How to Land a Freelance, Remote Job

How to Land a Freelance, Remote JobHow to Land a Freelance, Remote JobYouve looked at all of your options, and youve determined that a freelance, 100% telecommute position is at the very top of your list of dream jobs.So now what? How can you go about finding, applying for, and then actually landing this type of position?Here are seven steps to follow to get a freelance, remote job1. Determine your motivation.Before you roll up your sleeves and dive into job searching, its important to determine that you want a freelance and remote position for the right reasons. If your only motivation is working in your pajamas or being able to slack off because you dont have a boss physically there to keep a watchful eye on you? Well, any company will be able to landsee through your intent.Much like any other job, make sure that youre invested because the position sounds like a good fit, youre passionate about the mission, and youre confident youd do great work in that role. Applying only because you want to be able to work from home wont get you too far in the hiring process.2. Evaluate your industry.There are some career paths that offer an abundance of remote, freelance jobs, such as creative industries (think graphic design, web development, writing, etc.) and more administrative roles (such as data entry, medical transcription, customer service, etc.).However, there are also some fields where finding a remote, freelance role is a lot like finding a needle in a haystack. Its smart to do some detective work within your own industry to figure out whether or not these types of positions are offered, as well as what types of positions they are. Laying that groundwork will help you target your efforts far more effectively.3. Polish up your presence.Your online presence carries a lot of significance in any job search- but, especially when that company might never be able to meet you in person. Your digital footprint will serve as your first impression, and you want it to be a good one.Before hitting submit on any application or freelance proposal, make sure that you comb through your online presence with a fine-tooth comb. Clean up your social media accounts. Polish up your LinkedIn profile. If you have a personal website or portfolio, make sure its up to date and presents the most accurate picture of your professional qualifications. Doing so will help you make the most positive impression possible on prospective employers.4. Scour job boards.Now to tackle your next big question Where do you go about looking for remote, freelance positions?Asking around within your network can help. However, niche job boards will be your saving grace when youre looking for work that falls into this specific of category.Of course, were biased in thinking that sites like and Remote.co are great for finding the type of flexible work arrangements youre looking for. But, even a simple search on Google or LinkedIn can occasionally turn up some worthy options.Settle on a few key search terms (i.e., remote freelance graphic designer), setup some alerts, and keep your eyes peeled for relevant listings that are deserving of your application.5. Tailor your materials.You found it- the perfect job description. You know you want to toss your hat into the ring. But, before you do, remember this even though the position youre applying for is remote and freelance, those standard job search best practices still hold some water.That means you should be tailoring your application materials for each job youre applying for. Pull relevant key skills from the job description and make sure to include them in your own resume and cover letter (as long as theyre honest, of course). Pay attention to the culture and overall vibe of the company, and try to mirror that in your own application.Its tempting to blanket the world in the same generic job search materials. But, taking the time to tailor and personalize everything will help you stand out from the sea of competition th ats also vying for that dream-worthy role.6. Follow the application instructions.If you take nothing else away from this guide, at least remember this following instructions is very, very important.That holds true for whatever job youre applying to, but especially when the role is remote. You need to demonstrate that you can obey written directions the first time- since thats something youre going to need to do when you work with a distributed team.Make sure that you read the application instructions thoroughly and then triple-check that youve followed every single line. Do they want your resume as a PDF? You better not send a Word document. Do you need to use a specific subject line? Follow that direction to the letter. Failing to do so will definitely help you stand out- but not in the way you want to.7. Find a way to stand out.Speaking of standing out, thats something youll need to do when you know youre competing against tons of other applicants for that freelance, remote positi on.Do some creative thinking to see if you can find a unique way to do that. Maybe that involves writing a humorous cover letter or even completing a brief sample project to send along with your application materials. There are tons of different things you could do. The main thing to keep in mind is that it never hurts to do something that will make you more memorable- particularly when you might never be able to meet that employer in person.If you want to land a freelance, remote job but arent sure where to start, follow these seven steps to find the perfect position, submit your application, and get yourself one step closer to scoring an interview. Good luckBrowse Open Freelance Remote Jobs