How to Create a Remote-Friendly Resume: A Step-by-Step Guide
A resume is now a necessary artifact in drafting one specifically for online remote jobs as working from home continues to grow in popularity. A standard resume might not show off all the skills and experiences relevant to the employers’ search for a suited candidate for remote work. Here, we are going to talk about the key components that make a resume friendly for remote work and what tips you can take from it to help make your resume stand out in this cutthroat competition of remote job offers.
Why You Need a Remote-Friendly Resume
The pool of people looking to fill remote jobs is growing along with the job market. Still, more will be required, in addition to listing your previous jobs, to apply for a remote position; the employer would want to understand whether or not you can do the job and are also self-motivated, able to communicate properly, and on top of your technology.
A remote-friendly resume focuses more on skills and experience specific to remote work. It is your chance to demonstrate that you’re well-equipped for the unique challenges of working from home or any other place besides a traditional office.
1. Focus on remote work experience:
If you’ve worked remotely in the past, then it’s one of the first things a recruiter will see. Make sure that you include any full-time, part-time, freelance, or contract work done remotely. This immediately shows employers that you have experience working independently and can thrive in a remote environment.
How to Include Remote Work on Resume
If your previous role was remote, then “remote” or “online” should be indicated next to the job title or company name.
For example,
Content Marketing Manager | ABC Agency REMOTE Freelance Graphic Designer | Online Keep responsibilities and achievements from the remote work environment at the forefront in the job description. For instance, you might say something like how you worked as part of global teams, orchestrated projects across time zones, or communicated and organized tasks online.
Even partial remote work counts.
Even if your previous roles weren’t fully remote, highlight any elements that involved working from home or completing tasks online. For example, it can be those instances where you collaborated with a distributed team or managed virtual meetings and projects.
2. Highlight Your Crucial Remote Work Skills
Often, moving outdoors to work demands different skills. Apart from your technical qualifications, employers would also like to find out your ability to be disciplined with yourself and in communication within a virtual environment. Develop key skills for remote work and highlight them in your resume:
Time Management
Remote working mostly means managing your own time instead of following office schedules. Highlight how you have efficiently managed tasks.
Example: “Remote work. I was working on multiple projects for different clients with deadlines, and nobody used to supervise when working from home.”
Self-Discipline
Remote workers are self-driven and disciplined in the sense that no one has them under constant supervision. Mention instances where you started or led the project independently.
Example: “Initiated and completed a product redesign working from home, which eventually increased customer engagement by 20%.”
Communication Skills
You will most likely spend your time communicating with colleagues and clients through digital channels, such as email, Slack, or Zoom. In this regard, communicate how effective you are at writing and in virtual meetings.
Example: “Consistently led weekly Zoom meetings with a team operating from five different time zones.”.
Tech Savviness
If you need to work from home, show that you are comfortable with digital tools. Mention the software or platforms that you use, like management tools for projects and coordination (Trello and Asana), cooperation and communication platforms (Slack and Microsoft Teams), or simple industry tools (for example, WordPress for content managers or GitHub for developers).
Example: “Well-versed in remote collaboration tools such as Slack, Google Workspace, and Asana, used to coordinate the projects and deliverables of your teams.”
3. Format Your Resume for ATS
In fact, most companies nowadays are filtering through resumes with the help of applicant tracking systems even before it goes through any hiring manager. This calls for making sure that your resume passed through those programs using the suitable use of keywords and simplicity in formatting.
Use appropriate keywords.
The ATS also looks for specific keywords in a resume for the job. Tailor your resume for each job you apply for online by looking at the job description and using their words. Don’t forget to include words like “remote,” “virtual,” “online,” or “distributed team,” but include any required skills or qualifications that they request.
Avoid overly complex formatting.
ATSs can get tongue-tied with complicated formats, so keep your resume simple. Use prominent headings, bullet points, and standard fonts. Avoid graphics, tables, and fonts that sound too fancy to the system.
4. Tailor Your Resume for Every Job
There is no use for a boilerplate resume in the remote job world. Tailoring your resume to every job application that hits your inbox is what separates the winner from the loser. Here’s how:
Study the Job Description
Look at the job description and find out what skills, experience, or qualities they specifically look for, and align your resume accordingly. For example, if a company emphasizes communication, enhance your resume by mentioning an experience of holding virtual meetings or working online.
Tailor Your Summary or Objective
If your resume already contains a summary or objective section top-centered on the page, you can tailor that to the specific remote position that you are applying for. Again, focus on how your background aligns with the role, and be sure to mention an interest in working remotely. For instance:
“Digital marketing professional with over 5 years of experience in managing large-scale digital campaigns, SEO, and content strategies. Experience in delivering independent working and team collaboration across a virtual globe.”
5. Expand on Your Successes Using Remote Tools
- Remote work heavily employs digital tools for collaboration, project management, and communication. Be sure to include achievements speaking to your success in using such tools.
- Examples of Remote Tools to Emphasize
- Communication: Slack, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Skype
- Project Management: Trello, Asana, Monday.com, Jira
- File Sharing and Collaboration: Google Drive, Dropbox, Microsoft OneDrive
- Time Tracking and Productivity: Toggl, Clockify, RescueTime
- Describing these applications will allow you to show that you not only know about remote working but also thrive in a virtual working space.
6. Soft Skills Don’t Forget
While technical skills are key, no one puts off value on the soft side of working remotely. The employer will want to know that you can collaborate well with others, even if you’re not in the same physical space.
Collaboration and Teamwork
Even from a remote location, you’ll need to work effectively with others. Bring with you an example of how you have collaborated in virtual teams or contributed to group online projects.
- Example: “Worked with a cross-functional team of designers, developers, and content creators remotely to launch a new product line.”
- Problem Solving and Adaptability
- Distributed workers face different problems from those others face. Examples include crossing time zones or tech issues that someone needs to resolve individually. Underline how you have dealt with problems in the past roles that you had when working remotely.
Example: “Solved communication issues between clients pertaining to time zone differences, which cut down the project turnaround period by 30%.”
7. Include remote certifications or training.
Give a comprehensive list of courses and training done on remote work that you have undergone on your resume. Remote work certifications are essential to show that you are serious and that you do intend to set aside time to learn best practices.
Examples of Remote Work Certifications
Remote Work Professional Certificate by Remote How
Distributed Work Course by Coursera
Digital Project Management by PMI and other bodies
8. Be very careful when proofreading and editing.
Because most remote jobs demand much precision, your resume has to be flawless. Avoid typographical or grammatical errors that may ruin your resume and make it look amateurish. You might consider using software, such as Grammarly, or asking someone you trust to review it before applying.
Conclusion
A remote-friendly resume would be all about highlighting your ability to work independently, showcasing your technical proficiency, and good communication skills. Tailor your resume, highlighting clear and concise language on experiences specifically related to remote work, and you’re a top candidate for this ever-growing market of remote jobs.
FAQs
What should I include in a remote-friendly resume?
Highlight your experience working remotely as well as related skills, such as communication and time management skills. Emphasize your remote tools experience, such as Zoom or Slack, also.
How do I make my resume pop for remote work?
Customize your resume with each application, using the keywords of the job description and highlighting any previous experience you have had with remote work or skills that apply.
Do I need experience with remote work to apply for a remote job?
While experience working from a distance is helpful, it is not always necessary. Highlight transferrable skills: self-motivation, problem solving, communication, etc.
What are the top-most skills for remote jobs?
Time management, discipline, effective communication, and tech savvy are some of the top skills for remote work.
Can I just use my resume for most of my remote job applications?
Of course, you can. However, when customizing a resume for remote jobs, you should highlight the experience of working remotely and the key, relevant skills.