Why is it hard to find remote jobs? Helpful tips to get one in 2025

9 reasons why you are not getting a remote job

Here are the top 9 reasons why you are not getting a remote job and how to tackle them-

You’re not prepared for remote work

Before we go into the details of how to secure a remote job, let's talk about whether or not remote technical jobs are right for you. Just because remote work is off-site, away from commuting and in-person interactions, it doesn’t mean you don’t have to work. In fact, remote work is equally demanding as working from the office.

So, ask yourself whether you are ready for this shift. Will you be motivated to adjust your working hours and maintain work-life balance? Moreover, when you work from home or any remote work set up, you have to monitor yourself.

The finest remote workers are passionate about their employment and take pleasure in their work. When you don't enjoy what you do, your bed seems really inviting. For whatever reason, most people experience a sense of dread on Sunday nights. Analyze that feeling if you get it. If you despise working in customer service, you'll probably despise working in customer service at home as well.

Having a remote job gives you the freedom to live the lifestyle you desire while doing the work you enjoy. Before you start looking for remote jobs, be sure whether you are ready for its ups and downs. Also, many companies follow full or hybrid remote setups. Knowing the difference between the two is essential before you start targeting for jobs.

Partially vs. fully distributed remote teams: what's the difference?

It makes little difference to an applicant whether the organization is fully or partially spread because the position is remote. But still, an understanding is always good.

The majority of fully distributed businesses began as such, and they have solid onboarding procedures (as well as continuous training programs) to show for it. Many organizations that are partially scattered have effectively integrated a remote staff.

During the interview process, you might wish to inquire about remote onboarding. If the organization says that its remote onboarding process is flawless, you'll be set up for success. Transitioning from a centralized to a partially distributed workforce can be difficult for partially distributed businesses.

You’re not looking for jobs on remote specific platforms

You're undoubtedly ready to storm the virtual gates of the remote job world if you're still reading.

If you have made up your mind for your remote work, the next thing is where can I get a remote job? The most common approach by many who are on this venture is they start sending resumes on popular job hunting websites.

Is this a wrong strategy? No, but the competition on these websites is too much. So, in order to get noticed, you need to be ahead in the game. Exploring other remote job offering portals is a good option. This gives developers a big spectrum to find for their remote job.

There is also another demerit of using popular job hunting websites: most of them don't have a good "remote jobs" filter, which could be time-consuming and discouraging. This is the reason why it is better to rely on portals that offer remote job specific opportunities.

Sending resumes with no remote work experience

Once you have decided on platforms for applying for remote jobs, you can now submit your applications. But, since you are applying for remote work, a remote specific resume would be more effective.

Here are a few things to include on your resume to make it stand out to remote companies.

Tools: Mention about tools remote organizations use software to bridge the communication distance. Make a list of any software tools you've used before. Slack, Salesforce, Basecamp, Trello, Harvest, GoToMeeting, Google Hangouts, Skype, Zoom, Zapier, and many others are just a few examples.

Communication: It all begins with your CV. Because remote businesses fail due to poor communication, they want to hire good communicators. Your CV should highlight your communication abilities, and errors should be avoided at all costs.

Your email communication with hiring managers and recruiters should be excellent, and it doesn't hurt to stress that as a remote employee, you'll take cybersecurity seriously as well.

Portfolio or innovation: Put something on your CV if you've done anything innovative at work as this adds weightage to your profile. This could be any idea you proposed after proper research or any problem that you solved by using your skills. It shows how competent you are and your passion to your profession.

Side projects: Depending on how you approach this topic, side projects might elicit a lot of attention. It’s good to highlight those initiatives on your CV.

Moreover, working on a project on your own demonstrates initiative. I recommend treading carefully because some companies, whether remote or not, may believe that your side project will take time away from your day work.

If a remote job requires you to work from a specific place, make sure to highlight your proximity to that area.

Results: Include any hard numbers linked with your remote jobs on your CV as well. For instance, if you have marketing talents and have quadrupled traffic in X amount of time owing to X factors, that is valuable CV information.

Autonomy: It's never a bad idea to bring up a moment when you were a "self-starter" or worked on deliverables with little oversight. You should value each moment you worked with little or no supervision. Your ability to work independently is important, but you don't require prior remote experience to do so.

Not preparing well for the remote job interview

In a remote job, you'll likely go through a video interview. If you have one coming up, it's always a best practice to be familiar with the different aspects of the interview to ensure you are ready.

Here are some key pointers to note before you go through a video interview:

• When giving interviews online, choose the quietest place with no distractions. Be sure to inform anyone living in your home of the time and where you'll be conducting your interview, so they don't disturb the interviewer.
• Ensure the lighting source is not behind your computer and your background doesn't distract you.
• Begin by logging in about 15 minutes before your interview to ensure that your audio and video are working in a proper manner.
• Make sure you smile and are confident. Look at your interviewer and listen to the interviewer throughout.

Neglecting soft skills

A remote office has a big spectrum, with employees hired from different backgrounds, languages, diaspora, and cultures. So, would technical skills be good enough if you fail to communicate with them properly? No. Your technical knowledge is only one part of the job requirements; your soft skills equally contribute. Hence, if you have poor soft skills, you are not getting hired.

Moreover, remote employers search for candidates who are passionate and trustworthy. And micromanagement is the key component for remote businesses, so I say trustworthy and good communicators. If you think you are weak in soft skills, focus on them. Understand how communication works in remote work. Get acquainted with software and collaboration tools that remote workers use to stay in touch with each other.

Not standing out from the competition

Another reason why is it so hard to get a remote job is the competition. It is fierce for remote positions. It's not easy to get a remote job due to high competition. Not only do you compete against the local talent, but also against the high-quality talent applying for the same position from across the world.

There are hundreds, even thousands, of applications that apply for the same position. This number might seem intimidating for many. But instead of approaching this with a negative attitude, think of the competition as an opportunity. Imagine how satisfied you'll feel when you beat hundreds of applicants to get the ideal remote job. Most people do only the bare minimum to get employment, meaning you have to be among the 1% of people who make an effort.

To stand out from the crowd, work hard on your skills and be aware of the current trends in the field. Also, connect with the experts to learn from them.

No research about the company

Make sure you do your homework on the company and services it offers you are applying to. Explore the company's "about page'' and learn about the company's founder and co-founder. Keep a note of interesting facts and details.

Learn more about the company's culture, read blog posts, and consider if you can discuss your experiences with regard to any goals the company is striving to achieve. You can gather this valuable information and incorporate it into your cover letter. This will show that you've spent time studying the company.

If the company's blog is up and you are interested in reading the blog posts, go through them and search for posts related to the position you're applying to. Maybe they're working on some exciting feature, and you can share your experience or knowledge in the interview and how you can be beneficial for the company.

Not sending follow up mails

If you do not hear back from the recruiter for about two weeks, you should send a polite follow-up letter, stating your interest in any working opportunity and the status of your application. This is a very effective strategy. There is no guarantee that you will get a job, but you are likely to get a reply.

Not trying hard to get jobs

Don't leave any opportunity behind when searching for a remote job. Referrals are the fastest way to get a job. Reconnect with your former colleagues and friends and inquire about any recent remote job openings. Let them know that you are seeking a new job, and then provide them with your resume, as well as any other details they need. Likewise, sending a thank you letter is also important during the selection process. That will convey your gratitude to the profession.

How to ace at your remote job?

Landing a well-paying remote job gives a sigh of relief. And you should give yourself a pat for achieving this milestone and brace yourself for the next hurdle, which is staying productive at your remote job and climbing the corporate ladder alongside. Here are some tips that will help you stay productive and organized at your remote job -

Make a working schedule

Though remote companies offer flexibility to work, you need to have a fixed working schedule to stay organized. Not only will this help you meet deadlines, but it will also make you a productive employee.

Having a good working schedule also ensures smoother communication. Remote companies that have employees stretched across different time zones face problems in communicating with each other. To avoid time non-availability, notify priorly to your teammates and manager about your working hours, so if there is anything to discuss, you can join for a call.

Create your working space

Working remotely is fun. Whether you work from your bed or from a couch in your pajamas, nobody is going to watch you. Your comfort is at your ease. But when has too much of anything been good?

This is why creating a productive working space is essential to avoid lethargy. Nothing fancy! A table & chair near a window that brings in fresh air can make you energetic to do the work. Some remote workers like to keep a diary and pen to note down important things. But it is up to you: see what makes you comfortable and work effectively.

Communicate effectively

Want to be a good remote worker? Then you need to have effective communication with people you work with. Due to absence of physical interaction, getting work updates of each employee and tracking their progress becomes challenging, especially when a remote company is big in staff members.

If you find that your manager is occupied, reach out to them for more work and tell them this is what you have been previously working on. Be responsible & take action. This puts you in good books for your manager, which helps you during appraisal and promotion times.

Ensure that your equipment works efficiently

While working remotely, network problems are understandable and can be excused once or twice. But if this gets too persistent, this could cause problems in your work life. So, ensure that your internet connection runs smoothly and the laptop works properly.

At times, it’s the camera that gives the hard time. Due to these technical issues, you could miss out important updates and calls. So, if your system faces any of these problems, get them fixed from time to time.

Be a cross-cultural literacy

Remote work welcomes people from all corners of the world. In the same manner, you should be welcoming and warm towards your colleagues. Do not pass any bad comments on your employees.

Instead, the better way would be to read about the cultural differences in your spare time. If you are not aware of someone's background or culture, it is good to be inquisitive and ask them about it in a polite manner.

Know when to go offline

Technology truly has blessed with the gift of staying connected for 24*7. And remote work stands on the pillars of collaboration tools and messaging applications. However, remote work doesn’t imply that you have to stay online all the time.

So, if you think you are overdoing it, take a step back. Respond to texts and calls when in your working window, unless there is something that requires your immediate attention.

Keep you body and mind healthy

Though you save those extra commute hours while working remotely, what doesn’t change is the amount of work you are required to do. Hence, you are glued to your screens for at least 7-8 hours.

This habit can have adverse effects on your health. So, make sure you pitch in time to do a physical activity. Mediation and Yoga can be very helpful activities to wash out the stress. Anyway, whatever activity you do, sincerely follow the “no gadgets” rule.

Read mails

If you have an inbox full of unread mails, better start a habit of reading them because this will be useful in your remote job. From assignments, updates, to confidential information, mails bind everyone in the company to each other. Make it a habit to check out your mailbox before logging in or out of your system.

Conclusion

Why is it hard to get a remote job?

Because you are not looking for a job the remote way!

Maybe you don’t know which job to look in for. Or where to apply for a remote job? Finding a remote job requires a completely different methodology - from creating a specific remote resume to applying on platforms that target remote jobs. There could be many reasons why you are not able to get it.

Here, we have discussed the top 9 reasons that are stopping you from landing your remote job and how you can work on them. Understand each of them and start applying for jobs. Turing.com is an AI-powered intelligent vetting platform that can help you find the best remote jobs. Try your hands on such platforms and land a job in your dream company.