This article was originally posted on LinkedIn on 28th Nov 2022.

This article is the third in a series, aimed to support those impacted by recent #LayOffs and looking to find a remote job going forward. The first article was: 5 expert tips for success in your remote job search, followed by FREE Remote Job Supports & Resources.

There are some fundamentals to excelling in the remote job application process - particularly when you understand the unique nature of remote-first companies. Their policies, organisational design and approach to talent attraction are often very different to traditional office-based companies. Keep reading to understand how to alter your mindset, adopting a remote-first approach in any job application: 

Stand out from the crowd with the following tips >>>

1.  Reflect on your communication process from the start - How you communicate during your remote job application process can help you stand out from the crowd. Be coherent, and clear, supporting a good first impression. The majority of remote roles request applications in English, so ensure you have the proficiency from the start.

It is important to note that many remote-first companies rely on written and asynchronous communication, so how you present yourself in writing is fundamental from the get-go.

Jordan Carroll, The Remote Job Coach recommends: 

“Be considerate of those asynchronous communications in the hiring process. What email are you sending as a thank you or a preliminary before the interview? Because how you send that email is a pretty good preview of what it might be like to work with you”. - Jordan 

2. Prepare to tell your own personal story - We are all so unique and have our own personal stories to tell. Whichever your career background is, embrace your unique story and show it during your application process. Every resume can shine if you refine it and constantly improve how you present the way your experiences have shaped you. 

Check out what Nadia and Rowena have to say about how to tell your story: 

“What I love seeing is applicants that sometimes come from a different industry. They changed, they did different things at the same time, and they did side gigs at the same time. This shows me that they have broad horizons and are easy adapters. They have chosen that, sometimes even consciously, and that they know what they're looking for. Those are really interesting personalities”. - Nadia

“I encourage applicants to look at their extracurriculars, hobbies, and volunteer work as part of putting together their overall CV for a remote job. There are also a lot of transferable skills that came out of the COVID experience. So, I also encourage people to bring a bit of that story in if it's relevant to a role as well”. - Rowena

Jordan’s comments were given during a recent Safety Wing webinar, where panellists included Louis Demetroulakos from Playroll, Fabrizia Zanca from SettleMint, Jordan Carroll, The Remote Coach, and Nadia Harris from Remote Work Advocate. Moderated by Rowena Hennigan.

3. Ensure your resume covers these fundamentals -According to Juliana Rabbi, a remote work coach, and previous recruiter - you only have 6 seconds to grab a recruiter's attention. She argues strongly that first impressions and details matter. 

Check out her list below of must-have elements that you should include in your resume:

1. Title of the position of interest

2. Your LinkedIn profile URL linked directly in the document - for ease of access

3. Your interest in remote jobs, explain why you want this remote job - concisely and clearly

4. A short summary of your main skills related to the job application

5. A readable font size

6. The resume file name should have your name, job title and target company

4. Consider applying for a role with a video application - As we all adapt to the new way in which work is done, so must the way you frame your skills and expertise. Video is a flexible, powerful, and durable way to keep up. So it is no surprise that, for some roles, the application process may actually require a video job application. Another interesting way in which you can use videos is to proactively reach out to the recruiter. For example, if you are in contact already with key person/s involved in the hiring process at the target company - some people have started using Loom videos to enhance their applications. 

Even if done at home, however, there are some details you need to take into consideration: same as a written resume with typos, your video cannot appear sloppy or with poor preparation. So be clear about your career goals, structure your message in a script, and finally prepare the right surroundings. 

5. Enhance networking to supplement your application  -Start by understanding what remote jobs are actually like day-to-day:

You can read various remote personal experiences on Remote Habits.

Doing this will enable you to determine if the job position meets your personal needs, desires, and expectations.

Effective networking is also a wonderful way to enhance any role application. Fabrizia and Barbara Jovanovic emphasise this strategy: 

"Just applying for a job and finding the first job is the wrong strategy because you're not going to be happy about that. I've always recommended to my clients to network, join events, follow leaders, and communicate within the remote workspace". - Fabrizia

 "Networking online means defining your personal brand better." - Barbara

Barbara Javanonic, in her article Tips for networking remotely, also recommends creating your own content by sharing knowledge through blogs, newsletters, podcasts, and Youtube videos. These strategies will keep you visible and help you build your community.

You can watch the full Safety Wing “Attract the best remote talent” webinar playback here. 

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This article was originally posted on LinkedIn on 28th Nov 2022.