When the COVID-19 pandemic hit our shores and many businesses had to transition to a remote workforce to stay afloat, it taught us that employees could work from home and still be as efficient as they were at the office. Now, with the pandemic mostly in our rearview mirror, companies in many different industries are <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/real-estate/our-insights/americans-are-embracing-flexible-work-and-they-want-more-of-it" rel="noopener" target="_blank">sticking with their remote workforce</a> in this new world of business.
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Now, many employees only want to work for a company if they can do so in a remote capacity. However, there is a lot of competition out there, so you will need to prove to potential jobs that you have a proper work environment and that you can work independently to help their company succeed. Let&rsquo;s talk about how to land the dream, in-demand remote job. 
<h3>1. Realize the Benefits of Remote Work</h3>
Even before you think about what you can do for another company, you should consider the benefits of working remotely for your body and soul. Even the fact that you can skip the morning commute is essential for your mental health. These days, the average commute takes about 28 minutes, and there can be a lot of stop-and-go traffic and stressful moments during that drive, which leaves you feeling anxious once you get to work. It is also <a href="https://www.zocdoc.com/blog/how-bad-is-commuting-for-your-mental-and-physical-health/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">not healthy to commute</a> and sit down for that long without some activity. 
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When you work from home, you can also find a better work-life balance, which is essential for minimizing your stress. You can take the time on your breaks and lunches to walk around the block, breathe in some fresh air, and return to work feeling mentally refreshed. It is not always so easy to do that when working out of a corporate office. 
<h3>2. Create a Productive Workspace</h3>
The next thing that you need to do is to create a productive workspace so you can assure your next potential employer that you can work efficiently without distraction. In addition to a chair that provides proper posture, consider adding a standing desk that will keep you alert and energized throughout the day. Also, make sure there is plenty of natural light for that essential vitamin D.
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Your home office should also be free of distractions. That means that you keep the television off except when on break, and you find a quiet part of the house where you won&rsquo;t hear music or family members talking through the walls. If an interviewer asks about your work arrangements at home, then you already have this space set up so you can answer accordingly. 
<h3>3. Prove That You Can Solve Problems on Your Own</h3>
Employers know that many employees require a lot of handholding in order to complete their work, which would make them unfit for a remote job where management depends on employees to solve problems on their own. You can prove that you are right for the job by explaining to the interviewer different times in the past when you have solved problems while working remotely or independently. Make sure to emphasize the results of your efforts.
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You could further impress the interviewer by explaining exactly how you go about solving problems in the workplace. Consider demonstrating a <a href="https://business.adobe.com/blog/basics/what-is-root-cause-analysis" rel="noopener" target="_blank">root cause analysis</a>, where you get to the root of an issue, like a decrease in sales, and find a way to solve that deficiency. Explain how once you have several possible root causes for the issue, you can come up with a solution for each, try each one out, and then monitor the results to see what works. If you are able to show that level of problem-solving prowess, then you likely have no problem showing your worth as a remote employee. 
<h3>4. Explain Your Remote Experience on Your Resume</h3>
You can also give potential employers a hint that you are remote-ready before you even show up by adding some information to your resume. For instance, in the accomplishments section of a previous job, you can write that you helped increase sales or improved customer satisfaction and that you did so when working from home. That way, they can see that you have a proven track record of working remotely. If you don&rsquo;t have remote experience, think of times that you have worked independently or used tech to help you accomplish your work goals.
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You can also prove your worth in your skills section by mentioning skills that are essential in a remote setting, including time management and work ethic. Plus, you can list the fact that you are a self-starter, tech-savvy, and reliable. It&rsquo;s always wise to mention in your objectives section that you are looking to thrive in a remote work environment. 
<h3>5. Prepare for Remote Interviews</h3>
Finally, you can show that you are capable of using technology and being responsible during your remote interviews. Many HR teams will have the initial interview over the internet, so you can use this chance to prove that you are familiar with a remote setup. Do that by being on time with no technical hiccups, having a professional video background, and dressing professionally. This will prove that you have experience working from home and you can do it well with this new company.
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As you can see, there are several steps that you can take to nail your next interview and land a remote job. Heed this advice, and you&rsquo;ll find the job you desire.
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Content Contributor:
Ainsley Lawrence is a freelance writer from the Pacific Northwest. She is interested in better living through technology and education. She loves traveling to beautiful places and is frequently lost in a good book. <img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/MYz0soLESTW1Mrmgzt7E" width="204" height="204">

Learn how to land your dream remote job with these essential tips for success in the new work era.

Tips for Landing a Remote Job | Getting Hired

Tips for Landing a Remote Job

When it comes to the job search, there&rsquo;s often one factor that determines whether you do or don&rsquo;t move on to the next step in the hiring process: a good cover letter. Rather than using the same cover letter over and over, tailoring a letter for each company and position you&rsquo;re applying for can make all the difference in persuading an employer to invite you to interview.
Here are&nbsp;5 must-haves for a cover letter&nbsp;that will help you land that interview:
1. Address it to a Person&nbsp;&ndash; Ensure your cover letter stands out from the applicant pool by addressing it to a specific individual in the company. Starting a cover letter with &ldquo;To Whom it May Concern,&rdquo; can often dissuade hiring managers from considering applicants, as it can appear less personal. It can also look as if you haven&rsquo;t done your homework. Often a simple Google, LinkedIn, company website search, or email/phone call to the company can help you determine the right point of contact for addressing your letter.
If, after researching, you&rsquo;re unable to find a name, try using, &ldquo;Dear Hiring Team.&rdquo;
2. Incorporate a Strong Opening Statement&nbsp;&ndash; Much like a news story, your opening statement in a cover letter should draw your readers in and make them want to know more. Don&rsquo;t begin your letter by stating what the company already knows, such as the fact you&rsquo;re applying for a job. Instead, focus on selling yourself and why you&rsquo;re interested in working for the company. Or, talk about what impresses you about the company, or any personal connections you may have to the work.
For example, if you are applying to a company that sells products that you use, mention that. If you&rsquo;re impressed by what you&rsquo;ve seen in the news about them, share that in your letter.&nbsp;
3. Focus on your Relevant Experience&nbsp;&ndash; Your cover letter is the place to fill in gaps and elaborate on information outlined in your resume. It&rsquo;s particularly important to use your cover letter to address how your experience aligns with the duties listed in the job description. This includes incorporating specific words and phrases from the job description.
For example, if a position requires project management experience, share an example of how you have either managed a project or exercised the skills needed to do so in your previous work or educational experiences. If it requires knowledge of a specific software or equipment, explain your familiarity with these or similar systems. In general, don&rsquo;t make this section read like a list; rather, provide a few highlights based on your strengths in specific areas.
4. Display Personality &amp; Passion&nbsp;&ndash; Once again, your cover letter serves as a tool for an employer to get to know you in hopes they will extend an invitation to interview. This means going beyond the facts listed in your resume to display a bit of personality. It can also be a tool to express your passion for the organization&rsquo;s work.
It&rsquo;s important in your letter to base your tone on both the position you&rsquo;re applying for and the company&rsquo;s culture. If applying for a legal position at a high-powered law firm, you should likely err on the side of formality in your cover letter writing. If you&rsquo;re applying for a position at a graphic design firm whose clients are comprised of small businesses and local non-profits, perhaps use a more conversational tone.
Ultimately, research remains critical. Determine the culture and personality of the company and align your tone accordingly.
5. Disclose Your Disability, if it&rsquo;s Relevant&nbsp;&ndash; Today, many employers have hiring goals and recruitment initiatives designed to increase their number of employees with disabilities. As companies continue to recognize the benefits of hiring people with disabilities, they&rsquo;re doing targeted outreach to reach job seekers with disabilities. Thus, if a job posting specifically encourages people with disabilities to apply, feel free to discuss your disability in the cover letter. While not a requirement, in cases like these, disclosing a disability can be an advantage.
When choosing to disclose a disability in a cover letter, ground the letter in your ability to perform the job functions well. Focus on how your disability can be an asset to the employer, rather than how it could potentially prevent you from meeting the job requirements. Save any requests for accommodations or other needs until time to confirm your interview.
Crafting your cover letter with these must-haves can greatly influence your potential to get in front of hiring managers for an interview. For more guidance on how to write an effective cover letter,&nbsp;contact the CareerCircle team.
Contributions to this blog were made by Andra&eacute;a LaVant of Solutions Marketing Group.

Tailor your cover letter for each job to stand out. Address it to a person, show passion, and highlight relevant experience.

5 Must-Haves for an Effective Cover Letter

From virtual workplaces to gig work to robots, the past decade has seen major shifts in the world of work. With these shifts, the skills employers once valued in their employees have also evolved.
While education and training continue to play a critical role in helping job seekers land their dream jobs, most recent research shows that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/h/hard-skills.asp" rel="noopener" target="_blank">hard skills</a>&nbsp;may not be the primary skills needed to help you land or keep a job in this new decade. In fact, a recent LinkedIn&nbsp;<a href="https://news.linkedin.com/2019/January/linkedin-releases-2019-global-talent-trends-report" rel="noopener" target="_blank">survey</a>&nbsp;shares that 92% of talent professionals and hiring managers believe strong&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalsoftskills.org/">soft skills</a>&nbsp;can help you stand out from the crowd (see our post,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.careercircle.com/blog/post/7-essential-soft-skills-for-getting-and-keeping-a" rel="follow">7 Essential Soft-Skills for Getting and Keeping a Job</a>).
No matter whether you&rsquo;re in a job you love or currently pursuing new opportunities, here are 9 essential job skills that will help you excel:
<ol>
<li>Creativity&nbsp;&ndash; Every day new technologies and ideas emerge that allow employers to deliver new products and services. Employers want people who can take these new things and come up with creative ways to help increase productivity and profitability.</li>
<li>Flexibility&nbsp;&ndash; Today&rsquo;s employers deeply value employees&rsquo; willingness to quickly shift and try new ideas and ways of doing things. With rapid advancements and constant access to information, strategies and systems that work one day may not work the next day. Employees who succeed are able and willing to shift focus and learn new skills swiftly and without complaint.</li>
<li>Critical Thinking&nbsp;&ndash; With access to so much information, successful employees must be able to make logical, well-thought out judgements. Rather than accepting everything you see or hear, it&rsquo;s important to ask questions and think through arguments before developing conclusions about any work-related matters.</li>
<li>Leadership Ability&nbsp;&ndash; Leadership doesn&rsquo;t just apply to high-level executives. Employers want employees that take initiative and make decisions that benefit others. Whether it&rsquo;s motivating your team, supporting co-workers, being a role model, or even displaying self-confidence, consider your leadership ability and seek out opportunities to strengthen areas where you need to grow.</li>
<li>Problem-Solving&nbsp;&ndash; Technology can&rsquo;t resolve every problem. In fact, for the many problems that technology solves, often even greater needs for solutions arise. This means employers need employees that can help them think through issues and come up with ways to address them.</li>
<li>Cultural Intelligence&nbsp;&ndash; More and more employers are making diversity and inclusion a top priority in their hiring strategies. This means employees must be willing to embrace differences regarding race, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation and disability.</li>
<li>Collaboration (includes Virtual Collaboration)&nbsp;&ndash; Today&rsquo;s workplace requires employees to interact and work together consistently. Also, with continual transitions to virtual workspaces, employers are looking for people who can not only work together in-person in physical offices, but who can also be productive and engage with others as a member of a virtual team.</li>
<li>Tech Savviness&nbsp;&ndash; These days, there are very few jobs that don&rsquo;t require technical skills. Job seekers and employees must not only be aware of existing technology, but must also be continually open to learning how to use new equipment and systems. </li>
<li>New Media Literacy&nbsp;&ndash; In addition to knowing about technology overall, employers also value employees&rsquo; ability to assess and develop content that can be used across existing and emerging media forms (i.e. social media). They want employees that can create content that drives positive business outcomes, which includes increasing profits.</li>
</ol>
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If you&rsquo;re a job seeker with a disability, it&rsquo;s likely that you employ a lot of the job skills mentioned more often than you think. Consider how you manage your day-to-day experiences and how these can be presented as forms of creativity, flexibility, problem-solving and more to potential employers.
Are you a job seeker with a disability looking to land your dream job? Let us help! Reach out to the CareerCircle team for resources and assistance.
Contributions to this blog were made by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/andraealavant/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Andra&eacute;a LaVant&nbsp;</a>of LaVant Consulting, Inc.

Discover the 9 essential job skills for the modern workplace, from creativity to tech savviness, and excel in your career.

9 Essential Job Skills to Help You Excel

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Staff Writer

141 Articles

Tips for Landing a Remote Job

5 Must-Haves for an Effective Cover Letter

9 Essential Job Skills to Help You Excel

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