The idea of working remotely is awesome. There is no need to worry about commuting, you’re a lot more flexible with your time and you get the opportunity to work in places you’re comfortable with.
There are many companies that offer the option to work remotely. So how can you get their attention using your online profile? Here are a few tips.
1. Have a good profile picture
As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. Your profile picture should be the best representation of yourself. It is best to make your online profile picture a headshot with a proper background.
You don’t need to panic. There is no need to hire a professional photographer if you can’t afford it. A cellphone with a good camera and proper lighting can work just as well.
Once you’ve chosen the best possible background, maybe a bookshelf, and outfitted with appropriate attire, look into the camera and don’t forget to smile. The most popular backgrounds are either solid-colored or a bookshelf.
There are online tools like photofeeler.com that can help with opinions on your photo. All you need to do is upload the picture and it will rate you based on competence, influence and like-ability. Now you can have a profile picture you can be confident about.
2. Write a compelling description
Your description is your chance to accurately describe yourself, but here’s the catch. The recruiter doesn’t care about anything that can’t benefit them immediately. You’d want to describe what makes you suitable for the position and get a recruiter to be interested. Here is how you do it.
Keep the description short, sweet and to the point. Include the job titles that you’ve held. You may be just the person a recruiter is looking for. Make sure that title accurately describes your job.
You can also include keywords and phrases in your description. This makes you easily searchable when a recruiter is searching. Have you ever heard about SEO (search engine optimization)? Well, it’s not only for websites.
Finally, add a zing phrase. This can be your philosophy, work ethic or maybe a quote you find interesting. This gives you and a recruiter something to talk about.
Once you have those taken care of, you’re done with your description.
3. Include your skills and education
It’s all about what you can do for your recruiter’s company. Include the skills that you’ve acquired. Programming, copywriting, graphics design, web development, the list goes on. If you have it, include it but make sure the ones for the job you really want are most visible.
Your educational background is also a plus. Don’t be modest. If you have a degree, it could mean that you had formal training with a certain skill. Don’t leave out your certifications either. You want this and it should be reflected on your online profile.
Finally, with all those skills, never forget to keep learning and upskilling yourself. The remote job market is rapidly becoming competitive, so upskilling helps.
4. Have social proof
Social proof provides evidence that you are who you say you are. In order to do this, get people who can endorse you. Let them sing your praises. You can say you’re the best, but having someone else say you’re the best makes it way better.
In order to get social proof, you need to find people within your niche. You should engage in groups. You should showcase your skills to people.
If you have ever worked with a business that specializes in the remote work you’re interested in, don’t be afraid to show it. This just confirms that you’re already capable of doing the work and may not need much training or supervision.
5. Include your portfolio
If there is any outstanding work you can show a recruiter, you should. There are many services that can store a creator’s work, like GitHub, Medium and Instagram. You don’t need to show everything — all you need is a Minimum Viable Portfolio, which is just a few projects that show exactly what you’re capable of.
Ensure to make the projects look visually appealing.
Add accurate descriptions. Make sure to link it for inspection and easy access.
6. Search for yourself
Finally, when you’re done with all these steps, you should search for yourself to see what a recruiter would see. The quickest way to do that is to go into private browsing and search for your name. You will see what adjustments need to be made to your profile. When you’re satisfied, all you need to do is apply, upskill and wait.
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Interested in jumpstarting a remote career in a tech or tech-adjacent field? With Unpluggd Academy, we offer courses and bootcamp programs in coding, design, product management and more, along with soft-skills training in interview prep and other areas to help you land, and keep, that ideal job.
Sign up to join our next cohort of candidates on their way to a flexible remote-work life!
