10 Tips for Building a Resume for Remote Jobs

Since the pandemic, remote work has become increasingly popular as more and more companies recognize the benefits of a flexible work economy and a location independent workforce.

For many workers, the idea of working from anywhere, having the career they love, and having more flexibility in their day is appealing.

Think about the time saved by not commuting, the flexibility in your schedule, or the time spent with family and friends!

Whether it’s the ability to work from home or to travel while working, remote work can provide a level of personal freedom and flexibility that is hard to find in traditional office jobs when you’re tied to your cubicle chair.

However, with the rise of remote work, the competition for remote positions has also increased.

This is why having a strong remote work resume that showcases your skills and experience is essential to stand out in the job market among a sea of resumes and increase your chances of landing your dream remote job.

You’ll be on your way to work from the coziness of your home in no time!

Showing that you are able to work without someone looking over your shoulder, the ability to communicate, be self-motivated, and self-disciplined is important.

It isn’t for everyone. Make sure a work from home job is right for you before continuing.

10 Steps to Revamp Resume for Remote Job:

FOCUS ON YOUR REMOTE WORK EXPERIENCE

Chances are if you worked a 9-5 during the pandemic you already have experience working from home.

Really hone in on that experience when writing your remote work resume.

Your employer is going to be looking for someone able to demonstrate the ability to work independently, manage your time effectively, and communicate virtually with your team.

Be sure to provide specific examples of your remote work experience and the skills you developed while working remotely.

If you don’t have any remote work experience or are a student entering the workforce, focus on highlighting any skills or experiences that are relevant to remote work.

For example, if you have experience managing projects, using different project management and communication tools, or working on virtual teams/school groups, emphasize these skills in your remote work resume.

HIGHLIGHT YOUR COMMUNICATION SKILLS IN YOUR REMOTE WORK RESUME

Because you are in the comfort of your own home and are not face-to-face with your team, remote work depends on exceptional communication skills.

Make sure to highlight your communication skills in your resume.

It will also be helpful to emphasize any experience you have with virtual communication tools, such as video calls, instant messaging, or project management tools.

Communication is a skill to be developed.

Employers will be looking for someone who will answer messages and emails in a timely manner and have the ability to communicate tasks, needs, or problems that arrive effectively to their team.

If communication lacks, your productivity and dedication to your work may come into question.

If this is an area you struggle with, consider reading Effective Communication Skills Mastery Bible by Ian Tuhovsky or Simply Said by Jay Sullivan.

If applicable, mention any experience you have with cross-cultural communication or working with colleagues and clients in different time zones.

SHOWCASE YOUR ABILITY TO WORK INDEPENDENTLY

Working remotely requires a lot of self-discipline and the ability to work independently.

Highlight your ability to manage your time effectively, prioritize tasks, and work without supervision.

Be specific and provide examples to illustrate your independent work ethic.

For example, you may want to mention any experience you have with working on projects independently or managing your own workload.

Demonstrating your ability to work independently can give potential employers confidence in your ability to succeed in a remote work environment.

EMPHASIZE YOUR TECHNICAL SKILLS

Whether you work remotely or not, pretty much any 9-5 requires you to be behind a computer most of the time and relies heavily on technology.

In your remote work resume, highlight any software, hardware, or other technical tools that you are proficient in.

You may also want to mention any experience you have with remote work software, such as Asana, Monday, Slack, or Zoom.

To name a few, common skills an employer may be looking for are:

• PowerPoint
• Excel
• Email Management
• Experience using a CRM tool such as Salesforce

Stand out from the crowd with skills such as:

• Video/photo editing
• Coding
• Social Media
• Graphic Design or UX/UI Design
• Programming

DEMONSTRATE YOUR PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS

A remote job requires strong problem-solving skills since you won’t have immediate access to colleagues or supervisors.

In your remote work resume, highlight examples of solving problems independently or collaborating with remote team members to solve issues.

Example: You could talk about any experience you have with troubleshooting technical issues or resolving conflicts with colleagues or clients.

Show your potential employers that you are proactive and can handle challenges independently.

SHOW YOUR ADAPTABILITY

Working remotely often requires adaptability, as you may need to adjust to different work environments or schedules.

Talk about any experiences you have had with adapting to new situations or demonstrating flexibility in your work.

Example: You may want to mention any experience you have with working in different time zones or adjusting to different communication tools.

Demonstrating your adaptability can show potential employers that you are comfortable with change and can handle different work environments and schedules.

5 Work From Home Best Practices and Boundaries

INCLUDE RELEVANT CERTIFICATIONS AND TRAINING

If you have any relevant certifications or training related to what you do, be sure to include them in your remote work resume. This can show potential employers that you are committed to your specialty and have the necessary skills and knowledge.

Tip: You can also look for certifications on sites such as Linkedin Learning for certifications you can complete and add to your resume that is specific to remote work.

Making the effort to complete these certifications and training and including them in your remote work resume could show your potential employer your dedication and commitment to learning and improving your remote work skills if you don’t have experience working remotely.

USE A CLEAR AND CONCISE FORMAT

When revamping your resume for remote work, it’s important to use a clear and concise format.

Avoid using overly complex designs or fonts that may be difficult to read. Instead, opt for a simple, easy-to-read format that highlights your skills and experience.

Use bullet points to make your resume easy to scan quickly, and use keywords and phrases that are relevant to remote work positions.

This can help your remote work resume stand out to potential employers and demonstrate that you have the necessary skills and experience for remote work.

TAILOR YOUR RESUME TO THE JOB DESCRIPTION

This may seem like a lot of work tweaking your remote work resume for each job you apply for.

Job searching is exhausting and you are responding to so many job listings. I get it. However, take a deep breath, and ask yourself how much you truly want the job.

Making it unique to the job listing will help you stand out.

Review the job posting carefully and look for keywords and phrases that are relevant to the position.

Use this language in your resume to demonstrate that you have the skills and experience required for that specific job.

PROOFREAD YOUR RESUME CAREFULLY

Finally, this may seem obvious but when revamping your remote work resume, proofread your resume.

You better believe I have the Grammarly browser extension spellchecking every single post I write because you’re looking at the worst speller in the history of spellers.

First out of the spelling bee every time.

Spelling and grammar errors can make a negative impression on potential employers and can hurt your chances of even getting an interview.

Take the time to carefully review your resume and double-check for any errors.

You may also want to have someone else review your resume to provide feedback and catch any errors that you may have missed.

Reworking your resume for remote work positions can help you stand out from the crowd and demonstrate your skills and experience to potential employers.

By focusing on the steps above you can create a compelling remote work resume that showcases your strengths and makes you a top candidate for remote work positions.

You’ll be on your way to the remote lifestyle in no time!