How to Show an Employer You’d Be a Great Remote Worker

For employers, remote arrangements involve a leap of faith. Thus, they want to stack the odds in favor of success by hiring mature, skilled individuals capable of managing time and producing quality work without on-site supervision.

A job seeker can start building that foundation of trust during the hiring process by paying attention to the following actions that help employers gain confidence in someone’s potential to be a great remote worker:

Present your track record.

What better way to demonstrate telecommuting ability than a history of doing it? Qualms subside greatly upon knowing that other companies gave you the opportunity and you delivered. Your resume and cover letter should clearly feature what you accomplished in a remote setting and for which employers.

As you craft your “evidence,” remember to include freelance projects, part-time work, contract jobs, and side jobs. If necessary, bring up in-office occasions where you handled assignments independently or exhibited exceptional time management. Such instances show the ability to organize, prioritize, and deliver without hand-holding.

Radiate professionalism.

Forgo jokes about hoping to work in your pajamas if asked why you want to telecommute. Hiring managers want serious candidates. Dress appropriately for video interviews. Discuss your home office set-up, especially in terms of quietness and limited distractions. Acknowledge the challenges of remote work jobs, and outline how you’ll deal with them. Focus on what you bring to the table as a future employee rather than on how telecommuting will solve your after-school childcare dilemma.

Demonstrate your communication skills.

Employers consistently rank the ability to communicate effectively as one of the top traits for telecommuters to possess. Aid your case by returning calls and emails promptly. Produce error-free, succinct correspondence and application material. Ask relevant questions to gain understanding or double-check your comprehension. If you have experience using chat platforms, collaborating via shared documents, or participating in video conferences, point that out.

Be a great worker.

Finally, don’t get so wrapped up in the remote aspect of the position that you fail to convey why you’re the best person for the job itself. Cover all the qualifications in the listing to specify how your background and skills meet the company’s needs. A history of excellence gets a hiring manager’s attention regardless of where the work will be performed!

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Are you searching for “jobs near me?” Consider remote, work-from-home jobs. Remote.co’s sister site, FlexJobs, can help you connect with legitimate remote jobs. With new jobs posted every day in more than 50 career categories, including full-time, part-time, temporary, freelance and side jobs from home—there’s something for everyone. Start your search today!