Michelle Coulson

If you are looking for a remote job, I would suggest: Begin with a powerful opening statement that shows you understand the company's remote work culture. For example: as a seasoned professional with 7 years of experience leading distributed teams, I was excited to see [Company]'s commitment to building a world-class remote workforce. Address the company's needs Research the company thoroughly and mention specific projects or initiatives you could contribute to. Show how your skills align with the role & their remote work practices. Demonstrate cultural fit Discuss your alignment with the company's values, especially those related to remote work. Share an example of how you've contributed to building a positive remote work culture.

Over 80% of job seekers say that their network has helped them find work. This is even more true when looking for remote work. Here are a few tips to help you build your network virtually: - Join virtual events: tap into opportunities like virtual job fairs but also virtual meetups, webinars, virtual conferences, virtual networking events, and get your name out there! - Contact webinar leaders and attendees: after attending a webinar, connect with leaders and attendees and continue the discussion. Share your ideas and thoughts. Check whether their organisation is hiring! - Get involved in Slack groups: you can connect with people with similar interests on Slack. Take a look at these Slack communities for remote workers.

These are usually referred to as Open Applications. Some companies have an "Expression of Interest" section on their careers pages - this is where you can apply to express your interest in working for them, even if there's not a specific job opening that matches your skills at the moment. You can also send an email or a LinkedIn message to the CEO/hiring manager/recruiters. Your email/message can be along the lines of: I’m really interested in working with [COMPANY NAME] because [INSERT REASON]. I took a look at your careers page but did not see any open positions relevant to my experience. I have [INSERT EXPERIENCE]/ my background is [INSERT] and I can start with [NOTICE PERIOD]. I’ve attached my CV/ Resume for your reference.

After you have submitted your application, if you haven’t heard from the recruiter or hiring manager in at least 2 weeks, you should follow up. You can send them something along the lines of: Hi <name of recruiter/ hiring manager>, I am sure you must be extremely busy, but I just wanted to kindly inquire about the status of my application for the <insert position> position at <insert company> which I sent on <insert date>. I was really drawn to this position because <insert reasons>. Please find my CV attached for your reference. If you need any additional information or have any questions, please do let me know. I look forward to hearing from you and appreciate being considered for this position.

I usually recommend only applying to jobs where you tick off at least 70% - 75% of the job requirements. And instead of sending 50 applications a week, I recommend sending 5-10 and spend 20-40 minutes on each one, personalise the cover letter, tweak your CV (slightly) and take the time to stand out for the RIGHT Reasons!

You should include these keywords in: Job Titles: Look at the different variations of your job title. Ensure that the job title on your CV aligns with the terminology of the company you are applying to. Skills: It's important to brainstorm the language you use to describe both your hard and soft skills, ensuring it speaks the company's language. Experience: Spell out your years of experience. For instance, if the job requires three years of experience in X, Y, and Z, make sure to explicitly state in your summary that you have this experience. Knowledge & Qualifications: Make sure you’re explicitly using the terms from the job ad—don’t come up with your own terminology.