How to Write a Resume for Remote Work: Tips and Strategies

Job seekers are regularly advised to tailor their resumes to fit the specific position they’re seeking. However, that same tailored approach to resume-writing should also include ensuring that your resume is aligned with the times and current job market trends.

For many of today’s job seekers, that may mean emphasizing key skills that employers need to meet their increased reliance on remote work. In this post, we will offer some vital tips that can help you write a resume that can increase your odds of landing a remote-worker job.

Be clear about your desire for remote work

It is important to be extremely clear that you are looking for a remote work opportunity. While remote employment has been on the rise in 2020, most jobs are still designed for on-site employees. As a result, most resumes and job applications tend to be for those types of in-house positions.

However, there is a growing need for remote workers, and you should take advantage of that by clarifying your desire or openness to working off-site or from home. You can also target companies and job boards that focus on remote opportunities.

You should make that clear in your resume, as well as in your application and cover letter. One of the best ways to address the issue in your resume is in your summary. Simply highlight the fact that you are qualified and interested in working remotely. If you have successfully done so in previous jobs, be sure to note those experiences in your work section.

Showcase critical hard skills needed for remote workers

When you’re creating your remote work resume, be sure to emphasize those critical hard skills that employers are seeking. Pay special attention to the hard skills used by remote employees.  For example, the following skills are all potentially invaluable to employers who might be considering remote worker candidates:

• Familiarity and experience with video conferencing tools

• Expertise leveraging chat platforms, instant messaging, and other real-time communications platforms like Slack

• Experience using project management tools

• Competence using computers and other technology, with specific examples

• Coding skills, if that’s a requirement for your industry

• Bookkeeping or record-keeping

In addition, you may want to note your technological assets as well. That includes your in-home workspace and tools. If you already have a home office equipped for remote work, that can be a real advantage to employers.

In an interview, don’t forget to note that you have reliable internet connections, and any other services that may contribute to your ability to be a productive worker.

Don’t forget your vital soft skills

Hard skills can help get you an interview, but it is usually your soft skills that help you land the job. Therefore, it is vital that you properly convey your soft skills in your resume and cover letter to differentiate yourself from any potential rival candidates.

Useful soft skills for remote work:

• A demonstrated ability to work independently

• Effective communication skills: both verbal and written communication

• Self-discipline to keep you on track and productive

• Proper time-management

• The ability to collaborate remotely with others

• Adaptability

• Problem-solving

• Organization

Don't simply list the skills above and call it a day--you need to have examples and metrics of how you use soft skills to provide value.

Unlike hard skills, soft skills can be more difficult to demonstrate in a resume. After all, there are no degrees or certificates that can prove that you have such skills. To demonstrate these skills, it is usually important to provide examples of how you used them to benefit prior employers.

You can usually do that in your resume’s work experience section, but some examples merit a dedicated section such as speaking engagements or publications.

Remember to quantify your achievements

Finally, always remember to focus on value. Employers may be willing to hire remote workers, but they won’t be doing it for your benefit. As with any new hire, each remote worker is hired only because the employer believes that he or she can add real value to the company. To demonstrate that you’d be a valuable addition to the firm, it’s vital to show how you have benefited your previous employers.

When you create a work experience section on your resume, do not just describe what you did at previous jobs. You should instead make sure that you include real numbers that demonstrate quantifiable results that you provided in those jobs. For example, do not just note that your job involved transforming a sales department. Instead, add real numbers to your description to show how the company benefited from your presence:

As sales manager, I was responsible for completely revamping our sales department to increase productivity and sales revenue. That transformation led to a 35% increase in closed sales, a 28% rise in revenue, and a 19% increase in repeat sales.

Summary

Your remote resume can make all the difference in the world! By tailoring your resume to meet the remote work market, you can give yourself an edge over the competition.

Just remember to be clear, concise, and focused on demonstrating the skills and achievements companies want to see, and you can dramatically increase your chances of landing an interview and great remote work opportunity.

Good luck with your job search!

Related posts:

• How To Tailor Your Resume To Different Positions