Write the perfect resume for your remote job application

Do you have trouble attracting attention from remote employers with your current resume? It could be because your current resume is not tailored for a remote position. With the back-to-office trend prevalent in the market, there are fewer remote opportunities than a year or two ago. Your remote job resume must be well-tailored and customized for the position to keep up with the newfound tough competition.

Understand the remote work landscape

Before you start typing away at your laptop, devote a few minutes to investigating the remote work landscape in the US. If you are targeting a global market, you may have to spend a little more time doing your research. Find out how a remote work resume changes from a traditional resume. Also, pay attention to the specific needs of remote employers. Find out what remote employers appreciate and demand in an ideal candidate. Your resume will need to address these key areas and requirements.

Structure it right

Every strong resume is organized into multiple resume sections that highlight different types of important qualifications and information related to your job application. It’s important to structure your remote job resume carefully so that all the necessary information is visible to potential employers. Here’s a breakdown of possible sections that you can add to your resume, depending on your experience and the nature of the role for which you are applying:

Contact Information:

• Name
• Address
• Phone Number
• Email
• LinkedIn Profile
• Professional Website or Portfolio

Resume Summary

Professional Experience:

• Job Title
• Company Name
• Location
• Employment Dates
• Key Responsibilities and Achievements

Education:

• Degree
• Major/Minor
• University/College Name
• Graduation Date
• Relevant Coursework

Skills

Certifications and Licenses:

• Certification Name
• Issuing Organization
• Date Obtained

Projects:

• Project Title
• Description
• Tools and Technologies Used
• Key Contributions and Outcomes

Publications:

• Title
• Publication Name
• Date Published
• Description

Awards and Honors:

• Award Name
• Issuing Organization
• Date Received
• Description

Professional Affiliations:

• Organization Name
• Role/Title
• Membership Dates

Volunteer Experience:

• Organization Name
• Role/Title
• Location
• Volunteer Dates
• Key Responsibilities and Achievements

Languages:

• Language
• Proficiency Level

Hobbies and Interests:

Research Experience:

• Research Title
• Institution
• Dates
• Description and Outcomes

Extracurricular Activities:

• Activity Name
• Role/Title
• Dates Involved
• Description

Emphasize remote work skills

The first thing your resume must do is show potential employers that you have the right skills to excel at a remote role. If you have previous remote work experience, it is an added advantage. Employers admire the ability to work independently, manage time effectively, communicate across digital media, use collaborative tools, and manage teams across different time zones in remote job seekers. Be sure to include these in your resume.

Incorporate the right keywords

There are remote-specific keywords that you must add to your resume if you want to get past the initial screening tests. We have put together a comprehensive list of five types of keywords that your remote job resume must contain:

Soft Skills:

-Communication
-Time Management
-Self-Motivation
-Problem-Solving
-Adaptability

Remote Work Tools:

-Slack
-Zoom
-Trello
-Asana
-Microsoft Teams

Experience:

-Remote Project Management
-Virtual Team Leadership
-Online Customer Service
-Remote Sales Strategies
-Digital Marketing Campaigns

Collaboration Tools:

-Google Workspace
-Microsoft Office 365
-Dropbox
-Miro
-Confluence

Remote Work Practices:

-Agile Methodologies
-Scrum Framework
-Remote Onboarding
-Virtual Meeting Facilitation
-Remote Employee Engagement

Highlight tech savviness

When you work in a remote role, you will most likely be working from home. Therefore, employers expect you to have a certain level of tech savviness to perform well in your remote role. It is essential that your resume reflects your familiarity with the related apps, software, and tools for your new role.

Tailor for the job

You must tailor your resume for every remote position that you apply for. To do this, you can use the employer’s job description. Read the job description carefully and understand the employer’s demands. You will notice certain keywords that they have used to describe the role. Then, you can include these keywords in your remote job resume to tailor it to the role.