If you:
- are tired of the daily commute, the office politics, and the rigid 9-to-5 schedule,
- want to break free from the cubicle and work from anywhere, anytime,
- are a programmer
Then you're in luck! Remote programming jobs have exploded more than ever before, and the opportunities are endless.
But where do you start? How do you find remote programming jobs that match your skills, interests, and lifestyle? If you're looking for remote programming jobs in 2023, this is the most complete guide on how you can navigate the remote job market and land your dream remote programming gig.
I've been working remotely as a developer since 2016, long before the pandemic made remote work the new norm. As someone who's been in the trenches, I understand how daunting it can be to find remote programming jobs. But fear not, because I'm here to share my insider tips and tricks for landing your dream job from anywhere in the world. So grab your coffee (or beer), and let's get started!
The Future is Remote: How to Find Remote Programming Jobs in Today's Market
1. Understand the Remote Job Market
According to Buffer's State of Remote Work 2023 survey, a majority of respondents reported that their companies are now permanently allowing some degree of remote work.
Companies are waking up to the fact that remote work not only saves them money but also gives them access to a wider pool of talented individuals. This means that now is the perfect time for you to learn how to find remote programming jobs and start working from anywhere in the world.
But wait…
Shit is hard yo.
While remote work has certainly become more popular in recent years, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, let’s admit it - landing one is not a walk in the park, even for programmers.
There are several reasons why an overwhelming amount of people find it challenging to secure a remote job:
- Firstly, remote work is highly competitive. With the rise of remote work, more and more people are looking to work remotely, and this has led to increased competition for remote programming jobs.
- Second, many remote programming jobs require specialized skills, which can be difficult to acquire or demonstrate without the right experience or training.
- Third, employers often have specific criteria for remote workers, such as a certain level of experience, a particular set of skills, or the ability to work in a specific time zone, which can make it harder to find a job that matches your qualifications.
- Finally, remote work requires a high degree of self-discipline and time management skills, things that not all people possess. This means that employers are often more selective when it comes to hiring remote workers, and may prefer candidates with a proven track record of working independently.
The Skills and Experience Needed for Remote Programming Jobs
Exciting opportunities await those who develop in-demand skills!
Keep up with the latest programming languages and technologies so you can set yourself apart from the competition and boost your chances of landing your dream remote job.
Skills You Need For A Programming Job
These are just a few examples, and the specific skills required for a remote developer job vary depending on the company and position. It's always a good idea to research the company and job posting to get a better understanding of their specific requirements.
Browse through the open remote programming jobs we have on our job board to get an idea of the programming languages, frameworks, and other technical skills that employers are currently seeking.
But if you’re not in the mood for deep research, here’s a quick list to give you an idea:
- Proficiency in at least one programming language, such as Python, JavaScript, Java, C#, or Ruby.
- Experience with a variety of software development frameworks, such as React, Angular, Vue for front-end, or Node.js, Django, Ruby on Rails, Spring Boot, or .NET for back-end.
- For front-end developers: an understanding of front-end web technologies, such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
- For back-end: knowledge of back-end web technologies, such as databases (SQL, NoSQL) and web servers (Apache, Nginx).
- Familiarity with cloud computing platforms like AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud.
- Understanding of software testing, debugging, and deployment processes.
- Ability to collaborate with remote teams using tools like Slack, Zoom, or Trello.
- Familiarity with Agile software development methodologies.
- Experience with version control systems like Git.
As programmers, we know that staying on top of the latest industry trends is crucial to remain competitive in the field. In the fast-paced world of remote work, it's even more essential to stay ahead of the curve. So keep your skills and knowledge up to date, and be well-equipped to stand out as a top candidate in the highly competitive world of remote programming jobs.
Skills You Need To Work Remotely
If you want to land a remote developer job, you need more than just technical proficiency in programming languages and tools. Remote work demands a unique set of skills that distinguish remote workers from their office-based counterparts:
- Self-motivation: Remote work requires you to be self-driven and self-motivated, as you won't have the physical presence of your manager or colleagues to motivate you.
- Communication: As a remote worker, your communication skills will be put to the test. You'll need to be able to articulate your thoughts clearly and effectively, without the benefit of face-to-face communication.
- Time management: You'll be responsible for managing your own time, which means you need to have excellent time management skills. You'll need to prioritize tasks, manage distractions, and meet deadlines without the physical oversight of a manager.
- Flexibility: Remote work often requires you to be flexible and adaptable, as you'll be working with colleagues from different time zones, and the work schedule might not always be 9-5.
- Collaboration: Remote work doesn't mean you're working alone. While you may not be in the same physical space as your colleagues, you still need to be able to work effectively as part of a team. You'll need to communicate well, share ideas, and be open to feedback and input from others.
- Proactivity: You need to be proactive in your work to make sure you're delivering results and meeting deadlines.
Note that having these skills alone may not be enough to land a remote programming job. You also need to have relevant technical experience and a strong portfolio to showcase your skills, and enough interviewing skills to get through the notorious interview rounds for software engineering roles.
Do Remote Software Engineers Make Less?
Not quite. According to StackOverflow’s Remote Work Developer Survey, remote programmers earn salaries that are on par or slightly higher than office-based developers. That means remote developers can enjoy the best of both worlds!
Key Remote Programming Job Market Takeaways
- Remote work has boomed, especially for programming jobs, due to Covid as well as companies realizing the many benefits of allowing remote work.
- Despite the huge increase in remote programming jobs, it’s very hard to land one, mainly due to the tough competition as more and more people want to work remotely.
- You obviously need to have the relevant technical skills and experience to land any kind of programming job, and you can browse our site’s job listings to get an idea of what remote companies are looking for.
- Beyond technical skills, you also need additional skills to stand out in the competitive remote job market.
- And finally, software engineers who work remotely earn just as much, if not more, than their office-based counterparts.
2. Tailor Your Resume And Cover Letter For Your Dream Job
A generic, one-size-fits-all resume or cover letter won't cut it if you want to stand out in a competitive job market. So don't settle for a generic resume and cover letter that gets lost in the pile. Choose to stand out in a sea of applicants!
To make yours stand out, you need to start by researching the company and position you're interested in. For example, if you're eager to land a remote job at a fully remote company like Slack, then familiarize yourself with their tech stack, values, vision, mission, and culture. Show them that you not only understand their business, but also have the skills and expertise to contribute to their team in a remote setting.
With a targeted approach, you can showcase your skills and experience in a way that resonates with the employer and highlights why you are the perfect fit for the specific job.
How?
How To Craft An Impressive Resume And Cover Letter For Remote Developer Jobs
Highlight relevant skills and experience for the specific job, while also using keywords
One of the key elements of tailoring your resume and cover letter is to customize it to match the job posting. Make sure to please both the humans and the ATS.
Let me explain.
On the human side of things, your resume and cover letter will be looked at by a recruiter or hiring manager for around 6 seconds before they decide whether or not to put it in the “reject” pile. For just one job opening, they get hundreds of applications, so it's important to make a good first impression.
Make sure to highlight your relevant experience and skills, any programming languages, frameworks, or tools that are mentioned in the job posting, as well as any relevant experience you have working remotely or in a similar industry. Focus on your accomplishments and how you have made a positive impact in your previous roles, rather than just listing your responsibilities.
As for pleasing the ATS, you need to use specific keywords and phrases from the job posting to show that you have the skills and experience that the employer is looking for. ATS will be crawling your resume for those keywords.
Get It Reviewed
Job hunting is a numbers game. If you’re not getting any callbacks for an interview, then you’re probably not applying enough. But if you’re applying to more than 10 a day, or hundreds per month, and you’re still not getting interviews, then it’s your resume.
Fix that shit.
You can submit an anonymous version to /r/EngineeringResumes, hire professional resume writers, or even use one of the many AI resume builders that are emerging nowadays that customize your resume based on the job description.
Remember, it’s a tough and competitive market right now. You gotta use all the leverage you can get.
Proofread!
Finally, don't forget to proofread and edit your resume carefully before submitting it. Even the smallest typo or grammatical error can send “red flag” signals to a potential employer. Ensure your resume is clear, concise, and error-free to make the best possible impression on hiring managers.
The Powers You Will Unlock
If you spend time on making your resume the best that it can be, then you’ll get more interviews. Simple as that. Don’t let the many remote engineering job opportunities you see on this site go to waste by submitting a not-so-impressive resume.
Key Software Engineer Resume & Cover Letter Takeaways
- A generic resume and cover letter won’t cut it in the competitive programming market, let alone the remote job market.
- Tailoring your resume and cover letter for each job posting is essential, not only so you can stand out in a sea of applicants and get noticed by recruiters and hiring managers, but also so you don’t get auto-rejected by Applicant Tracking Systems.
- You need all the leverage you can get in this competitive market, so it’s important to have your resume reviewed by experts. You can also use AI resume and cover letter writers to tailor it for each job.
- Proofread your resume and cover letter before submitting it, as a tiny mistake may cost you the job as ATS or recruiters dump your resume into the “rejection” pile.
- Spending some time on making your resume and cover letter impressive is worth it because you’ll land more interviews this way.
3. Utilize Job Boards
Use Developer-specific Job Boards
Don’t Forget Remote Job Boards
The Best Job Board To Find Remote Programming Jobs
Job boards for developers abound, as do those tailored to specific programming languages and frameworks. Additionally, there are plenty of job boards that exclusively list remote opportunities.
However, https://remotesoftwareengineeringjobs.com is the only job board that exclusively features remote software engineering jobs where each job listing is carefully hand-picked to ensure quality over quantity. Moreover, we only post jobs with a transparent hiring process, because job-hunting is a pain in the ass. The least that employers could do is let you know what to expect beforehand, so that the job search process smoother and more efficient. 🙂
4. Develop a Strong Software Engineer Brand
Want to be easily found by employers and recruiters, stand out from the competition, and secure a remote developer job? Then build a strong personal brand and online presence!
In today's digital age, a robust online presence not only makes it easier for potential employers to find and connect with you, but it also gives them a better sense of your personality and work style.
You can start by creating professional social media profiles on platforms such as LinkedIn and Twitter. Make sure your profiles are complete and up-to-date, highlighting your skills, experience, and achievements. During your free time, engage with other software engineers by commenting on their posts, sharing relevant content, and joining industry groups and communities.
This also helps with networking, another important aspect of the job hunt, but more on that later.
Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile
LinkedIn is one of the most important online platforms for software engineers looking to find programming jobs, both remote and on-site.
Make sure your LinkedIn profile is fully optimized by including a professional headshot, a strong headline, and a summary that highlights your skills and experience. Use keywords related to your field to increase your chances of appearing in search results.
Make sure you have a complete work history section that includes all relevant work experience, education, and certifications. Ask colleagues and former employers to endorse your skills and write recommendations for you, which can greatly enhance your credibility and increase your chances of being noticed by potential employers.
Your Software Developer Portfolio
Include examples of your best work, such as code snippets, websites, or applications, and make sure your portfolio is visually appealing and easy to navigate.
There are many online platforms you can use to host your portfolio, such as GitHub Pages, Netlify, and Heroku. Make sure to include a link to your portfolio in your resume and LinkedIn profile so that potential employers can easily access it.
Other Online Platforms to Showcase Your Skills and Experience
There are other online platforms you can use to showcase your skills and experience as a remote software engineer.
Your Blog or Website
For example, consider creating a personal blog or website where you can share your thoughts and insights on programming and technology. This way, you can demonstrate your expertise in the field and help you build a following of like-minded professionals.
Contribute To Open Source
Another option is to participate in open-source projects, so you can contribute to existing projects and build your reputation within the programming community. This can also help you gain valuable experience working with others on a team and collaborating on complex projects.
Key Software Developer Brand and Online Presence Takeaways
- Having a strong personal brand and online presence is one way to stand out and secure remote programming jobs.
- Showcase your skills and experience through an optimized LinkedIn profile, a portfolio of your work, and other online platforms.
- Consider creating a personal blog or website to showcase your expertise and build a following of like-minded professionals.
- Participate in open-source projects on platforms like GitHub to gain valuable experience working with others on a team and collaborating on complex projects.
5. Build Your Network
“It’s not about what you know, it’s about who you know”.
I agree. I once knew a fellow developer who recently quit her job and was looking for another company to join at the time. I knew she was a competent front-end dev, and even though she used a different framework at her previous company, I knew that her JavaScript and web dev skills are solid, and she loves learning new things and could easily pick up our framework. Also, I knew that she would fit right into our company culture.
That’s why when we had an opening for a new front-end developer, I did not hesitate to let her know. I was also tasked with reviewing resumes, assigning take-home assignments, and interviewing candidates. Because of this responsibility, I immediately let my boss know about my personal connection with one of the candidates, and suggested that someone else from the team conduct her interview to ensure impartiality. My boss asked me why I referred her to the job and I told him the reasons that I mentioned earlier.
In an unexpected turn of events, my boss decided to interview her straight away, which is supposed to be the final round of the hiring process. He liked her and she was hired.
That means she didn’t have to do the take-home tasks and go through multiple interview rounds.
The right connections can make all the difference. The tech industry is rather gloomy right now, as tech companies announce mass layoffs almost every week. Not to mention that remote jobs are even more competitive because everybody wants them.
But if you know someone working at a company that you’re interested in, who can put in a good word for you, then you have an edge.
So when you’re job-hunting as a software engineer, don’t ignore networking. It’s a hidden gem for discovering new job opportunities and connecting with like-minded engineers.
6. Prepare for Software Engineering Job Interviews
To prepare for a programming job interview:
- Start by reviewing the job description and researching the company and the interviewer.
- Brush up on your technical skills, such as programming languages, data structures, algorithms, and software design patterns. Practice coding challenges and algorithm problems, either on your own, through a platform like LeetCode or HackerRank, or by taking coding interview courses.
- Get familiar with the technical skills and knowledge required for the job, and practice coding with those technologies.
- Review your resume and be ready to highlight your accomplishments and experience.
- Finally, prepare a list of questions to ask the interviewer to demonstrate your interest in the company and the position.
7. Best practices for staying organized and tracking your job search progress
I already told you that it’s a numbers game. That means you’re gonna have to be applying to multiple jobs per day, or hundreds per month. That also means you need a way to stay organized and track your job search progress.
- Determine how many job applications you want to submit each day, week, or month.
- Break down the job search process into manageable tasks, such as researching companies, networking, applying to job postings, and following up with recruiters or hiring managers.
- Keep a detailed record of your job applications.
- Create a spreadsheet or use an online job tracking tool to keep track of your job applications.
- Include the date you applied, position, company, and any relevant notes.
- Keep track of your communication with recruiters and hiring managers in your job tracking tool or spreadsheet.
- Use a consistent naming convention for your resume and cover letter files, so you can easily identify which application corresponds to which job.
- Save all of your job search documents, including your resume, cover letter, and references, in a dedicated folder on your computer or the cloud.
8. How to stay motivated and productive while searching for a remote programming job
Establish a routine
Job-hunting is 10x harder without a set routine. Establish a consistent schedule for your job-search activities, including breaks and time off, to keep yourself accountable and productive.
- Set daily, weekly, and monthly goals to keep yourself motivated.
- Create a dedicated workspace that is comfortable and free of distractions.
Stay organized
Staying organized can help you stay on top of your job search and maintain focus. We already went through that above, so let’s move on to the next one…
Learn new skills
While searching for a remote developer job, you can also take the opportunity to learn new skills or improve existing ones.
Not only will this help you stand out from other job candidates and increase your chances of getting hired, but it also helps you stay motivated and builds your confidence.
- Take online courses or tutorials to learn new programming languages, frameworks, or tools, or to brush up on your data structures and algorithms.
- Participate in online coding challenges or hackathons to practice your skills and showcase your work to potential employers.
Stay connected
Staying connected with other professionals in your field can help you stay motivated and engaged while searching for a remote programming job. You can motivate each other, celebrate each other’s wins, and encourage one another when things get tough.
- Join online communities or forums where you can connect with other programmers and learn about industry news and trends.
- Attend online conferences or webinars to learn from industry experts and connect with other professionals.
Take care of yourself
Finally, it's important to take care of yourself both physically and mentally while searching for a remote programming job.
- Take breaks throughout the day to stretch, exercise, or do something you enjoy.
- Practice self-care activities such as meditation, journaling, or talking with a friend or family member.
- Get enough sleep and eat healthy meals to maintain your physical health.
- Seek professional help if you are feeling overwhelmed or stressed during your job search.
Celebrate small wins along the way
This will help you stay motivated and positive, and it can also help you maintain your momentum as you continue your job search. Small wins can be things like:
- Completing an online course or tutorial
- Receiving positive feedback on a project or assignment
- Connecting with a potential employer or mentor
- Landing an interview for a programming job
9. Examples of Successful Remote Companies
You don’t want any programming job, you want a remote one. Great! That means you need to put in more effort into researching companies and evaluating their remote work policies and culture.
This way, you can ensure that you’ll find a company that supports your work style, preferences, and goals.
Here are some examples of successful remote companies:
- GitLab: GitLab is a company that provides a web-based Git repository manager with continuous integration and deployment (CI/CD) features. The company is fully remote and has more than 1,300 employees in 65 countries. GitLab is known for its strong remote culture and has published a popular remote work handbook that is freely available online.
- Automattic: Automattic is the company behind WordPress.com and other popular web-based tools such as WooCommerce, Jetpack, and Akismet. The company is fully remote and has more than 1,200 employees in 75 countries. Automattic is known for its flexible work environment, which includes unlimited vacation time and a strong emphasis on work-life balance.
- InVision: InVision is a digital product design platform that helps teams create and manage prototypes, animations, and design systems. The company is fully remote and has more than 1,100 employees in 20 countries. InVision is known for its strong remote culture and has won multiple awards for its workplace practices, including being named one of the best remote companies to work for by Forbes.
- Zapier: Zapier is a web automation platform that connects more than 3,000 web apps, allowing users to automate workflows and save time. The company is fully remote and has more than 300 employees in 28 countries. Zapier is known for its emphasis on work-life balance and offers a range of benefits to support its remote workforce, such as a travel stipend and a wellness program.
- Buffer: Buffer is a social media management platform that allows users to schedule, publish, and analyze social media posts. The company is fully remote and has more than 80 employees in 15 countries. Buffer is known for its strong remote culture and has published a number of resources and guides to help other companies build and manage remote teams.
These are just a few examples of successful remote companies, but there are many others out there. We even have a list of tech companies that are hiring remote now.
Our list provides information on the companies' operations, company culture, values, employee benefits, remote work policies, and available positions. By reviewing this information, you can determine whether a company aligns with your values before applying for a position, helping you to target your job search more effectively.
Be sure to also study their practices and approaches so you can gain valuable insights into what it takes to build and manage a successful remote workforce.
Final Words
As remote work continues to grow in popularity, more and more programming jobs are becoming available to those who prefer to work from home. However, finding and securing one is not a walk in the park, as more on more developers only want to work remotely, and the competition for these jobs is getting tougher every day.
We've covered some of the key strategies and best practices for finding remote programming jobs in 2023. We've discussed the importance of crafting your best resume and cover letter, building your skills, building your network, and researching companies to find the right fit. We've also explored some of the challenges of finding remote software engineering jobs and shared tips for staying motivated and productive while job searching.
Remember, finding a remote programming job requires persistence, patience, and a willingness to learn and adapt. The sooner you embrace these traits, the sooner you can build a successful career as a remote programmer and enjoy the many benefits that remote work has to offer. Good luck with your search!
Top comments (1)
Great post! Here is a list with Remote Jobs Boards for kick starting 2024 and Bonus Set of Companies hiring remotely.