If you are interested in an entry-level remote job position, roles such as customer service agent, tech support, personal assistants, data entry roles etc. exist, but it is a competitive marketplace and securing a role takes a lot of effort. But honestly, do you know what remote working really involves? Check out these key considerations below, then afterwards ask yourself honestly “am I really suitable for this type of work”?

A is for Access, and your access and availability to work the hours required. Many remote workers are in distributed teams and spread across time zones, for example working hours can be late in the evening European time to accommodate USA time zones, etc. Ask yourself, do you want to work non 9-5 hours?

Also, Access to what is needed to do your job. Among the key pre-requisites (which can change dependant on job specification) are internet connectivity, technology and the right work environment to do your job. I cannot stress enough how important it is to have a reliable internet connection, with the right technology set-up (both hardware and software) and finally the right office/work space to conduct your work.

A is for Awareness, how aware of the remote work marketplace are you? Do you know exactly what a remote role involves? Have you researched the role types and ideally spoken to someone who works remotely to hear their personal experience? You can read various interviews to understand remote personal experiences on Remote Habits.

(Self) Awareness is a vital trait for successful remote workers. I believe many wannabe remote job candidates underestimate the level of personal self-discipline and motivation required. Remote working requires explicit and clear communication skills and developed interpersonal skills.

How well do you really know yourself, your positive and negative traits?

The nature of remote, means it can lead to isolation and lack of quality social interaction with colleagues or team-mates. The onus is on the individual in partnership with their employer to alleviate this potential negative factor, hosting regular checkpoints and other activities to counteract. Best practice recommends encouraging social activities using virtual communications tools and also hosting physical meetups when possible with remote employees. Read more about the correlation between remote work, isolation and mental health in this article by Doist founder, Amir Salihefendic.

B is for Brawn, or in other words how well developed are your remote muscles! I don’t simply mean technical aptitude or skills, I mean the whole package, which includes your interpersonal and communications skills (often known as “soft-skills”). Apart from doing the research needed to understand remote work and best practices better, you also need to hone these soft-skills regularly. Focusing in on areas of improvement that are needed, which could include; digital communications, online collaboration and skills in hosting online meetings. Many of which can be improved using simple online tutorials, collaborating on a freelance project or getting involved in volunteer groups such as Grow Remote.

First time remote job applicants need to be Brave too, as remote roles by their definition are open to a wider candidate market so you also need a strong measure of self-Belief during the application process.

C is for Commitment to Change and to going remote. I mean commitment on many levels, including the need to shift your mindset and acknowledge any areas of improvement. The length of job application process needs stellar dedication, as it is often a longer process than for a regular job. You will also need commitment to a new and often challenging way of working. A reminder here that technology underpins remote operations, as the pace of technology change is rapid, humans often struggle to keep up. Furthermore, remote job contracts and payments are not always straight forward depending on your location and the final contract terms, in some cases remote workers are contractors rather than full-time employees.

Competencies are key here too, including; how adaptable are you? How do you react to change? Think of an example of a time you needed to be committed to a project? Consider a recent problem you encountered and how you solved it? Give an example of how you continuously improve your performance? Read about the Remote Work Competencies Model by Workplaceless.

Finally, have you a Clear picture in your mind of what a future remote work day may look like for you? Can you picture or imagine yourself doing the job, living the life, working the remote way? If any doubt pops into your head capture it and spend some more time considering it. This type of contemplation will help you decide if remote really is suitable for you.

Here is a recap:

1. Ask yourself how aware are you of your own personal needs, desires and expectations are you in relation to your professional work life

2. Measure your Brawn, make an honest personal assessment of the gaps and then do the work required to improve

3. Review all of the above and make a personal Checklist of considerations and action points

To continue your research, check out these remote role entry level job descriptions; Student college advisor with Apple and the Customer Support Jobs from WeWorkRemotely. There are also region/country specific job boards, like Irish Remote Jobs, by Grow Remote, where you can sign-up for email alerts for remote jobs. There is a whole raft of support also on the Remote Work Resources section of WeWorkRemotely.

Finally, if you want some training focused specifically on Remote Worker skills and are based in Ireland, the Irish Institute of Training and Development are running a one-day training workshop on 6 March in Dublin. More details and registrations here>>

Good luck with your research!

Further resources:

Remote Work Readiness Questionnaire for Individuals from Collaboration Superpowers

Remote Work Resources on Weworkremotely.com (including jobs listings)

Remote Habits Tools Section

Sample Entry Level Remote Work Positions:

Apple College Advisor Programme

Shopify (eCommerce) Ireland, Customer Support Roles