What I learned about remote job hunting
Some tips and tricks I learned while surfing the internet for a new job
When I started searching for a remote job I had already seen some courses about LinkedIn profile optimization, how to make a CV, and so on. But, as Walter Disney said, the details matter. So I want to share these tips I learned and applied in this journey I did at the beginning of 2022 as a #WomanWhoTech.
Before hunting, prepare your CV
Make a list of the job titles you identify with or are interested in. This will be important because we want to search for opportunities that match these titles. We will need to make a CV for each, some very important points to consider are:
Look for openings for each title. Make a list of the main keywords that repeat among them. For example, for a data analyst role, you may see that SQL is one of the most common keywords.
Focus on the main requirements. These will be the main points that will be asked about by the team members or leader further in the recruitment process. If you have a project that showcases your ability in one of the requirements, it's good to point it out in the CV or the recruitment process.
Manage your previous experiences or studies on the main requirements. Expose the KPIs or projects you made an impact on respectively. Use the keywords to your advantage and tell the reader how you used your abilities to get an outcome that can be of interest to the company.
Add your most important resources (projects, portfolio, code repository) on one side of the document. It's ideal to make them a clickable link so the recruiter or staff member that will check your CV can directly lead to what you want them to focus on. Make sure these resources focus on the keywords you have already identified.
If you want to point out certain abilities and give them a score, don't do so without an official evaluation that says so. Don't use percentages or stars as a measure of your abilities. Use what the evaluation says. For example, if you excel in English then make a level test from recognized organizations such as the British Council and the result will be your score in English.
In the job hunting
You have multiple ways to start your journey. I identified multiple approaches, you can do them all depending on your resources:
Make a list of the main companies you want to join. These will usually be the most popular or demanded workplaces, so you may want to make the keyword listing based on what these look for.
Search for the main startups in your country or zone. These workplaces are in high demand for talent and will most probably have a job opening in the short term. Also, a startup is a good option if your a making a jump to a new area you have no previous experience. Also, add these to the aforementioned list.
Now ask your friends, family, and coworkers about their workplaces or places they previously made a recruitment process. If you feel these make a good match to what you look for, then add them too. The good point in these is that you can be referenced, and references go a long way in recruitment decision-making.
Now you have a complete list of the possible places you want to work in. We can order them by recruitment difficulty, or in other words, how long or difficult is the recruitment process. You may want to monitor the job openings in these and give them a shot by this ordering.
The job hunt shall start! I learned to do the following to get in contact with recruiters and look for interviews:
Go through the list and search for job openings that match your goals. If there is one, do submit your CV. Please do have in mind that LinkedIn is not the only place these companies host their openings, most probably they will also have a career section on their web pages.
Once you submit, search for the person responsible for the recruitment of the job opening. If there is not one, search for the person at the head of the recruitment area or processes: a manager, specialist, etc. Once you find your point of contact, send them a message either by email (if given) or by shooting them a solicitude or LinkedIn with a message where you present yourself and expose your interest in the opening and company. It's good to also add your CV if you can make the contact through email.
Don't be ashamed to ask for references!
Talent sourcing can be your best friend. Search for possible media accounts or specialists that dedicate themselves to this and contact them. Tell them what you look for, your experience and so. They manage a talent pool to which you will be added and be considered for their clients for their job openings.
What you can do to promote yourself
These are some tips I have seen make a HUGE impact on your job hunting process or even your professional journey:
Increase your online presence. This can be by writing blog posts or building your personal brand. These past two years have been incredible for the internet and by working on your online presence you may stand out to recruiters, companies and contacts on the internet. Don't be afraid to learn in public.
Search for a mentor. Reach out to the people you admire the most, tell them why you believe they are the perfect fit to be your professional compass, and introduce yourself. Please do have in mind these people are also human beings. If they reject you, give yourself a hug and search for another mentor. There is always someone available to share their knowledge!
Network, network, network... have social media and expose yourself. Share with your coworkers. Join communities. Be in contact with people all over the internet. You don't know if they have a job opening at hand that matches your interests!
This is all for now. I hope all I have shared will be helpful to you ❤️ Go out there and conquer your dreams!
