So, you’ve seen all the unique ways a remote job can impact your life, and you’re ready to take the plunge. But there’s one little problem—you don’t have any experience outside of a traditional office. Are you worried that recruiters will pass you by before you even have a chance to interview?
If you’ve read that having no remote experience will prevent you from landing a job, think again! After all, everyone had to have a first remote job at some point. It turns out, there are many ways to position yourself as a qualified remote candidate with only in-office experience in your past.
Landing Your First Remote Role
There are ways to highlight the skills and experience you have in a way that will make you a competitive candidate for remote work. While you may not have years of experience working remotely, by being creative, you can demonstrate that you have what it takes to be a successful remote worker.
Consider unofficial remote experience
Remote work experience isn’t just relegated to full-time, work-from-home jobs. If you’re looking to highlight experience, think outside of the box.
Maybe you haven’t held a traditional full-time, remote role, but have you completed any work outside of an office environment? For example, you can mention how you’ve worked from home on sick days or when a significant storm prevented you and your team from traveling into the office. And don’t forget, freelance gigs count too, so be sure to include those.
What about any educational classes that you participated in? Remember, employers aren’t exclusively looking for full-time job experiences—they’re looking to see if you’re self-driven enough to manage your time when there’s no one in the same room with you.
Highlight in-demand remote skills
Working remotely is not the same as working in an office where you may walk down the aisle to chat with a colleague. Recruiters want to see that you have excellent communication skills that can replace frequent face-to-face conversations. You’ll also have to display your ability to be a self-starter and how you can manage your time efficiently.