With an increasing number of people seeking flexible hours and roles, the application process is getting more competitive. There are also online scams posing as work-from-home opportunities that you need to beware of. Here’s what you need to do to land a remote job and avoid the scams:
Apply quickly.
The key to being hired for one of these work-from-home positions is to apply as soon as the position is posted, says Charlette Beasley of Fit Small Business, a digital resource for small business owners. “It’s not unusual for 100 to 150 people to respond to an ad within the first hour it’s posted,” she says.
Make your work-from-home skills shine.
Employees who work from home need to be self-starters and highly motivated. So make sure that when you apply, you highlight those qualities and any other soft skills that show your ability to work independently, Silverman says. Call attention to your talent for keeping track of your own productivity and proactively asking for help, he says. For instance, your cover letter might say, “When I encounter challenges, I seek out solutions rather than waiting for the problem to solve itself,” and then include an example.
Focus on why you’ll be good at the job—not who you are.
Although many of the candidates who apply for work-from-home positions are caregivers and parents, there is no reason to focus on that fact when you respond to job postings, says Sharon Koifman, president of Distant Job, a remote recruitment agency in Quebec, Canada. Instead, highlight why you’re the best person to fill the role from the company’s perspective. “The reason companies hire remotely is because they can’t find the talent locally, they are trying to save money, or they are looking for someone who is exceptionally good at their job,” he says.
So if you’re applying to be a web developer, your application needs to convey that you’re the best web developer they can hire and explain why, Koifman says. For instance, your letter could say, “I’ve designed more than 50 websites for a variety of clients and I can turn projects around quickly with little oversight and direction.”
Be wary of scams
Before you apply for a position be sure that it’s a legitimate online job with an actual company. Even if it’s a company you’ve never heard of, you should be able to find information about the firm and look up reviews of the company online, Beasley says. In other words, you want to make sure the organization has a digital footprint beyond something they create themselves (like a LinkedIn page or website).
Most importantly, you should never have to pay money to apply for a position or to begin a job, Silverman says. Make sure you understand how you will be paid and how often, he says. And trust your gut. If you think something doesn’t sound right, don’t move ahead with the position.
Regina Borsellino contributed writing, reporting, and/or advice to this article.
