During the pandemic more, and more working Americans have found themselves working remotely, which has become a massive adjustment for many. While some may not like it, others have genuinely enjoyed the idea of working from home. Those that enjoyed it may consider working this way full time even after the pandemic is over and people return to their office. This means it’s time to look for a remote job.
Unfortunately, working as an office secretary is not the same as working as a virtual assistant. The person in charge of hiring is looking for virtual experience, which means your resume will need to reflect that.
To make your resume remote ready, you will need to highlight your skills that reflect the job you are considering. Besides showcasing your skills, you should also familiarize yourself with various software programs for remote work.
So if you’re ready to leave the stress of the office behind, and find a job where you can work in the comfort of your home, then it’s time to get your resume remote ready!
Highlight Those Remote Skills
Believe it or not, you already have most of the skill sets to work a remote job. Whether you work as a secretary, bookkeeper, customer service representative, or even retail experience, those jobs contain skills that are useful for any remote position. While writing up your resume, you must include any skill that will be relevant to the job. Here are just a few examples of skills and traits to highlight in your resume.
Show that Self Starter
One of the most significant traits that you can highlight in your resume is that you are a self-starter, which can also go hand in hand with time management. Since you’ll be working from home, you will not have your supervisor over your shoulder micromanaging every aspect of your work. Therefore the ability to work independently, meet deadlines, and work with little to no supervision is essential if you plan on working remotely.
Tech-Savvy
Let’s face it; you cannot work a remote job if you do not know how to use a computer or other software programs. Since your work will be done from a computer, you must familiarize yourself with various project management programs, scheduling programs, and other office programs. Here are just a few programs that you should consider using.
- Asana: This is a project management program. If you are looking to work as a virtual assistant, this program is a must. It would help if you also considered familiarizing yourself with its competitors, such as Trello and Podio.
- Google Workspace: Formerly known as G Suite, this cloud sharing program is essential for remote workers. If you have worked in an office setting, then the chances are that you have used this program. The good thing is that this program is very user friendly, and a simple Youtube tutorial will turn you into a pro in no time.
- Excel: Being proficient in excel is extremely important if you are looking to work remotely. If you are not aware of how to use excel, then one of the first things you should consider is signing up for an excel course online. Highlighting your knowledge of excel in your resume will set you apart from many applicants.
With basic knowledge of the above programs, you will be on the pathway to making a great remote ready resume. Therefore, before you apply to jobs, take advantage of your extra time at home now, and invest in yourself. Take a few online courses to make yourself familiar with the programs; you can find some courses on Udemy for just $20.
Adjust Your Resume Just Right
Now that you have your skills highlighted to fit the job, it’s time for you to adjust your resume. So how exactly can this be done if you’ve never worked remotely before? Here are a few tips on how to tweak your resume.
Adjust Position Descriptions
One of the most important things that employers look at when reviewing your resume is relevant experience. Employers like to make sure that you have experience doing what they are hiring you to do. So, you’ll need to read the job description before applying for a job thoroughly.
Here’s how you can adjust your experience to fit the remote position:
Let’s say you have experience working as a customer service representative in a store, and you are looking forward to working as a virtual assistant. In your job description, you can highlight that you worked fulfilled customers’ needs by answering questions. You can also emphasize that you’ve worked in a fast-paced environment and had to familiarize yourself with the company’s products quickly.
How is this useful as a virtual assistant? It shows that you are a fast learner and can adjust quickly to any situation. Moreover, the computer skills highlighted in your skills section will outweigh the lack of technical skills at your retail job.
Consider Doing an Internship
We get it; nobody likes to work for free! However, never underestimate the power of an internship and the experience it brings. If you have extra downtime at home, you should consider doing an internship to gain experience.
The great thing about internships is that they require little to no experience, and it is likely that if you apply, they will hire you. Suppose your previous job experience does not highlight any remote tasks. In that case, an internship is a great way to add those qualities to your resume. It’s also important to note that many internships can result in paid full-time positions down the line.
So is this lying? Absolutely not! The courses you take for computer skills and highlighting your experience will give you a small boost to catch the hiring staff’s attention, at least.
Execution Matters
Remember, a remote resume is not about having virtual experience but more about applying it to a virtual position. Most importantly, you must be sure to invest time and money into learning the skills needed for the job so that your resume can be considered. Once your resume is remote ready, you’ll get callbacks in no time!
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