be your ticket to a successful career in remote graphic design.

How To Prepare for a Remote Graphic Designer Job Interview?

When preparing for a remote graphic designer job interview, it's crucial to demonstrate your expertise in graphic design and familiarity with the remote work tools required for a work from home job.

Research Thoroughly

Begin by researching the company. Understand their brand, mission, and the graphics and logos they currently use. This insight shows you have a genuine interest in the company's visual identity.

Review Your Portfolio

Organize your portfolio ensuring it showcases a variety of work such as logo design, web design, and other graphics. Highlight projects that involved Adobe Illustrator, photography, or UX design, and be prepared to discuss your creative process.

Technical Setup

Check your internet connection and computer equipment to avoid technical hiccups. Make sure you're comfortable with video software as videos are the norm for remote interviews.

Practice Common Questions

Get ready to answer questions like:

How do you approach a new project?
Tell me about yourself?
Can you describe your design style?
What skills would you like to improve?
How do you manage feedback in remote settings?

Remember, as a graphic designer, you should convey your artistic skill and how you've adapted them to a digital, remote environment. Being concise, clear, and confident will help you make a lasting impression.

How to Find Remote Graphic Design Jobs

In your quest to land a remote graphic designer job, focus on creating a standout portfolio, gaining valuable experience, effectively searching job boards, enhancing your online presence, and networking in the design community.

Building a Strong Portfolio

Your portfolio is the showcase of your design skills, creativity, and range. Make sure to include only your best work and tailor it to exhibit skills relevant to remote jobs and the specific industries you're interested in, whether that's for part-time, contract, or full-time remote positions.

Gaining Relevant Experience

To be considered for a remote graphic designer role, particularly at the associate or director level, relevant experience is key. This can be through internships, freelance projects, or part-time roles. Actively pursue opportunities in cities known for their design markets. This experience is invaluable for both skill development and your resume.

Navigating Job Boards and Listings

Job boards are a treasure trove for remote graphic design opportunities, including freelance gigs and full-time remote positions. Websites like DailyRemote offer a range of design jobs and helpful tips to land those jobs. Focus your search on roles and filter for the type of job you want on these job search sites.

Here are other remote design jobs to look out for:

Leveraging Social Media and Online Presence

An active and professional online presence can attract job opportunities. Showcase your work on platforms like Dribbble or LinkedIn, which can serve as an extended part of your portfolio. Engage with posts and share your thoughts on design trends.

Networking in the Design Community

Networking can unlock opportunities that aren't advertised publicly. Join design communities, both online and in cities like New York or Atlanta, where the design scene is large. Attend webinars, workshops, and industry events to connect with peers and potential employers. Be open to roles across the spectrum, from internships to director-grade positions.

By focusing on these areas, you can enhance your visibility in the design field and increase your chances of securing a remote graphic designer job in competitive markets across the country.

Tips to Create Remote Graphic Designer Role Focused Resume and Cover Letter

Crafting a standout resume and cover letter tailored to a remote graphic designer position demands attention to detail, relevance, and clarity. Here are some tips to enhance your application:

Resume

Header: Place your contact information prominently. Include your LinkedIn profile if it's well-curated.
Objective/Summary: Write a concise statement that outlines your career goals and how they align with remote work.
Skills: List your technical skills like Adobe Creative Suite, as well as soft skills necessary for remote work, such as time management.
Experience: Highlight relevant job experiences, focusing on accomplishments with measurable impacts. Use bullet points for readability.
Portfolio Link: Add a direct link to your online portfolio showcasing a versatile range of work.

Cover Letter

Personal Greeting: Address the hiring manager by name for a personal touch.

Opening Statement: Start with a compelling hook, explaining why the remote role is ideal for you.

Body:

Explain how your skills and experiences make you a perfect fit for the role.
Mention any remote work experience or skills that would be beneficial for a remote position.

Conclusion: End with a clear call to action, indicating your enthusiasm to discuss how you can contribute to their team.

Conclusion

Use keywords relevant to remote graphic design jobs, which improve your visibility to potential employers in resume and cover letters. Tailor your application to each role by researching the company and role requirements, presenting yourself as the ideal candidate for a remote graphic design position.

How To Get A Remote Executive Assistant Job?

Daniel M. Wolken — Fri, 10 May 2024 19:59:00 +0000

As the business landscape evolves with technology, the demand for agile and adept remote executive assistants is on the rise. Landing a job as a remote executive assistant offers you the flexibility to work from anywhere while providing critical support to executives and businesses. Your role could range from managing communications to assisting with project management.

To secure such a position, you need to showcase attributes like strong organizational skills, excellent communication abilities, and proficiency in various online collaboration tools. Your effectiveness in a remote environment hinges on your capability to perform tasks with minimal supervision and maintain a high level of productivity.

Essential Skills Required for A Remote Executive Assistant

As a remote Executive Assistant, your role extends beyond traditional administrative tasks, focusing on sophisticated support that enables executives to be more efficient. The hallmark of an exceptional remote Executive Assistant is the ability to provide seamless administrative support, acting as an essential arm of the executive team, often from a distance.

Communication Skills: You must possess exceptional communication skills to articulate points clearly through emails, and phone calls. This ensures there's no misinterpretation or delay in conveying critical information.

Written Communication: Clear and impactful writing for emails and reports.
Verbal Communication: Articulate and courteous phone manner.

Organizational Skills: Your ability to organize is crucial. You need to maintain orderliness with documents, schedules, and all forms of data.

Scheduling: Juggle multiple calendars, plan meetings, and manage appointments with precision.

Time Management Skills: Time is a resource. You must masterfully manage time, yours and the executive's, to ensure productivity isn't compromised.

Prioritization: Identify urgent tasks and structure your day accordingly.

Travel Arrangements: Planning and booking travel requires attention to detail and the ability to foresee and troubleshoot potential issues.

Technological Proficiency: In a remote setting, familiarity with project management tools, cloud services, and communication platforms becomes even more vital.

Problem-Solving Skills: Your ability to think on your feet and solve issues independently is valuable, especially when immediate assistance is required.

Project Management: Oversee projects and ensure all facets are progressing without oversight, demonstrating your capacity for responsibility and initiative.

How to Find a Remote Executive Assistant Job?

Landing a remote executive assistant job involves two key steps: strategic job searching and presenting a polished, professional application. Stay focused on opportunities that match your skills and availability, whether you're looking for full-time, part-time, freelance, contract, or temporary positions.

Job Search Strategies

To kick off your job search, craft a list of job boards and resources that frequently list remote executive assistant roles. Platforms like LinkedIn provide a wealth of opportunities across the US national landscape as well as in Canada and the United Kingdom. Another strategy is to check specialized remote job websites which can range from well-known aggregate sites to niche job boards that focus specifically on virtual support roles.

Use Filters: Apply filters to search for jobs that suit your preference for full-time or part-time hours.
Network: Engage with professional networks and social media for leads on remote roles.
Company Websites: Check the career sections of companies that are known for offering remote jobs.

Here are other virtual assistant jobs:

Crafting a Winning Application

Your application is your first impression---you need to make it count. A concise, clear cover letter tailored to the remote role and a well-structured curriculum vitae (CV) are crucial.

Cover Letter:

Highlight your communication skills, a key competence for any virtual assistant.
Mention your experience with remote work to show that you're comfortable with the setup.

Curriculum Vitae:

Use bold headings and bullet points to emphasize your relevant experience.
Specify if your previous roles were remote, part-time, or contract to align with the job description.

Focus on conveying your suitability for a remote role through examples of self-motivation and proficiency with digital communication tools. Demonstrate that you are not only qualified but also prepared to excel in a remote work environment.

How to Find a Remote Executive Assistant Job?

Identify Your Preferences:Firstly, determine what type of remote executive assistant position suits you best. Are you looking for full-time, part-time, freelance, or contract work? Also, decide if you are open to temporary roles or seeking a steady position. Some roles may be specific to certain regions, such as US national, Canada, or the United Kingdom.

Update Your Credentials:Ensure your curriculum vitae (CV) and cover letter are up to date, highlighting your communication skills and experience as a virtual assistant or executive assistant. Tailor your CV specifically to remote work to stand out to potential employers.

Utilize Job Platforms:

LinkedIn: A goldmine for professional networking and job listings. Update your profile, set it to 'Open to Work', and follow companies you're interested in.
Remote Job Boards: Websites like DailyRemote and Indeed specialize in remote positions and can provide valuable job alerts.
Industry-Specific Sites: Platforms like ZipRecruiter frequently post listings for administrative roles, including remote opportunities.

Networking: Engage with your professional network and inform them of your interest in remote executive assistant roles. Networking can often lead to job leads that are not publicly posted.

By following these steps with a clear and focused approach, you can effectively seek out and apply for remote executive assistant jobs that align with your career goals.

How to Prepare and Ace A Remote Executive Assistant Interview?

When preparing for a remote executive assistant interview, it's essential to focus on showcasing your communication skills and problem-solving abilities. You'll also want to articulate how you handle various scenarios that may arise in a remote work environment.

Before the Interview:

Research the company to understand its culture, objectives, and tools they use for remote collaboration.
Practice common interview questions for remote executive assistant roles to articulate your experience and skills confidently.

Technical Setup:

Ensure you have a reliable internet connection, and test your video and audio beforehand to avoid technical issues.
Choose a quiet and organized space for the interview to convey your professionalism and ability to manage your work environment.

During the Interview:

Demonstrate strong communication skills by answering questions clearly and concisely, and by asking informed questions about the role and the company.
Provide examples highlighting your problem-solving skills, such as handling unexpected challenges or streamlining processes without direct supervision.
Discuss scenarios where you took initiative and made decisions that positively impacted your previous employers.

Key Traits to Exhibit:

TraitHow to Exhibit ItResponsivenessMention how you prioritize tasks and communicate promptly with remote teams.Attention to DetailDiscuss methods you use to manage tasks and maintain accuracy in your work.Technological SavvyShow familiarity with remote work tools and platforms.

Use this interview to not only answer questions but to display your understanding of remote work dynamics, and communicate your eagerness and capability to become an indispensable asset to their team.

Tips to Create a Remote Executive Assistant Resume and Cover Letter

When crafting your resume for a remote executive assistant position, begin with a robust professional summary. Highlight your years of experience and distinct accomplishments. Ensure to include terms like "remote communication," "virtual problem-solving," and "supporting executive teams," which are crucial for a remote role.

Resume Structure:

Contact Information: Provide your up-to-date contact details at the top.
Summary: Start with a strong introduction summarizing your qualifications.
Work Experience: List your jobs in reverse chronological order.
For each job, include your job title, company name, employment dates, and outline your key responsibilities and achievements focusing on remote tasks you've managed.
Education: Detail your educational background in a concise manner.
Skills: Emphasize your communication skills, problem-solving abilities, and professional development pursuits that pertain to remote work.
Certifications: If applicable, list any certifications that enhance your candidacy as a senior executive assistant.

For a robust cover letter:

Address the hiring manager directly if possible.
Express your enthusiasm for the remote job offer and the company culture.
Illustrate scenarios where you've successfully performed as a remote assistant.
Discuss your approach to benefits and salary negotiation, if prompted in the job offer.
Convey your capacity and strategies for contract management and assistance.
Close with a call to action, inviting the employer to discuss your fit for the role further.

Conclusion

Tailor both your resume and cover letter to each specific job offer, emphasizing your readiness to support their senior executives from a remote setup while being close-knit with the team.

If you are searching for a remote job and need help finding where to look? DailyRemote is a remote job board with the latest jobs in various categories to help you.

How To Get A Remote Copywriting Job?

Daniel M. Wolken — Fri, 10 May 2024 09:16:00 +0000

Securing a remote copywriter position allows you to harness your writing prowess from the comfort of your home. As you embark on your job search, understand that a remote copywriter creates persuasive content aimed at driving action, often for digital platforms. Without the need for a specific degree, your ability to craft compelling copy is paramount.

To successfully land a remote copywriting job, you should showcase strong writing skills, an understanding of your target audience, and the ability to produce clear, engaging, and brand-appropriate content. Building a diverse portfolio and leveraging job platforms that list remote copywriting opportunities can set you on the right path to finding a role that suits your skills and lifestyle.

Skills Required for a Successful Copywriter

To thrive as a remote copywriter, you must possess a set of core skills that allow you to create compelling and effective content. Here's what you need:

Strong Writing Skills: Your ability to write clearly, persuasively, and grammatically correct is fundamental. You should be able to produce content that engages and persuades your audience. Learn to craft messages that resonate with readers by understanding the client's business and the customer's needs.
Technical Proficiency: Familiarize yourself with digital and remote work tools, including content management systems and basic HTML formatting. These skills are crucial for working effectively in an online environment.
Research Skills: To write authoritatively, you'll need to conduct thorough research. Understand your topics inside and out to write content that is both informative and trustworthy.
Adaptability: As the needs of clients evolve, so must your copy. Be prepared to adjust tone, style, and even content strategies to meet changing demands.
SEO Knowledge: Understanding Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is key. Know how to integrate keywords seamlessly into your copy without compromising readability or quality.
Self - Motivation: Working remotely requires a high level of self-discipline. Cultivate the ability to stay motivated and meet deadlines without direct supervision.
Creativity: Innovative thinking helps in solving problems and creating unique content that stands out. Flex your creative muscles to help clients build a distinct brand identity.

By honing these skills, you set yourself up for success in the competitive landscape of remote copywriting.

How to Create a Remote Copywriter Resume and Cover Letter?

When pursuing remote copywriter jobs, a compelling resume and cover letter are essential first steps. Highlight concrete results from past projects, showcase your language skills, and align your personal brand with your professional capabilities.

Crafting a Persuasive Resume and Cover Letter

Resume: Start with a concise summary of your expertise as a professional content writer, pinpointing your top achievements. List relevant experience with bullets like:

Developed content strategy for Company Name, increasing engagement by 40%.
Managed blog for Product, yielding a 20% rise in organic traffic.

Cover Letter: Convey your enthusiasm for the copywriting role. Reference specific projects you have worked on and how they align with the job's requirements. Tailor each letter to show that you have researched the company and understand their brand voice.

Building a Strong Portfolio

Compile a portfolio showcasing a range of writing styles and mediums. Include:

Web content you've crafted for digital brands.
Marketing materials that have driven successful campaigns.
Analytical reports demonstrating your strategic impact.

Your portfolio should be accessible online and well-organized, with links that employers can easily navigate to view your best writing samples.

The Importance of a Personal Brand

Your personal brand encompasses your online presence on various social media platforms. Maintain a professional profile on sites like LinkedIn, displaying endorsements and recommendations from colleagues.

Regularly engage by sharing industry-related content, which exhibits you're an active participant in the writing community. Your brand should communicate to potential employers that you're a well-rounded, professional content writer attuned to the pulse of copywriting trends.

How to Find a Remote Copywriting Job?

To secure a remote copywriting job, you'll need to know where to search, how to leverage your network and understand the specifics of remote work opportunities. The process requires a targeted approach to job platforms and a solid grasp of the unique aspects of remote employment.

Utilizing Job Boards and Social Media

Begin your job search by exploring well-established job boards such as DailyRemote, Indeed and LinkedIn, which frequently list opportunities for remote copywriting jobs.

Filters can be applied to narrow down listings to remote positions that allow you to work from anywhere, including the United States, Canada, UK, and Ireland. Learn the tips on how to work from home effectively here.

Check daily on specialized job boards for remote jobs.
Follow companies on social media platforms for job alerts.

Leverage social media platforms like LinkedIn to connect with potential employers. Join groups and participate in discussions to increase visibility and stay informed about the work-from-home landscape. Other remote writing roles include:

Networking and Collaboration

Networking plays a pivotal role in the quest for remote work.

Attend remote work webinars and virtual job fairs.
Join online communities related to remote work and copywriting.

Forge relationships with other professionals, which can often lead to referrals for remote jobs. Offer to collaborate on projects as this can showcase your skills and can lead to job offers.

Remote Work Specifics and Opportunities

Understanding the specifics of remote work will prepare you for success.

Familiarize yourself with remote work tools and software.
Stay informed about trends in remote employment.

Options for remote copywriting jobs have expanded with companies offering work-from-home or work from anywhere job listings. Emphasize your ability to work independently and your communication skills, as these are invaluable for remote positions in the United States and beyond.

How to Prepare for a Remote Copywriting Job Interview?

To secure a remote copywriting job, your interview preparation is crucial. Whether you're in the United States, Canada, UK, or Ireland, the approach to preparing is quite similar. Here's how you can stand out:

Research: Understand the company's tone, style, and content by reviewing their website or blog. Familiarize yourself with their brand voice to showcase how you can align with it.
Remote Work Skills: Highlight your ability to work independently and your proficiency with remote communication tools, as these are key in a work-from-home environment.
Portfolio: Have a well-organized portfolio of your writing samples ready to share. It should demonstrate a range of styles and formats.
Job Boards: Leverage job boards like DailyRemote, TheWFHJobs to find listings and understand common job requirements for remote copywriting positions.
Technical Setup: Ensure your video conferencing setup is professional, with good lighting and a quiet environment.
Practice: Prepare answers for common interview questions, focusing on your copywriting and remote work skills.
Questions for Them: Have a list of questions ready to ask the interviewer, showing your interest in the role and company.
Location: Mention your location only if it's relevant, such as in dealing with time zones for work hours.

Conclusion

By taking these steps, you will present yourself as a professional and capable remote worker ready for the challenges of a copywriting role. Remember, skills like clear communication and time management are as crucial as your writing prowess.

If you are searching for a remote job and need help finding where to look? DailyRemote is a remote job board with the latest jobs in various categories to help you.

How To Get a Remote Software Engineer Job?

Daniel M. Wolken — Fri, 10 May 2024 05:43:56 +0000

Securing a remote software engineer position offers the flexibility and autonomy that comes with telecommuting, but it requires a targeted approach in your job search. To be successful, you should have a strong portfolio showcasing your technical capabilities, and be prepared to demonstrate your communication and management skills, which are paramount in a remote work environment.

Networking plays a crucial role, so leverage online communities and professional networks to connect with potential employers. Understanding the expectations and culture of remote teams is essential, and through thoroughly researching companies and roles, you can find a remote software engineering job that suits your skills and lifestyle.

Required Qualifications and Skills For A Remote Software Engineer Job

To succeed in securing a remote software engineer position, your qualifications and skills should be up-to-date and relevant to the job market. The basics include a degree in Computer Science or a related field, or equivalent practical experience. However, qualifications alone aren't enough; you also need a robust skill set that includes both technical and soft skills.

Technical Skills:

Proficient in Programming Languages: You should be well-versed in languages essential for development like Java, Python, or C++.
Understanding of Software Development Practices: This includes knowledge of algorithms, data structures, and a solid grasp on version control systems like Git.
Experience with Frameworks and Tools: Familiarity with relevant frameworks and developer tools enhances your ability to build and deploy software efficiently.

Soft Skills:

Communication: As a remote worker, articulate your ideas and progress clearly through written and spoken communication.
Self-Motivation: Without the oversight of an in-person supervisor, managing your time and staying productive are crucial.
Problem-Solving: Ability to troubleshoot issues independently and creatively find solutions is key in a remote setting.

Your skill set should not only match the job description but also the remote work environment. Remote work demands a particular set of skills in addition to your technical expertise, so highlight your ability to work independently and your proactive communication skills during your job search.

How to Find A Remote Software Engineer Job?

To secure a remote software engineering job, you must ensure your application materials and online presence are meticulously crafted to stand out in a competitive field.

Crafting Your Resume and Cover Letter

Your resume should be a compelling testament to your skills and past work experiences. It's crucial to tailor your resume to emphasize your ability to work remotely. Highlight your proficiency in communication tools, project management, and independent problem-solving.

Highlight Relevant Skills: List key skills like remote communication tools and self-management abilities.
Use a Clean Format: Choose a legible font and clear headings to make your resume easy to read.
Include Remote Work Experience: If you have previous remote work experience, make sure it's prominent on your resume.
Personalize Your Introduction: Start with a summary that aligns your career goals with the company's needs.
Degrees and Certifications: Mention relevant degrees and any remote work-enabling certifications you've earned.
Work: Focus on results and achievements, especially those relevant to remote work environments.

For your cover letter, specific examples that illustrate your successful remote work experience can be particularly persuasive. An effective cover letter should be concise and directly relate your skills to the job description found in job listings.

Be Specific: Tailor your cover letter to the job description, mentioning key requirements.
Emphasize Remote-readiness: Convey your ability to work independently and your familiarity with remote work practices.
Show Your Passion: Let your enthusiasm for the role and the company's mission show.
Call to Action: End with an invitation to discuss how your skills match the company's needs.

Crafting a resume and cover letter tailored to a remote software engineering job is crucial as it is your first point of contact with potential employers.

Building a Strong Online Presence

Create a LinkedIn profile that acts as a dynamic extension of your resume. Engage with relevant industry groups, and ensure your profile is up-to-date with your skills and experiences. It's a powerful tool for networking and being discovered by potential employers. Make certain to adjust your profile's settings to indicate that you're open to remote jobs.

What to Include in Your Portfolio

Your portfolio must showcase the breadth and depth of your programming capabilities; include detailed case studies and links to your code repositories. Highlighting any previous remote projects you've worked on can give you an edge. Above all, ensure your portfolio is well-organized and demonstrates not only your technical skills but also your ability to work effectively in remote settings.

Leveraging Professional Networks

Networking is vital in unearthing opportunities that often aren't listed on public job boards. Begin by optimizing your LinkedIn profile, as it's the cornerstone of your online professional presence. Engage actively with your connections, share relevant content, and partake in discussions.

Seek out niche remote job communities and forums tailored to remote software engineering jobs. Attend virtual meetups and webinars where you can connect with industry insiders who might open doors to new opportunities. The old adage rings true: it's not just what you know, but who you know.

Finding Remote Jobs on Online Platforms

Your job search should be systematic and thorough on online platforms such as Glassdoor, DailyRemote, and LinkedIn. These platforms list a plethora of remote software engineering jobs, and they offer the ability to filter searches to match your specific skill set and preferences.

Glassdoor provides company reviews and interview questions shared by past applicants.
Indeed aggregates listings from numerous websites, increasing the pool of potential jobs.
DailyRemote is a curated site for remote jobs, known for its select and updated listings.

Create personalized alerts and upload your resume so recruiters can find you as easily as you find them. Remember, applying for jobs is a numbers game, but focusing on platforms designed for remote work will boost the odds in your favor.

Here are other remote software engineering jobs to look for:

How to Prepare and Ace a Remote Software Engineer Job Interview?

Securing a remote software engineering role demands a focused approach to the interview process, which usually comprises technical and behavioral stages. Your preparation will be key in demonstrating your capabilities as a remote developer.

Technical Interviews for Software Engineers

Understand the Fundamentals: Before facing the technical interview, ensure you have a solid grasp of core programming concepts and algorithms. Practice coding questions on platforms dedicated to preparing for technical interviews. Anticipate questions on data structures, algorithms, and system design.

Simulate the Test Environment: Remote developers are often assessed on their coding ability through live coding tests or take-home assignments. Familiarize yourself with coding interview platforms and IDEs. Time your practice to get comfortable solving problems under test conditions.

Behavioral Interview Techniques

Showcase Your Remote Work Skills: Communicate your self-motivation, time management, and communication skills --- vital for remote software engineers. Prepare examples from past experiences that demonstrate these traits.

Prepare STAR Responses: When responding to behavioral questions, use the Situation, Task, Action, Result (STAR) method. This technique helps you structure your responses clearly and effectively.

Follow-Up Best Practices

Confirm Next Steps: At the end of your interview, ask the hiring manager about the next steps in the interview process. This demonstrates your interest in the position and helps you manage expectations about the timeline.

Send a Thank You Note: Within 24 hours of your interview, send a personalized thank you email to your interviewer(s) expressing gratitude for the opportunity and reaffirming your interest in the role. This can leave a positive and lasting impression.

Conclusion

If you are searching for a remote job and need help finding where to look? DailyRemote is a remote job board with the latest jobs in various categories to help you.

How to find a remote job?

Daniel M. Wolken — Sat, 30 Oct 2021 06:24:30 +0000

Over the last year, remote work has proven to be a necessary yet sustainable option for millions of people to work. Moreover, as a growing number of companies embrace the idea of working from home for the long term, the number of remote jobs is rising.

In the course of your remote job search, you’ve probably noticed that many remote companies have become aware of the benefits of working remotely, such as Buffer, which has made remote work part of the company’s DNA, or Atlassian allowing over 60% of their employees to work remotely.

Of course, the critical aspect of looking for a remote job is that you’re interested in the position, only then you’re more likely to succeed. Are you trying to get a remote job? Make that happen now. To help you find a remote job that’s right for you, we’ve come up with some of the best strategies for finding remote work as follows:

Figure Out What Works For You:

The most crucial part of finding a remote job is knowing what you want. Do you want to only work with a specific type of company? Do you want to work in a specific industry? Do you want to work remotely full-time or part-time? Are there particular skills that you want in a job? It’s essential to know all of these things before you start hunting for remote work.

Are you comfortable working remotely?
Before you start looking for remote jobs, ask yourself if you’re genuinely comfortable not working in an office. And this includes everything from co-workers to office politics to the actual office itself. It’s all part of working remotely and whether it’s something you want to do regularly. If you’re not sure how you feel about working remotely, then it’s a good idea to try it out on a smaller scale before committing to full-time remote work.

What do you want to work on?
This is one of the crucial questions you’ll ask yourself. Because of the vast majority of remote jobs, understand what you want to work on. And, truthfully, there are plenty of companies who want to hire remote employees for a variety of different tech jobs. Another thing to think the type of position you want to work in, either a contract or a permanent job. It’s important to know what type of work you want to do if you’re working remotely.

How much stability you’re seeking?
Remote work can be done as a full-time, salaried employee for a company or on a contract basis for different clients. In addition, you can freelance for various companies. So first, decide what kind of remote opportunity you want—looking for? Then a full-time position will provide stability and opportunities for growth, whereas a contract or freelance position offers flexibility and freedom beyond location.

Are you comfortable working alone?
Yes, you’re working independently in your home without colleagues, which can be a little scary. But, on the other hand, no one would be looking over your shoulder to keep you organized and motivated; you are your own supervisor. So if you’re not confident about working alone, then remote work might not be for you. Working remotely requires a dedicated workspace such as a desk, equipment such as a laptop, headphones, a remote work schedule, and the capability to work independently.

How will you avoid distractions at home?
Working from home presents its fair share of distractions. So it’s essential to think about how you’re going to prevent them. Of course, the most obvious distraction is the kids. But working remotely is still a chance for you to get things done. And being distracted by the kids, the laundry or a billion other things can prevent that from happening. So the best thing to do is to identify those distractions and then find ways to eliminate or lessen their impact.

Build a Resume/Portfolio and Cover Letter That Proves You’re Worth Investing In:

When you’re applying for remote jobs, you must have a dedicated resume and a unique portfolio to help accelerate your selection and highlight your strengths. You need to prove you’re worth investing time and money into to be a perfect fit for the roles you’re applying for. Here’s how you can do that:

Up-to-date Resume and Unique Cover Letter:
Having a resume highlighting your previous work experience tailored to suit a remote job. Also, consider writing a unique cover letter for every remote company you’re applying to show the specific value you can add to each of them. Learn how to write the perfect resume and cover letter for a remote job.

Add remote tools you have proficiency in:
Project management, remote communication, and video conferencing tools such as Slack, Trello, Zoom, Skype, etc., are also worth including on your resume and are important remote working tools essential for remote teams.

Tailor your resume to display remote skills:
Your resume should consist of your best work, focus on highlighting your communication skills and work ethic, not just your job descriptions, to present yourself as a perfect fit for the remote role you are applying for.

Create a portfolio as well:
Find a website that allows you to create a portfolio that’s professional—and not to mention beautiful that shows off your work and skills in a way that’s easy to consume, apart from a resume and cover letter.

Avoid Common Remote Job Application Mistakes:

If you aren't careful, you'll find yourself ignoring the most important rules of applying for remote jobs. Unfortunately, these are the rules that will keep you from getting the job if you aren't careful. Here's how you can avoid them:

Do your research about the company:
Don't apply to a job posting just because it's remote. Do your research on the company and make sure you're not only a good fit, but you're the best fit for the job, and make sure your resume matches those specific skills.

Watch your words:
Don't be afraid to use emotions when writing your cover letter and resume. You need to show remote employers and recruiters you're passionate about what you do. If you're not, they won't be interested in you.

Be yourself:
While you need to sound professional, you also need to come across as being authentic. Avoid writing in the third person and represent yourself in the way you'd like to be seen.

Don't forget about your cover letter:
Don't copy and paste your resume into a cover letter, and don't send it as a single document. Instead, write a custom cover letter that will show an employer how you're the perfect fit for this position.

Don't be afraid to ask for money:
Remote jobs are hard to come by, and they're even harder to keep. If you have a remote job, you know you're lucky to have it. Be sure to ask for money at the end of the remote interview. If you don't ask, you'll miss out on the chance to get a better salary.

Don't put all your eggs in one basket:
While it's always good to focus on one to three jobs, you must keep applying to jobs on the side. You never know when one of those jobs will pan out.

Don't forget about your non-work-related skills:
While your work experience and portfolio are significant, employers and recruiters will be looking at your non-work-related skills as well. Make sure you have a well-rounded resume that highlights your ability to communicate and engage.

Know Where To Find A Remote Job:

Recruiters, remote job boards/sites, and freelance websites are all great places to look for remote work opportunities. However, big names like LinkedIn, Indeed don't offer many options whether you are looking for a contract or part-time position or a full-time salaried job.

Most of the careers support, but some jobs are not remote. Professions like software engineering, customer service, project management, recruiting, etc., can be done remotely. Here's a list of 11 high-paying remote jobs to give you an idea of what pays the mostand companies allowing remote work in 2021.

If you're interested in remote jobs and are searching for high-quality jobs from a trustworthy source, sign up for DailyRemote.

DailyRemote is home to thousands of employers looking to hire remote workers, and the best part some of the highest-paying remote jobs are also here. Search and apply for remote jobs and positions that interest you. If you get any responses, follow up with them on the spot. Always be connected to relevant remote jobs. Save money on a membership. Of course, applying for remote jobs isn't the only thing you can do on DailyRemote.

Unlike most job boards out there, DailyRemote doesn't charge you anything to browse remote positions, apply to jobs that interest you or even get hired. That's because transparency, trust, efficiency, and knowledge are the core values we follow.

DailyRemote makes it easy to find remote jobs that fit your schedule and interests. See which employers are hiring right now. Browse remote jobs that have already been posted. Get help with your job search by joining a community of like-minded professionals. And so much more.

When you search for remote jobs on DailyRemote, use the following terms to get all possible remote-work jobs available.

Remote
Work from home
Work at home
Virtual or virtual job
Online job
Home-based office
Off-site work

Lastly, create a remote job alert, which notifies you of new job openings based on a specific job title, salary, or location to increase your chances of seeing remote work jobs.

If you're interested in looking for remote work, there's no better place to start than DailyRemote. Plus, it's totally free to sign up. So, what are you waiting for? Get started today. Working remotely is the need of the hour. And now that you know how to find the remote job of your dreams, so follow these tips and start applying today.

How to Excel in Remote Meetings?

Daniel M. Wolken — Wed, 27 Oct 2021 06:38:39 +0000

Meetings have long been an essential part of how workers communicate in an organization. They allow workers to come together and discuss a topic in-depth, strategize, and help ensure everyone is aligned on their priorities and goals while working from home.

For remote workers, meetings are especially important. While tools like Gmail, Slack, Jira, and Asana are useful to communicate information about projects, they come with limitations. Running meetings is an essential part of maintaining order and structure on a remote team. But how can you run an effective remote meeting? What should you do to ensure everything runs smoothly?

According to a report by Buffer, 20% of remote workers cite collaboration and communication as their top struggle while telecommuting. With this in mind, it’s clear how important it is to think about what you can do to run a more effective meeting. In this guide, we will share a few top tips you can use to run an efficient and effective meeting in your remote company.

Before the meeting

A remote meeting is successful when everyone feels engaged and can contribute to the discussion. This process starts before the meeting even begins. There are a few things you can do to set up your meeting for higher engagement and participation.

Ask why you need this meeting?

Do you really need to schedule a meeting? This is the first question you should ask. A large number of meetings end up being unproductive because there was not a clear intention set for it.

Don't want people to say, "this meeting could have been an email", ask why you need it?Tweet this
Before you run a remote meeting, ask yourself whether the problem a meeting is designed to address can be solved without a meeting. Could you use chat or email to communicate on a particular topic, or can you answer the question without a meeting?

If so, don’t schedule a meeting, because unless it is clear that a meeting will be valuable, it will likely not be productive for all involved. Instead of scheduling a meeting, you could also record a loom for team announcements that don't require any input. Make sure to consider time zones when looking for a suitable time for your meeting.

Prepare the agenda

If a meeting is appropriate, take some time to prepare an agenda that outlines what you want to discuss and what action items should be raised.

For every meeting, it’s essential to create a clear meeting agenda that might include the following points:

Key talking points
Meeting structure including when and for how long you plan to discuss key talking points
Team members that will be in attendance and what each team member/team is responsible for bringing to the meeting.

Choose the right tools.

There are a number of tools out there to take a meeting remotely, such as Google Hangouts, Zoom, Skype, or other programs. With that said, you should spend some time figuring out which tools work best for you and invest in making sure everyone knows how to use them.

Before a meeting starts, consider what you hope to accomplish in the call and what tools you will use. The more time you spend preparing the tools upfront, the less likely you encounter technical issues during the meeting.

Here are a few popular remote working tools from the massive list of remote working tools:

Skype - A communication tool that’s available for free.
Zoom - A video conferencing app that offers screen sharing options
Slack - A free chat tool with user-friendly voice and video calling options.
Google Hangouts - A video conferencing option for teams using the Google ecosystem.
Google Docs - Easily collaborate on a document with remote team
GoToMeeting - A good option for large companies hosting large meetings.

During the meeting

After considering whether a meeting is necessary and you have set up the right tools, you’ll be ready to start running a meeting. Follow these tips to make sure the meeting runs smoothly.

Introduce everyone & Start with a friendly chat

In an office, there are plenty of opportunities for team members to get together and chat. These informal conversations are a crucial part of building strong teams, and they make everyone feel more connected to each other. However, in the case of a remote team, these interactions usually take place over chat—if at all, hence making remote communication a challenge.

You can increase engagement by ensuring that all attendees are introduced and announced at the meeting, including their roles. Before commencing the meeting, give people an opportunity to catch up for a minute or two. Encourage everyone to say “hello,” and ask questions like “so, where are you calling in from or how was your weekend?” to encourage people to be more open and set a good tone for the call.

Set Clear Expectations

Once you’ve introduced everyone, set clear expectations, and present an agenda for the call, this will allow everyone to understand what you hope to accomplish in the meeting and ensure everyone stays on track. Finally, ask your team if anyone has any other business they want to raise before the meeting officially starts.

Discuss action items

The key to a good remote meeting is for there to be a clear intention set. While an agenda goes a long way to explaining the purpose of a call, you should also make sure that action items are discussed. Establish the next steps, and get your remote team members involved with the process.

Are you looking for feedback on a project? Does a team member need to do something specific? Are you planning a release? If so, make sure these are all recorded. This is especially important because if someone goes away with the wrong idea of their next steps, they can’t walk up to you after the meeting and ask you about action items like they would in an office. So, make sure everyone is on the same page about the next steps during the meeting.

Establish Proper Meeting Etiquette

In an office, during a meeting, everyone pays attention and is not involved with their phones. But when you are calling into a meeting remotely, it’s easier to disobey these rules. So, when you’re running a meeting, maintain a code of conduct about speaking in meetings and proper meeting etiquettes which includes:

Everyone should have an opportunity to speak.
Phones, all Slack, and email notifications should be turned off.
Turn on the video when required and is possible.
Don’t interrupt other people when they’re speaking.
All technology should be tested before the meeting.
Read the agenda, and come prepared
Team members should be in a quiet and uninterrupted place.

After the meeting

After a remote meeting has ended, you can do a few things to make sure that everyone is on the same page and is ready to get to work on what was discussed.

Send follow-ups to team members

After the meeting, send an email or a Slack message to all attendees with minutes of the meeting reminding them of what was discussed. In addition, follow-ups will ensure that everyone has a record of a meeting, including people who were unable to attend. Documentation is particularly important to ensure that everyone is clear on the action items and implementing them.

The follow up should tell everyone the following key things:

Deliverables and next steps
Who’s responsible for following up on what
When the next check-in will be

Check-in on action items

In the following hours and days after a call, check in with people in the meeting and ask them about their progress toward their action items. Have they met their goals? If they are struggling, you can offer to lend a hand and seek feedback on improving your communication in the future.

Running successful remote meetings.

Successfully operating a remote meeting can sound intimidating, but with the help of the outlined steps in this article, you’ll be ready to run a meeting like a pro and work from home like a boss.

Ultimately, successful remote meetings have a clear purpose and make everyone feel involved. By the end of a meeting, people should feel like they were able to contribute and should have clear next steps set for themselves.

If you prepare adequately for a meeting, establish a set of rules, and take proper steps to follow-up after a meeting, you’ll be on your way to running great remote calls where everyone feels empowered, involved, and part of the team!

Go ahead and meet, virtually like a Pro!

While remote meetings might seem difficult to manage, they’re not. A little planning is all you need to ensure a successful and productive remote meeting.If you are searching for remote jobs, go over our guide on how to find a remote job? If you're interested in looking for remote work, there's no better place to start than DailyRemote. Plus, it's totally free to sign up. So, what are you waiting for? Get started today. Join like-minded remote working people in our LinkedIn community.

Best 20 Remote Companies hiring in 2020

Daniel M. Wolken — Thu, 17 Sep 2020 07:27:53 +0000

Given the advancement of technology, people tend to stay connected wherever and in whatever they do. Thus working from home is also becoming more comfortable than ever before.

Also, there has been an increase in companies offering flexible work policies and becoming remote-first; the remote job market is growing faster than ever. New remote job categories are also on the rise like accountant, writer, customer service representative, virtual assistant, transcriptionist, project manager, and nurse.

Seeking a remote job, worry not, we list down the best and top 20 remote companies to follow who are actively hiring in 2020.

Zapier
Zapier is on a mission to make automation incredibly easy and accessible to everyone at work. With Zapier, one can automatically integrate apps like Salesforce, Intuit, Google, and Dropbox to move data between them.

They are a team of 350+ people living and working remotely in 30+ countries. Zapier's asynchronous culture is based on Core Values. They are 100% remote with teammates spanning 36 US states and 30 countries around the world and are hiring.

See open positions.

Helpscout
Help Scout is the all-in-one platform designed to convert, support, and delight your customers. They have worked remotely from day one and have seen the extraordinary benefits of a remote-first company and culture.

Thus they hire the best talent from all over the world, allowing their team to enjoy flexibility and unprecedented work-life harmony.

HelpScout is inspiring tons of remote teams out there. Nick, the CEO of the company also promotes remote working and gender diversity in remote work.

See open positions.

Buffer
Buffer is an intuitive, streamlined social media management platform trusted by brands, businesses, agencies, and individuals to help drive meaningful engagement and social media results.

The company is a fully distributed team of 85 people living and working in 15 countries worldwide. They are a small team on a mission to help innovative companies grow their businesses – and along the way, they championing a more human approach to work.

See open positions.

GitLab
GitLab is one of the world's largest all-remote company with team members located in 65+ countries. Autonomy to create work/life harmony is central to their culture.

As a GitLab team member, you can work from anywhere with useful internet. You'll have the freedom to contribute to when and where you do your best work. And to top it, they are always hiring.

See open positions.

Automattic
Automattic is the company behind WordPress.com, WooCommerce, Jetpack, Tumblr, and more. It is a distributed company with over 1,228 employees in 77 countries, speaking over 93 different languages.

They are committed to diversity and inclusion, regardless of language or where they live in the world and are hiring.

See open positions.

Doist
Doist's mission is to help people do more each day so they can make the most of their potential. They specialize in productivity software.

It is fully committed to being fully remote. Doist philosophy suggests that work is better without borders, and remote work is the future, not a fad. Doist is a remote-first team that collaborates across 18 timezones and over 20 different countries.

If you don't believe it, hear it from Andrew Gobran, People Operations at Doist.

See open positions.

Mural
It is a digital workspace for visual collaboration, enabling innovative teams to solve significant problems.

The company is headquartered in San Francisco and employs over 200 people working remotely across six time zones worldwide, including office hubs in Buenos Aires and Europe.

See open positions.

Frontastic
Frontastic offers a cloud platform that accelerates teams in creating mobile-first frontends for the API economy. Frontastic has a base in Germany and hires all over Europe. They are growing and keen to do remote right.

See open positions.

TaxJar
TaxJar makes eCommerce easier for everyone by letting you spend time on your business, not sales tax. It is a 100% remote team that knows first-hand the sales tax challenges they are working to resolve.

It is a fully-distributed company whose employees reside all across the US, working from our homes, co-working spaces, coffee shops — even a boat! They recruit from a diverse pool of candidates and are hiring now.

See open positions.

X-Team
X-Team helps companies scale their development teams by providing them with motivated developers from around the world.

The company is 100% remote and believes in building a world where developers can access an environment of growth and incredible opportunities regardless of where they live.

See open positions.

Aha
Aha! is for teams that want to build strategic roadmaps and deliver better products, projects, and services. Read more about Aha! from co-founder and CEO Brian de Haaff's in his bestselling book, Lovability.

The company is self-funded and profitable, with an entirely remote team. They propose the mantra "Work from anywhere and be happy".

See open positions.

Modus Create
It is a disruptive consulting firm that helps companies transform for success in the digital future. Modus Create is founded on the principles of digital transformation.

It is a fully distributed organization, which means they recruit worldwide, no matter wherever they are.

See open positions.

Close
At Close, they are building the best sales automation CRM for inside sales teams. They tend to lead the industry toward eliminating manual processes and helping companies close more deals (faster).

Since 2013, the company operates as a 100% globally distributed team, a remote-first company of 43 high-performing, happy people dedicated to building a product our customers love!

See open positions.

Toptal
Toptal is an elite network of the world's top talent in business, design, and technology, on-demand. With over 500 individuals in over 60 countries helping operate our core business, it has a fully-distributed and highly-skilled global workforce.

It is one of the world's largest fully remote company and is hiring right now. They allow employees to work wherever, on your terms. For them, being fully remote means all you need is wifi and a laptop.

See open positions.

Hotjar
Hotjar is a product that reveals the online behavior and voice of a website’s users. Headquartered on the beautiful island of Malta, Hotjar is a start-up that operates on a fully remote basis, and with a critical emphasis on personal development.

Their global team comprises over 100 employees working remotely in an agile environment throughout Europe, the Americas, and Africa. They actively encourage both personal and professional growth; always be learning is one of our core values.

See open positions.

Wikimedia Foundation
The Wikimedia Foundation, Inc is a nonprofit charitable organization dedicated to encouraging the growth, development, and distribution of free, multilingual content and providing the full content of these wiki-based projects to the public. Their motto: "Make the internet a better place for free knowledge, work with us."

See open positions.

Source Coders
Source Coders is a recruiting partner to leading tech companies: supporting, building, and scaling software engineering teams. With headquarters in Los Angeles, California, and London, UK, we are a team of passionate professionals with over two decades of experience in the tech recruiting industry.

See open positions.

Invision
InVision is the Digital Product Design platform used to make great customer experiences. They provide design tools and educational resources for teams to navigate every stage of the product design process, from ideation to development.

According to them: "Who says you need to move to work at a great company? Not us. We know there's a great talent all over the place, and we are a completely distributed company. Do great work from an environment that you're comfortable in."

See open positions.

Auth0
Auth0 is the first identity management platform for application builders, and the only identity solution needed for custom-built applications.

With employees located in over 30 countries, they have a worldwide presence. They take pride in being a company that enables their team members to work virtually and collaborate globally.

See open positions.

Komoot
Komoot is a personal guide for a great outdoor experience. Millions of people all over Europe explore nature with their iPhone and Android app.

They provide navigation and recommendation technology for cycling and hiking tours and enable everyone to have outdoor experiences. Everywhere.

The company is headquartered at Potsdam at a lake, but their team works all over Europe. Bavarian mountains? The Canary Islands? A little house at a lake? Booming Berlin? Work from anywhere.

See open positions.

The boom of the remote job market has provided more flexibility to people choosing where they live and what career they would like to pursue. Because they have no commute and have the freedom to work anywhere, they can reclaim that elusive work-life balance everybody talks.

We suggest looking out to these great remote companies when deciding which companies to target when looking for a remote job. If you are a company looking to hire talented people, post a job, and reach thousands of great candidates.

Apart from these companies, there are thousands of jobs listed on DailyRemote, start looking and applying. Stay safe and healthy.

7 Tips To Work From Home Like A Boss

Daniel M. Wolken — Wed, 10 Jun 2020 10:26:28 +0000

We are dealing with difficult times during this pandemic. About 20% of the entire Earth's population is stuck-at-home due to Coronavirus. Only a lucky few are able to work-from-home. Rest are either being laid off or are put on unpaid leave for months.

Working from home is the only option left to safely work. Hundreds of people are left working from home for the first time, most of which are unsure how to do that. Numerous people associate remote work with leisure sleepy days including lounging around in pajamas.

Although working from home offers flexibility, it's still is an actual job that requires complete attention. Additionally, transitioning from an office work culture can be hard. Especially on your productivity and social life. However, take off your training wheels and read our advice on how to work-from-home effectively.

Set a Daily Routine

Routine is nothing but a sequence of habits, which helps us in productively power throughout the day. The Power of Habit, explains the importance of building a habit and keeping it.

Unlike the office, when working from home, there is no boss to watch over your shoulders. Thus, it's very easy to fall in the rabbit hole of procrastination and waste time on social media. Things can add up pretty fast if you're not vigilant about your day-to-day activities.

Therefore, it's essential to have a daily routine, to maximize productivity by avoiding all the common pitfalls.

Set the right mindset early on in the day. Start the day early, shower as if you're leaving for work, dress up, and log into work.
It is VERY essential to have a to-do list for the day. Block calendar for uninterrupted work time, including log-off time, keeping your team informed. Don't forget to take breaks and not overwork.
Set clear boundaries between work and family time, leaving plenty of time for maybe reading a book, playing with your kid or pet before you go to bed.
Having flexibility, you have the freedom to set your work hours when you feel most productive. Sticking to specific work hours will help increase performance. Schedule different things by time blocks (not hourly). And maintain that regularly to make it into a routine.

Whether you are a morning person or a night owl, plan the day or the whole week to avoid burn-out, although there are jobs that require fixed work hours(like customer support). This being the number one trick every productive person uses to keep themselves on top of everything.

Workspace matters

Dedicate a place/room in your house to be your workspace, rather than settling on areas that represent leisure time such as the couch, otherwise, it'll be hard to do anything meaningful work-wise. Use that workspace only for work and nothing else. The idea is to trick the brain to transition to work mode.

If you feel isolated and lazy at home, another option is to work either in a co-working space, a coffee shop, or a public lounge that has Wi-Fi. Although right now, we highly recommend not going out at all to keep yourself and others safe.

A workspace is mostly made up of both ergonomic furniture and software tools that help you work from home effectively.

Office furniture

Invest in a standing desk and an ergonomic chair, other equipment like an extra monitor apart from your laptop, a laptop stand, wireless mouse, and keyboard to create your workspace. And to get in the "zone" make sure to get a good pair of noise-canceling headphones. Take inspiration from a well-setup desk from one of our interviews in How I Work Remotely series.

Software Tools

Feeling connected to your team is essential, in the long run, to avoid isolation and depression. Also, the right stack of online tools that fit your work style makes a big difference in your productivity. Tools such as Zoom and Webex for video meetings, Slack for company-wide messaging, Trello or Asana for project management, etc. removes this distance barrier between team members and keeps them organized.

Switch to work apparel

Constantly feeling unproductive and always end up procrastinating while working from home, try dressing up. Wearing work apparel similar to the way you would if you were commuting to the office will trick your brain into thinking you're actually at the office.

This tonal shift in mindset will cause you to get to your peak performance quickly. Mindset is everything. Apart from the psychological effect, this would also keep you prepared for any impromptu video meetings during the day.

Dressing up doesn't mean wearing something particularly fancy; a separation between your bedclothes (comfortable clothes) and work clothes is acceptable enough to get you into the right mindset. Once you're in the work loop, change into comfy PJs, and continue working. In all, wear away all the laziness.

Brush Up Your Communication Skills

In a remote company, all the employees are distributed across the globe. Timezone comes between the flow of communication. It's unlike anything you've seen in a traditional office setup. You can't just walk to someone's desk and prose a question. You'd have to get a hold of them via Slack or even worse, email.

Communication can be a little difficult, if not approached correctly from the get-go. It is crucial to articulate your points clearly with your team in a work from home setup and thus, it is necessary to master the art of async communication.

We ran a survey on Twitter and found: People want to communicate with their colleagues and want to have a chat just for the sake of having one. About ~20% of people only rely on Slack for communication.

Setting clear communication expectations

It's easy to disregard 1:1's with your manager as just another meeting, but it can be one of the most important ones for your career to understand your: goals, upcoming projects, aspirations, daily tasks, OKRs/KPIs, etc.

Communicating well with teammates often mean: expressing your concerns, suggestions on the upcoming task, collaboration on some task, etc.

Be ready to switch gears as each situation commands a different approach. Convey what you mean clearly and concisely, either via instant messaging, video calls, or email.

Be respectful and create a separation

Async communication is the key to remote work. Over the top communication is also not acceptable, like in cases you can do away with a slack message but instead ended up video calling; there is just no need to jump over video calls for small things.

However, in meetings like 1:1s and team meetings, embrace video calls as a chance to connect with your colleagues. Since there are less in-person social interactions in remote work, these would help in alleviating feelings of isolation and anxiety.

No Netflix rule

It's so enticing to binge-watch Netflix the entire day, or surf social media on a breezy Sunday. Despite your strong will power, you'd find yourself sneaking in a tab of YouTube in the background.

Taking fun breaks is essential, but watching entertainment shows can quickly turn your day into an unproductive mess on a workday.

We took this onto Twitter and the results shocked us. Not only most of people just browse Instagram, Facebook, etc. but an unusually large percentage of people like to relax and take a power nap.

How to stop media consumption during work hours?

Our brain craves instant gratifications; it isn't our fault that we can't seem to get away from it. Instead of bullying your mind into submission, employ strategies such as putting the phone on a high shelf, leaving your personal laptop while being on the work laptop, physically removing yourself from situations, etc.

Avoid any additional family distractions by informing your family about work hours and making sure they respect it. Other distractions such as household chores like laundry, meal preps, etc could also hinder working from home. Planning a daily schedule won't let your miss out on work as well as on family time.

Do this instead:

Relaxing is never seen as a viable option in the office going cohort. Ever. It's obvious: you can't relax during work hours! You'd either hang out at the Watercooler for a little chit-chat or play a game of Ping-Pong. But ~37% of people on our survey confirm that relaxing or taking a nap during the work hour is alright. Just do it gracefully and reasonably.

Exercise regularly and eat healthy meals

Working from home doesn't mean compromising one's physical health. Our survey showed that only 30% of people strive to remain fit and eat healthily while telecommuting. It's worrisome.

Staying healthy is not rocket science. Add a slot for exercise, be it Yoga, Weightlifting, or Cardio, and just do it. Meditating before bedtime is also advisable. Sitting for long periods of time is the new smoking. Doctors recommend taking breaks frequently and going for a walk. Moreover, we listed our best picks for a standing desk, prefer it to avoid sitting at all.

On top of this, the habit of continuously snacking is leading to weight gain among telecommuters, since the kitchen and refrigerator are in close proximity. Have healthy meal preps done a day before to reduce the chances of unhealthily snacking or overeating. Make sure to schedule a time for regular exercise, have healthy meals and snacks, and remember to drink lots of water.

Get some sunlight

Staying focused during work hours is crucial, but getting too involved might actually do the opposite. Working for prolonged hours can decrease your productivity and hurt your posture.

Rather than just surfing the net, use these breaks to get away from your desk. Incorporate small spurts as a time to stretch in your daily routine. Plan scheduled short breaks to boost productivity and creativity levels, such as reading books or listening to podcasts. Treat breaks as incentives, this will get your work done faster since you have a reward to look forward to.

Add social interaction to avoid feeling depressed, isolated, and gloomy from staying inside all day. Go out to get some sunlight and walk with your dog and interact with people. Connect with your colleagues for fun meetings, play with your kids, and have peaceful family time.

During these unfortunate times, though, we recommend not stepping out of the house and spending time with your family indoors. You can still open some windows to let sunlight in and spend unusual time in your patio or backyard as a break from work.

The benefits of working from home for employees go beyond avoiding the commute and feeling relaxed. During this pandemic, it has become more of a necessity than a choice actually to stay at home and work.

We know it takes more than a wifi connection and a home office to work from home effectively. Start applying these tips and tricks to streamline your schedule and increase your productivity. If you have been laid off, visit DailyRemote for finding remote jobs. Stay safe and healthy.

How to Identify Legit Work from Home Jobs and Avoid Scams?

Daniel M. Wolken — Sat, 25 Jan 2020 06:12:31 +0000

Nearly 11 million people worked from their home 50% of the time in 2019. With so many professionals telecommuting, finding a legit remote job should be easy, right? Not necessarily.

While Twitter's consensus was with a "No," the amount of people who have encountered one or more scams is appalling. It's something that more and more people should be aware of.

The Federal Trade Commission received a whopping of 89,213 complaints involving telecommuting & remote jobs. As more and more people are going remote, it is getting easier for scammers to find more and more targets.

How to spot a scam in a work-at-home job?

There are a few things you can do to know if the job is unauthentic or illegitimate. You should know and be aware of all the red flags with any company.

Too good to be true
If the job seems to offer an outrageous amount of money for very little work, you should probably mark it as a scam. If you think the remote job they are offering is too good to be true, it probably is.

The scammer will try to sell you on the illegitimate job by acting all professional and genuine, but will not give you any proper details about the job.

The scammer might also give vague requirements for the job, that doesn't make much sense. So much so that even a fresh college graduate might be able to do it.

They reached out to you first
"We've seen your resume online, and you're a perfect match for the position we have open. Your skills perfectly align with what we're looking for in the candidate."

Of course, you are a talented person! But, apart from the flattery, there is no real crux in the message. They are offering you a position based on your resume and nothing else. It's a scheme to ambush you and catch you off guard.

The recruiter would try to reach out to you via email and try to give you a job without any interview. Be very cautious; don't get caught up in the scam for a shiny looking job with an excellent salary without enquiring about the job or the company first.

Again, not all recruiters reaching out to you are scammers. Just be extra cautious when moving forward in these situations.

Improper Job posts without a proper job description
A phony job post can be visible as soon as you cross it because of various spelling, grammatical, punctuation, and sentence formation mistakes. As the scammers don't have professionals to create error-proof job ads, anyone should easily be able to spot a spammy job ad from a mile away.

A proper job post should sound legitimate, authentic, and should have a company profile and email attached to it, even though it's a work-from-home job.

You should look out for the following qualities in a safe and real work-from-home job ad:

Reasonable pay with a proper job title.
The number of years of experience required.
Qualities and skills required.
Daily work and tasks to be performed.
Professional email address. Gmail or Yahoo emails should trigger a red flag.

They asked financial and confidential information
Scammers might try to lure you into entering your personal and financial information for the promise of giving you a remote job. They would tempt the applicant to fill out information for a background check and direct them to a phishing website designed to steal the data.

Your personal and credit information may be used further for various frauds or even sent to the dark web. Fake work from home job ads might also steal your personal information via email, asking to fill out your data for starting the interview process.

Back off, if you are requested to enter the following information:

Social Security Number
Credit card details
Bank account information
Personal identity details

Use of generic emails such as Yahoo or Gmail
A job offer should be from a company account or company mail address and not a personal email address. It's the same for any job application submitted, as well. Also, you should be able to find information such as the company's physical address, phone number, and website at the end of the email or on their website.

If you have received an email for a job offer from a personal email address using Yahoo or Gmail, and can't find any information regarding company details in the email or anywhere on the web, you have probably been targeted by a scammer.

You can quickly identify by googling the email address and seeing any scam or fraud tags attached to it.

They ask to pay money before joining
If they asked you to pay money or give credit information to complete the hiring process or to land an interview, you have discovered a scam.

They might ask you to submit a fixed amount of deposit or be directed to a bogus website to enter your bank account details before they schedule your interview.

Scammers might also ask your bank account details by keeping you under the impression that they're going to transfer your salary there.

You may also be asked to transfer some training material, starter kit, resume review, or onboarding course fees to start your onboarding process and get you ready for the remote job.

Don't fall prey to such scams because you should NEVER have to pay any money to get a telecommuting job or land an interview. Any job that requires you pay a fee to get the job should be an immediate red flag

You are offered the job immediately without verifying your details
If a potential employer cares very little about your qualifications and skills, they probably aren't genuine. Scammers will try to offer you a remote job even without taking a proper interview or analyzing your qualifications and fit with the company.

A real and legitimate telecommute job will always include a proper process for hiring, including but not limited to, submitting a job application with an appropriate cover letter. In a remote job, proper background check plays an essential role for any company, before offering a remote position.

If you don't see any of this happening, and the person is still offering a remote job with great pay and little or no work, be aware.

You don't see or talk to a real person
A legitimate company will NEVER contact you via Facebook Messenger or any other online chats to offer you a job. If you don't do a video interview or don't talk to a real person and they are still offering you a remote position, then that's a sign that you are going to get scammed.

If you don't give an interview, don't see or talk to an actual human, then there is no "real" connection with the company. It's just empty emails. If you can't find any information about the company on LinkedIn or Twitter, then it's a major red flag for fraud.

The scammers will offer you a remote job and try to pressure you to accept as early as possible so that you can't inquire about the position. DON'T fell prey to such scams, instead confirm thoroughly about the company before accepting an offer.

And, you can always check the most authoritative list of all the common scams you should be aware of.

How to know if the company is real?

There is a simple way to know if the company is indeed legitimate or not. You can leverage existing reviews reported about the company's operations, and it's remote work culture.

All you need to do is go to the Google search and type in a query like:

"Company Name" reviews
"Company Name" complaints
"Company Name" scam

You can see an example Google query here.

This will give you all the instances of the company indulging in illegal activities. This should be a good starting point for you. We highly recommend you not to move forward in case you find even a single red flag while researching.

How to find a legit work-from-home job?

Remote work is not just a trend; it is the future.

According to Buffer, when surveyed, 99% of people said they would like to work at least some of the time remotely for the rest of their careers.

Searching a safe and real work at home is not that hard, avoid making mistakes while applying for a remote job and just be cautious before accepting an offer from any company:

Check the company's contact information, including phone number and physical address.
Go through their website, LinkedIn, and other social media accounts.
See the company's reviews and ratings on Glassdoor.
Any news, funding updates, and press coverage about the company.
Try to network and interact with the existing employees of the company.
Ask them for a video call interview, don't trust a facebook message or online chat.
NEVER pay money upfront for the interview.

Finally, the best way to avoid scams is to search jobs on legitimate job sites and boards.

DailyRemote is a widely trusted remote job board and only lists legitimate and real work at home jobs. All of the jobs on our site are highly vetted, safe, and maintains a quality standard. We only list jobs that we're confident are from respected and well-known startups.

How to report a scam

If you have spent money and time on a work-at-home program and now believe it might not be legitimate, contact the company and ask for a refund. Let company representatives know that you plan to notify law enforcement officials about your experience. If you can't resolve the dispute with the company, file a complaint with:

The FTC at ftc.gov/complaint or 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357).
The Attorney General's office in your state or the state where the company is located. Find yours at naag.org. The office can tell you if you're protected by a state law that regulates work-at-home programs.
The advertising manager of the publication that ran the ad. The manager may be interested to learn about the problems you've had with the company.
Find the official company name, hire an attorney, and file a lawsuit against them.
Check with your Local Consumer Protection Agency.

Federal Trade Commission
If you're still not sure, check the company in the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to find out whether there have been complaints and whether the company has an unsatisfactory record with the Bureau(BBB). Also, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) provides information on commission actions.

If you see a phishing scam and the company has taken money from you, report it to Internet Crime Complaint Center.

If you were fooled, don't sit idle. Take action. File a report.

Have a safe remote job search!

How to Prepare for a Remote Job Interview?

Daniel M. Wolken — Wed, 15 Jan 2020 17:18:38 +0000

People love working remotely. It's the most significant change in work since the introduction of modern computers.

A US federal government report said that 47% of its employees were eligible for telecommuting and twice as likely to stick with them due to better work/life balance.

Companies are thus embracing the remote work movement to attract and retain their talent, who otherwise would have left if not for prolonged telecommute.

Remote job is lucrative, but landing one is hard. You're no longer in your local market. You're competing against the global talent. To get hired for one of these increasingly desired positions, like in all interviews, you have to impress your employer.

There are naturally a lot of similarities between interviewing for remote companies and an in-office one. There are some essential steps to prepare for a remote job interview, lets us walk you through.

Research about your prospective employer

Researching beforehand goes a long way. Not only can you ask well thought out follow up questions, but it gives you an extra edge over other candidates.

Talking about examples and use-cases directly in context with the company's products and services will allow you to build an immediate rapport with the interviewer.

Therefore, it's essential to have a decent understanding of the company's products and services alongside its mission and culture.

Keeping a tab on company events, press conferences, latest releases, and upcoming products will put you in the right shoes and probably ahead of all the other candidates.

Websites like Glassdoor can help you get started with your research. To examine the company's presence online, check their Twitter and LinkedIn profiles as well, although the best place to get all the information will always be the company's website. Be sure to check that as well.

Whether in healthcare, marketing, or sales job, verify the company's background, what remote means to them, and the person with whom you will be interviewing. Understanding the company's profile will convince the recruiter that you have done your homework.

Dress for the part you want

Although the interview is for a remote company, you'd still need to dress in business casuals, depending on the company.

If you've been working remotely for a long time, you might have a long beard or just wearing pajamas. Maybe your hair is growing long, and you look all messy. It's probably the right time to get yourself well-groomed. Interview with remote companies is still a real interview.

Don't hunch or appear informal and relaxed. Your posture should reflect your confidence and enthusiasm.

Even though the company has a casual environment, which most remote companies will, you have to look presentable and elegant in the interview. Get a haircut, iron your clothes, and avoid wearing anything overly shiny, or distracting.

Clean up your interviewing space and make it clutter-free

Sitting in a messy room, with clothes spread everywhere, toys lying around, or other personal items on the floor can make you appear unprofessional. Interviewing in a dirty place could make you look sloppy.

It is vital to keep your interview area clean and tidy, and your background neutral. Make sure the room is well-lit and be in a private space instead of a busy coffee shop area.

Apart from keeping your interview area clutter-free, setting up a home office is a better option that will also make you look professional. Also, take care of all the hardware and software requirements for your remote interview beforehand.

Keep in mind the following things before starting your remote job interview:

Turn on your camera to position your chair and frame your face perfectly.
Turn off your phone and screen notifications, close all unwanted applications.
Make sure your laptop is fully charged and have all your essentials in one place. Use a high-quality microphone and webcam to be at the top of your game.
If possible, practice the interview first with a friend, so that you have an idea of how loud you are and where to look while giving the interview.

Explain your motivations about going remote

Almost every company that's hiring for remote workers ask this infamous question: "Why do you want to work remotely?"

By default, you should prepare yourself for all the probable questions you might get, but this one, in particular, is essential. Don't go overboard with your desire to work remotely. Provide proof that you can telecommute easily and work from home very efficiently. Explain why you would be an excellent fit for the remote job.

Maybe you have been working in an office environment your whole life, or you want to spend quality time with your family, and you are a new parent, or you want to travel the world. You should be able to convince your recruiter that you are taking this seriously, and you have a valid reason to do it.

Whatever your intention is, your employer must believe your capability of working from home, that too effectively and productively.

Showcase reliability and be enthusiastic about the interview

Trust is the most crucial factor in remote work. Hiring remotely is a little challenging for the recruiter because they are not sure the person is reliable enough.

Hiring managers are a little skeptical when the candidate has no prior experience. As a prospective candidate, get a leg up on the competition by understanding the value of reliability in remote work.

Demonstrate that you have a clear understanding of asynchronous communication and with people working across different time zones. Showcase yourself being comfortable with the tools of the trade.

Stay upbeat and positive. Also, greet the interviewer enthusiastically and politely and make the interview an exciting conversation. Candidates who act indifferent or unsettled during an interview appear uninterested in the remote job.

Enthusiasm for the remote job gets the interviewee closer to getting hired. Keep in mind that show excitement, but not arrogance.

Prepare the common remote job interview questions

Your resume is selected, and you have landed a remote job interview, congratulations, you have already crossed the hardest hurdle in job search.

Now is the time to prepare for interview questions. Be prepared and plan answers to the most prevalent job interview questions beforehand; so that you’re less likely to be caught off-guard!

How will you schedule and manage your work?

Tip: Sticking to a schedule is essential when you're telecommuting. Mention a tool such as Trello etc. where you would update your task and a shared calendar that shows your availability. Try to bring a strategic plan/proposal to the table, with a clear outline of your work schedule and responsibilities.

Have you worked remotely before, what were the biggest challenges you faced and how did you overcome them?

Tip: A documented track record of successful remote work is always appealing to companies hiring for a remote position, so if you have previous experience, describe it. But if you don’t have specific remote work experience, don’t panic! Showcase work experiences where you have finished projects while working from home without direct supervision.

Will you be able to work without in-person supervision and take ownership?

Tip: If you can’t stay productive without a manager following you around, remote work probably isn’t for you. You need to display self-motivation for completing your daily tasks without your manager's supervision. You should take complete ownership of your work and finish it without your manager nagging you to do it.

How are you planning to maintain the quality of your work and productivity, while having distractions at home?

Tip: It is essential to let your manager know that you are completing your daily tasks on time, not just sitting watching TV instead of working at home. Explain how you would give regular updates via Zoom and send weekly updates via email to your entire team. Moreover, tell them you would plan your daily and weekly commitments using tools like Trello or Jira in the presence of your manager.

Do you have home office and a reliable internet connection?

Tip: Make sure you have a productive and practical workspace along with the proper tech and set up to work effectively from home. Have a reliable internet set up along with your home office setup, including a laptop, desk, headphones, etc.

What would you do if you had an urgent question and your team was offline?

Tip: Sometimes, it might happen that you ran into a problem, and your team is not available. You need to assure the recruiter that you are calm and collected when it comes to handling unexpected problems. Tell them you would take an efficient and proactive approach and do your best to address any aspects of the problem that you can on your own.

How will you maintain a healthy balance of work and family time while working from home?

Tip: Working from home means that you'll be able to keep your work life and your personal life balanced. Maybe you have kids at home or a noisy roommate or are sitting in a noisy cafe and working. Interviewers are looking for a subtle answer to this question. The recruiter wants to know how well you manage the distractions while telecommuting. You need to take care that you don't give yourself too much flexibility; you can let an entire workday go by without getting anything done.

What do you think are the most important skills of a remote worker?

Tip: Here are the most important skills every remote worker must possess:

Ability to work independently and complete tasks and achieving deadlines.
Strong communication skills and being always visible and available in work hours. Being responsive by email, instant messaging, and phone.
Having self-motivation to work remotely without in-person supervision.
Showcasing the ability to discipline work habits and separate your work time from your family time.
Being reliable and flexible while telecommuting.

Ask questions to your Interviewer

Telecommuting has many challenges and concerns. Any candidate seriously interviewing for a remote job should have questions regarding the company and their work policy and about others aspects of working remotely.

Here are a few you should ask:

How do you manage regularly scheduled meetings?
What communication and collaboration tools does the team use?
Are there allowances for home office equipment?
What's the average number of leaves an employee can take?
What's security strategy for remote workers? Does the company require the use of a particular VPN service?
Does the company organise any event or meet ups for the whole team?
How does the company figure out local holidays for time off ?

Send a follow up email

After the remote interview, remember to send a follow-up mail to your interviewer. It's not a necessary thing to do, but will go a long way! Send them thanks for considering you for this position and also remind them of the most essential points about your discussion. This would further increase your chances of getting hired.

When it comes to a remote job interview, preparation is vital. Prepping for a remote job interview can often feel overwhelming, but it is worth it. Just prepare for likely scenarios in advance and work through any glitches that might come during the remote interview.

How to Negotiate Work-From-Home at Your Current Company (With Email Scripts)

Daniel M. Wolken — Sat, 11 Jan 2020 08:40:29 +0000

60% of the top 20 companies listed in the annual World's Best Workplaces list have an active remote working policy - Great Place to Work® Annual Reports.

From Salesforce to Hilton to American Express, everybody is embracing remote work as it dramatically expands their talent pool globally. Besides the immediate cost savings from maintaining a larger office space, it also leads to enhanced revenue generated through increased productivity.

Thus, actively implementing work from home policy in their organization is also keeping their employees happy and satisfied, reducing the churn rate, and retaining the best talent. Inclusion of work from home policy is, therefore, a win-win situation for all.

Why should you consider working from home?

A 2-year case study by Stanford professor exhibits just how efficient working from home is. Telecommuting comes with a whole lot of benefits:

You can work from anywhere, which means no need for any office.
No office means no commute. Cutting out a commute is a huge time saver. Plus, a boon to environment.
Taking complete ownership of your work, thus making you more independent.
Working from home leads to fewer sick days.
Working remotely increases focus, resulting in increased productivity.
No commute means you can work longer hours, thus giving better work output as compared to an office day.
No office distraction because you design your own flexible work arrangement.
A flexible schedule means you can start your day early and end early as well. Or, if you're a night owl, flip the clock upside down.
More time with your loved ones, making you lead a happier and satisfied life.

It's clear: remote work is fantastic. The problem is the barrier to entry. Companies that employ remotely often require new hires to have remote work experience. It's a classic chicken
-egg problem. You can't go remote with companies unless you're already working remotely — quite the dilemma.

What you can do instead is start working remotely at your existing company. Asking to go remote is scary and frightening — almost as scary, if not more, as asking for a raise.

If you're struggling to go remote at your current job and asking questions like:

How to ask for work from home?
How to find a remote job?
How to convince your boss or manager to let you work remotely?
How to write an email to ask for work from home, permanently?
How to write a sample proposal for asking to work remotely?

We've got you covered. We'll systematically try to answer each question with two bonus email templates. So, dig in.

Analyse your situation according to your job

Asking to transition from office setup to remote work requires a little bit of struggle. So make sure you know what you're getting into, the problems that you'll come across when working remotely, the nuances, and everything else.

Numbers speak. You need to analyze and compare your productivity, focus, and time management skills while working from home against an office setup. It is crucial to understand your productivity, how you juggle your responsibilities, and tasks while working from home.

Whenever you decide to come out to your manager, show them the numbers. Numbers don't lie. If you're able to do everything you're able to accomplish in the office, and more, then there is no reason your manager will stop you.

It would be best if you also got a rough idea of how standard working from home is in your industry or field of expertise. Investigate to find any departments where people are already working in such a setup in your organization. Understand how they negotiated remote working, their remote work setup, and try to utilize it to your benefit.

Don't be trounced back if you are not able to find any department or anyone in your office who is telecommuting. Visit remote job boards like ours, and see if there are remote jobs available in your area of expertise. Be prepared to showcase an excellent case that demonstrates your belief in your abilities and the evidence that people in your industry and job are working from home effectively.

Identify the benefits to your organisation

The art of persuasion starts at someone else's benefit. In this case, it's your company. Your work-from-home setup should be mutually beneficial.

Working from home is going to make your life easier, no doubt, but it should also benefit your employer.

Increased productivity, overhead cost savings, longer work hours, and fewer sick days are some of the highlights you can boast about.

Addressing your manager's concerns and incorporating solutions for those in your flexible work arrangement is a win-win situation for both you and your manager.

Before you start a negotiation on a flexible arrangement for work, be sure to include answers to all the following doubts your manager might have:

Does working from home help you do your job better, and how?
Will working remotely affect your productivity and project delivery?
How will you manage your accountability on daily tasks and performance while working from home?
Would you be able to work longer hours with more focus given the distractions at home?

Be flexible and look at it from the company's perspective when negotiating a work from home arrangement.You should be prepared with your answers to all the concerns your employer might have. It will show your employer that you've thought through everything carefully.

Prepare your proposal for work from home arrangement

Outline all the points you have researched about your industry and organization. Then, formulate a well-documented proposal for your remote work arrangement.

Also, consider your timing: If you're a newbie or you're chasing a promotion, now may not be the best time to ask.

Things to keep in mind:

Meet your employer to discuss your situation in person, instead of an email.
Bring a strategic plan/proposal to the table, with a clear outline of your work schedule and responsibilities.
Your work schedule should not be drastically different from your current working hours. It can throw off your employer and can be a potential red-flag. If you're changing time zones, let them know in advance.
Be sure to let your manager know in advance about your situation, possibly by an email, discussing your job responsibilities and work setup.

Sample Email to Kickstart Negotiation

Hey [Boss’s Name],

I hope you're having a wonderful day.

I wanted to talk to you about something that is on my mind for the last few weeks. It's regarding my work arrangement and making it so that I am accomplishing my responsibilities and duties more efficiently.

I'm free on [time/date slots] and checked you don't have any meetings during that [date-time slot]. Shall I go ahead and block half an hour of your time?

I am looking forward to discussing this in more detail.

Thanks,
[Your Name]

Ultimately your goal should be to satisfy every doubt your employer has, understanding your remote work arrangement. Assure him that your productivity is going to be similar, if not better, compared to working from the office.

Your remote work plan should address the following topics:

Schedule: Sticking to a schedule is essential when you're telecommuting. You need to update your shared calendar, mentioning your availability. Working remotely comes with the added benefit of no commute; thus, you can start working earlier and end early, leaving additional time for your family. You could also suggest a trial period of 1 to 2 days a week to ease into it.
Performance analysis: Your manager needs to know that you are completing your daily tasks on time, not just sitting watching TV instead of working at home. It would be best if you gave daily updates via Zoom and send weekly updates via email to your entire team. Moreover, plan your daily and weekly commitments using tools like Trello or Jira in the presence of your manager.
Advantages your employer has from your flexible setup: Your work from home arrangement should be beneficial for both you and your company. Draft a proposal in such a way that shows significant positive changes in your work output, that favors the company. Suggest benefits like increased productivity, overhead cost savings, longer work hours, and fewer sick days for the employer.
Communication with the team: Use time slots on your calendar. Mark all the slots you won't be available. This increases transparency between you and your colleagues working from the office. Also, share your contact number with the team for any emergency when working remotely. Remote work setup at home:* Make sure you have a productive and practical workspace along with the proper tech and set up to work effectively from home. Be prepared with your flexible arrangement at home, including a laptop and other essentials like an internet connection, a good pair of headphones, etc.
Security: Keep in mind the security side of working outside of the office. We suggest the use of VPN's and data encryption software. It would be best if you comply with the security guidelines of your IT department.

Setup a trial run, prove yourself, and build immediate trust

If working from home is not a common scenario in your company, your boss is going to be a little hesitant towards your proposal; he probably won’t approve it right off the bat.

Be flexible when negotiating a work from home arrangement. The more flexibility you suggest, the better your chances of getting a yes.

Suggest a trial run for a month or two. Asking for telecommuting on some particular days in a week like on Tuesdays and Thursdays is also an option.

If you manage to grab a work from home day, consider it an investment and smash it. Perhaps most important, don't just meet deadlines, beat them. Use this trial period to prove yourself, which will ultimately drive you to remote work for a longer duration. The best way to get approval is to demonstrate that you are accessible, productive, and responsive.

Incorporate the following tips in your trial period for telecommuting and make it a success:

Show the power of distraction-free work environment by achieving your deadlines and proving to be more efficient in your daily task.
Be always available and visible(even more than in office). Be responsive by email, message, and phone and have a weekly face to face video chats with your team and manager.
Communicate daily updates of your tasks to your manager, along with your plans, schedules, and career goals.
Establish disciplined work habits to separate your work time from your family time. Use noise-canceling headphones and a concrete schedule to work from home.
Be willing to adjust overtime to make it work for you, your team, and your employer. Be a team player and gain immediate trust.
Be reliable and flexible. If you expect your boss to be flexible with you, reciprocate to meet their needs as well.

Sample Proposal:

Complete this proposal, schedule a face-to-face meeting with your manager to bring up the idea, and then email this proposal as a follow-up.

Hi [Manager's Name],

I hope you're having a good day!

I've been with [Company] for [X years]. I love the culture, the people, and what [Company] stands for.

During this time, I've made many significant contributions like [description of things you did]. Recently, I've also [description of thing you did fairly recently]. Least to say, I take pride in my work, complete it on time & love every minute of it.

I want to take this moment to propose an alternative working style that has worked for me in the past. I believe I am more productive when working from home, and it also gives me a few extra hours each day by cutting down the commute.

I propose telecommuting [twice a week]. I believe I can make it work since my position solely requires a Laptop and Internet. I am more productive working from home, with fewer distractions and breaks throughout the day.

Please consider my request; I am confident we can make it work. To keep me accountable, I can mark my availability on a shared calendar and will report back on the progress with regular check-ins.

Thanks for considering this. I am looking forward to discussing this with you in person.

[Sincerely,]
[Your Name]

Persevere, but don't be hung up

Stay positive and confident, and don't be disheartened if you don't get an immediate yes. Your employer will likely need to consider your proposal and discuss it with his superiors.

But don't be discouraged. Negotiating a work from home arrangement in between of orthodox office setup is difficult. But, change is always hard, be a pioneer, a flexible work arrangement is worth it.

Have patience and do your research, make a compelling case, and don't be afraid to ask — you just might find yourself working from home soon.

You have gathered all resources, even smashed a trial period, but it just not enough for your manager, the organization is stifled on laid out rules and you are turned down, again, and again, maybe it's time to move on.

Remote work is the future. Telecommuting brings several benefits, the reason being a lot of companies are going fully remote. Start looking for a remote job in your industry with the help of various remote job websites. You might stumble upon the best opportunity that suits your flexible work arrangement.

FAQ:

How would I know that you are actually working and not watching TV at home?

I have added points in my remote work proposal on how I would do regular check-ins and give daily task updates to the team. We could also plan my work schedule and the communication tools to be used to support my remote work. I will also keep the team posted on my task progress via weekly emails.

What if you are not available when we need you?

My work schedule, as mentioned in my remote work proposal, will outline the hours I will be available on email as well as Slack. I will start and end my day at fixed hours, which will also be updated in the calendar, marking my presence. In case of any emergency, I will always be available on phone during my work hours.

Our company does not have a work from home policy?

I understand that the company does not support work from home. But I can start with a trial period so you can see if this arrangement works before fully committing to it.

Will working remotely not affect your productivity and project delivery, given the distractions at home?

It might seem like my job might be challenging to do from home, but some of the fastest-growing areas of remote work including our industry and many more such as healthcare, technology, marketing, and sales have some of the highest paying remote jobs. I am positive that I can perform everything my job requires and much more at an equal or even higher level outside of the office. I have also mentioned in my proposal, how you can track my productivity and how I will balance my responsibilities. Still, we can do a trial run and see how it works for both of us.

What if everybody also asks to work remotely if I allow you to do so?

If we could work out this flexible arrangement and it is beneficial for both the company and me, you could think of making a work from home policy in the company. If working from home keeps employees happy and productive, you can offer such a flexible arrangement to more people as well.

Negotiating for remote work is still unchartered waters. There will be a lot of things your employer can argue about against remote work. But one thing is going to happen for sure -- either you're going to find a better work/life balance at your current job, or you'll jump the ship.

We hope this guide will help you in masterfully negotiating your way into working remotely.

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