How to Find Remote Jobs
Remote jobs give you the flexibility of being able to work from anywhere without a time-consuming commute. They can also widen your employment prospects by eliminating geographical constraints from your job search.
It seems like everyone wants to work from home these days, which means remote jobs can be hard to find. If you know where to look, however, you’ll have better luck finding a remote position that suits your skills and offers the flexibility you crave.
Remote work terms to know
Remote jobs can have very different employment conditions from one company to the next. You don’t want to find yourself in the unfortunate position of accepting a job you think is fully remote, only to find out that you’ll actually be required to come into the office several days a month. That’s why it’s important to understand the terms associated with remote work.
Fully remote: This typically means a position is done 100% remotely, but there may still be some exceptions, like coming into the office for important meetings or traveling to company headquarters for occasional training.
Hybrid: The job consists of a combination of remote and in-office work. The location is usually split on a fixed schedule, like three days per week remote, two days onsite.
Location flexibility: The location for the job is flexible. This may mean the opportunity to work from home all or some of the time. It can also mean the employee can choose between several locations where the company has a presence, like the flexibility to work in either a New York or a Washington, D.C. office.
Flex time: An employee can choose the start and end times of their workday. The company may require a minimum number of hours per week, but the employee has discretion over when those hours are worked.
Telecommute: Telecommuting is another word for working from home. Some jobs offer the option to telecommute a set number of days per month while coming into the office the rest of the time.
Distributed team: A workforce is spread out over various disparate geographic locations. Team members rarely or never meet in person.
Freelance: The worker is an independent contractor rather than an employee of the company. Freelancers often work from home on their own schedule but do not receive the same benefits and protections as employees.
Related: Things to Consider Before Becoming a Freelancer
Remote job restrictions to be aware of
Remote jobs may come with conditions that make the position less appealing or make employment more complicated than you might expect. Here are a few restrictions to be aware of as you search for positions with location flexibility.
In-office requirements
Many jobs, even those advertised as fully remote, require workers to be in the office under certain circumstances. Meeting with important clients, for example, often requires a face-to-face component. The company may also conduct onsite training or team-building exercises that all employees are required to attend.
State taxes
Your tax situation could get complicated if you live in one state and your workplace is in another. The specific rules will depend on the states in question as well as the relationship between those states. Some states have agreements in place with one another to streamline tax collection for workers who aren’t based onsite. Other states require you to pay some portion of taxes for BOTH the state you live in and the state where your employer is based. You’ll need to pay careful attention to these requirements to ensure you’re not hit with a delinquent tax bill.
Location dependencies
Some positions allow remote work only if you live in certain places. For example, a job with many meetings may require employees to live within the same time zone to simplify scheduling. Or, companies may be licensed to perform work in certain states but not others and may only employ workers in the states where they’re credentialed.
8 ways to find remote jobs
1. Use search filters on traditional job search sites
Many remote jobs can be found on the same listing sites where you’d search for any other position, like Monster, Indeed, ZipRecruiter, and CareerBuilder. If you’re looking exclusively for remote roles, you must tailor your search to filter out onsite jobs.
Here are some of the most common keywords employers use when listing remote jobs:
- Remote
- Virtual
- Work from home
- Work from anywhere
- Location independent
- Flexible location
2. Search on dedicated remote job platforms
There are a slew of great job search platforms that are just for remote work. Here are a few of the top sites to find work-from-home roles:
- zengig
- Flexjobs
- Remote.co
- Remote.com/jobs
- JustRemote
- RemoteHub
- Rat Race Rebellion
- Hiring.cafe
- Skip The Drive
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Browse our comprehensive list of job openings and apply online today!
3. Research remote-friendly companies
We have the global pandemic to thank for making remote work mainstream. In its aftermath, many companies have made location independence part of their core value proposition to prospective employees. Depending on your field, you can find a remote job by targeting companies with strong work-from-home policies.
Manufacturing company 3M, financial services firm Citigroup, and online payment platform Paypal are just a few of the top remote employers.
4. Set your preferences on LinkedIn
One of the easiest ways to find a remote job is to let the job come to you. You can do this by letting organizations know you’re open to opportunities on LinkedIn.
When you log in and view your LinkedIn profile, you’ll see a blue ‘Open To…’ dropdown under your profile picture. If you click on ‘finding a new job,’ you can set the criteria you’re looking for in a position, including whether it’s remote or hybrid. You can also choose who can see this information–everyone on LinkedIn or only recruiters.
5. Tap your network
If you want to find a remote job without the excessive competition found on job search sites, your network is the best place to look. Let people in your professional circle know you’re in the market for a new job that allows you to work from home. Reach out to mentors, old colleagues, and bosses with whom you have a positive relationship to seek out leads.
Related: Step-by-step guide on how to network
6. Search news headlines
Use Google’s News search function to discover companies recently announcing plans to hire for remote jobs. First, run a Google search for a term like ‘hiring remote workers’ or ‘new remote roles.’ Then, on the search result page, click on the News tab. You’ll find a list of recent headlines, many leading to information about work-from-home opportunities.
7. Go freelance
If you can’t find a remote job, why not create one yourself? It’s never been easier to parlay your skills into freelance work doing something you enjoy. Freelancing gives you the opportunity to work from anywhere on your own terms and on a schedule that suits your lifestyle.
Check out our blog for a wealth of resources to help you learn more about freelancing and get started.
8. Work with a recruiter
Recruiters have extensive networks and can provide access to opportunities you won’t find listed on public job boards. In addition to refining your job search, working with a professional recruiter can help you fine-tune your career goals and negotiate more favorable employment terms.
Remote job red flags
Remote jobs are in high demand. Unfortunately, that means scammers have started using them as bait. Some unsavory companies also use the promise of remote work to lure unsuspecting and inexperienced workers to apply for undesirable jobs. Keep an eye out for these red flags on remote jobs.
Unlimited earning potential: This phrase is closely associated with commission-only jobs requiring workers to rely heavily on aggressive sales tactics to earn money.
Fast, easy money: While jobs like stuffing envelopes and taking surveys online are certainly easy and can be done from home, most of them won’t earn you more than a couple of dollars an hour.
Start-up costs: If a job in any way asks YOU for money, run! No reputable employer charges employees to start working.
On-the-spot hiring: Some companies do hire on the spot, especially for entry-level and high-volume positions. While immediate hiring isn’t a reason to completely rule out a job, it is a flag to look closer at the employer and its reputation before you accept.
Remote work comes with a unique set of benefits and challenges. The right position can give you a greater sense of work-life balance while advancing you closer to your professional goals.
