Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared on FlexJobs.com.
At best, looking for a new job is an exciting, invigorating challenge. Sometimes, though, a job hunt can be discouraging.
And if you’re seeking remote work, your job search may require more finesse as you rely on your online presence to help you land an interview.
Many factors contribute to remote job search success, but the 10 habits outlined below can help you build a solid foundation to be a highly effective remote job seeker.
From customizing your resume to practicing your video interview skills, we’ve got you covered. So, grab your laptop, find your favorite Zoom background, and let’s get to work!
10 Habits of Successful Remote Job Seekers
Establishing habits and strategies to stand out as a remote job seeker can make all the difference in securing your dream job.
Consider the following 10 habits to fine-tune your approach.
1. Grow Your Professional Network
Make an effort to build connections with people who can help you find the career you’re looking for. When it comes to landing a job, sometimes it really does come down to who you know.
Networking doesn’t come naturally to everyone, but it can go a long way if you’re looking for a new job. Reaching out to people online is key, but ensure you have a networking strategy, rather than just chatting with whoever pops up in your feed.
Do you have a couple of dream companies you’d love to work with? Focus on LinkedIn groups that might have those hiring managers and recruiters in them.
Conversely, if you’re working on a career change, you might expand your networking to more generalized groups and work through various networking platforms. Consider your industry associations, trade shows, job fairs, etc.
2. Recognize That Searching for a Job Is a Job
Turning your job search into a part-time job in and of itself can be challenging if you’re looking for something new while you’re still employed.
But if you’re out of work, dedicating several hours every day to seeking new employment can be just what you need to find success.
No matter your current employment situation, set a schedule for what you will do each day — networking, filling out applications, searching job sites — and then stick to it. This will help you stay on track and ensure you’re not letting other tasks take priority over your job search.
Just like a job, you also need to establish healthy boundaries from the start. With work and home in the same location, letting your job search slide into personal time is easy. Create a schedule that ensures you take breaks and time off, set boundaries, etc.
Lower stress and anxiety can help ensure you’re more productive and creative when it’s time to focus.
3. Be Selective
When you’re out of work, applying for any job you’re even remotely qualified for is tempting. But you should resist that temptation.
The best job seekers are selective about where they send their resumes, only applying to jobs they are genuinely excited about.
Because a hiring manager is more likely to interview candidates who will fit the culture and vision of the company, being selective and communicating why you’re passionate about the position makes it more likely that you’ll make the first cut and move on to the interview.
4. Don’t Generalize
If you use one standard resume and one introductory cover letter for every job application, you’re missing an opportunity to sell yourself.
Employers want to hear how you can meet their specific needs, so you should take the time to customize your resume and cover letter accordingly.
Matching keywords found in the job description and demonstrating your knowledge about the company shows a hiring manager that you took the time to read through the job posting and aren’t just applying to positions in bulk.
FlexJobs career expert Keith Spencer has this advice:
“If you’re looking in several different fields, I often recommend to job seekers that they can have several different ‘base’ resumes to work from. Then, depending on the job, you can choose which base resume to work from, copy it for the specific application you are working on, and tailor your professional summary and key skills areas accordingly.”
5. Build and Manage a Personal Brand
Your brand includes everything from carefully curating how you present yourself in your resume and cover letter to building a robust and engaging profile on LinkedIn and other social media sites.
Consider creating a personal website to explain your job history and provide specific examples of your work. Make it easy for potential employers to learn about your skill set and qualifications before the first interview is even scheduled.
6. Keep Learning
Your daily job search task list should include time for upgrading or acquiring new skills. Investing in upskilling and reskilling can provide you with must-have skills that many employers seek.
Although transferable skills are essential in every field, if your industry requires a specific skill or knowledge base, pursue training to stay current in your field.
Effective job seekers continually refine and add to their skill sets so they are always ready for the next opportunity.
7. Track Your Efforts
Expending physical, mental, and emotional energy on a job search can be draining — so much so that tracking all your work may feel like the last thing you want to add to your daily to-do list.
However, successful job hunters track their efforts to ensure that they don’t miss application deadlines and know when to follow up after applying.
A silver lining of tracking your job search efforts is being able to look back and determine which actions yielded the best results — and which should be let go.
8. Practice Interpersonal Communication
Are you routinely practicing and honing your interviewing skills? The last time you interviewed might have been several years ago. And if this is your first round of interviews, you likely have an extra level of nerves.
Instead of waiting until the night before an interview, successful job candidates continually build their interviewing skills. That might be through public speaking courses or practicing your answers to common interview questions.
Are you looking for your first remote job? This is a great time to start brushing up on your video interview skills.
Ensure that you have the technology you need, get familiar with Zoom, and spend time practicing comfortable body language on camera.
You might try recording yourself in a private video and then critique the video, or work with a career coach or friend to complete a mock interview. Those same skills are the ones that will make networking substantially easier, whether you’re at a formal event or sharing your elevator pitch in the subway.
9. Set Realistic Goals
The most effective job seekers know that looking for new employment takes time, effort, and resilience. Don’t get down on yourself if your search moves more slowly than you’d like. Instead, set 30-, 60-, and 90-day goals.
That’s not to say that you’re guaranteed to land a job within 90 days, but outlining a remote job search plan can help you avoid feeling defeated when it seems like you’re not making progress as quickly as you’d like.
Focus on the daily tasks of seeking work, reward yourself for small victories, and stay positive. This will help you move forward when setbacks arise and be pleasant and self-assured when interacting with prospective employers.
10. Utilize Tools to Streamline Your Workflow
You likely use online tools daily without considering them. The internet, the email app on your smartphone, Google — those are just a few examples. But what about other tools that you might be overlooking?
Devote time to strategizing the mechanics of your remote job search. Focus on niche job boards, like the one on FlexJobs, or other sites dedicated to flexible work, such as Remote.co.
Fill out your online profiles completely and set up job alerts so the jobs come to you, rather than having to spend extra time filtering countless postings daily.
Consider working with a mentor or career coach to help you create a workable plan. Create templates for your follow-up emails that you can tweak, and explore new technologies to make your job search easier.
There are countless tools out there; some will fit your unique circumstances better than others. Researching and utilizing the ones that provide a baseline can help you become a highly effective remote job seeker in less time.