Are you one of those people who has tried and tried to get a remote job and just can’t seem to get anywhere at all?
I know it’s frustrating, but don’t give up. There are several reasons why you may not be getting any interest from employers, and there are also some things you can do to increase your chances of getting hired.
Are You Chasing After a Dream Job That Doesn’t Exist?
I know this doesn’t apply to everyone, but there are a lot of people who believe that remote work isn’t actually work.
They scan job leads and forums looking for something requiring no experience where all they do is sit at home, press buttons, and rake in lots of money. Somehow, they think that by working from home, they won’t really be working at all. And when they find out that jobs like that don’t actually exist, they get frustrated and complain that they can’t find a remote job.
Yes, I honestly do get emails from people looking for this kind of work, and when I can’t give them info on something that doesn’t exist, they decide I’m not helpful.
In reality, there are a lot of remote jobs—but work is still work. I can’t speak for everyone, but I know I work just as hard at home as I did outside the home!
Are You Qualified for the Jobs You’re Applying To?
Some people apply to everything they come across, whether they are truly qualified or not, using the same generic resume.
While casting a wide net can help, you might also be wasting time that could be better spent tweaking your resume or applying more strategically.
Are You Being Too Picky?
On the flip side, some people do the opposite of casting a wide net. They won’t apply to anything unless it’s a perfect fit.
Doing this will seriously decrease your chances of getting a home-based job. You’ll probably have to compromise on some things, at least at first.
Are You Not Applying Because You Think You Aren’t Qualified?
A lot of people don’t apply for jobs because they assume they’re not qualified. But that cashier work you did way back when? That counts as customer service experience!
When you start looking at your history this way, it opens up more opportunities than you think.
Is Your Resume As Good As It Can Be?
Take a long look at your resume and put yourself in the shoes of a hiring manager. Are you really presenting yourself as the best candidate?
Remote jobs are competitive. Since you can’t meet your potential employer in person, your resume has to do all the talking. It needs to be well-organized, clear, and tailored for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)—that means no text boxes, fancy fonts, or layouts that could confuse the software many companies use to scan applications.
A good cover letter helps, too. Keep it short and direct—just a couple of paragraphs explaining why you want the job and why you’re qualified.
If creating a strong resume feels overwhelming, I highly recommend Resumes by Angel. Her templates are professional, easy to customize, and designed to get through ATS filters. It’s an affordable way to make your resume stand out for all the right reasons.
Is Your Resume Tailored to the Job?
Many people send out the same resume for every job. Instead, you should read the job description closely and adjust your resume to reflect what the company is looking for.
Use the keywords they use. Show off the skills they mention. Tailoring your resume makes it more likely to get noticed, especially by ATS software.
Are There Gaps in Your Employment History?
A lot of people struggle to get hired because of long employment gaps.
This can hurt you, and unfortunately, your resume might be rejected before you ever get to explain. So what can you do?
First, think about anything you did do during that time. Volunteer work? School? List it. It counts.
Also, you don’t always need to list months when showing employment dates. For example, if you worked for six months in 2020 and didn’t work again until late 2021, just listing the years makes the gap less obvious.
If you were a stay-at-home parent or caring for a loved one, it’s okay to mention that. A lot of companies today are understanding of parental responsibilities and caregiving.
Have You Had Too Many Jobs?
Job hopping can be just as damaging as employment gaps.
If your resume shows a lot of short-term jobs, hiring managers may worry that you won’t stick around. A workaround is to only list jobs that are relevant to the one you’re applying for now. And you can leave off jobs you only held for a month or two unless they’re very relevant.
What Do Your Social Media Profiles Say About You?
A lot of employers will look you up. So clean up anything public on Facebook, Instagram, or anywhere else that doesn’t present you in a professional light.
Also, create a LinkedIn profile if you haven’t already. Link to it in your resume. Be sure to fill it out completely—this can absolutely help you land a job.
And yes, LinkedIn now has a “remote only” jobs filter!
Are You Staying Informed About Remote Work?
It’s important to know which companies are hiring remotely, and how they typically operate. Stay active in remote work Facebook groups and follow relevant pages.
Make sure you’re subscribed to my newsletter and other trusted remote job sites I recommend here.
I also recommend joining FlexJobs for vetted, scam-free remote job leads from legitimate companies. It only costs $2.95 for 14 days of access and totally worth that.
Have You Furthered Your Education?
The more skills you have, the more appealing you’ll be to employers.
A lot of people want remote jobs that require no skills. Unfortunately, those jobs are rare, and most don’t pay well.
If you want to earn decent money, you’ll need skills that companies are willing to pay for. I put together a list of ways to learn new skills online. These are either completely free or cheap.
Don’t Give Up
Sometimes, it’s just bad luck. But things change so keep going.
Remote work is more popular than ever, and there are new job openings every day.
While you’re searching, consider unpaid internships or volunteer work to help build up your resume.
Sites like Idealist and Catchafire have great remote opportunities. These can give you experience and look impressive to employers.
P.S. Kiss the “Monday Morning Blues” goodbye! The perfect job awaits you. Start living the life you’ve imagined. Grab Leisa Good’s opportunity sheet today!
Photo by Anna Tarazevich: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-woman-wearing-a-smartwatch-holding-a-smartphone-6173668/
Anna Thurman is a work at home blogger and mom of two. She has been researching and reviewing remote jobs for over 14 years. Her findings are published weekly here at Real Ways to Earn.