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30 Questions People Looking for Remote Work Often Ask Themselves

30 Questions People Looking for Remote Work Often Ask Themselves

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written on October 2019 by Aleksandra Wnuk
1. Where is the best place to look for remote work?

You can usually find a number of jobs that offer remote work in the usual places, such as LinkedIn, Glassdoor or Monster. These positions can be a mix of partly remote and fully remote, as more and more companies are beginning to experiment with offering flexible working conditions. However, there are other sites to look at which offer remote work only. These include Weworkremotely, Jobspresso and Flexjobs. If you want to get more specific, there are also sites tailored to specific industries as well. 

2. Will I get paid more?

You’ll often hear a lot of conflicting answers here. Some will say yes because your employer saves on building rental costs. Some will say no because the employer doesn’t pass on those savings to you! What’s important here relies on a number of factors like skill, location and company size. You can find out more here in one of our articles: https://remote-how.com/blog/your-guide-to-the-remote-work-salaries-infographic/

3. Is it difficult to stay motivated when working remotely?

This really depends on your personality and how you work. However, it is, of course, easier to get distracted outside of the office environment. This is especially true when working from home (lots of creature comforts!) or working whilst traveling in exotic locations. Check out our article here to get some top tips on how to stay on track whilst working remotely: https://remote-how.com/blog/how-to-enhance-your-self-motivation-while-working-from-home/

4. Can you be a manager and work remotely?

Yes, there are lots of remote manager positions available to find. In these roles, you will more than likely be managing a team of remote employees as well. A Remote managing position managing a team of colocated workers is less common but does occur. Check out our e-learning course for managers of distributed teams: https://remote-how.com/company/certified-in-distributed-management

5. Can I be hired by a company from a different country?

It’s perfectly possible to work for a company from a different country remotely. Keep in mind however that you will need to research how this works with paying any possible taxes. 

6. Will I be able to jump into remote work straight away?

If you’ve never experienced remote work before, then we suggest that you do a bit of research at least before making the big leap. You may be able to jump into it straight away with some help, but it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the right working style for you. There’s a learning curve for sure, but with resources like the Remote-how Academy or other online free materials, it’s easier than ever to enter the remote world without any experience.

7. I’m not getting many replies on my job hunt… why is it taking so long?

Don’t fret! Remote work is one of the most popular upcoming trends in working conditions. You also have to factor in that remote jobs can be open to candidates from all over the world. The number of people you’re competing with can be pretty big. This also means that the best candidates are applying as well. So yes, it can take a bit longer. But it’s worth it when you land that dream remote job.

8. Can I use my usual CV to apply for remote jobs?

You can, but we recommend tailoring it to the remote environment. Highlight not just your technical skills, but also the ones that will show an employer that you will make a success of working outside the office. This includes soft skills like problem solving and communication, as well as any relevant experience with remote work tools and software.

9. How will my remote employer keep track of what I’m doing?

While a manager can’t come over to your desk to see what exactly you are doing, the rest of the time remote managers track their employers’ work in much the same way as in an office. Project management tools like Asana, instant messaging clients like Slack and plain old email are all part of the process. You’ll probably have to communicate a bit more than usual about what you’re doing though. 

10. Will I have to work set hours?

This really depends on the job you take. Some employers are happy to let you work how and when you want as long as deadlines are met. Others may require you to be online at certain times of the day to deal with clients or other employees in different time zones. You’ll usually see in the job description what your hours will be and any other information regarding time.

11. What are some common issues associated with working remotely?

It’s unfortunately not all sandy beaches or comfy days in bed for remote workers. We face a number of challenges that are unique only to those who work outside the office. Loneliness can be a big issue, as well as overstretching (due to sometimes having no set working hours) and miscommunication. These things can all be remedied however with a bit of experience or training. Make sure to have a read up before you start your remote journey.

12. What are some benefits I might not have thought about?

Saving money is a common benefit that people forget about when working remotely. Gone is the commute and expensive lunches outside the office! You’ll more than likely see a reduction in the amount of time you take to complete work. Remote work has been shown multiple times to increase productivity. Not bad hey?

13. How do I avoid scams when looking for a remote job?

This can be a nightmare situation. It looks like you’ve found the perfect job and you received a swift reply from the HR manager. Great! However, they’re now asking you to put down a deposit for your training… Unfortunately, this is probably a scam. To avoid situations like this, use reputable sites to conduct your job search and trust your gut instincts. It if looks too good to be true, then it probably unfortunately is. 

14. What’s it like working with people that you might not even meet?

Rewarding and challenging! Some of your team may be from countries you’ve never visited, allowing you to learn about their culture and work in ways you might not have before. Because these people are remote, you’re probably working with some great talent as well. However, bonding with your team is a bit more difficult. Bonds are important in creating great work throughout the team as well. You’ll have to put in some effort to make it all work smoothly, but the plus sides are great and can’t always be mirrored in a normal office job.

15. What can I do to improve my chances of finding a remote job?

If you have no experience, then get yourself some remote work training or read up on best practices. Think about the kind of companies that are hiring remotely and where they are also most likely to advertise their jobs. Tailoring your CV towards the remote environment is also a great tip, along with joining remote work communities. You’ll find lots of people there who are willing to help you on your journey, along with job offers as well and training resources.

16. Do I have to work completely remotely?

No! Some people don’t want a fully remote job or would like to try it out at first. There are a number of different options here. You can go fully remote full time, partly remote full time, or keep a full-time office job and try out some remote work in your free time. All preferences can be accommodated, so don’t feel worried that you might have to work outside the office always. Have a search around for the correct job for you!

17. What qualifications do I need to be a good remote worker?

The range of remote jobs you can find is huge, meaning that there are jobs out there that should match most people’s qualifications. Getting yourself qualified in remote work with the Remote-how Academy is also a great idea, as it proves you are trained in the skills needed to be a great remote worker.

18. Can I work remotely from my currently co-located job?

Providing your boss with evidence of the benefits that remote work can bring can go a long way to getting some flexibility in your current job. You may be given a trial period to prove that it works for you and the company. You may also be given remote days if you require it due to illness or other serious grounds.

19. How should I prepare for a remote job interview?

Remote job interviews are a bit different, so there are a few other things you need to do to prepare. As you will be doing it probably online, you should make sure that your internet is working and that there are no issues with sound or video quality. Also, ensure that you have checked that the link to your video call is correct before the start of the call. Other than that, it’s like most other interviews. Remote work will probably be brought up as well, so make sure you’ve taken some time to get yourself familiar with the concepts if you aren’t already.

20. Are there any remote internships?

Remote internships aren’t too common at the moment, but there are some companies offering remote intern programs. These positions can be found in numerous roles as well.

21. Are there any remote entry-level positions?

Remote entry positions are also available. Junior roles are commonly advertised on job sites with remote work conditions.

22. What equipment do I need to work remotely?

Access to a reliable and fast internet connection is, of course, a must-have. Some others to keep in mind are having are a comfy ergonomic chair, a high-quality webcam and some kind of microphone or headset. You might sometimes need to use a printer, so think about whether you need one at home or can use one elsewhere.

23. Is remote work only really for developers and coders?

This is a common misconception! Whilst it can be easier for tech companies to allow coders and developers to work remotely, it doesn’t mean that these are the only remote jobs. Graphic design, marketing, teaching… the list is really endless. If your job requires mainly just a laptop and an internet connection to work, then you’re pretty much set up for some kind of remote work.

24. Do I need previous experience of working remotely?

Some jobs will require some experience, but lots are happy for you to come without any. It doesn’t hurt to have some knowledge on the topic however, even if you haven’t worked remotely before.

25. Should I travel while working remotely?

For some this lifestyle is a dream come true! Whether it works or not depends on your particular working habits. Take into consideration any requirements your job might have, such as having to work according to a particular timezone. This may affect your ability to travel easily.

26. What are the best tools to facilitate remote work?

For most people, knowledge of Google Drive and some task management tools like Asana or Jira are useful. Each remote company usually has its own policies regarding the tools you will need to use, such as the use of Slack or Twist for comms. Different teams work in different ways, so you may also need to experiment with a few things until you find what works well for you. 

27. What are the best places to work remotely from?

This is something that is usually entirely up to you! Home, traveling or a coworking space, you usually know what is best for when you want to work. However, you should probably look for somewhere quiet and without too many distractions. Places with a fast internet connection and any other requirements you need should also be on the checklist.

28. Where can I meet other remote workers?

A lot of people find that they don’t always want to work alone every once in a while. Luckily there are options for remote workers who want to meet others. Coworking spaces are a great place to go, giving you a more similar experience to an office environment when you need it. They have a fair share of remote workers there too you can meet. If you’re traveling, then the internet is your friend. There are plenty of groups on facebook and societies that can help you to meet other digital nomads.

29. How do I get paid if I work for a remote company abroad?

There are a few different ways that remoters can get paid from foreign countries. These include PayPal, Transferwise, or being paid from a partner or subsidiary company within your own country.

30. Are there small part-time jobs I can do remotely in my spare time?

This is an area of remote work that often gets ignored. Small, freelance jobs are available in a number of areas if you know where to look. Websites like Fiverr or Upwork can help you find one-off tasks that you can do to make a bit of extra money.

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