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The Remote Developer Toolkit: Technical Skills That Actually Get You Hired

#career #git #github #javascript

I reviewed 847 applications for a remote JavaScript position. Technical skills were table stakes. Everyone knew React. Most knew TypeScript.

What separated the hired from the ignored? Evidence of remote-ready technical practices.

Here's the technical checklist that matters.

Your GitHub Profile

Remote managers check your GitHub before your resume. They're looking for signals.

Commit messages that communicate:

Bad:
"fix bug"
"update"
"wip"

Good:
"fix: prevent race condition in useAuth when token refreshes during active request"
"feat: add retry logic with exponential backoff for failed API calls"
"refactor: extract validation logic to reduce UserForm complexity from 340 to 120 lines"
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Your commit messages show how you'll communicate in Slack.

README files that onboard:

## Quick Start
npm install && npm run dev

## Architecture
/src/components  - React components, one per file
/src/hooks       - Custom hooks, prefixed with "use"
/src/api         - API client, typed responses
/src/utils       - Pure functions, fully tested

## Key Decisions
- Zustand over Redux: simpler mental model, less boilerplate
- React Query for server state: automatic caching, background refetch
- Zod for validation: runtime type safety at API boundaries
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Remote teams can't tap your shoulder to ask "how does this work?" Your documentation answers questions before they're asked.

Pull Request Descriptions

This is where remote developers prove themselves. Your PR template should include:

## What
Added rate limiting to /api/auth endpoints

## Why
We hit 500 failed login attempts last week from a single IP.
No rate limiting = vulnerability to brute force attacks.

## How
- Redis-based sliding window counter
- 5 attempts per minute per IP
- Returns 429 with Retry-After header

## Testing
- Unit: rate limiter logic with mock Redis
- Integration: full request cycle with test Redis
- Manual: verified 429 response on 6th attempt

## Screenshots
[Rate limit response example]

## Rollback
Feature flagged. Disable RATE_LIMIT_ENABLED to revert instantly.
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Compare this to "Added rate limiting." Which developer would you trust on a remote team?

Async Communication Patterns

Remote work runs on written communication. Show you understand this.

Technical decision documentation:

# Decision: Use WebSockets vs Polling for Real-time Updates

## Context
Dashboard needs live data updates. Currently polling every 5 seconds.
Users complain about stale data. Server load increasing.

## Options Considered

### Option A: Reduce polling interval to 1s
- Pros: No code changes on client
- Cons: 5x server load, still not truly real-time

### Option B: WebSockets
- Pros: True real-time, lower server load after connection
- Cons: More complex error handling, need reconnection logic

### Option C: Server-Sent Events
- Pros: Simpler than WebSockets, HTTP-based
- Cons: One-directional, less browser support

## Decision
WebSockets with Socket.io fallback.

## Consequences
- Need to implement heartbeat and reconnection
- Add connection status indicator to UI
- Monitor WebSocket connection counts in production
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This shows you can make decisions and explain them without a meeting.

Technical Stack for Remote Readiness

Certain tools signal remote experience:

Collaboration:

Version Control: Git with conventional commits
Code Review: GitHub/GitLab with required reviews
Documentation: Notion or Confluence
Communication: Slack with threaded responses
Async Video: Loom for demos and explanations
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Development:

Editor: VS Code with Live Share for pairing
API Testing: Postman/Insomnia with shared collections
Type Safety: TypeScript strict mode
Testing: Jest + React Testing Library + Playwright
CI/CD: GitHub Actions with required checks
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Monitoring:

Errors: Sentry with source maps
Logs: Structured JSON logging
Performance: Web Vitals tracking
Uptime: PagerDuty or Opsgenie rotation
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The Code Quality Signals

Remote teams need code that speaks for itself.

Self-documenting code:

// Bad: requires Slack message to understand
const d = users.filter(u => u.a && !u.d && u.r === 'admin');

// Good: intention is clear without asking anyone
const activeAdminUsers = users.filter(user => 
  user.isActive && 
  !user.isDeleted && 
  user.role === 'admin'
);
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Error handling that helps debugging:

// Bad: silent failure, good luck debugging remotely
try {
  await saveUser(data);
} catch (e) {
  console.log(e);
}

// Good: structured error with context
try {
  await saveUser(data);
} catch (error) {
  logger.error('Failed to save user', {
    userId: data.id,
    operation: 'saveUser',
    error: error instanceof Error ? error.message : 'Unknown error',
    stack: error instanceof Error ? error.stack : undefined,
  });
  throw new UserServiceError('Unable to save user profile', { cause: error });
}
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Types that document contracts:

// Your types show how you think about data
type RemoteJobApplication = {
  candidate: {
    id: string;
    email: string;
    timezone: string;
    availableOverlapHours: number;
  };
  experience: {
    remoteYears: number;
    asyncToolsProficiency: 'beginner' | 'intermediate' | 'expert';
    previousDistributedTeams: number;
  };
  application: {
    submittedAt: Date;
    customizedForCompany: boolean;
    videoIntroIncluded: boolean;
  };
};
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The Bottom Line

847 applications. Most had the same React, TypeScript, Node.js skills.

The ones that got interviews had GitHub profiles that showed communication. PR descriptions that explained decisions. Code that didn't require Slack messages to understand.

Remote hiring filters for developers who can work without constant clarification.

Your code is your interview. Make it speak for itself.

More on standing out in remote job search: jsgurujobs.com

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