How to Tailor Your Resume for Remote Work
Looking for remote work? Here are some tips to think about when working on your resume.
Remote work has become increasingly common, with significant growth in recent years. Even before 2020, the world saw 7 million people embracing remote working styles. This trend is expected to continue, with forecasts indicating that over 1 million people in the U.S. alone will be working from coworking spaces by the end of 2024. As remote work opportunities grow, it’s crucial to tailor your resume accordingly. Here’s what you need to focus on to ensure your resume is optimized for remote work positions:
Tailor Your Resume for Remote Work
Emphasize Remote Work in Your Career Objective
In the section of your resume where you’d normally put your objective, highlight your accomplishments and briefly discuss why remote work helped you achieve them. If you want a remote role but don’t have that work experience, you should be explicit about your desire to work remotely. It’s important to make it clear in your application, cover letter, and resume that you’re seeking a remote opportunity.
Describe Your Remote Office and Why It Works
To address potential employer concerns about the productivity of remote work, it’s crucial to describe your home or remote office setup. Consequently, this should include a clear explanation of how this environment enhances your productivity. For instance, specify the elements of your workspace that contribute to your efficiency, such as ergonomic furniture or a distraction-free zone. Additionally, clarify how your organized process in this setting maintains high work standards.
Show It in the Skills Section
Tell your potential employer how you can communicate with your teammates while away from the office. List the tools you’ve used, like Slack, Zoom, Asana, etc. If the company you’re interviewing with uses the same tools, it’ll likely put you in favor of them. Show how good you are at time management.
Quantify how responsible you are and the size and scope of projects you’ve been in charge of.
You’ll need to be comfortable with video conferencing, messaging, and using team and project management tools. Focus on your skills, stats, and achievements instead of duties.
To effectively showcase your abilities to a potential employer, it’s crucial to focus on the tangible impact you’ve made in previous roles. Therefore, incorporate quantitative examples within your work experience, such as specific numbers, percentages, and dollar amounts. As a result, this approach will clearly demonstrate your contributions and help your application stand out. For example, you might mention increasing sales by a certain percentage or managing projects worth a specific dollar value.
Let Them Get to Know You Online
In shaping your resume for remote roles, it’s important to showcase your digital professionalism. Include links to your LinkedIn profile and personal website, eliminating your physical address. Simply stating ‘remote’ or ‘location-independent’ aligns with the nature of most remote jobs.
LinkedIn is crucial in your digital footprint and allows you to show a bit of your personality. Keep it updated to reflect your professional journey, mirroring your resume’s details. It’s an essential platform for exhibiting your skills, achievements, and industry engagement. Being active on LinkedIn, particularly in relevant conversations and groups, demonstrates your commitment to your professional field.
Adapting your resume and LinkedIn to these criteria shows employers your readiness for remote work environments, emphasizing your capability to thrive in modern professional settings.
Optimizing Your Resume for Applicant Tracking Systems
In the world of remote work applications, mastering Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) is essential. These systems, often employed by remote companies, act as the first gatekeepers in the hiring process. They automatically sort and rank resumes based on specific criteria, ensuring only the most relevant applications reach hiring managers.
To make your resume ATS-friendly, focus on integrating keywords that are relevant to your industry and the specific job you’re applying for. These keywords often include job-related skills, software names, and specific qualifications mentioned in the job posting. For instance, if you’re applying for a remote marketing position, include terms like ‘digital marketing,’ ‘SEO,’ ‘content creation,’ or any other relevant skills highlighted in the job description.
However, it’s not just about stuffing your resume with keywords. They need to be incorporated naturally and contextually. Use them in your professional summary, work experience, and skills section in a way that genuinely reflects your capabilities and experiences.
Remember, the ATS is programmed to identify candidates who best match the job criteria, so aligning your resume with these requirements greatly increases your chances of making it through the initial screening. By thoughtfully tailoring your resume with ATS in mind, you’ll enhance your visibility and get one step closer to landing that remote job.
What Employers Want to Know
Employers often see remote work ability as a distinct skill. It demands focus, discipline, and robust communication capabilities. When hiring for remote roles, they look for proof that you can efficiently work from a home setting. This means being proactive in communication, disciplined in managing tasks, and focused despite the lack of a traditional office structure.
Demonstrate in your resume and interviews how you’ve successfully managed remote work before. Examples could include managing projects independently, effectively coordinating with a team spread across different locations, or maintaining consistent productivity while working from home.
Showcasing these experiences conveys to employers that you’re more than capable of excelling in a remote work setup, equipped with the necessary discipline and communication skills to thrive in such an environment.
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Digital Nomad vs. Remote Worker
By Leslie Radford
**Updated February 2024
