There’s no doubt about it, remote work is here to stay, especially when it brings countless benefits to employers and employees alike. On the one hand, it allows employers to reach a greater talent pool, improve retention and morale, as well as save on costs associated with office space maintenance. As for the employees themselves, they get to work where they’re most productive, have more control over their schedules, and stress less about lengthy commutes, all of which amount to an overall better work-life balance.
It’s no wonder, then, that many companies offer, and many professionals seek out the often-comfortable option of working from home, a local coffee shop, or a coworking space while traveling the world. In fact, Upwork estimates that around 22% of Americans will work remotely by 2025, and an overwhelming 98% of workers now prefer to telecommute at least some of the time.
In this context, remote job opportunities keep on soaring, so you’ll have no difficulty finding listings in the city, country, or even continent you fancy. What may pose a challenge, however, is differentiating between legitimate job postings and potential pitfalls. Unfortunately, the surge of remote work also meant an uptick in scams and fraudulent job ads, so it’s more important than ever to keep an eye out for red flags in your remote job search.
How to find legitimate work-from-home jobs
Your quest for virtual employment opportunities should start with you, or better yet, with your resume. The first step is to finetune it so that it reflects your intentions. When you optimize your resume for remote opportunities, you’ll be more likely to attract authentic ones.
Here are some tips on how to do just that:
- Include previous remote work experience – if you worked remotely before, you’ll want to showcase the remote-friendly skills you acquired, the communication tools you used, and even the work setup you had that drove productivity.
- Emphasize traits that make you thrive in a remote environment – this is especially important if you don’t have experience in a remote work setting yet. Recruiters will look for skills such as effective communication, adaptability, time management, problem-solving, and an ability to work with little supervision.
- Highlight your tech proficiency – most remote jobs rely on technology for smooth collaboration and communication, so you’ll want to include any video conferencing/collaboration tools and project management platforms you’re familiar with.
- Express your motivation for working remotely – once you demonstrate your suitability for a remote position, it helps to also list a couple of reasons why you’d like to apply for a remote job in the first place.
Now that your resume got a good touch-up and is ready to attract the opportunities you’re interested in, it’s time to move on to the actual research part. How do you filter through the vast array of postings for legit work-from-home jobs?
There are some characteristics that most legitimate job offers share (and scams tend to lack), including transparent job descriptions, detailed company histories, as well as realistic expectations and salaries. If you pay attention to these, you’re off to a good start.
Let’s see what other strategies can help you land an authentic remote job:
- Use reputable websites
Some websites do the lion’s share of research and thoroughly vet job postings, so that you won’t have to. You can look for opportunities across the globe using remote-specific job boards, such as FlexJobs, We Work Remotely, Jobgether, Jobspresso, Remote.Co, and Remote OK, all of which promise to screen each listing to ensure its legitimacy. Traditional job boards, such as Indeed and Glassdoor are once again generally trusted sources for legit work-from-home positions.
- Examine job descriptions closely
Genuine job offers have clear, detailed descriptions that include specific information regarding the qualifications you need and the responsibilities you’ll have as a remote employee. Take anything vague or unclear with a grain of salt. You can also examine their spelling, punctuation, and grammar – mistakes of the sort are red flags you shouldn’t ignore. Even small details like these can make or break a company’s credibility.
- Research companies and their websites
Visit the company’s official website and look for elements that speak for its legitimacy – does the website have a professional design? Does it provide detailed information about its services? Can you verify the provided contact information? These should all offer a glimpse into a company’s authenticity. Similarly, you can check reviews for positive feedback about its remote working arrangements.
- Beware of scams
Not all scams are created equal, but usually, there are a couple of warning signs you can consider. Many fake job postings promise unreasonably high earning potential, so if the offer seems too good to be true at first glance, it probably is. Some of them even require upfront expenses from you and try to lure you in with investment opportunities that lead to quick money. Besides upfront expenses, you should also think twice before giving out sensitive or financial information early in the recruiting process. Speaking of which, if the hiring process doesn’t involve a test or an interview and you seem to obtain the position too easily, you will be right to feel suspicious then, too.
Summing up
Staying vigilant and discerning when you navigate the sea of remote work opportunities is a must. If you apply the above-mentioned tips and strategies, though, you will be closer to securing the overseas job you’ve been dreaming of or just applying for a position that allows you to balance work with personal life effortlessly. And once that happens, don’t forget to drop by our premier locations all around the world.
