How to Get a Remote Job- A Comprehensive Guide

What exactly is remote work?

First and foremost, let's clarify what a remote job is and isn't. Many developers confuse remote positions with telecommuting jobs. The two are actually different: Remote workers can work from anywhere, regardless of their time zone or nation of origin.
They aren't expected to come into the office for meetings or other in-office functions. On the other hand, a telecommuter would be expected to reside close to the company—and be accessible for in-person meetings as well.

Before you apply for developer remote jobs, consider this: Do you really want a remote job that allows you to work from the comfort of your own home—or even the beaches of Thailand—or would you prefer to find a job that allows you to work from home while also allowing you to come into the office and interact with your coworkers?

If it's the latter, you might want to hunt for a job that allows you to work from home.
If a developer job posting particularly mentions a place at all, there is a high chance that it's a telecommuting position.

Now, let me take you through the current job market situation.

What is the state of the remote developer job market?

• According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, web developer employment is expected to expand by 8% between 2019 and 2029 than the average for all occupations.
• At the same time, developer remote jobs are becoming more popular; by 2028, it is expected that 73 percent of all teams will feature remote workers.
• According to Glassdoor, one of the defining workplace trends for 2022 will be fighting for remote workers, which will lead to an increase in remote compensation.
• There has never been a better opportunity to start a career as a remote web developer, with robust employment growth in the distant market and the web development profession.

So, how does this convert into genuine employment opportunities? Just look at some of the most popular employment sites to get a sense of the current job market for remote developers.

• There are over 21,000 remote developer jobs on Indeed.com and over 30,000 on LinkedIn at the time of writing. Of course, this is just the beginning; there are hundreds more job forums to look at and organizations that advertise developer remote jobs on their own websites.
• In short, the job market for remote developers is booming—a trend we predict to continue in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, with companies hiring for remote jobs now competing globally for remote workers due to a labor shortage.

Later on, we'll show you how to find remote development jobs. In the next section, you’ll be introduced to how to get a remote job.

9 best ways to find remote technology jobs

It's good to cover all bases while looking for remote development employment. Examine traditional employment boards and those that specialize in remote positions. At the same time, make sure to target specific companies; many businesses may only post job openings on their own website.

Look for developer remote jobs openings on the internet

• To begin your search, check through job postings on job search websites, such as Indeed, AngleList, and Monster, or contact the leading companies in your industry directly to see what openings they have. However, this might be overwhelming, especially on sites that don't use filters to help users find remote jobs.
• You may also set up a job alert to get notified when new developer remote jobs become available.

Make contact with recruiters who specialize in your field

• Recruiters working for specialized workforce solutions organizations are typically aware of fresh job openings before they are published. So, they can let you know about jobs from different companies. So, you're not confined to employment in your surrounding area when you have such contacts.
• They can help you find the ideal developer remote jobs opportunity for you and make working from home simple, regardless of your setup or equipment.
• You can reach out to recruiters by sending them personalized mails, explaining why you are interested in working with them. When sending an email, attach your portfolio with it. Keep the mail shorter and crisp.
• If you don’t hear back from recruiters, send them a follow up mail. Mention your interests and try a subtle way of pitching yourself for the position

Make use of your online connections to fetch remote technology jobs

• There is a significant amount of online networking going on since so many people work from home and spend so much time on digital gadgets.
• Keep up with the competition by making sure your LinkedIn page is up to date and in great form. (If you have one, the same goes for your résumé, cover letter, and digital portfolio.)
• Join online alumni communities to reconnect with old coworkers, check in with past supervisors, and try to broaden your network. Simply said, don't be afraid to tell them you're looking for remote work.

Cast a wider net!

• Working from home has numerous advantages. One of the benefits is that you won't have to worry about commuting every day.
• Broaden your view when looking for developer remote jobs, and don't limit yourself to professional chances within your location or even state.
• Some jobs advertise themselves as "work-from-anywhere" opportunities, implying that you'll be able to work from any place without relocating.
• Keep in mind that some firms will want you to attend in-person meetings on occasion or cooperate across time zones, which may require you to work outside of a 9-to-5 schedule.

Ask your friends to refer to companies that encourage questions

• We're in a state of flux right now. Some businesses that allow employees to work remotely for a limited time may not be able to do so indefinitely.
• Ask your friends to refer to companies that encourage you to ask questions during the negotiation process.
• When your friends can refer you to a company, it will give you an upper hand over other applicants as the genuinity and credibility of your application can be verified easily

Now, you might be wondering what organizations hire remote workers and how to find them if they're not in your immediate area. Also, are you confident that you'll be able to work from home for developer remote jobs in the long run? Do proper research and start your journey to climb the professional ladder!

Join online communities that provide remote opportunities

• When looking for a job, most applicants head over to job sites and submit resumes. This method of job hunting might work effectively if you are looking for on-site opportunities, but this is a very slow way of getting a remote job.
• The better way to do that is by trying out for jobs where the demand for remote jobs is high. You can do your own research and see which place is the best to stay updated with recent remote work opportunities.
• You can also try online communities that are dedicated to providing remote opportunities to people and you can be part of this ecosystem. It is easy to find such communities on Slack, Facebook, Twitter, and other platforms.

Sell yourself as a remote worker

Remote work isn’t going anywhere, but there are some shifts that keep on happening. Due to the expected recession, many companies are facing losses and cutting off their remote staff. So, you should be prepared if this happens. Although the demand for quality tech remote workers is high, it is not easy for recruiters to find one.

But wouldn’t it be easier if you made yourself visible?

• You can take help from Linkedin to promote yourself as a brand and be open to better remote work opportunities. This is called inbound marketing.
• Doing this requires by regularly posting content about the interesting insights that you find in your domain. This will build your authority; hence, you will have more opportunities knocking at your door.
• This is something you can do on Twitter as well. But it is a consistent process and you will get results over time.

Ask people for opportunities at co-working spaces.

• A co-working space is an area where people only share a working space together but work on independent projects. This space could be your local cafe in the area or an infrastructure dedicated purely for sharing working space.
• Being a part of a co-working space has many advantages. Not only is this great for working at your best productivity, but you can also interact with remotely working professionals and improve your networking skills, which could help you land better opportunities.

Be an active member of tech forums

There is a common saying: “don’t follow the herd.” It is a valuable saying, but when learning something new, it is always good to be a part of a herd that works hard. Moreover, finding remote work opportunities can be a lonely endeavor. But it feels motivating when there is someone who you share a common goal with. That is why we have tech forums for developers. They are online communities that are specifically dedicated to users who want to excel in the field of technology.

Not only these forums will be helpful in improving your technical knowledge, but also keep you updated with remote opportunities and the requisite skills you need to have so that you know how to get a remote job. Reddit, stackoverflow, Hackernews, women who code, etc., are some of the best tech forums that you can subscribe to.

So, we answered the question of how to get a remote job. Time to check the salary of a remote developer!

How much does a remote developer make?

In the United States, the typical base income for a web developer is $67,442, and remote web developers can earn as much as, if not more, than their in-office colleagues. There's no need to believe that you have to accept a reduced wage just because you're working from home.

Indeed, internet behemoths like Spotify pledged in 2021 to pay staff the same regardless of where they live—a trend we'll see a lot more going forward! The amount of money you make as a remote developer is determined by numerous factors:

• The precise abilities you have (for example, what languages you know and if you work on the frontend, backend, or complete stack)
• Your degree of seniority and the amount of experience you have in the field
• Your current location
• The location of the firm (or client) for whom you are employed
• How much remote experience you've had previously

We have discussed what remote work is and how it is different from an on-site job. Now, let’s understand what are the benefits of working from home.

What are the benefits of working from home?

1. Work in a comfortable space: Dressing up & commuting for an hour to only sit in a tight cubicle isn’t very pleasing. But with remote work, you don’t have stress about it. You can work in your comfort zone and even set up your schedule, which aids in improving the quality of your work.
2. Good riddance to office politics!: When working from home, you don’t have enough time to spend on banter and engage in meaningless conversations. This also keeps you away from office gossip and its troubles.
3. It saves money: Going to the office can be expensive because of commuting, food, etc., and not everyone can bear the cost, especially if you are starting out your career. Working from home saves you from all these costs. Plus, it saves rents, which could eat up half of your salary.
4. More me-time: Remote jobs add perfect work-life balance into your lives. Because of flexibility, you get plenty of time to set a working schedule and attend to your personal commitments.

Now, the question of the hour is, are you a good developer remote jobs candidate? That’s indeed a big question along with how to get a remote job.

Are you a good remote work candidate?

Even if you don't mind working alone from home, you might not be a good fit for remote work. The most successful remote employees have certain characteristics that enable them to excel in their specific work environments. Those traits, according to Catharine Strauss, Fastly's infrastructure capacity planning manager, include (but aren't limited to):

• Self-motivation: When you're away from your office—and your boss—you must be able to motivate yourself to complete your tasks.
• Communication: Individuals who want to work remotely, especially for the first time, must be able to offer examples of how they are now successfully communicating with email, video conferencing, and online chat programs.
• Visibility: Even if you're not in the office, remote workers, you must remain visible. Companies like to employ people who don't need an invitation to provide clear visibility into their work and the value it produces for the organization. Because it allows them to become a respected resource for their colleagues, whether they're in the same room or working from across the globe."

Next, let’s understand what all things you shouldn’t do while looking for remote jobs.

What not to do when looking for remote jobs

So far, you might have an idea how to look for remote jobs. It is now time to understand what not to do while looking for remote jobs. Here are few things that you should keep in mind -

Sending a resume with no remote work experience

Recruiters always ask for experience! Even if you are a fresher, you need to have something that could support your eligibility for a position. In the case of remote work, this is no different. If you want to get a remote job faster, get some remote work experience first.

You can build your resume by doing remote internships. It would be great if you can add experience of collaborative tools and coding software utilized in remote software development.

Not targeting the companies in your time zone and location

When hiring employees for remote work, some companies have very strict policies. They prefer working with someone who is from their time zone for smoother communication and availability. So, when sending resumes, read job descriptions very well, and target companies that are hiring for remote developers in your country.

Not applying for a specific role

As a developer, you might have knowledge of many technologies, which is a good thing. However, this experience will not fetch you a job unless you are not targeting a specific profile. For instance, a developer who is applying for a Python job will have less chance of hearing back from the recruiter, if he/she only talks about Java projects in their portfolio.

Not preparing well for remote interviews

Remote job interviews are as challenging and important as in-person interviews. Hence, a developer should go with full preparation from their end. Many applicants ignore the interview process because they assume that companies will simply hire them on the basis of an online coding assessment test.

However, many companies have multiple stages before they onboard a new hire. So, if you want to bag a great remote job, then be prepared with whatever they throw at you.

Not following up

Finding a new job is a demanding task, and it could be disheating if you don’t hear back from a company, despite how well your interview went. However, never let this instill doubt in you. If you don’t hear back from a company, send them a follow-up mail, asking about the status of your position.

It is equally important to send a thank-you email as well. This will show your gratitude and how much you valued the opportunity.
Next, let's summarize our discussion on how to get a remote job.

Conclusion

As per Forbes, “25% of the working professionals in North America will move to remote work by the end of this year.” Because of the growing popularity of remote work among developers, the opportunities are increasing daily. The salary of a developer depends on experience, skill sets, and a lot of other factors. The elements that decide whether you are a good remote worker are self-motivation, communication, and visibility.

The ways on how to get a remote job include looking for remote jobs using openings on the internet, contacting recruiters who specialize in your field, using your online connections, taking a broad view, and requesting your friends to refer you to companies. Keep these pointers in mind to grab the best remote job opportunities.