How to Find Your Next Remote Job

Flex Index

In 2022, remote jobs attracted 50% of all applicants on LinkedIn! However, only 19% of jobs posted were for remote positions.

As demand for flexible and remote work continues to rise, job seekers face an increasingly competitive landscape with little guidance on how to best find their next remote position.

In this article, we’ll guide you through the critical components of pursuing a remote work position, including: 

1. How to determine if remote work is the right fit 
2. Where the best opportunities for remote work are today 
3. Job boards to leverage during your search 
4. How to negotiate for a remote role

Is a Remote Job the Right Choice for You?

Before you dive into applying for remote roles, take a moment to consider whether a remote role is right for you. Job seekers need to weigh various factors, including their preferred communication style and whether they have the proper equipment to work remotely effectively. 

Consider the following ahead of applying for a remote position: 

1. Do you have the proper setup to be productive remotely?

It’s critical to have a physical work setup that is conducive to working remotely. Similar to working from an office, you need a quiet space with the right equipment where you can focus. Some companies offer benefits to help with the build out of a home office to support remote workers.

2. Are you a strong written communicator?

Remote workers tend to rely more heavily on strong written communication skills to stay connected and productive.

3. Does your role require heavy collaboration?

Roles that require a significant amount of brainstorming or whiteboarding can be done remotely, but you might also want to consider hybrid roles where part of your time can be spent in an office on collaborative work. 

4. Are you a self starter?

Successful remote workers have a strong intrinsic motivation to get work done and manage their own time.

5. Do you get energy from being around others?

Plenty of remote workers are extroverts, and the office is not the only place to socialize. At the same time, it is important to be honest with yourself about your personality type and whether working remotely will be the right match for you.

6. Do you have personal commitments where added flexibility would be beneficial?

From Feb 2020 to Jan 2022, 1.1 million women left the workforce. For working mothers, for example, remote work can be an excellent pathway to rejoining the workforce without having to choose between personal commitments and your career.

What Are the Best Industries for Remote Work?

Technology continues to lead the way in workplace flexibility, with 80% of Technology companies identifying as Fully Flexible. Financial Services is also a top five industries for flexibility, with many smaller investment firms and financial services providers offering fully flexible opportunities.

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Even in more “remote-resistant” industries (ex: Hospitality, Restaurants, and Retail), remote opportunities exist. ~70% of companies across Hospitality, Restaurants, and Retail are fully flexible. 

How To Find Companies Offering Remote Work

Listed below are a few examples list of job boards for finding and applying to remote positions:

We Work Remotely 

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‍We Work Remotely is the largest remote work community in the world. Well ahead of the curve, We Work Remotely has focused entirely on work-from-home job listings for over a decade.

**Remote Okay

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Remote OK tags each listing to make it dead simple to search by in-office, remote, or hybrid roles, seniority level, and industry. 

Flex Index 

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The Flex Index by Scoop is the most robust source for full time, hybrid, and remote work requirements. Job seekers can search for a specific company to review their office requirements or filter search results by industry, office requirement, or company size.

FlexJobs

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FlexJobs prides itself on being the most trusted site for finding work-from-home, remote, or flexible jobs, ensuring that every job posted is screened and verified.

Virtual Vocations

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Virtual Vocations goes the extra mile by curating opportunities for its users rather than simply surfacing a series of job postings. Much like FlexJobs, Virtual Vocations also hand-screened remote work opportunities.

Freelancer

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‍Freelancer connects contract workers with remote work gigs in over 1,800 categories (although it does require a commission-based fee for its services).

Negotiating for a Remote Role

Many job descriptions still do not list if a role is remote-eligible. If you have your heart set on working remotely, ask upfront in the interview process so you know the expectation.

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While roughly half of Structured Hybrid companies determine office requirements at the company level, there are many organizations that determine remote eligibility by job function, or even give discretion on remote work to the manager. If the job description isn’t clear, you can get a better sense of the potential for remote work by asking who makes the decision on remote-work eligibility for the role.

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You also might have some flexibility to negotiate when you get the offer. 85% of Americans who negotiated their job offer received some (or all) of what they requested. It never hurts to ask!

The Right Remote Job is Out There

Demand for remote work is high, but don’t let that dissuade you from pursuing remote work if that’s the right fit for you. More remote-eligible opportunities are posted every day, and more resources are emerging to help you find that right job.

Ready to start applying? Here’s a list of Fully Remote companies from the Flex Index to get you started.