COVID-19 is completely restructuring the office workforce, effectively eliminating the usual in-person work week and opening the door for remote opportunities. So, what is a remote job and what can you expect from a remote job vs. an office job?

What is a remote job?

A remote job means that you can work from any location you want, and you’ll be in communication with your co-workers via platforms like Skype, Zoom, and Slack. While searching for these types of opportunities, it’s key to note the differences between remote jobs vs freelance jobs. Remote work opportunities are typically full-time and your employer onboards you as an employee of the company, often offering the same benefits of a regular office job, like health insurance, paid paternal/maternal leave, and vacation days. Freelance jobs, while also remote, are typically part-time, don’t come with regular hours, and usually won’t offer benefit packages. 

Work From Home vs Telework

Another important distinction to look out for are telecommuting jobs. Depending on what the job posting specifies, telecommuting can mean that you might be required to come in for in-person meetings, so you’ll need to live reasonably close to where your team is located. There will also be some employers who want you to work from the office the majority of the time with work from home flexibility, while others will be much more open when it comes to your whereabouts. Thankfully, if you’re hired as a remote worker, location is generally not an issue (though some companies will want you to be in the same time zone). 

Remote Work Pros & Cons

The pros: On paper, work from home jobs sound ideal. You’re not tied down to an office and can choose to live wherever you please. Some people use that opportunity to kickstart a nomadic lifestyle and travel. Others just enjoy the chance to work in their pajamas and save money on commuting. 

The cons: There are, however, some downsides that come along with remote jobs. As a remote worker, you have to figure out how to work from home, including taking charge of your own productivity and staying on top of your schedule. Without the confines of an office, it’s easy to lose track of time and not put in the hours you’re used to committing to work. To combat this problem, many employers have begun to utilize different computer monitoring softwares to keep track of their team's progress.

Whether you’re looking for telecommute jobs or fully remote jobs, it’s important to remember that you’ll be losing an in-person support system, which means your days will be a lot less sociable and you might miss those daily chit chats you had with your old co-workers. It can also be difficult to differentiate your leisure time from your work time when you’re not in an office, which means you might find yourself working more hours outside of your allotted schedule. 

Still sounds good? Next up, you’re going to kickstart the process of finding remote jobs. We’ll cover all that shortly.  

What’s Happening With The Current Job Market? 

After months of staggering unemployment numbers, we’re finally starting to see an optimistic swing in the job market. In May, unemployment fell to 13.3% and employment spiked by 2.5 million, according to a report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

Are remote jobs increasing?

Of course, with the current pandemic, there’s a major shift in demand for online jobs. Indeed reported that searches for “remote work” and “work at home” jumped from 1.6% on Feb. 1 to 3.5% on March 22. And employers are matching this growing need –  Linkedin reported a 28% bump in remote job postings. 

What remote jobs are in demand?

Now, the big question is: what are the best jobs to work remotely and what are the best paying remote jobs? According to CNBC, there’s been an increased demand for recruiters, sales account executives, customer service representatives, mortgage loan originators, and computer support specialists. The health sector is seeing a steady surge of remote jobs, with openings for case managers, sales representatives, medical writers, and actuarial consultants.  

Other remote professional opportunities you might consider looking into are project management, eCommerce, online education, and digital marketing – all of which have shown healthy out-of-office job growth. 

20 Best Job Sites For Remote Work

1. We Work Remotely

Stand out features: We Work Remotely boasts the largest remote work community in the world, with more than 2.5 million visitors per month. There’s a Slack group for community support and resources including the top 100 remote companies, a work-from-home gear list, and event opportunities. 

Best for: There are a wide range of companies that are hiring work from home jobs, but professionals in programming, design, DevOps, and customer service will find a wealth of opportunities.  

2. Remotive

Stand out features: The Remotive team promises that each job opportunity is hand-picked by their staff. The site places an emphasis on networking, with a Slack community that offers opportunities to connect with employers and engage in virtual conversations with like-minded professionals. 

Best for: This one is built specifically for tech professionals and currently lists 2,500+ companies hiring in 2020. 

3. Working Nomads 

Stand out features: Search for a diverse range of online jobs where you work from home, including development, marketing, writing, and healthcare. There’s also a comprehensive “job skills” section, which allows you to narrow down opportunities based on your own talents.

Best for: Working Nomads was designed for travelers, allowing nomadic professionals to find remote work while they explore the world.

4. Hubstaff Talent 

Stand out features: Freelancers can connect with employers by creating a profile and adding their skills, allowing hiring managers to seek them out directly. It’s totally free, there are thousands of companies that search through the database, and prospective employers will have easy access to your resume.

Best for: Remote workers who are tired of submitting their cover letter and resume to countless companies, and instead want employers to reach out to them directly. 

5. VirtualVocations 

Stand out features: The staff at VirtualVocations comb through job boards to find gigs, then post those opportunities with handy filters by state, timezone, travel requirements, weekly hours, employer type, and education level. There’s a free version which offers you partial access to jobs and the premium version which offers full access, online courses to help with the job search, and a telecommuting handbook.

Best for: Telecommute job seekers who want to narrow the search down in an easy, user-friendly way and find a wide swath of opportunities (there are currently 22,000+ jobs listed).  

6. SolidGigs 

Stand out features: SolidGigs does the job search for you. Their team looks through almost 100 hiring sites and job boards to hand select freelance gigs, then posts the best findings on a daily basis. There are also tools and resources, which offer education opportunities in pricing, pitching, and sales.  

Best for: Designers, developers, writers, and marketers will want to head to SolidGigs for curated job postings. 

7. Remote.co 

Stand out features: Remote.co isn’t just about finding remote jobs. It’s also about building a community of remote workers, with Q&A’s and blog posts that cover the ins and outs of working outside the office, including tackling the nomadic life and handling any of the emotional drawbacks of solitary work. 

Best for: Developers, customer service reps, recruiters, designers and sales professionals will especially benefit from these job postings. Also, anyone trying to figure out navigating their remote career can pick up some friendly tips from fellow workers. 

8. Jobspresso 

Stand out features: More than 100,000 remote workers turn to Jobspresso to find work from startups and high-profile companies, including WordPress, GitLab, Trello, and Indeed. You can receive daily opportunities via email or the platform’s Twitter and Facebook page. 

Best for: Remote workers looking for gigs in marketing, customer service, design/UX, sales, product management, and content writing will find specially tailored jobs for them at Jobspresso.  

9. Dynamite 

Stand out features: Filter remote jobs based on salary, category, timezone, type (full-time/part-time), team size, and industry. You can also enter your email address to receive a weekly digest of ten handpicked jobs from the Dynamite staff. 

Best for: This one is a particularly good tool for people looking for work in financial services, non-profit, health/wellness, eCommerce, marketing, and education/online learning. 

10. AngelList

Stand out features: AngelList is the go-to platform for startup jobs (and the largest of its kind!) Filter based on remote jobs, internships, female-founded startup jobs, and location.  

Best for: Tech people to the front. AngelList offers opportunities that include graphic design, software engineer, UX designer, and product management. 

11. Skip the Drive

Stand out features: Focused entirely on remote and telecommuting opportunities, Skip the Drive offers free job postings from a wide range of industries including customer service, account management, software development, and healthcare. 

Best for: Job seekers looking for a super straightforward job posting platform will appreciate the lack of registration, free service, and easy filter system. 

12. Remote OK 

Stand out features: More than 1,000,000 professionals turn to this website for remote jobs and receive a daily or weekly digest of opportunities. 

Best for: Workers in software development, customer support, marketing, and design should head to Remote OK for opportunities (though non-tech people will also find gigs on there!)

13. CloudPeeps

Stand out features: Connect directly with hiring managers through CloudPeeps, which allows employers to post jobs and prospective employees to submit their proposals. There’s also the added bonus of the platform’s “Freelance Friday,” which is a coworking community and events series designed especially for freelancers. 

Best for: Freelancers who wanted to connect in a more proactive way with employers, and show them their talents and vision right off the bat. 

14. IdeaList 

Stand out features: IdeaList is a nonprofit, which offers listings for jobs, internships, and volunteer opportunities all around the world. There’s a social justice bend to this one, which allows job seekers to filter results based on issues they feel passionate about (for example: animals, civic engagement, and children & youth). You can also narrow down by time commitment and remote jobs. 

Best for: Remote workers looking to get involved with organizations that have a good cause behind them. It’s also a great resource if you want to find local volunteer opportunities, tailored to the issues you care about. 

15. RemoteBliss 

Stand out features: RemoteBliss is 100% dedicated to posting remote jobs, which you can narrow down based on keywords and time commitment. There’s also a Slack community which allows members to network with other industry professionals. 

Best for: People looking for a more personalized approach to the job search. There are resources for remote workers who are still figuring out the whole out-of-office situation, including home office tips, time management skills, and a free resume critique. 

16. Power to Fly 

Stand out features: Let the Power to Fly staff know the type of job opportunities you’re looking for and they’ll send you a customized list of new jobs weekly. Plus, there are a whole bunch of helpful events, including panel discussions and a remote job fair. 

Best for: Those looking for a platform that gives the job search a more intimate edge, with resources, virtual events, and live chats. 

17. JustRemote

Stand out features: Get a customized list of weekly remote jobs straight to your inbox. There’s also a whole bunch of blog posts designed to help make remote work easier, like the best work from home gear and important habits to pick up as a remote worker. 

Best for: A perfect fit for developers, marketers, social media experts, recruiters, and designers. 

18. Remote4Me

Stand out features: Remote4Me is trying to make the job search process all the more seamless with listings featuring 100% remote jobs (you won’t find any partial telecommute opportunities mixed in there), along with an organized filtering system of developer jobs, tech jobs, and non-tech jobs. 

Best for: Tech professionals will definitely want to check this one out, but it’s also helpful for a diverse range of professions, including recruiters, graphic artists, and accountants. 

19. Muse

Stand out features: You’re not just looking at job postings on Muse. You’re also getting a comprehensive snapshot of the company, including their mission statement, number of employees, and benefits. 

Best for: Prospective employees who want a more in-depth dive into the companies they’re applying for. 

20. Let’s Work Remotely

Stand out features: Let’s Work Remotely is all about community. They have more than 100,000 remote workers who come together on Facebook groups to connect, along with thousands of tools to make the whole remote working process a lot easier to navigate. 

Best for: Remote workers who want more than a job board and are looking for a group of like-minded individuals to network and chat with.  

How To Search For Remote Jobs On Linkedin 

Finding remote jobs on Linkedin is super straightforward. Head to linkedin.com and click on the “Jobs” tab. You’ll then be prompted to put in a location – this is where you can filter for remote opportunities. Currently, there are more than 77,000 remote jobs (!) out there, so you’ve got plenty of scrolling ahead of you. 

How to Search for Remote Work on Indeed

Indeed is similarly easy to navigate. Go to the homepage and, in the “where” search bar, type in the word “remote.” You’ll be prompted to put in a keyword for the industry you’re looking for, to help narrow down the results. 

20 Fully Remote Companies To Consider Applying To 

1. Zapier: Google, Salesforce, Intuit, and Dropbox are among the well-known companies that partner with Zapier, which integrates and automates your web apps.
2. Modern Tribe: This design company connects with companies to offer services in product strategy, analytics, platform roadmaps, and research.
3. Articulate Inc.: Articulate is one of the largest fully remote companies in the U.S. and creates e-learning courses used by more than 98,000 organizations.
4. Student Loan Hero: People struggling to pay off their student loans can turn to Student Loan Hero, which offers financial analysis, repayment plans, and advice on federal and private loan repayments.
5. Aha!: More than 5,000 companies and 300,000 users use Aha! for its roadmap software.
6. GitHub: 50 million+ developers work with GitHub, where they can collaborate on building software together.
7. Octane AI: Octane AI builds technology for merchants and businesses, aiming to create the ultimate shopping experience.
8. TranscribeMe: Transcribing is made easy with speech-to-text products, professional translators, speech recognition, and data annotation.
9. Automatic Data Processing: ADP offers simplified solutions to HR and payroll for businesses. They typically hire remote workers in sales, customer service, and software development.
10.  Litmus: Companies turn to Litmus to set up email campaigns, offer email insights, and deliver market insights.
11.  Xerox Corp.: You can find remote job positions in the call-center, executive recruiting and project management departments at Xerox, a printing and supplies company.
12.  Toggl: Toggl is a time tracking software which allows their 3 million + users to stay on top of productivity, break down their work projects by hour and syncs between phone apps and desktop apps.
13.  SkyVerge: SkyVerge designs and develops Ecommerce software for hundreds of thousands of entrepreneurs.
14.  Red Hat: Software developers and sales representatives can find jobs at Red Hat, which offers enterprise open source solutions.
15.  Kaplan: Join the Kaplan team, as the company preps high school students for the SAT
16.  Arkency: Coders can find work at Arkency, a consulting agency which creates business software, webinars, and books.
17.  Buffer: Buffer employees eighty-five people working across fifteen countries, and helps grow brands through social media tools.
18.  Fire Engine Red: More than 300 clients use Fire Engine Red, which offers remote marketing, data, technology, and consulting services.
19.  Groove: 8,000+ customers use Groove, a help desk software designed to help small businesses with customer support.
20.  How-To Geek: This online tech magazine has more than 10,000 articles and pulls in more than 15 million visitors per month.

5 Remote Job Interview Tips 

1. Prepare your space

You’re interviewing for a remote job, so you want to show your prospective employer that your home is equipped for maximum productivity. Set up your computer in a quiet area and double-check that there’s no clutter behind you.

It’s key to make your space as professional-looking as possible, which means all surfaces visible to the camera should be tidy and – if you’re sitting at your desk – make sure it’s organized. Choose a neutral background with minimal eye-grabbing distraction and keep in mind lighting (natural light is best and avoid backlighting at all costs). 

2. Check audio and video

Do a test drive to make sure your audio and video features are working correctly. Hop on a virtual call with a friend ahead of time just to make sure there are no technical glitches you’re unaware of. 

If the interview is over Zoom, you can join a test meeting, to double-check that your audio and video are in working order. 

3. Dress professionally 

Dress for a remote job interview with the same level of professionalism that you’d dress for an in-person interview. That means formal business attire: neutral, solid-colored clothing, and avoid busy patterns, which don’t translate well on video. Also, consider putting on a pair of shoes during the conversation. It will help get you in the right interview mindset. 

4. Reduce distractions

If you have kids at home, make sure that they’re distracted during your interview. Keep them occupied with a television program or book that you know they love, and remind them that you’ll be busy for the next hour. The same goes for pets – if you’re able to, have someone take your dog out for a walk during your interview so you can avoid the possibility of barking.

Make sure to silence your phone ahead of time and close all internet tabs to de-clutter the screen in front of you. 

5. Be mindful of social cues via video 

As tempting as it is to stare directly at the screen, do your best to look into the camera instead. That’s the closest you can get to making direct eye contact with your interviewer. Be sure to remember the usual rules you employ while doing an interview: don’t talk over the interviewer, have a pen and paper ready to jot down any notes, and prepare a list of questions tailored to the specific company you’re applying for. 

5 Questions To Ask Before Accepting A Remote Job

When considering taking a remote job, there are a few key questions to address with your prospective employee. 

1. How often are team members in communication with one another?

Ideally, you’ll have scheduled weekly meetings with co-workers and one-on-one check-ins with your boss throughout the week to make sure that everyone is on the same page. It’s helpful to determine if this is a collaborative team or workers operate independently. That can make or break your decision. 

2. What tools do remote workers use to connect with their teammates?

Find out what platforms are used for communication, whether that’s phone calls, a messaging platform or video conferences. Consider if you’re okay with the methods that the company uses. Will you feel comfortable speaking over video multiple times per week? Are you more of a phone person? What works best for your communication style? 

3. What are the hours?  

It’s crucial to find out what the job hours are before moving forward. Find out if the workplace is a structured 8 hour day or if the schedule is murkier and you might be called in for early mornings, late evenings or to pitch in over the weekend. Also, If you’re a nomadic worker, it’s important to determine if the company has any time-zone restrictions, which could interfere with your current or future travel plans. 

4. Does the company offer benefits for remote workers? 

There might be some perks that make this potential job all the more enticing. Perhaps the company compensates remote workers for their co-working space or offers mentorship and learning opportunities (some employers will give professional development courses, job training or fund classes relevant to your industry). Any of these benefits can help in your decision-making process.

5. How would you describe the company culture?

This allows your prospective employer the chance to give you a snapshot of the company’s remote working environment. You might hear incentives like your team has the occasional in-person retreat, there are fun events organized for workers who live locally or there are lively Slack channels for non-related work matters. 

5 Work From Home Setup Tips

1. Make use of natural light 

There are a few important remote work best practices and sitting close to natural light is definitely one of them. It gives you a Vitamin D boost and can have an important impact on your mental health. Just 13-15 minutes of natural light can trigger endorphins and help fight off seasonal affective disorder, according to Forbes. This is particularly key during colder months, when you might be stuck inside more. Also big bonus points: a 2014 study found that natural light will help your overall sleep quality. 

If you want to increase the natural light in your apartment, consider getting rid of the window drapes in your working space and add more mirrors, which help turn up the brightness. 

2. Decide on a desk and chair setup

Now it’s time to tackle your work from home office setup. If you’re struggling between choosing a standing desk and a regular desk, consider that the Journal of Physical Activity and Health found a whole bunch of added health benefits to the standing desk. In their study, they discovered that the standing test subjects burned eight more calories per hour than those who were sitting. 

Also, it’s fairly common to demonstrate poor posture while seated, which can lead to a myriad of issues including headaches, back pain, shoulder pain, and poor circulation. If you’d prefer a seated desk, consider investing in an ergonomic chair. It helps reduce neck and back problems, takes pressure off your hips, improves posture, and is generally pretty comfy. 

Most importantly listen to your body. If you’re tired from standing for too long, sit down. If your body feels like it needs some movement, stand or take a brisk walk. 

3. Upgrade to high-speed internet 

When it comes to remote working, high-speed internet is key. Consider upgrading your internet package to make sure there are no lags for your browser. It’s worth noting that, according to U.S. News, the top five fastestinternet providers are Xfinity, Cox, AT&T, Frontier, and Verizon Fios. 

4. Determine the best laptop/monitor for you

Put some thought into what computer will work best for you. Are you traveling while you work? Consider purchasing a lighter laptop like MacBook Air or HP Elite Dragonfly. Need a ton of storage? Try the Lenovo ThinkPad P1 or HP ZBook Studio G5. If you are sick of staring at a teeny tiny screen all day, it would be helpful to invest in a monitor that you can hook up to your laptop, for the big screen experience. 

5. Order supplies that would increase creativity 

There are a ton of ways to make remote work easy, creative, and fun. Snag a whiteboard so you can create a visual representation of your ideas. Find a bulletin board that you can use to hang up to-do lists, post-it notes, pictures that make you happy, and documents that you need quick, easy access to.  Buy a good set of speakers to play music and get you in the zone or – if you live with people – invest in a really good pair of headphones to listen to tunes and block out any distracting noises.  

Also, you can never, ever go wrong with a great coffee maker. 

Conclusion

A remote job can be liberating, fun, and open up a world of possibilities when it comes to your travel and work schedule. As always, it’s key to remember that with great power comes great responsibility – which means you have to be on top of your own productivity, create a schedule that you can stick to, monitor your mental wellbeing, and find networking, mentorship, and friendships outside the office. On the flip side of things, managing a remote team can be just as challenging. Like everything in the work world, it’ll take practice, tracking down resources and job sites that work for you, and – as previously mentioned – a whole lot of coffee. If you're looking for more remote job tips & tricks—check out this article here.