An interview thank you letter is a must, especially for remote job seekers.

A quick follow-up to say, “thanks for the interview” lets interviewers know you are genuinely grateful to discuss work from home jobs with them.

Plus, it shows appreciation for their time – a hot commodity these days.

However, many job seekers fail to follow up after an interview. This isn’t just bad manners. It can actually prevent you from receiving job offers.

Remember, remote job searches are difficult enough as is. Do everything you can to make it easier for you. And one of the simplest steps you can take is to write a follow up letter after your interview.

Your interview thank you letter also keeps your name “fresh” and memorable.

After all, deciding to hire between two strong candidates with similar skills and work history often boils down to the smallest details.

An interview thank you letter is a nice touch to put you ahead of the competition.

Lastly, this simple follow up is supplements

How An Interview Thank You Letter Can Get You The Job

We already know it’s just plain good manners to send a thank you letter after an interview. But there’s more to it than that. This quick, one-page follow-up can boost your chances of getting a job offer. Here are three instances when your thank you letter can stack the job offer odds in your favor.

1. You Totally Blew A Question or Your Answer Wasn’t As Strong As It Could Have Been 

Interviews are nerve-racking. You can use tried and true phone interview tips or research how to ace the remote job interview. But, even still, our nerves get the best of us. And, in these cases, we have a tiny misstep.

Awkward, right? 

It can be, yes. But it doesn’t have to kill your job offer chances either. After all, you are human and your interviewer realizes this. So, even though you practiced answers to common remote interview questions, you might slip up and respond with something you regret as soon as it’s said. 

When this happens, don’t panic. Although you can’t reverse it and put the words back in your mouth you can do damage control. An interview thank you email is the perfect place to reshape your answer into a more favorable response.

Interview Thank You Letter Example: Reshaping Your Response

Let’s say the interviewer asked, “How would previous coworkers describe you?” 

Instead of confidently replying, “My coworkers would describe me as an enthusiastic team leader — someone who is equally willing to offer guidance as well as lend support.” You drew a blank and replied, “My coworkers might describe me as outgoing, talkative, and full of life.” Not a terrible answer, no, but definitely not a strong one. 

You go to work to, well, work. An interviewer doesn’t need to hear that you’re outgoing and gregarious. They want to know how you’re perceived as an employee and whether you might be a good fit within the organization. 

When you sit down to write your interview thank you letter, briefly go over the question and resulting answer you flubbed on. Mention that, while your coworkers may perceive you as outgoing and full of life, it’s because of how enthusiastic you are about working on teams and that you are always willing to lend a helping hand. Now the interviewer realizes that, yes, you are outgoing and it helps you appear readily accessible to your coworkers — much better than your original answer! 

Of course this is just one example. The bottom line is this: Reshape a bad answer into a better one using your interview thank you email. It can help the interviewer or hiring manager see you in a different (more favorable) light. 

2. You’re Neck And Neck With Another Candidate

The job market is competitive. It can be even more so for remote job seekers. Often, your interviewer is considering multiple candidates for a single position. Remember, when you make it to the interview phase you’re likely one of just four candidates remaining. 

In this case, an interview thank you letter edges out the competition – especially when you’re neck and neck with another candidate. Keep in mind, just 25% of job seekers follow up with a thank you letter. However, more than 80% of hiring managers use them to further evaluate candidates!  

Remember, it’s good manners to send a sincere thanks for being considered as a candidate. Plus, your politeness and willingness to go the extra mile can leave a lasting good impression. And this positivity can lead to a job offer, especially if your competition failed to send a follow up.

3. It Keeps Your Name At The Top Of Their List

Hiring personnel are busy people. They conduct interviews, field phone calls, and sort through countless resumes as they work to fill multiple positions. Sometimes, in all the chaos, it’s all too easy to forget about the dozens of candidates they’ve met with. This could very well be you! Recent research shows remote roles receive 7 times more applicants than in-person corporate positions!

Needless to say, you don’t want to be swallowed up in a sea of remote applicants. An easy way to stand out is – you guessed it – a remote interview thank you letter!

When your letter arrives in the hiring manager’s inbox, it jogs their memory. Now your name is “fresh” on their minds and more memorable than candidates who don’t follow up.

This positive recall is incredibly valuable when it comes time to for them to make a hiring decision. Plus, a personal letter provides another chance to interact with the interviewer. This added exposure makes you feel more familiar, and psychology tells us that people love familiarity!

Always, Always Write A Thank You Email After An Interview 

Besides being ultra polite, your thank you email can actually help you get the job offer. Use this short but powerful email to give your job offer chances a boost. Your email can help you fix any bad answers or strengthen weak ones, it helps you beat out the often stiff competition, and keeps your name on your interviewer’s mind. When done correctly, not only does your email make you look like someone the recruiter wants to work with, it can bolster your chances of getting hired. 

So, don’t neglect this simple yet effective interviewing tool. A strong thank you email can make or break your chances of finding a remote job. 

Happily, 

Ashlee 

The post 3 Scenarios An Interview Thank You Letter Can Land You The Job appeared first on Work from Home Happiness.

As for me, I’m Team Cover Letter 99% of the time. I know it’s not the answer you were hoping to hear. But, before you show yourself to the virtual exit, hear me out. 

It’s not exactly fun to write a cover letter. I get it. However, there are valid reasons to write one for the majority (not all) remote jobs you apply for. Here’s why. 

First Impression Maker

First impressions are important. Chances are, you’ve heard the old phrase, “You don’t get a second chance at a first impression.” Cliche, but true. In fact, even you regularly make snap judgments about people you meet in a matter of seconds, according to the American Psychological Association. 

Unfortunately, remote job seekers don’t get a chance to make an in-person impression. Instead, career marketing materials (cover letter, resume, social profiles, LinkedIn, etc.) are used by recruiters and hiring managers to size you up.

Since one-third of recruiters read cover letters first, it’s likely to be your only first impression maker at some point in your remote job search. Let’s make it a good one. 

Interview Generator 

The majority of hiring personnel use cover letters to make hiring decisions. In fact, 83% state a well written cover letter can make up for a bad resume. 

Clearly, your interview requests will skyrocket with each cover letter you write. Be sure to use this powerful document whenever you can! 

Written Communication on Display

Pop Quiz: What’s one skill employers universally look for in remote job applicants? 

Answer: Written communication ability. 

Think about it, the majority of your remote interactions will be in writing. For example, remote workers will: 

• Collaborate with coworkers in Slack
• Support customers via chat 
• Send status updates and request information in emails

And that’s just a very short list! Sure, you can put “written communication skills” on your remote resume. But, go a step further and demonstrate your ability through a cover letter.  It’s the perfect platform put your effective communication on display.

Direction Follower

Fun fact, just 38% of applicants send a cover letter when a job listing asks for one. Obviously, it’s not a great look (or good first impression) when you opt to leave one out. If you can’t follow basic directions during the hiring process, why would an employer believe you’ll follow them once hired? 

Don’t be lazy and skip over the cover letter step. Instead, do better than the 62% of job seekers by committing to write a cover letter whenever possible, and especially when required! 

Details, Details, Details

Do you read the entire job description before you apply? If not, you’re placing yourself at a disadvantage. For starters, the job listing provides important clues to key skills and abilities to include in your resume and cover letter. But, it’s also a place where employers will slip in a very specific detail to include in your cover letter. 

For example, specific directives could be: 

• “Please include the word ‘watermelon’ in your subject line.” 
• “Use ‘aloha’ to conclude your cover letter.” 

It seems weird, I know. However, employers do this to instantly weed out applicants who fail to thoroughly read listings. After all, hiring managers want potential employees who actually want the job – not applicants who mass apply to every remote listing they see.  

Career Narrative Controller

Finally, a cover letter allows you to control your career narrative. Your career narrative is the professional story detailing your past, present, and future. This is especially important when: 

• Changing careers 
• Explaining employment gaps 

Hiring personnel will inevitably have questions when you apply for positions that don’t align with previous roles like, “Do they know which position they’re applying for?”  Similarly, when employment gaps are present they’ll wonder, “What were they doing during that time?” 

Don’t let recruiters connect the dots themselves. Instead, take control of your career narrative. Your cover letter is the perfect place to answer these questions in your own words. Now, you’ve erased any roadblocks before they became deal breakers. 

Cover Letter Fast Facts and Stats

Clearly, your cover letter is a critical part of your remote job search. If you’re still not convinced consider these stats*:

• 26% of all recruiters look at cover letters to make hiring decisions
• 56% of companies give preference to applicants who include a cover letter
• 49% of hiring managers believe cover letters make resumes better
• 83% of the time a cover letter can secure a job interview, especially when your resume isn’t an exact match for a role 
• 77% of recruiters prefer applicants who took the time to send a cover letter
• 72% of employers still want to see a cover letter (even when its optional)

Writing Cover Letters with Less Stress

The stats in this post clearly illustrate one thing: Most applicants dread writing cover letters. Remember, just 38% include a cover letter – even  when it’s “required.”

As a career coach, I’m here to make your job search simpler and more effective. And, like it or not, an effective job search includes a cover letter. 

But, don’t panic! Your cover letter doesn’t have to stress you out. In fact, writing one is as easy as 1-2-3. 

One: Format

First, you need to know what goes into a cover letter. This is called its format. An effective cover letter is made up of five simple parts: 

1. Contact Information
2. Greeting & Introduction 
3. Body Paragraphs
4. Call to Action
5. Sign Off

Contact Information 

The contact information includes your name, phone number, email address, and location. Even though you’re looking for remote work, make sure to include your city and state. Remember, many companies have location requirements for remote workers. 

Additionally, include your LinkedIn Profile and personal website or portfolio, if you have them. If you don’t, I highly recommend setting them up. Both play an important role in building your personal brand. 

Greeting & Introduction

Rarely, will you know the name and/or title of the person reading your resume and cover letter. After all, job listings typically ask you to submit your cover letter and resume online through a portal or Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). When you don’t know the person’s name, stick with something generic like “Dear Hiring Manager.” 

After the greeting comes the introduction paragraph. Open your cover letter with an attention grabbing hook that reels the reader in. With the right opener, your cover letter is likely to be read in full instead of briefly scanned. 

Body Paragraphs 

The middle of your cover letter includes the body paragraphs. If possible, draw a connection to the company you’re applying to. You can reference an upcoming event, press release, social media posts, or news mentions.

Then, showcase your relevant skills, experience, education and how they will benefit the company’s goals or mission. Remember, keep paragraphs short and use bullet points when possible. Nobody likes to be hit with walls of text! 

Call to Action

Any good salesperson will tell you to always ask for the sale. This is known as a “call to action.” As a job seeker, you’re selling your skills and abilities in hopes of getting an interview. So ,use your final paragraph to ask for an interview. It’s not pushy. You’re being proactive!

Sign Off 

You’re in the home stretch now! Lastly, end your cover letter with a professional closing like “Regards,” “Best Regards,” or “Sincerely.” Then simply type in your name to act as your signature. That’s it. Your cover letter is complete. 

Two: Template 

Remember, do not use a cookie cutter cover letter. A cover letter is only effective when it’s tailored to the company and position you’re applying for. However, this doesn’t mean you have to start a cover letter from scratch every time. Instead, opt for a template that is easily updated for effortless customization. 

With a template, all you have to do is pull it up, make a copy, and change relevant sections, sentences, or statements. Once you’ve done this a few times, you’ll be a cover letter pro. 

Three: Content 

So far, you know what the parts of a cover letter are and the importance of using a customizable template every time. Now, what exactly should you say in your cover letter? 

Great question. This is what trips most people up. Fortunately, it’s not complicated. All you need to remember are the three Cs:

1. Credibility
2. Connection
3. Clarity. 

1. Credibility 

Remember, your cover letter can help you get an interview even when your resume isn’t an exact fit for the job. To do this, state what you can do for the company. Then, lend credibility to those statements by sharing relevant examples of previous accomplishments. 

2. Connection

Always create a connection between yourself and the company. This is important for two reasons: 1. It demonstrates your genuine interest in the company 2. Clearly shows a thoughtful cover letter written specifically for that role. 

3. Clarity

Finally, write clearly and concisely. There is no need to be clever, cute, or quirky. Your cover letter’s main mission is to demonstrate ability and enthusiasm. Use short sentences and bullet points to highlight your skills and how they’ll benefit the company.  

Yes, You Should Include A Cover Letter for Remote Jobs

In the end, my answer is “Yes, you should write a cover letter- even if it’s optional.” Honestly, they aren’t difficult to write. In fact, if you use a template, it will take just a matter of minutes to customize it to a particular job. 

Remember, many hiring managers believe cover letters secure interviews when a resume isn’t the best fit. Plus, almost two-thirds of applicants fail to write one even when asked. Writing a cover letter already places you ahead of the majority.

So, open Google Docs right now (yes, right now) and put together your cover letter template. It’s a seriously easy yet effective way to get more interviews. Sign up for my weekly newsletter – Happy Mail – and I’ll send you a free cover letter example template as a thanks.

Happily, 

Ashlee Anderson, CPCC

*Cover letter statistics courtesy of Resume Lab.

P.S. This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure statement to learn more.

The post Do I Need a Cover Letter for Remote Jobs? appeared first on Work from Home Happiness.

Now, remember, a career change and a job change are two different things. The average person changes jobs 10 to 15 times according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). You might change jobs for a number of reasons: 

• Better pay 
• Relocating
• Career advancement 
• Layoff
• Work/life balance
• Schedule change

Whatever the reason, a job change simply means stopping one position and starting another. Often, when you change jobs you keep the same or a similar title but go to a different company. When you change jobs, you use the same skills you’ve acquired at previous roles. The only training you need is for your new place of work. 

Job Change Example

For example, let’s say you’re a bookkeeper. Currently, you work for ACME Bookkeeping as a Junior Bookkeeper. However, you don’t enjoy the company culture so you accept a Senior Bookkeeping position at Mr. B’s Bookkeeping (shoutout to my cat, Mr. B!). This is considered a job change. At Mr. B’s, you use the same bookkeeping skills from ACME. The difference is how Mr. B’s operates which will require some training. But, for the most part, you hit the ground running at Mr. B’s because you are still a bookkeeper — you’re just working at a new company. 

What is a career change?

Now a career change, on the other hand, is more involved. Career changes mean taking on new work that is different from your previous positions. A career change requires you to learn a new skill, receive certain training, or complete specific certifications. These new skills/training/certifications prepare you to work for roles you don’t have experience in. Most often, people change careers to improve their quality of life or increase job satisfaction. 

Let’s revisit our bookkeeper example. After working as a bookkeeper at ACME for years, you realize bookkeeping isn’t something you truly enjoy anymore. You want to pursue a creative career. After a little research, you decide you want to become a writer. It’s something you’ve often dreamed about but unfortunately have zero professional writing experience. So, you enroll in an online writing program and learn how to become a professional writer. Now you’re able to successfully transition from bookkeeper to writer.

This is a career change. You have to learn a whole new skill set so you can make the switch from bookkeeper to writer. 

10 Remote Jobs You Can Quickly Learn to Make a Remote Career Change 

As a career coach, I work with plenty of job seekers who want to change careers. Often, they hope for a new position that more closely matches their interests and, of course, is remote friendly. Over the years, I’ve helped job seekers make career transitions like teacher to freelance graphic designer, bank teller to home-based transcriptionist, registered nurse to virtual assistant, and so many more. 

If they can do it, so can you. However, I know it’s not easy to make career changes. It’s harder still when you’re just starting to contemplate a change. That is, you know you’re ready for a professional transition to telecommuting, but aren’t sure where to start.

So, to offer some real remote work inspiration, I’ve put together a list of 10 easily-learned remote job-ready skills to make a career change quickly. Check them out and get inspired to kick your cubicle to the curb. You won’t have to get a new degree or spend years on your education. Instead, you can finish your training quickly — often in as little as a year or less.

1. Transcription 

What is transcription? Broadly, transcription is the process of listening to recorded audio and typing out what is being said. This written record is called a transcript and can be used in a lot of ways like medical records, court proceedings, and market research. 

What is it like to work in transcription? The most common transcription jobs from home include medical transcription, legal transcription, and general transcription. Often, these positions are contract based. That means you are hired as an independent contractor which offers greater flexibility than employee positions. Professional transcriptionists use special software and equipment, like a foot pedal, to increase their typing speed and accuracy. Most are paid per audio hour and average earnings hover around $28/hour according to ZipRecruiter. 

Where can I learn transcription skills? It depends on what type of transcription you want to pursue. For Medical Transcription and Editing training, CareerStep is a great online option.

TranscribeAnywhere is ideal to tackle Legal Transcription, General Transcription, or both! All programs are self-paced, completely virtual, and can be completed in as little as four months. 

2. Writing

What is writing? Writing is a broad profession that includes a lot of niches. Some examples include grant writing, technical writing, content marketing, and so much more! 

What is it like to work as a writer? Most writers are freelance. That means they find potential clients, pitch their work, and negotiate pay rate. Often, freelance writers are paid per word but can also be paid per piece. For example, a writer might charge $0.05 per word or ask for $150.00 per blog post. 

Where can I learn writing skills? SmartBlogger has a highly-rated Content Marketing Certification program. This in-depth training prepares graduates to hit the ground running (or writing) and start earning a living as a writer. My friend, Elna Cain, also has a beginner-friendly online course called Write Your Way to Your First 1k where, you guessed it, she teaches you what it takes to earn your first grand as a paid writer! 

3. Proofreading/Editing

What is proofreading and editing? Proofreading and editing are two different career paths that often collide in the remote world. Editors focus on big picture writing issues like flow and structure. Proofreaders are the final set of eyes that check writing for spelling errors, grammatical issues, and typographical mistakes. 

What is it like to work as a proofreading pro or editor? Proofreaders and editors can work for large publications or independently with indie writers. They also handle different types of content like romance novels, academic articles, dissertations, ebooks, marketing materials, and so much more! 

Where can I learn proofreading and/or editing skills? My top recommendation for general proofreading is ProofreadAnywhere. You’ll learn the ins and outs of proofreading as a beginner and where to find work when you’re done. For editing I highly recommend Edit Republic. This fully online course focuses on editorial skills you can put to work quickly to work remotely. 

4. Medical Billing and Coding 

What is medical billing and coding? In the U.S., a universal code system is used to identify medical supplies and procedures. These codes are applied to a patient’s chart and are a part of their medical record. Insurance companies use these codes to pay hospitals, doctors, and clinics for the services they provide. 

What is it like to work as a medical billing and coding professional? This is a healthcare career that is very remote friendly! Most virtual medical coders work for hospitals or large agencies to help accurately assign codes. Typically, medical billers and coders are hired as remote employees which come with benefits like health insurance and paid time off. 

Where can I learn medical billing and coding skills? CareerStep provides training for medical billing and coding professionals. In less than a year, you are prepared to be a competitive entry level candidate in your career. Plus, CareerStep partners with remote-friendly companies that readily hire new grads.  

5. Bookkeeping 

What is bookkeeping? Bookkeeping is different from accounting. Bookkeepers do not require a formal degree or certification. That’s because bookkeepers keep records of transactions without providing financial advice. 

What is it like to work as a bookkeeper? Bookkeepers routinely record incoming and outgoing payments within a corporation. They run reports and monitor the flow of money. Sometimes they make sure bills are paid on time or help collect payments. Many small businesses and self-employed persons use a bookkeeper to help them stay on top of business finances. Remote bookkeepers can contract with an agency or source their own clients as a freelancer. 

Where can I learn bookkeeping skills? Since you don’t need a formal degree to become a bookkeeper, a program like Bookkeeper Launch is a quick way to grab in-demand bookkeeping skills. You learn up-to-date bookkeeping skills, efficient systems, and how to find high-quality clients. 

6. Project Manager 

What is project management? This high-growth role plans, organizes, and runs projects. Project managers work at small businesses to large corporations. They help company projects run smoothly so that they are completed on time and within budget. 

What is it like to work as a project manager? Project managers are responsible for a variety of tasks. They estimate budgets, run meetings, manage risks, and navigate team dynamics. Most are natural problem solvers and use these skills daily to prioritize tasks, build relationships, and deliver results. 

Where can I learn project management skills? Grow with Google offers a Google Project Management: program via Coursera. This online course does not require prior experience. You’ll learn job-ready skills in about six months designed to prepare you for work right out the gate. Graduates even get to connect with employers actively hiring entry-level project managers. 

7. IT Support

What is IT support?  IT support is part customer service and part technical troubleshooting. Support professionals diagnose tech issues and walk users through solutions. Computer hardware, software, and internet applications are just some of the products IT support pros work with. 

What is it like to work as an IT support professional? It really depends on the industry you work within. Some popular industries that actively hire IT support professionals include technology, retail, finance, education, government agencies, startups, energy, and many more. One day you might help fix a computer issue. The next day you could help debug a software problem. Each day will bring new tasks and challenges as you help users resolve issues that arise when tech fails. 

Where can I learn IT support skills? The Google IT Support via Grow with Google and Coursera is the perfect online training program to gain entry level skills. Again, you don’t need previous experience or come from a tech background. This program teaches you troubleshooting along with customer care so you can work a remote help desk like a pro. 

8. Data Analytics 

What is a data analyst? A data analyst is someone who collects and organizes data. This data is then used to uncover trends and patterns so businesses can make predictions. The goal is to provide data driven recommendations. 

What is it like to work as a data analyst? A data analyst will create visualizations to share with others. You routinely compile data in a meaningful way so you can find patterns. Some days you might create spreadsheets. The next you could hold a meeting to share predictions with stockholders. Regularly, you will compile and analyze data to draw conclusions. 

Where can I learn data analytics skills? You can obtain a Google Data Analytics Certificate online through Coursera. Students do not need previous experience to get started. You should, however, know and understand high school mathematics and be genuinely curious about how things work. 

9. UX Design

What is a UX designer? UX (user experience) designers help make products user friendly. Their ultimate goal is to make technology more enjoyable for people to use. To do this, they conduct usability tests and make improvements based on results. 

What is it like to work as a UX designer? You will develop user personas and create journey maps to help you empathize with users. Usability studies or tests can also help with this. From there you create prototypes that implement positive changes. Then wash. Rinse. Repeat! 

Where can I learn UX design skills? Sign up for a Google UX Design course at Coursera. You will learn the foundational concepts of UX design and prepare for entry level work. This program even helps you build a professional brand including a portfolio and online presence. 

10. Android Development

What is an Android developer? An Android developer is someone who builds Android mobile applications. They also maintain these apps or help troubleshoot known problems. If you have a Samsung phone or device, you’re already familiar with Android apps! 

What is it like to work as an Android developer? It really depends on the nature of your work! Some developers work alone while others collaborate on team projects. While every day will bring new challenges, you will work to build, maintain, and troubleshoot Android apps. This can include writing code to bring new features to life or detail a plan to create an app in the future. 

Where can I learn Android developer skills? The Android Basics in Kotlin certification is delivered by Google to prepare graduates to take the Associate Android Developer Certification exam. You can complete the course on your own terms to get a Google credential to display on your resume. 

Remote-Friendly Career Changes 

There you have it: 10 quickly learned skills you can use to make a remote-friendly career change. Remember, a career change almost always requires you to learn a new skill. Fortunately, it’s easier than ever to do today thanks to online, self-paced learning options.

Plus, when you focus on job-specific skills you can get to work faster in your new career (and without the expense of enrolling in a traditional degree-seeking university!). 

Have questions? Confused about career changes? Let me know in the comments below. I’m happy to help. 

Happily, 

Ashlee

PS This post contains affiliate links. Check out my disclosure statement to learn more.

The post 10 In Demand Skills You Can Quickly Learn for a Remote Career Change appeared first on Work from Home Happiness.

And though career changes are common and even necessary at times, they often seem overwhelming. For most, it’s like starting over again. 

But, the truth is, you’re not starting from scratch. Instead, you’re simply using your transferable skills to make a pivot. That is, you’re taking what you already know and applying those skills to a new job title or industry. We can make these seamless career transitions thanks to our transferable skills. 

It’s important you know what transferable skills are and which transferable skills you have. That way, if you become an unemployed remote job seeker or find yourself unfulfilled, you can highlight these skills to make a purposeful change. 

Settle in. This guide will define what transferable skills are, how to identify yours, ways to highlight them, and best practices for using them to make strategic career moves. 

What are transferable skills? 

Transferable skills are portable skills. You can take them with you from one job to the next. Generally speaking, one transferable skill can be applied to multiple industries or job titles. Your transferable skills are likely valuable to any employer. For example, strong written communication skills are universally helpful in pretty much every remote job. Period. In fact, it’s one of the skills remote companies look for in (almost) all of their hires. 

Where do transferable skills come from? 

Transferable skills can be both hard skills and soft skills. As a reminder, hard skills are learned skills. These include languages spoken, software you can use, and tons of other technical abilities.

On the other hand, soft skills are our unique traits and interpersonal abilities we use at work. I often tell my clients that your hard skills will get you a job interview, but your soft skills will get you a job offer. 

Remember, your transferable skills are not restricted to your most recent role. You can pull transferable skills from past positions, volunteer roles, internships, hobbies, side hustles, or virtually any activity you engage in. 

Take it from Janet, a career coaching client of mine. Allow me to share her story. 

Transferable skill inspiration story 

Janet was a longtime teacher. In her spare time, she enjoys crafting and creating. She often spends time on Pinterest getting inspired by all the visuals. On the side, Janet has a small Etsy shop she uses to sell Cricut templates to fellow teachers. Janet always believed teaching was her calling. But, when her district shifted to online learning, Janet soon found she enjoyed teaching less and less.

However, online teaching gave her more opportunity to create content for her virtual students. Janet was in love! She already enjoyed making Cricut templates, but now she was creating more digital content than ever before. Soon, Janet contemplated a career change. But, she felt stuck as an educator.

That’s when Janet came to me seeking career advice. She loved working remotely, but wasn’t in love with teaching anymore. But she worried, “I’ve only ever been a teacher. Who will hire me for a non-teaching role?” 

Don’t Get Caught Up by Job Titles

I reminded Janet that she is more than her job title. Janet communicates with parents, plans lessons, creates educational content, designs workbooks, makes interactive worksheets, and can quickly create learning materials using design platforms like Canva and Adobe InDesign. Clearly, she was more than “just a teacher.” 

Together, Janet and I used my three-step system to identify her career ideals. From there, it was pretty easy to see that Janet was a creator at heart. Sure, her job titles were education based, but her transferable skills were definitely marketing and design forward.

Ultimately, Janet decided to make a career change that put her transferable skills to work. Soon, she was interviewing for editorial and marketing positions within the education industry — somewhere she wanted to stay.

In about six months, Janet ended up landing a remote curriculum creation role for an online K-12 school. Now, her entire day is spent creating instead of teaching. She credits her transferable skills for allowing her to effortlessly make the change! 

What is not a transferable skill? 

Now that you have a real life example of what transferable skills are (thank you, Janet!), let’s look at what they are not. Transferable skills are not skills that are so specific that they really only apply to a certain role.

For example, if you’re a phlebotomist, drawing blood for medical tests is an essential skill that really won’t transfer elsewhere. However, that doesn’t mean a phlebotomist has zero transferable skills. Likely, a phlebotomist has great customer service skills, an ability to place people at ease, and time management capabilities — all highly desirable transferable skills for just about any new remote role or industry. 

When is it important to know your transferable skills? 

First and foremost, transferable skills are most helpful when you want to change careers or switch to a different industry. But, they’re also important when you’re unemployed, underemployed, or feeling stuck in your current role. 

Recent college graduates can also use transferable skills from internships or life experience to help them get established in their chosen industry. 

Similarly, your transferable skills help you get ahead at your current company or give you opportunities to work on new and interesting projects that otherwise would pass you by. 

So, how do I figure out what my transferable skills are? 

Your transferable skills are constantly changing. And, they will be different depending on where you want to go. Let’s revisit Janet’s scenario for a minute. Because she wanted to move to a content creation role, Janet focused on design and curriculum development transferable skills to navigate her career change.

However, if Janet wanted to move to a finance role, her transferable skills would have focused more on classroom budgeting, supplies inventory management, and fundraising activities she did at her school. 

You too should identify your transferable skills based on where you want to go and the skills needed to be successful in that role. A great place to start is with a job description.

For example, let’s say you’re a sales representative who wants to move into project management. You would find a remote project manager listing and carefully read the job description. Here’s a real example with relevant sales-to-project management transferable skills highlighted: 

Now, you realize that your sales background has prepared you to be an organized, multi-tasking, deadline-driven, cost-conscious project manager with an ability to communicate effectively with clients. These are all skills you routinely did in sales and can take with you to project management. In other words, these are your relevant transferable skills. 

What if I don’t know what I want to do?

When you don’t quite know your ideal role or where you want to end up, think about skills you excel at. Reflect on previous roles, hobbies, or volunteer experiences. Which tasks did you enjoy the most? Are there any things you do exceptionally well and often get complimented for? Chances are, these are skills you will want to regularly use at work. Similarly, these are transferable skills you can highlight to help you find a remote job you’ll love. 

You can also explore in-demand remote jobs to see if anything piques your interest. If so, great! Further research that role to see what skills are needed to get hired.

You can also work with a career coach to help you identify and highlight your transferable skills as they relate to your ideal remote role.

How do I highlight my transferable skills during my remote job search? 

Change Your Resume Format 

First up, it’s time to change up your resume’s format. Get rid of the objective statement and opt for a Professional Summary instead. Use this space to connect the dots from previous roles to the new job you want to pivot to. 

Also, be sure to include a Skills Summary section. Here, you will specifically state your transferable skills that directly relate to the job you’re applying for. 

In my experience as a career coach and resume writer, here’s an example of the BEST resume for career changers: 

Update Your Resume Every Time

Next up, always optimize your resume. You have to do this for every single position you apply for. Remember that technical skills section I just talked about? You’ll specifically pull transferable skills keywords directly from the job ad and place them into your skills section. This is known as keyword optimizing your resume. 

Since hiring is automated now, more than ever, you stand a better chance of getting past Applicant Tracking System (ATS) and in front of an actual human that makes hiring decisions. Remember, ATS is the special software companies use to make hiring simpler. The ATS scans your resume to find relevant (transferable) skills to determine whether you’re a good fit for a role. 

When you have these skills in your resume, you get placed in the ‘yes’ pile. If you don’t have them, your resume is rejected or, worse yet, placed in dreaded resume limbo where you never hear anything back one way or the other. 

Tell Your Career Story on LinkedIn 

Your LinkedIn profile gives you a chance to tell your unique career story. Like the Professional Profile in your resume, use the About Section of your LinkedIn Profile to tell recruiters where you started, where you are, and where you’re going. This helps them see you in your desired role, even if you haven’t held that specific job title before. 

You need to think about keywords in your LinkedIn profile too. Use your headline to insert the job title you want to land. This helps you rank better in searches! So, when a recruiter heads over to LinkedIn to find [insert your specific remote job title here] you’re more likely to show up in their search results if you have the job title in your headline. 

Another thing, ask for endorsements for the transferable skills you need to change careers. LinkedIn Endorsements work as social proof to hiring managers that you do, in fact, have the necessary skills to seamlessly change careers. 

Use your Cover Letter to Explain Your Career Change 

Today, cover letters aren’t as common as they used to be. But, if you have the opportunity to upload a cover letter to an online job application, I highly recommend you do it! 

When you change careers, you can use your cover letter to explain your career change and highlight the transferable skills you have. 

For example, if Janet didn’t explain her desire to change from educator to content creator, a recruiter would have been confused by her application. Instead, Janet clearly explained that both in her personal life and professional career, she thrived at content creation and was ready to turn it into her full-time role. Now, recruiters reading her resume read it from the right angle instead of wondering why she’s applying for a seemingly unrelated role.

Use Transferable Skills to Make a Career Purposeful Career Change 

As you can see, your transferable skills are insanely valuable in your remote job search. They are important for unemployed, underemployed, and even entry-level candidates. 

When you’re ready to make a career move from one job to the next, focus on your transferable skills first and foremost. From there, you can clearly show employers why you’re a great hire, even if you don’t have the right job title. 

Remember, you’re way more than your job title. You are a unique professional with a combination of hard skills and soft skills you can take with you from one job to the next.

It’s a matter of highlighting those transferable skills to successfully make a career move. Amazing things happen when you find a job that combines your professional interests and personal passions. Fortunately, your transferable skills are the ticket to helping you find (and land) your ideal remote role.

The post Transferable Skills: Your Ticket to Getting the Job (Even if You Have No Direct Experience) appeared first on Work from Home Happiness.

But, it’s true. An important piece of advice I give to everyone I work with involves spending less time on the search part of their remote job search.

Many people are confused by this. After all, job seekers are often told “looking for a job is a full time job.”

Honestly, this is only partially true. You see, dear job seeker, there are a lot of activities that go into a job search. Yes, searching for job leads is part of it. But that’s just a small sliver of a job search.

3 Other Important Parts of a Remote Job Search

1. LinkedIn Networking

LinkedIn is a critical part of your job search, but not a lot of remote job seekers spend their time here. However, it’s a good idea to take time away from finding job leads and using it instead on LinkedIn.

Why? Because a lot of connections and hiring decisions are made on LinkedIn. Let’s check out these impressive LinkedIn stats:

• 87% of recruiters use LinkedIn
• 20 million job openings posted on LinkedIn
• 122 million people got a job interview through LinkedIn

Impressive, right? Needless to say, you need to spend more time on LinkedIn. Period. It all starts with your profile. Of course, you can’t just have a generic LinkedIn profile. Instead, you need to craft a powerful LinkedIn profile that leads to interviews. To do this well, it will take some time.

Plus, it’s a good idea to be active on LinkedIn. It’s one thing to write an amazing profile. It’s another to be engaged, active, and create meaningful connections. This can be done by sharing, posting, commenting, and participating in groups. You can even follow remote-friendly companies to be the first to know when they are hiring.

The more time you spend on LinkedIn, the greater your chances of remote job search success. You’re never more than a connection away from your next interview.

2. Perfect Your Personal Brand

Today, more than ever, it’s important to spend time on your personal brand. This is especially true for remote job seekers, like you.

Your personal brand is essentially the professional persona you project online. A well crafted personal brand make you a no-brainer hire for a position. A bland personal brand allows recruiters to pass you over for interviews.

Don’t forget, as a remote job seeker, you won’t get to make an in-person impression. Remember, the entire application process from hiring to interview to onboarding is done virtually. That means recruiters and hiring managers will turn to good old Google to develop their own impression of you. Don’t let it be the wrong impression.

An estimated 77% of companies will google you before they invite you to interview. And Google will show them everything they can possibly find on you including, but not limited to:

• Facebook Profile
• Blog Posts
• Instagram Profile
• Twitter Profile
• News Mentions

Essentially, anywhere your name shows up online will come up when someone (including employers) google you. Potential employers will use what Google gives them to form an impression on you. And this can make or break your chance of getting an interview (or job).

So, instead of spending all your time job searching, hop online and clean up your personal brand. Make your Facebook profile private if you don’t want recruiters to see what you share here. Delete politically-charged tweets that might make you look aggressive. Go the extra mile and create your own personal brand website.

Making your own website takes back your online presence and gives you greater control over what Google decides to show about you. That’s because a website with your name as the domain (i.e., yourname.com) is likely to rank higher on Google searches than anything else.

All of these personal brand job search tasks provide greater return on time investment than scouring job boards for hours on end.

3. Optimize Your Resume

Writing my resume is fun, said no one ever. And it’s even less fun when I tell job seekers that not only do they have to write their resume once, but re-write it for every single job they apply for.

At first, this is time consuming. But, trust me, it is time well spent. That’s because the majority of remote job listings are posted with an Applicant Tracking System (ATS). ATS is a special type of software companies use to make hiring easier.

That means when you upload your resume to apply for a job, it’s being scanned by ATS to determine whether you’re a good fit for the position. If so, great! Your resume is passed on to a real person. If not, then your resume is placed in limbo, and you never get an interview or a rejection letter. Being in resume limbo is the worst because you never know one way or another what happened with your application.

The best way to avoid resume limbo is to keyword optimize your resume. This means taking hard skills from the job ad and placing them in your resume. It takes a few extra minutes to do, but it pays off — big time. Now when you submit your resume, the ATS sees you have the hard skills from the job and instantly places you in the “yes” pile, exactly where you want to end up.

Spend less time tracking down and verifying job leads and more time optimizing your resume. In the world of remote jobs, it’s all about quality over quantity. That is, it’s infinitely better to apply to fewer positions with an optimized resume than to mass apply to many positions with the same resume.

How To Spend Less Time Searching in Your Job Search

It’s easy to get caught up in the searching part of your job search. After all, you can’t apply to jobs if you don’t find them, right?

That’s true. But even still, you don’t have to spend too much time on job boards seeking out remote jobs.

Automate Your The Search

Instead, automate your search as much as possible. The best way to do that is to sign up for job alerts.

Job alerts can be scheduled daily. That means once a day, you’ll have all the newest remote job leads delivered to your inbox. It’s much quicker to glance through an email than to scroll through a job board site.

Use Remote Job Boards

It’s also a good idea to stay off the big-name job boards like Indeed or Monster. Sure you can find remote job leads there. But there’s also a TON of non-remote jobs in the mix too. Avoid sifting through these by sticking to remote-focused job boards. That way you know every lead coming your way is actually remote.

Take Advantage of Hand Curated Sites

Another major time suck of remote job searches is determining whether something is legit or a scam. Save time by searching job boards that hand pick their leads like FlexJobs. These job boards do the hard work for you and ensure each and every listing is the real deal.

The Effortless Remote Job Search

To help remote job seekers make the most of their time, I’ve created The Effortless Remote Job Search.

In this crash course you’ll learn where to quickly find real remote jobs, how to save time, and best practices for avoiding scams.

Bonus content includes:

• LinkedIn Profile Checklist
• List of Hundreds of Remote-Friendly Companies
• Job Search Tracker
• Now Hiring Spreadsheet
• Scam-Guard Checklist

Ready to make your remote job search as easy as possible? Sign up for The Effortless Remote Job Search Today for just $27.

It’s never been easier to find real, scam-free remote job leads.

Have questions? Hit me with them in the comments below! You can also email me. I answer every one!

Happily,

Ashlee

P.S. This post might contain affiliate links. Check out my disclosure statement to learn more.

The post Why You Should Spend Less Time on Your Remote Job Search (and What to Focus on Instead) appeared first on Work from Home Happiness.

As a Certified Professional Career Coach, my standard advice I give to clients is to prepare and practice for a remote job interview. Doing so helps calm nerves and increases confidence. How’s that for a win win?

Plus, it makes for a more successful interview. On average, you’ll be up against four to six other professionals once you make it to the interview round of hiring.

The best way to get a job offer is to interview better than your competitors. Sounds easy enough, right? Well, it can be if you plan ahead and prep answers to common remote job interview questions in advance.

Preparation is Key

As a job seeker in general you’ll face common interview questions. These are the same ones we all come across regardless of job type, industry or position. But, as a remote job seeker, you’ll likely have to answer remote-specific questions that will help a hiring manager determine whether or not you’d be a successful remote worker.

This is how you can help yourself stand out against the competition. Remember, the four to six candidates being interviewed all have similar skills and abilities — that’s how they got the interview. But as a savvy job seeker, you’ll get the job based on how well you present yourself as a remote job seeker.

Make yourself seem like the perfect hire that you obviously are by coming up with smart answers to common remote job interview questions.

7 Common Remote Job Interview Questions

1. Do you have experience working remotely?

If you do, great! This is the perfect chance to highlight previous remote work experience. Someone who has already successfully tackled remote work is a ‘safer’ hire than someone without any remote experience.

However, if you’ve never worked remotely a day in your life — don’t panic. You can still answer this question in a positive way.

Explain that while you don’t have direct experience as a remote worker, you do have skills needed to be a successful remote worker. Then highlight common skills needed to work remotely related to communication, technology, organization and time management.

From there, you can mention specific programs you’ve used that remote teams commonly use like Slack, Google Drive, and Trello.

The more you can demonstrate you’ve got what it takes to work remotely, the better.

2. Why do you want to telecommute?

If you’ve never worked remotely before, the hiring manager will want to know why you’re drawn to remote work now. Someone who has had a successful office-based career for years that suddenly pivots to remote work will need a solid answer to this question.

Maybe you’re more productive when working from your home office. Perhaps you live in a rural area where job opportunities are limited. It may even be as simple as the company/job you’re applying for just happens to be remote-friendly and you are excited about the opportunity.

Don’t overthink your answer to this one. Simply state what it is about remote work that appeals to you. Remember, there are tons of remote work benefits to choose from!

But never ever mention what you hate about office work — annoying coworkers, office politics, cubicle dwelling, daily commutes, fluorescent lighting, etc. This just makes it seem like you’re looking for an escape rather than a new opportunity.

3. What is your home office setup like? Can you describe it?

Whether or not you have worked from home previously, your interviewer wants to know you are serious about remote work. A candidate that has an existing home office or has considered how they will create a home office is already a step ahead of most.

Be sure to note anything that will contribute to your overall productivity and efficiency like a quiet and private workspace and high-speed reliable Internet.

4. How will you communicate and collaborate effectively with your coworkers?

One of the most important traits companies want in their remote workers is the ability to communicate effectively. That’s because you won’t be able to collaborate in the same space with your coworkers or have in-person sessions.

Instead, remote workers rely on collaboration tools and written communication to manage workflow and work together to get things done. Needless to say, you have to be an effective communicator in order to work well as a remote employee.

As an aspiring remote worker, you should be aware of common ways to keep in touch with coworkers. These include Trello, Slack, Zoom and Google Drive. It’s also a good idea to mention traditional communication channels like chat, phone, email and video.

5. What do you think your biggest challenge will be as a remote worker? How will you deal with this challenge?

You probably already know the dreaded interview question, “What’s your greatest weakness?” Well, this is the remote interviewer’s equivalent of that.

Let’s be honest, remote work comes with unique challenges. The person interviewing you wants to know that you’re aware of this and ready to overcome them if and when they happen.

Distractions, technical problems, engagement, motivation and productivity are some common pitfalls of remote work. Think of ways you will combat these as a remote worker.

When you have answers prepared you come across as an honest and realistic aspiring remote worker. If you fail to answer this question or try to spin this into a positive, i.e., “My biggest challenge as a remote worker is that I will get lost in work since I’m more productive at home” you come across as disillusioned about remote work or dishonest.

6. How do you handle distractions?

Distractions happen as a remote worker. Your doorbell rings. Dogs start barking. Neighbors come and go. Spouses, significant others and kids may be in and around your workspace.

How you handle these common distractions tells a lot about your work ethic as a remote worker. Your interviewer wants to know that you are aware that distractions are going to happen and are already prepared to tackle them head on.

7. What are some ways you prioritize tasks and stay motivated?

Before you’re hired, the company wants to know you’ll put in a full day’s work even when no one is looking. To build that level of trust during the interview, you will likely be asked how you manage your time and stay motivated.

Now is the time to illustrate just how you manage yourself and stay on top of task

Think about your own preferences when it comes to staying organized, focused, and productive. Be sure to note how you prioritize tasks and manage to get things done daily.

Practice Makes Perfect

Remember, these are just some of the most common interview questions remote job seekers face. Of course, every company will have their own set of questions they’ll ask potential hires.

But you can expect to encounter some of the above questions or similar variations. That’s because remote work is unique and it is not for everyone. Companies want to make sure they hire someone who will thrive as a remote worker and fit in with the current remote-friendly culture.

To position yourself as this perfect hire, prepare answers to the questions you’re more likely to come across as a remote job seeker. And while it’s good to be prepared don’t be overly robotic or rehearsed. Interviews are also a time to let your personality shine. Your answers should perfectly showcase your professional abilities and demonstrate you’re a great fit for the position.

Remote Interview Help

Need interview help? I’ve got you covered. As a Certified Professional Career Coach I routinely work with remote job seekers to help them fine-tune their remote interview skills.

Learn more about my services and how I can help you ace the interview and get the job.

Happily,

Ashlee Anderson, CPCC

The post Common Remote Job Interview Questions (And How To Answer Them Like A Pro) appeared first on Work from Home Happiness.

An all virtual hiring process is a great way for the hiring manager to gauge whether or not you present well remotely. That’s where phone interviews come into play. No pressure, right?

Don’t worry. Even though you won’t get a chance to meet your interviewer in person, shake hands and make a great first impression, you can still stand out with these phone interview tips for remote job seekers.

1. Do Your Company Homework

Congrats! Your resume and LinkedIn profile were optimized and you actually got a call back. Now, a remote friendly wants to interview you. It’s exciting and nerve-racking all at once.

One of the best ways to nail your phone interview is to do a little homework beforehand. First up, research the company you’re interviewing with.

You should understand what the company does, the customers it serves, and its overall mission, values, and goals. Typically, you can find all of this information on a company’s website.

Let’s look at remote-friendly company Buffer, for example.

If you scroll to the bottom of their homepage, there’s an entire “Company” section in the footer:

When you explore the “About Us” page, you will notice Buffer is quick to share its company values:

This is valuable information you need to read up on BEFORE you interview. As you read up on the company and learn more about its mission, take notes. You can use these during your phone interview.

If you can’t find much information about the company on its website. Don’t panic. Head on over to LinkedIn. Chances are they have a company profile there where you can find tons of valuable information.

Remember, an interviewer’s job is to eliminate you as a candidate. Get ahead of the game and present yourself as an ideal fit for the company’s values and cultures.

2. Set The Scene

One of the surprising phone interview tips you might not think of is preparing your space before you interview.

Even though the person interviewing you won’t see where you’re interviewing from, that doesn’t mean you should conduct a phone interview from just anywhere.

Instead, pick a quiet area that is free of distractions. Your home office is a good place. Public spaces or anywhere with lots of background noise is a definite no.

Additionally, make sure the place you pick has amazing cell phone reception. If you’re like most people, you don’t have a landline. That means you’ll rely on your cell phone to help you get a job.

There’s nothing worse than having a call cut out or be interrupted with static. This will frustrate you and your interviewer and can quickly turn a great interview into a disaster.

3. Know Who’s Calling You

There’s nothing more awkward than having a phone call with a complete stranger. That’s why you need to know who is interviewing you before you hop on a call with them.

When you schedule the interview, you’ll be given a name. Head on over to LinkedIn to scope this person out. Your objective is to find out what their role is within the company. Chances are, this person will be a recruiter or HR person. They will not be your supervisor, manager or boss.

If this is the case, you can expect a pretty basic interview. That is, they will gather general information about you to determine whether or not you have the skills and experience to fill the position.

4. Re-Read The Job Description

If you’ve launched a full on career campaign as a remote job seeker, you’ve probably applied to quite a few jobs over the weeks. You may only vaguely remember the position you’re interviewing for. And that’s okay. But don’t just leave it at that. Instead, head back to the job listing and re-read it.

Now you’ll have a refreshed idea of the job and its responsibilities. That way you can better position yourself as a good fit for the role during the phone interview. It’s also a good idea to have your remote resume available during the call. You can reference it throughout the conversation or when answering questions.

This is why it’s important to organize your job search! When you’re organized, you can quickly find jobs you’ve applied to at specific companies. All that information comes in handy when it comes time to interview.

5. Prepare Answers In Advance

Now, you won’t know which questions the interviewer is going to ask you. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t prepare some answers ahead of time.

This is important because it can help quell any nerves you have about the phone interview and helps you avoid any long pauses or dreaded uhs and ums.

Some common phone interview questions you might get include:

• Tell me about yourself.
• What are you looking for in your next role?
• How did you find this position?
• Why are you interested in this role?
• Why did you leave your last position?
• What is your greatest strength? Weakness?

As a Certified Professional Career Coach, my best advice for answering these questions (or any questions during interviews) is be genuine.

Recruiters and hiring managers are smart. They’ve interviewed hundreds of candidates before you. They know the “common answers to interview questions” that are readily available on Google. And they simply don’t want to hear them.

So, stand out and provide a fresh answer that is anything but cookie cutter.

6. Slow Down & Stand Up

It’s human nature to speak quickly when we’re nervous. But this can spell disaster during a phone interview. Remember, your interviewer cannot look you in the eyes or read any other visual cues while you’re speaking. What you say and how you say it are the only impressions they’ll get.

So, slow down. Think about what you’re going to say and keep a steady pace. Doing so will project confidence and make the conversation flow much easier than if you sound anxious or hurried.

And one of my favorite phone interview tips that I always tell my clients: Stand up!

There’s a reason opera singers and performers stand up on stage. Voices carry and project much clearer when we stand. Give your voice (and self) a confidence boost just by standing up.

7. Follow Up During & After The Interview

Before the phone interview wraps up, be sure to ask some questions of your own. Remember, you’re interviewing them too. You want to find a remote job that fits your ideals, not just any ol’ job. Your questions don’t have to be super in-depth. Again, your first phone interview is likely a preliminary one. Now’s your chance to ask the recruiter what to expect moving forward and what the hiring process looks like.

Also, ask your interviewer if they have any more questions for you. The last thing you may want is to answer any more questions than you have to. But, asking this simple question makes you stand out as very few interviewees ask. Plus, it makes you seem engaged in the process and genuinely interested in the position.

And, don’t forget to follow up after the interview is over. You absolutely should write a thank you email to your interviewer. It doesn’t have to be long or over the top. A simple thank you for taking the time to speak to you goes a long way. It demonstrates good manners and your written communication skills — which is super important as a remote job seeker.

Phone Interview Tips For Remote Job Seekers

Phone interview tips are absolutely necessary for the remote job seeker. Remember, you won’t get a chance to meet in person for a remote position. That means you’ll be doing a TON of phone interviews as you work to kick your cubicle to the curb.

A little planning and preparation before the phone call can help you stand out as a candidate and eliminate any nerves you may have. Plus, it helps the interviewer see that you’ve come to the phone prepared.

If you need help practicing phone interview tips, send me an SOS. As a Certified Professional Career Coach I can help you ace your phone interviews so you move onto the next round.

You’ve got this!

Happily,

Ashlee Anderson, CPCC

The post 7 Phone Interview Tips For Remote Job Seekers appeared first on Work from Home Happiness.

If you hop on a free 30-minute discovery call with me, you’ll have plenty of time to ask me anything. Although each person’s remote job search is unique, I still get a lot of FAQs. One of which is: 

Can you search for remote jobs on Linkedin? 

And, my answer is always: Heck yes you can! 

Not only can you use the world’s most popular professional networking site to find remote work, you absolutely SHOULD be searching for remote jobs on LinkedIn. 

Here’s why. 

A Lot Of People Get Hired on LinkedIn

A quick google search and you’ll find that LinkedIn is a big player when it comes to hiring. And, while you may be accustomed to job search sites like Indeed, Career Builder, or Monster, LinkedIn is a valuable resource too.

But it’s not just the job ads specifically listed on LinkedIn that you should go after. There are also job openings that are never listed.

“Say, what?!?!” 

It’s true. According to numerous studies and surveys, between 70 and 80 percent of jobs are never advertised. Instead, these jobs are filled via word of mouth and referrals. 

So, how do you tap into this ‘hidden job market’? 

You network. And what’s the largest site for professional networking? LinkedIn! To date, more than 575 million people use LinkedIn to connect and create a professional network. 

Networking On LinkedIn For Remote Jobs 

Local networking events are great if you’re looking for a local job. But, what if you’re on the hunt for a cubicle-free career path?  

As a remote job seeker, the hiring process is done virtually. Submitting your resume, interviewing and even onboarding is all done online.

It goes without saying, then, that all your remote job search networking will be done virtually too. 

That’s where LinkedIn comes into play. 

Find Remote Jobs Via Networking On LinkedIn 

A little bit later, I’ll share a video to show you how to actually search for jobs on LinkedIn. But before we get to that, let’s talk about networking on LinkedIn so you can find all of those never-advertised leads. 

It all starts with a stellar LinkedIn Profile. 

The Basics Of A Great LinkedIn Profile

On LinkedIn, your profile is what other people will see before they even connect with you. A powerful LinkedIn profile makes all the difference in whether or not someone will want to connect with you or completely ignore your request. 

Your profile is broken down into 6 major parts: 

1. Profile Picture
2. Headline
3. Summary 
4. Skills 
5. Experience
6. Education

Pictures Are Important

LinkedIn profiles with a picture receive about 21 times more views and 36 times more messages. 

Does this mean you need to run out right now and hire a professional photographer to give you just the right headshot? 

Nope. You don’t.

A simple headshot taken in good lighting on your iPhone will do the trick too. The point is, a picture is important. Don’t use an old, outdated photo or one of you a little tipsy at last year’s office party.

Keep it simple with a forward-facing headshot in front of a clean background. That’s it. 

Your Headline 

By default, your headline will be your current job title. You don’t have to keep it.

Instead, I suggest you change your headline to the job you hope to get.

For example, if you want to become a remote customer service professional, then your headline can read: 

Customer Service Professional Providing Virtual Support 

Remember, don’t make a LinkedIn profile mistake and get cutesy with your headline. Use actual job titles in your headline, i.e., Administrative Assistant, Project Manager, Technical Support Representative. Stay away from creative titles like Customer Happiness Associate, Support Rockstar, Project Management Ninja, etc. 

Recruiters on LinkedIn are searching for people with common job titles. As such, LinkedIn places a lot of weight on what your profile headline says when deciding whether or not to show your profile in searches! 

Remote Job Search Summary 

Here’s a chance to tell your professional story. You don’t have to write a novel (unless you’re a novelist) but you should aim for three to five solid paragraphs here. 

If you capture someone’s attention with your headline and profile picture, they’re likely to read your summary next. This is where you can let your personality shine.

It’s best to have a beginning, middle, and end to your summary. I suggest you start with how your career began. Then, address where you are now. Finally, finish with where you hope to go in the future. 

People like to see progress (especially hiring managers). So, show them your career progression in a start-to-finish summary.

Highlight Your Remote Skills 

We all have a number of hard skills and soft skills to our names. LinkedIn offers a place for you to highlight those which are important to your chosen career path. As you start to type in various skills, LinkedIn will offer suggestions.

Remember to include common skills and traits employers look for in remote workers! 

Your Work Experience 

Like your resume, LinkedIn has a place for you to include your work history. Here, you can add all the companies you’ve worked for and previous job titles held.

Make sure you include quantifiable achievements at work like “increased customer retention rates by 5% month over month” or “exceeded monthly sales objectives by 10% on average each quarter.” 

Hiring managers want to know what you can do for them. The best way to show them is by highlighting your past accomplishments with concrete numbers. 

Include Your Education (If Applicable)

If you went to college, great! This is the place to put your alma mater. This section is optional, of course. If you have an associate’s or bachelor’s degree, you can choose to highlight it here. If not, you can leave out the education section altogether. 

Start Connection & Networking 

Now that your LinkedIn profile is in tiptop shape, it’s time to start networking. 

When it comes to networking on LinkedIn, remember it is not a numbers game. You can have 500+ connections and an equal number of endorsements but get very little traction in your remote job search. 

That’s why it’s important to focus on quality connections over quantity.

Find Relevant Professionals

To do this, focus on people that are in job positions that you want. Ask those professionals in job titles you’re after for informational interviews. They can provide tons of insight AND become a potential referral for future job openings. 

Follow Remote-Friendly Companies

Don’t forget to follow remote-friendly companies on LinkedIn. This way you can more easily find current employees working there and be the first to know when new job openings are posted. 

Use LinkedIn Groups 

Get active in LinkedIn Groups! Find groups related to your industry or profession. Then, get social!

Don’t be self-promotional or spammy. Instead, offer great advice, answer questions, and share great content. You’ll naturally accrue contacts this way that can lead to future (unadvertised) job leads.

Search For Remote Jobs On LinkedIn 

We’ve looked at how to tap into the ‘hidden job market.’ Now, let’s discuss how to conduct a remote job search on LinkedIn. 

I could write another 1,000 words on this or I can show you a quick video. If you’ve made it this far, you’re probably ready for a reading break, so video it is:

Call In Backup

As a Certified Professional Career Coach & Forbes Coaches Council Member, I specialize in helping job seekers kick their cubicles to the curb. That includes writing knockout LinkedIn profiles that are fully optimized to impress both search engines and hiring managers.

If LinkedIn is not your forte, that’s okay. Let me take over your profile for you. It’s one of my most popular career coaching services and can lead to tons of job search success.

Learn more about my services and schedule a free 30-minute discovery call today.

Happily,

Ashlee Anderson, CPCC

The post Can You Search For Remote Jobs On Linkedin? (Yes, You Can. Here’s How.) appeared first on Work from Home Happiness.

Networking is all about making connections and nurturing connections. But what networking tips apply to remote jobs?

I do a lot of IRL career coaching (on top of my virtual career coaching services). Which means I attend a ton of in-person networking events, mixers, and similar meetups. 

Why? Because networking is valuable. Period. 

Networking online is especially effective for job seekers. According to career site, The Muse, as much as 80% of jobs are filled via networking! 

Needless to say, if you’re not pounding the virtual pavement and making professional connections — you’re missing out. Big time. 

Now, we know networking is important in person and leads to job offers. 

But, how exactly do you network when you’re looking to work remotely?

Good question. 

Here are seven networking tips to live by for remote job seekers.

1. Professionally Polish Your Profiles 

As a remote job seeker, all of your networking will be done remotely. So, when you reach out to a new person to make a connection, you can bet your biscuits that person is going to check out your digital footprint.

They will scope you out on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or wherever it is you reached out to them. 

To make a great first impression, keep your social media profiles up to date and cohesive. 

Don’t call yourself Susan in one profile and Sue in another. And, be sure to use the same profile picture across the board. 

Plus, remember to actually be social on social media. It doesn’t look great if you reach out to connect with someone on LinkedIn but your profile shows little activity to no activity. Said potential connection is going to think your request is one of self promotion only and not a genuine attempt to expand your network (and they’re absolutely right).

When your profiles are in tiptop shape, people are more likely to accept your connection and even recommend other professionals to e-meet you.

2. Be Unique (But Not Weird) 

Uniqueness matters. The average professional receives a whopping 121 emails per day. If you don’t stick out (in a good way) you’re likely to never, ever get a response. 

An easy way to give someone a reason to respond to you is by being unique. But, don’t confuse uniqueness with weirdness. 

For example, I once had a fellow career coach cold email me. His expertise was tech professions (a super remote-friendly career field).

He wanted to connect with me since I am well versed in the world of remote work. Typically, I’d be all for it! But this particular gentleman (who worked in an office) opened his connection request with, “What’s the point of getting dressed every day just to work from home? Wouldn’t you rather sit in your underwear?” 

Weird, right? 

It was completely off putting and just too strange to reply to. His email was promptly placed in the trash folder. 

Now, he could have been memorable (without being weird) by asking me about morning routines for remote workers and why they matter.

This would have been an interesting question and something I would have definitely answered. But, he took it a step too far and went down the weird path of no return.

3. Patience Is Key

Remember how I said the average professional receives something like 121 emails in a day? That means your non-urgent connection request may go unanswered. And that’s okay. 

The worst thing you can do is pester the person you want to connect with. Instead, be patient.

99% of professionals will absolutely want to network with you too. But, many people are just swamped with emails and sometimes responses can take a day or two or ten. 

It’s perfectly fine to follow up, but do so after it’s been 5 days without a response. Any sooner and you come off as a bother. 

4. Check In With Your Network (Don’t Go Cold On Them) 

Don’t just add people to your network (i.e. follow them on Twitter, connect with them on LinkedIn or become ‘friends’ on Facebook) and then let that connection go cold. 

Networking is all about nurturing. Networking is not a numbers game. 

So, once you have a valuable contact in your network, check in with them periodically. This is one of the simplest networking tips that is often overlooked.

A check in can be something as quick as ‘liking’ a post or commenting on something they’ve shared. A short message to say “happy birthday” or “how’s your day” can go a long way in maintaining this virtual friendship. 

You want them to remember who you are. You should feel familiar to them. That way if you ever need a favor (like an introduction or recommendation) you’re more likely to get help. 

5. Get Social But Not Too Social

Oh social media! It’s both a blessing and a curse. There are endless possibilities to connect with people all over the world but it can also be a total time suck. 

Fortunately, you can absolutely find a happy medium that allows you to grow your network without being tethered to your online profiles. 

Networking Tips For Twitter

Hop on Twitter and like, tweet and retweet once daily. Obviously, it’s best if you keep your tweets and retweets related to your profession. This will help you more easily gain followers. Plus, you end up in the feeds of people within your industry who you want to be part of your network (and you of theirs). 

On Twitter, hashtags are a great way to get found. Popular and relevant hashtags make it easy to get noticed as an aspiring remote worker.

Networking Tips for Facebook & LinkedIn

Facebook and LinkedIn are both great because they have groups! Groups serve as a virtual gathering place for people who have something in common like a hobby, life circumstance, location, and — yes — profession! 

When you join a profession-specific group, there are tons of people you can easily connect with. 

But don’t just join a group and start self promoting.

Instead, sit back on the sidelines for a bit and regularly check in to see what active members of the group post and share.

Once you get a feel for the activity, you can jump in. But it’s best to do so slowly and not cannonball style.

It’s a good idea to comment on other people’s posts before you post yourself. That way you ease your way into the group dynamic without coming across as pushy. 

Authentic Networking Tips for Remote Job Seekers

Pro Tip: Do NOT rely solely on free social media automation tools like Buffer. I love Buffer. I really do. Not only is it an amazing free automation tool for social media, Buffer is an awesome remote-friendly company with unbelievable benefits.

Now, that doesn’t mean you can use Buffer on occasion. You can definitely take some of your social posts off of your plate by scheduling them ahead of time. But, be sure to check in on those posts after they go live and respond to any comments.

When you’re just posting on a routine automated schedule with little other activity, you come across as robotic (because you are). And, one of the best networking tips I can give you is to be authentic and human.

6. Let Others Toot Their Own Horns

As a remote job seeker, your end goal with networking is to find (and land) a telecommute position. 

Once you start working toward your work from home goals you are inevitably going to come across professionals that currently work remotely in a position you’re after. And that’s amazing! These are the perfect people to ask for an informational interview. 

Most professionals love to talk about themselves, and they’ll be happy to spare some time to answer all of your questions you have about their work. 

Somebody who is already doing what you want to be doing is the perfect person to pick their brain. Not only will you gain valuable career-related information, you also make a valuable connection.

This person is likely to know of remote positions within their own company that is currently hiring AND will be more likely to recommend you if you make a great impression. 

Plus, it’s just nice to have someone to talk to that’s been in your shoes. There’s nothing more valuable than having 10-15 minutes of someone’s time to help you move toward the right remote job for you and not settle for something that’s not right for you.

7. Connect With Like-Minded Out Of The Cubicle Thinkers 

Remote workers are a unique breed of people. Take it from someone who’s been doing it for 10 years .

If you’ve never worked remotely before, it’s a good idea to get a feel for how exactly telecommuters put in a full day of work while still being connected with coworkers around the world.

One way remote workers maintain contact with others is through Slack. If you’ve never heard of it before, Slack is like a virtual workspace. It’s a place to share and collaborate. And it’s not all work related! There are Slack Channels that aim to entertain with a steady stream of gifs and memes.

You can discover remote-friendly communities at Slack or simply join a few channels that interest you. Inevitably, as a remote job seeker, you’ll come across a company that will ask you if you have any experience with Slack. And you can confidently answer, “You betcha!”

Online Networking Tips To Live By

Remember, don’t spam your fellow professionals. Not only is it ineffective, it just makes you look bad. Always make sure you are adding value to conversations, chats, and threads. 

Don’t forget: Never, ever post anything online in forums or on social media that you wouldn’t want a potential employer to see. `

While your aim is to network with potential connections, you have to be mindful that recruiters and hiring managers are checking in on you to. So, perhaps my most valuable of all networking tips is this: Give companies a reason to hire you by being amazing online.

You’ve got this!

Happily,

Ashlee Anderson, CPCC

Did you know I’m now offering one-on-one coaching sessions for remote workers? I’ve got two amazing packages available that can supercharge your job search and makes it much easier to find the remote work of your dreams!

The post Networking Tips: 7 Expert Suggestions for Remote Job Seekers appeared first on Work from Home Happiness.

Writing a resume is tough. Take it from me. As a Certified Professional Career Coach (CPCC), I routinely work with remote job seekers who have all but given up on their work from home dreams. 

Many of my clients have applied to dozens and dozens of online job listings but have not received a single interview request. Sound familiar? 

If that’s the case, your resume may be to blame. 

But, fear not! You absolutely can transform your resume from totally unforgettable to completely hireable with this resume writing how to guide. 

Standard Resume Sections To Include 

To start, your resume should (at the very least) contain three core sections:

• Contact Information
• Work Experience
• Education

Contact Information 

Your resume is not doing you any favors if a recruiter can’t contact you. At the very top of your resume, put your contact information. Ideally, you include your name, email address, LinkedIn Profile Page, phone number, and location. 

Does Location Really Matter?

As a remote job seeker, you might wonder why location matters. Even though you want to work remotely, recruiters still need to know your general location. You do not need to put your exact address. Instead, simply put your city and state. That’s it. 

Remember, just because a job hires remotely, does not mean that you can work from anywhere. Many companies hire remote workers in specific countries, time zones, or states.

So, while your exact home address isn’t needed, you should absolutely include your location. If you don’t, your resume may automatically be discarded.

Hiring managers do not want to waste time contacting candidates that don’t meet location requirements. If they can’t determine where you’re at, they’re likely to automatically put you in the ‘no’ pile.

What About My Email Address?

Be sure to use an email address that’s up to date and professional. I have worked with more coaching clients than I can remember who have clung onto their cutesy or dated email addresses because they didn’t deem the effort to create a new email address worth it. But I promise you, it is!

When you apply to a job with an email address like “cuteblonde4u” or “gymgod99” you will not be taken seriously. Period. 

A combination of your first and last name (the exact same one you use on your resume) is a simple and straightforward approach. There’s no need to get clever or creative here. Also, if you’re still using AOL or another dated email service provider, it’s time to move on. 

Google offers free email addresses that you can access via computer or mobile device. With your free Google Email Account, you also get a lot of other neat tools like Google Drive which is an often used web app in professional work environments — especially remote ones!

Do I Really Need To Be On LinkedIn?

Your contact information should also include a link to your LinkedIn Profile. If you’re not on LinkedIn, you absolutely need to be. It’s free to sign up and has tons of must-use job seeker features.

Plus, if you write a powerful LinkedIn profile, it can do a lot of the ‘heavy lifting’ in your work from home job search!

Work Experience

Essentially, your resume is nothing more than a single sheet of paper that highlights your work experience. In fact, your work history will take up most of the page! So, no resume writing how to guide would be complete without a deep dive into work experience.

Start with your most recent position (either the one you’re currently at or most recently left) and work your way backward. This is commonly referred to as a Chronological Resume.

What To Include With Each Work Experience Entry

Each work experience entry should include: 

• Company Name
• Location
• Job Title
• How Long You Worked There

Quantify Your Accomplishments

Now, under each of your work history listings, you need to write down your duties AND accomplishments. Do not simply list your daily tasks. Instead, focus on key duties and major accomplishments. By that, I mean quantify your work. 

For example, instead of saying: 

Helped job seekers create career marketing materials and job search campaigns

You could say: 

Wrote more than 500 resumes and LinkedIn profiles that resulted in increased interviews and remote job offers for 100% of clients

By simply adding concrete numbers to the original statement, it suddenly becomes more impressive.

Hiring managers want to know what you can do for them by looking at what you’ve already accomplished. 

Remember to Optimize Your Resume

Now, in today’s world of remote job searching, your resume needs to impress both robots and recruiters.

You see, the hiring process is a tedious one for employers — especially remote-friendly employers.

Often, companies receive dozens (if not hundreds) of applications for a single job opening. To help streamline the hiring process companies increasingly use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to manage resumes. 

The ATS scans your resume for keywords before it sends it off to a real person. When your resume has the ‘right’ keywords, you move to the ‘yes’ pile. The wrong keywords? Well, you immediately land in the ‘no’ pile.

Resume Writing How To: Keywords

Your Work History Section is an ideal spot to keyword optimize your resume. Simply pull relevant keywords from the job listing you want to apply to and use them to highlight your accomplishments. 

Hint: You can find keywords in job listings under headings like 

• Essential Responsibilities
• Skills Needed
• Preferred Experience
• Responsibilities
• Requirements

As a CPCC, I specialize in creating remote-friendly resumes that are appealing to both human and robots alike. Be sure to check out my career coaching services to learn how I can help.

Education 

If you’ve been in the work world for years, your Education Section should be short and sweet. 

This frees up valuable space for other sections that are often more important to recruiters. 

According to Glassdoor, recruiters spend just 6-7 seconds on your resume at first glance. In this short time, they look at your contact information, job titles, and business impact. 

With that being said, most job seekers can simply add their degree, year graduated, school and location. That’s all you need.

What If I Don’t Have A Degree?

If you don’t have a college degree — don’t panic! You can omit the Education Section altogether. And instead, include certifications, coursework, diplomas, and licenses you possess (or are in progress) that are relevant to your profession in a different section.

Resume Writing How To: Other Common Sections

Professional Summary 

You don’t need an objective statement. Instead, create a professional summary that serves as your short intro or elevator pitch that sets the stage for the person reading your resume. 

Skills Section

Create a skills section to highlight your hard and soft skills that are important to your industry and demonstrate how you work. This is also a great spot to transfer core skills from the job listing into your resume.

Awards

Have you been featured or honored in any way? Toot your own horn here.

Volunteer Work

If you have volunteer work that relates to your profession (or the job you hope to get) don’t be afraid to place it on your resume.

Certifications & Licenses

No degree? No problem! Instead, list any certifications, licenses, or coursework that demonstrates your professional proficiencies.

How Should I Format My Resume?

Don’t overthink the flow of your resume. It doesn’t need to be fancy. Instead, the goal is to make it easy to read for both humans and ATS. This can be achieved by using industry-standard headings and a pretty standard layout. Check out the easy-to-read template below: 

Resume Writing How To: Other Tips To Remember 

According to Jobscan, about 98% of Fortune 500 Companies use ATS. A similar survey by Kelly OCG estimates 66% of large companies use ATS and about 35% of smaller companies rely on them too. 

In other words, your resume is going to be read by ATS and you have to remember that when formatting your resume. 

Some resume writing how tos for getting past ATS: 

• Use ‘standard’ resume headings (i.e., Work History) instead of creative ones like Companies I’ve Helped 
• Go with basic font like Helvetica, Ariel, Times New Roman, Georgia
• Do not use tables, columns, or other ‘fancy’ additions
• Use a chronological resume format instead of a functional one
• Optimize your resume with keywords from the job listing
• Create a custom, keyword optimized resume to EVERY job you apply to 

Most ATS (like those used by remote-friendly company Amazon) parse your resume into a digital profile. This makes every application in their database uniform and more easily searchable.

If your resume is formatted funny or lacks standard structure and terms, much of your information will get lost in translation — literally. 

Career Coaching Services 

Remember, I’m here to help! As a CPCC, one of my most sought-after services is resume writing for remote job seekers. To date, I’ve helped hundreds of job seekers kick their cubicles to the curb. I can help you too. 

With added coaching, I can teach you how to keyword optimize your resume like a pro and make it easy to customize your resume for every job you apply to (without driving yourself insane). The best part? You’ll get greater results in the form of more inquiries and job interviews. 

A little help can go a long way! 

Check out my services when you need more help with resume writing how to. 

Happily, 

Ashlee Anderson, CPCC

The post Resume Writing How To: The Complete Guide For The Clueless & Confused appeared first on Work from Home Happiness.