How to apply for a remote job abroad?

So you are looking to get a job working remote abroad? Well it is not as difficult as you might think. Let me enlighten you.

Why is it difficult to get a remote job?

If you are facing difficulties getting a remote job you likely need to be honest with yourself at your qualifications and experience. It is undoubtedly true the job applications can be brutal and exhausting; however it is important to focus only on what you can control which is you.

What experience do I need to get a remote job?

First lets touch on experience. It is easier to get a remote job when you have built up remote job experience. There are a number of remote job opportunities with zero experience that you can get started with right away. There are also a number of contract positions in the United States from staffing agencies like Robert Half that won’t necessarily offer remote abroad positions, but do offer short term contract positions remotely as an administrative assistant that have a lower barrier of entry. They even provide you with equipment to complete the contract which it makes it that much each to get started working remote easier.

Next we need to look at the experience on your resume. If you have any experience older than 4 years it doesn’t belong on your resume. There can be exceptions but in the majority of cases it is better just be brutality honest and say it doesn’t count. That can be tough to hear, but once you get past that you are one step closer to get the remote job that you want. Then with your recent experience you can determine if you are competitive enough to get a job.

How can you make yourself competitive to get a remote job?

Making yourself competitive comes down to what qualifications are on your resume and also how you go about applying for the position. First find 3-5 jobs that you would be interested in having and then compare those jobs with what is on your resume. Do you have what they are asking for?

Often in a job listing there are required qualifications and “Nice To Haves”. Just make it easier for yourself and consider the “Nice To Haves” a requirement as well. Try to acquire as many “Nice To Haves” as possible so you can stand out. You’ll often find that companies hiring for the position that your interested in will often reference similar requirements. That is for instance how I found out about CompTIA certifications, on the job listings as a “Nice To Haves”. I was brutally honest with myself that while I believe I could do a job, the employer couldn’t actually see that on my resume and so I built on my skills.

From my experience I have only gotten jobs that I was confident I could do, so my advice for you is to make sure you aren’t applying for jobs that you are under-qualified for. This can be tricky as companies can provide vague job descriptions or state a job is entry level when it isn’t. You can’t be perfect all the time, but try to be mindful of the jobs you apply to. That will save you time and effort in the long run.

What should you put on your resume to get a remote job?

Your resume should match the position. While I wouldn’t say you need to redo your resume every single time although more power to you, I think it should clearly convey the story that your are perfect for the position you are applying for. You also should still compare your resume to what is being asked and tweak anything if needed.

The cover letter should be unique every time and I would recommend spending time on the company’s website to really try and understand the company you are applying for. Looking at their vision and mission statement can be useful.

You should also look to stand out. I call standing out the cherry on top of the ice cream cone. Depending on the situation you can do one or multiple of these strategies:

• Build a personal website to serve as an additional “visual resume”
• Create a video introducing yourself and sharing your elevator pitch
• Messaging the hiring manager or your potential future boss on LinkedIn, send them supplemental details to benefit your application (personal website, video, portfolio, etc.) and share your excitement for the position
• Booking a call off the website (I did this once and secured a next day interview)
  • For context the startup offered demo calls directly with the Founder. I booked the demo call and then sent a message to the Founder about my application and my interest in the position. I mentioned that I didn’t want to take up a spot meant for clients, and the Founder sent me a link to schedule an interview.

Get creative with it, but also consider every time you apply to a position. What will be the cherry you will add to the top of your application? Even if the cherry doesn’t work, often times you can use it for another application that will work so don’t get discouraged!

Where can you look for remote jobs?

There are a number of remote job sites however for entry level positions and even some senior roles the best place to look in my experience is LinkedIn or directly through the company website. I believe the best jobs you’ll ever get are through word of mouth and your network, but LinkedIn is a great place to look, is generally maintained with real listings, and is actively watched by hiring managers and recruiters.

To apply for positions abroad simply search in the country you are seeking for remote positions. It shouldn’t be necessary to use a VPN but you are welcome to adjust your VPN as well. It is generally better to search based on country than based on all remote jobs around the world. It is also helpful to be in the country you want a job. You are more likely to get hired for remote work when you can say you are currently working and/or living in the country. Having previously been to the country you want to work is extremely helpful as well. Hiring managers and recruiters just want to feel confident you plan to stay.

Good luck job hunting!