10 Must-Know Tips for How to Land a Remote Job

If you’ve been dreaming of working from home and wondering how to land a remote job, this post is for you!

It might sound a little wild, but would you believe me if I told you my entire family of five works from home? Five years ago, I wouldn’t have believed it myself—but it’s true. My mom, dad, older brother, little brother, and I all have some form of remote work in our daily routines. (Okay, my youngest brother doesn’t technically “work,” but he does virtual school—and trust me, it’s been the best decision for him. He’s thriving!)

We all have different types of remote jobs and schedules, but one thing remains the same: the flexibility we’ve gained is life-changing. Need to walk the dog? Pop lunch in the oven? Toss tomorrow’s laundry in early? Working remotely gives you that freedom—and that’s before even mentioning the unlimited earning potential remote work can open up.

Whether you’re applying for your first online role or looking to pivot into a new field, I’m breaking down exactly how to land a remote job—with 10 practical, real-life tips you can apply to any remote position.

P.S. These tips apply to both freelancers and full-time employees.

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1. Create A Dedicated Home Office Space

If you want to know how to land a remote job, the first thing you need is a space to work from once you’re hired. At the very least, you’ll need a laptop and somewhere quiet to work. But ideally, set yourself up with a nice desk and one or two monitors so you’re not squinting at a tiny screen all day. If this is your very first home office setup, I highly recommend checking out my post here that outlines my 13 must-have products for organizing a home office.

For example, I work best with just a laptop and one extra monitor. However, my mom is in a role that nearly requires two monitors simply given how many systems/tabs she needs open at any given time. It really depends on your style and the type of role you’re looking for but the good news is, if you are applying to work full time under another employer then they will likely supply you with a monitor (and possibly some other set up tools like a keyboard, laptop stand, etc.). 

Now, after so many years of working remotely, here’s something I highly recommend: make sure that your “work” space is separate from your “personal” space. I used to work within my bedroom, by having a desk setup between my bed and TV stand. For the first couple years, I got by. But after so long, you lose that separation between work and personal space and you bring your work matters into your personal affairs. It becomes harder to “turn off work” both before and after your work shift. Your mental wellness will thrive when you are able to separate these spaces and have a dedicated office. This way when you close the laptop, you can move on into your personal space and “forget about work” for the remainder of the day. 

Whatever you do, what matters most is having a setup that helps you stay focused and professional.

2. Invest In Reliable Internet

This one is non-negotiable. If your internet is constantly cutting out, you’ll struggle to keep up with meetings/communications, upload files, and log into company systems. You don’t need to purchase the fastest, most premium internet speed available. But you do need a strong enough connection that can handle video calls, shared workspaces, and multiple people using the same network.

Why does this matter when figuring out how to land a remote job? Because many companies will test your tech setup during the hiring process. If you’re glitching through the interview, it can raise red flags about whether you can handle the actual job. And after you get hired? If you’re continuing to take chunks out of your work day due to internet outages or slow speeds that crash, this will also raise red flags to your employer. 

Now listen, this isn’t to say it won’t happen now and again, especially if you live somewhere that tends to have a lot of power outages (like California, Texas, Tennessee, Michigan, or Ohio). But the key is to have reliable internet year-round (more often than not).

3. Store Your Work (and Important Docs) In the Cloud

If you’re freelancing or applying to multiple roles, cloud storage is your best friend. Use Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, or another tool to save your documents, timesheets, contracts, and offer letters.

Not only does this keep everything organized, but it also shows potential employers that you’re already set up to work remotely. I do this both at my 9-5 and for my own business. When it comes to how to land a remote job, small details like being prepared and organized can really set you apart.

4. Optimize Your Resume For AI Scanners 

Most resumes nowadays have to pass an initial AI scan before being seen by the real hiring manager and qualifying for an interview. For this reason, it is important to optimize your resume so it can be easily read by the AI scanner. This means including standard fonts and having a clean, organized format/structure to your resume. Make sure your headers, rows and columns are formatted properly. 

You’ll further want to include keywords that relate to the role you’re applying for to help pass the AI scan. In doing so, you’re essentially telling the AI reader that you are qualified for the role. You can easily pull keywords from the job description posted on LinkedIn, Indeed, or whichever website you’re applying on. Keywords often relate back to skill sets or certifications, for example: 

• Certification keywords might include: PMP or CompTIA A+
• Tool keywords might include: Jira, ClickUp, Salesforce, Python, or Miro
• Other hard skills might include: Proficient in Chinese and Japanese or Computer Programming
• Other soft skills might include: Communication, Leadership, or Strategic Planning

If you need help building your resume to land a remote job, there are a multitude of templates available online. You can even browse templates available through apps like Microsoft Word. Remember, keep it clean and easy to read.

5. Tailor Your Resume to Each Job Application

Here’s one of my biggest secrets about how to land a remote job: you can’t just send the same resume to every posting and hope for the best. You need to tailor it for the specific role.

If you’re switching fields, this is especially important. Let’s say you’ve been working in retail. Instead of only listing tasks like running the cash register or stocking shelves, highlight transferable skills: communication, problem-solving, multitasking, and even handling high-volume customer interactions.

On top of this, make sure each resume opens with an objective that includes the exact job title and company name you are applying for. This is one of the easiest ways to demonstrate that you aren’t dumping your resume into every available job posting you see online. You are taking the time to tailor it and are being intentional with where you are applying.

And yes, I’ll say it—tools like ChatGPT can help you reframe your experience if needed. Just make sure you double-check everything and only include what’s true to your background. The key is to present your skills in a way that matches the job description without stretching the truth.

Finally, a lot of people tend to question whether they should include a head shot or make their resume visually compelling to stand out. Honestly, the only time I might recommend include a head shot and/or visually compelling resume is for those applying for a creative role (i.e. art director, creative director, digital designer). Otherwise, keep it clean, simple, and let your experience help you stand out.

6. Build A Presence On LinkedIn and Reach Out

When people ask me how to land a remote job, one of the first things I mention is LinkedIn. Even if you’re brand new to remote work, having a strong LinkedIn presence can make a big difference.

Start with a professional photo, write a short biography that highlights your skills, and list your past roles in a way that shows transferable experience. Search up any past or present coworkers/friends and connect with them. Search up your dream companies or for people who work in roles/industries you’re interested in and connect with them too. Don’t be afraid to ask past coworkers or managers for recommendations—they help add credibility to your profile.

And here’s a bonus tip: if you find out who the recruiter or hiring manager is, don’t be afraid to send a polite message. Something as simple as:

“Hi, I applied for the [Job Title] position and I’m really excited about the opportunity. I believe my skills in [X, Y, Z] would be a great fit. I’d love to share more about my background.”

Then, attach your resume and a cover letter/portfolio if you have one available (we’ll talk more on this in the next section). It might feel a little bold, but taking initiative is often what helps people stand out when learning how to land a remote job.

7. Be Prepared: Interview Questions, Portfolios and Cover Letters

Interview Q&A Practice

If you’ve qualified for an interview, it’s super important that you arrive prepared and anticipate any questions they might as given the role or industry you are applying for. If you are stepping into a very new role, I encourage you to look up practice interviews on YouTube and/or interview prep questions online. There are a multitude of resources available to help you nail your interview. 

Portfolios

If applicable, come with a portfolio ready to go. This is a great way to exemplify the work you’ve done in the past and prove you are qualified for the role. You can create a brilliantly designed online portfolio using templates by WordPress, Squarespace, or even Canva (this is a great option for those who want something more out of the box).

Then, you simply share the website URL or portfolio link with your recruiter/hiring manager. For any (new) freelancers here wanting to learn how to land a remote job – I work with a ton of freelancers and nearly all of them who work on our creative team were brought on thanks to having a great portfolio to showcase their expertise. I highly recommend this if you’re applying for a creative role (art director, creative director, digital designer, video production artist, video editor, front end developer, etc.). 

For those that don’t necessarily need a portfolio, it is still recommended to come in with 3 experiences, top of mind, that you can share with the interviewer to exemplify your experience. If you know, based on the job posting, that they are looking for candidates with certain expertise or skill sets, make sure to call these out both in your resume and during the time of the interview (you can further recap this in your “Thank You” email).

Still make sure to call it out and let the interviewer know when your planned completion date is. For example:

“Hello, I see you prefer a candidate that has their [insert name of certification] and is knowledgeable with [insert name of tool]. I wanted to let you know that I am currently studying for my [insert name of certification] with plans to complete it by [insert date]. I also have experience with [insert tool name] and have used it over the course of [# of weeks/months/years].”

Cover Letters

Alright, let’s talk cover letters now. Personally, I have only ever needed a cover letter for one or two job applications. Sometimes they are required by the hiring manager, other times they are optional. For job postings that don’t require a cover letter, I would only recommend submitting a cover letter (before or after the interview) in cases when you are applying for a very new role/industry, one that you have not really worked in before. If you get accepted for the interview, offering a cover letter & spending time in your interview to cover off on any topics you might include in your cover letter is a great way to make sure you really put yourself out there. You never know what you are up against, so it’s always best to cover all your bases. 

8. Join Your Interview Early & Test Your Setup

I always recommend getting online 10-15 minutes prior to your interview to make sure you have everything properly setup. Here are some basic checks to make sure you are ready to go:

• Turn on your laptop & ensure it’s fully charged. If not, plug it in during the interview.
• Test your camera and microphone. Simply type “test camera” or “test microphone” in your web browser and one of the first links should help with this.
• If you are using Bluetooth equipment (headphones, speakers, microphone) make sure they are all connected and working. If you are using headphones that must be charged ahead of time, like AirPods, plan accordingly.
• See how the meeting is being conducted (Zoom, Teams, Google Meet) and either setup the app on your laptop or open the browser version. Sometimes these require you sign-in depending on how the meeting invite was sent. Therefore, attempt to join the interview early to see whether it prompts you to sign-in or if you can join as a guest. Then, exit the interview and re-join at the actual start time.
• Set your background up: most meeting applications offer a virtual or blurred background to keep things looking professional. You can also choose to use a room divider behind you so you don’t have to worry if tech malfunctions or you can’t seem to get a virtual background setup. This room divider is my mom & I’s favorite because it looks professional and aesthetic.
• Grab a drink that you can sip on during the interview and a fidget toy if needed. These are great ways to reduce nerves and maintain focus. 

9. Dress the Part

This tip is really straightforward but make sure to dress the part you are applying for. If you are applying for a more senior remote position, I would opt for a blazer and/or tie. If you are applying for a more junior role, you will probably be fine with a nice blouse and/or button-up. 

10. Send a Thank You Email

Remember to always send an email after your interview, too, to thank the interviewers for their time. I recommend sending this out 24 hours after your interview but you can choose to send it sooner if you wish. This is a great way to increase your chances at landing a remote job.

If you are not awarded the role, it’s great to leave on a good note and ask that they keep you in mind for future opportunities. If you notice they have other active job postings at the time of applying, it doesn’t hurt to inquire whether you’d be a good fit for those roles as well (if you are interested, of course).

I’ll drop some examples down below as well of emails that I’ve sent past interviewers. You can tailor any of these templates depending on who you are sending the email out to.

Thank You Email Example 1

This email was to thank someone who interviewed me and was in the same role I was applying for. I was sending out multiple emails at this time including to the recruiter so I kept this one to my future coworker brief. It’s important to know your audience and what role they play. This person wasn’t hiring me but was responsible for vouching for me, as far as whether I’d be a good fit for the team. The key takeaway here is to thank everyone you interview because the impression you make on each person is so important.

“Hello [Name],

I hope you are doing well!

I would like to take the time to thank you for interviewing with me [today/yesterday] for the [name of role] with [name of company]. I have truly enjoyed getting to meet the team and learning more about the company. [Personalized note per your interview: bring up something you both discussed or had in common.] I am excited about the potential opportunity to work for such an excellent company!

Please let me know if there is any further information I can provide to assist in the process. Have a great day!

Best,

[Your Name]”

Thank You Email Example 2

This email was to thank my future manager/direct report who interviewed me.

“Hello [Name],

I hope this email finds you well.

I wanted to thank you for taking the time to speak with me [today/yesterday]. It was an absolute pleasure meeting with you and getting to learn more about the [name of role] position.

I would be grateful for the opportunity to implement my skills from my professional experiences as both a [name of a relevant role] at [name of company] and [name of another relevant role] at [name of company] with your team at [name of company you’re applying to]. I have a strong passion for [fill in details] and believe that this passion, alongside my [highlight 2 relevant skill sets], would make me a great fit for this role.

Please let me know if you have any further questions regarding my background or if I can assist in any way.

Have a great [day/weekend] and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Best,

[Your Name]”

Thank You Email Example 3

This email was to thank one of the regional managers who had hired me on the spot. You’ll notice this one is framed a little differently because of how well the interview went.

“Hello [Name],

I hope you are doing well!

Thank you again for taking the time to interview me [today/yesterday] to discuss the [name of role]. I enjoyed learning about [their background, the company, something you discussed]. I am excited about the opportunity to join [name of company] and execute my superior [insert skill sets such as leadership or customer service] with your team.

I look forward to hearing from you soon regarding the next steps. Please do not hesitate to reach out if I can provide any additional information in the meantime.

Best,

[Your Name]”

Final Thoughts

Learning how to land a remote job isn’t just about clicking “apply” on a job posting. It’s about preparing your setup, tailoring your application, and putting yourself out there in ways that show employers you’re ready to thrive remotely.

So whether you’re polishing your résumé, upgrading your internet, or sending that LinkedIn message—remember, each step brings you closer to your first remote role. And once you land it, you’ll wonder why you didn’t start sooner.