Remote jobs have grown more and more popular in recent years as technology has improved and employees have grown tired of the daily commute and lack of freedom five days in an office brings.
Remote jobs offer flexibility, freedom, financial savings, and the ability to be in control of your entire workday! In this article, we’ll cover:
- What remote jobs are
- Where you can find a remote job
- The best remote job boards.
Let’s go!
What Are Remote Job Boards?
Remote job boards are websites that cater specifically to remote workers.
In recent pandemic-affected times and with the improvements in communication and internet technology, more and more workers have decided that working remotely (whether from home or anywhere else in the world) is the right move for them.
As that growth has taken place, several job boards have sprung up that cater specifically to remote employees and employers and advertise only remote jobs!
Popular Remote Job Boards
There are many remote job boards out there, but not all are created equal.
The best feature of a remote board is that the jobs are all screened to ensure they have limited or no in-office requirements.
While normal job boards can filter for remote, there is often no guarantee that those roles are and will remain out-of-office roles.
1. FlexJobs
FlexJobs was launched in 2007 as one of the first-ever dedicated remote job boards.
FlexJobs offers strictly remote, hybrid, and flexible roles and provides the ability to filter roles by category.
With access to roles in just about any industry, each one is screened to ensure it is not an in-office role!
The platform is committed to bringing flexible working to as many businesses as possible and prides itself in supporting remote work.
2. We Work Remotely
We Work Remotely is a job board based out of British Columbia, Canada, and boasts 6 million regular users on its site.
We Work Remotely organizes its roles by region, so businesses can offer roles specific to particular regions and time zones that suit their needs.
We Work Remotely requires users to create an account to sign up for jobs and then tailors suggestions to suit them!
3. Remote.co
Remote.co is the home of all things remote work. They host articles on how to find a remote job, case studies of fully remote employers, Q+As with remote companies, and a huge range of resources for those seeking remote work.
Remote.co focuses on technology jobs from all over the world but also offers access to a variety of general jobs.
4. Jobspresso
Jobspresso connects remote workers with interesting and engaging roles all over the globe.
The site is free and provides a curated selection of roles when you create your account.
5. Remotive
Remotive offers a huge range of remote roles!
With a focus on tech positions, Remotive organizes roles for different regions so you can filter based on where you are and the time zones and locations where you can be employed.
The Benefits of Remote Job Boards
Remote job boards offer a range of benefits to employers and employees alike, such as:
1. Access to a global talent pool
Remote job boards give you access to jobs and employees all over the world, so you’re never limited to a single location or talent pool.
Because remote jobs are already set up to foster and enable flexibility, so there will be something for you as long as you can get your work done from the other side of the world!
2. Flexibility in job-seeking without geographical constraints
Completely remote jobs allow you to work from anywhere.
Whether that’s at home in the same city as your employer or miles away in an entirely different location, you can work your remote job from anywhere as long as you have a good internet connection.
This opens up a whole range of job opportunities you might miss out on if you were otherwise stuck in your physical location.
3. Enhanced opportunities for work-life balance
How many times have you had to leave the washing in the machine or not have time to prepare a good dinner because you needed to leave for work early?
Everyone knows that a lot of time is wasted when you’re on top of your work tasks but can’t head out to do important life admin.
With remote jobs, you can use your time more wisely to keep on top of household chores in your downtime.
4. Niche positions and specialized roles that may not be locally available
Maybe your town or city is dominated by a specific industry or is too small to offer a broad range of opportunities.
Remote job boards give you access to roles bigger than your location, or simply beyond what your town can reasonably offer!
How To Use Remote Job Boards
Using a remote job board is much the same as any other job board, so similar best practices apply.
Nevertheless, we’ve prepared some tips for landing that dream job you see:
1. Tips for setting up a compelling profile
Employers will check out your job board profile right after seeing your CV. They want to know about you, your skills, your experience, and what makes you stand out!
Be sure you include relevant details about yourself and a sharp picture to help give an impression of who you are and what you do.
2. Tailoring your resume for remote work
A good remote resume will include all of the same things as a normal resume.
You want to research the role and business you’re applying for so you can include how your experience and values align with what they’re looking for.
If you have experience in remote work or hybrid roles, be sure to note that with examples of what you achieved and the positive impact it brought to your organization.
3. Use job board filters and keyword searches
All of these online job boards utilize filters and keywords to help you find the right role.
For example, if you’re looking for work only in the US, you can find remote roles that fit you by filtering for US-only.
Further, if you’re looking for a dev-ops role, you’ll be able to filter for those roles with the keyword feature.
Remember: different employers may only be searching in their country or area, so being wise to different remote requirements for a variety of businesses is a great strategy!
4. Setting up job alerts for desired positions
If you’re really set on a particular role, or you want to be notified when a role in your field opens up, then use the job alerts setting to let you know when positions become available!
This can help you find your next job and keep you abreast of any changes in your industry.
Some Challenges You May Encounter With Using Remote Job Boards
While remote work can certainly be liberating, its appeal can lead to pitfalls you need to be aware of when you search for online roles.
1. Competition in the global talent pool
Remote roles are by their nature open to a wider pool of talent than local roles.
After all, you might be competing against hundreds of other applicants from all over the world!
Because of this, you need to pay special attention to making your resume and profile stand out to give you the best shot at success.
2. Avoiding job scams and dubious listings.
Some remote job listings can be scams, designed to harvest your resume or demographic information or even convince you to pay for your application for a better chance at success.
Be sure to Google the name of the business if you don’t recognize it, and look up the posters on LinkedIn.
Most of all, never pay to apply for a role! No legitimate business will charge for their HR team to review applications as they need the role filled. If anyone asks for money, they are scamming you!
3. Addressing feelings of isolation or disconnect in remote roles
Some people enjoy office culture or having a place to go every day. If that’s you, you might find hybrid or flexible roles more to your tastes.
If you’re working remotely and finding yourself isolated, be sure to reach out to the people in your social circle and connect with them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between remote and virtual work?
Remote work refers to location. So if you are working at home apart from your coworkers and employer, you are considered a remote worker! Virtual work is work that takes place virtually, where you hold meetings, perform tasks, and collaborate in a virtual space.
Are remote and work-from-home the same?
They are similar concepts. Your employer may allow you to work from home a few days out of the week or work from home indefinitely, but there is a minor distinction.
Remote work implies solely that you work apart from your colleagues, whereas work-from-home roles may come with the expectation that you are working from the home address you provided to your company.
Work-from-home jobs are remote, but some remote jobs are work-from-home.
Are paid job boards better than free ones?
Paid job boards may bring with them benefits such as more stringent screening for the roles they post and services that actively connect you with recruiters.
Whether or not a paid job board is right for you depends on what you are looking for, as well as your budget!