7 Powerful Tips to Help You Get a Remote Job

How do I get a remote job?

It's a common question, often searched, not easily found. So, we've helped break down the steps it takes to succeed in your remote work search, and shared how you can better prepare yourself.

For the purpose of this article, let's assume you're a great software developer that has done the hard work of building your online reputation. You have an online portfolio, contribute to open source, and have side-projects on Github to show the quality of your code.

Now, where do you look to find a remote job?

Most articles will give you a list of websites where you can find remote jobs available. You find the ones that are a good fit for you,  send your resumé and cover letter, and then wait for them to call you. Right?

Well, that might work, but if you're serious about getting a remote job, here's a surprising fact:‍

Did you know almost 80% of jobs are never listed? Instead, they're filled internally or via networking.‍

So, how do you tap into that massive pool of opportunities?

The answer is networking. And this, of course, applies to non-remote jobs too. Yet, networking with people who live all over the world, is much harder than networking with people who live in your city.

So, we've shared seven steps for you to follow for efficient networking. Using them, you can connect with people who work at companies that offer remote jobs, so you can get a referral.

Step 1: Make a list

First, use this list that remotive.io put together containing more than 600 hundred companies who offer remote jobs, and make your own spreadsheet with the ones you are interested in. CareerKarma also shared this list of companies that hire remote workers.

Step 2: Follow them

Using the spreadsheet you have created, follow the company and its CEO on Twitter. You can also use Twitter to search other people who work at those companies. Create a Twitter list with all of them (here's how to create a Twitter List).

Now, visit the websites of these companies and sign up to their newsletters if they have one. Also try to find them on Meetup.com, chances are some of them have meetup groups - join them.

You get the idea, make sure you have plenty of ways to know what those companies are talking about and the events they're organizing.

Step 3: Engage with them

Once or twice a day use the Twitter list you created to read all the activity from the people who work at those companies. If they post something interesting, engage with the content: likes, retweets, and comments can make a huge difference if you are consistent.

Step 4: Join their events

Since you have subscribed to their newsletters and you are following their people on Twitter, you will know next time they organize an event. Since they have distributed teams, chances are that many of those events will happen online.

Join those events and make sure you participate in the most active way possible. Maybe it’s a Hackathon — so make a team. Maybe it’s an AMA — ask questions.

Step 5: Contribute

Companies are increasingly opting to release some of their code and libraries as open source. Some distributed companies are even 100% open source (for example, GitLab). If that’s the case, start looking for ways to contribute to their code.

This is one of the best ways you can get to meet their people and eventually get a strong referral.

I’m the founder of Microverse, an online school for international software developers, where students spend almost 10 hours a week working on open source contributions.

Even if you don't end up getting a referral, being an open source contributor will definitely get you some respect from potential employers.

Step 6: Meet them in person (when you can)

You can’t obviously fly to every town where a remote developer lives to meet them in person. Travel restrictions have also made it harder to do so. However, there is a way to meet them when they are all in the same place.

Running Remote is a conference that helps remote companies network with, and learn from each other, and many employees and founders of remote companies will be there. If you can, go and meet them in person.

Beyond that, connect with people in your city, or cities you're visiting when possible to do so.

Step 7: Ask for referrals

If you follow the above steps, you will start connecting with people who work at those companies and building relationships. Eventually, you should tell them you are looking for a job, and ask them to keep you in mind if a position opens up.

You should also scan their job postings often. If they do post a position, then reach out to your network and ask for a referral.

I’ve seen many people apply these tips successfully, and I know you can take advantage of them too. Remember, networking and relationships are essential to your career growth.

If you want to learn more about becoming a world-class software developer, while learning with a supportive online community, check out Microverse below.