The Remote Issue

Do you feel like you live in perpetual darkness? And are dying to see the sun?

A friend once told me she's grateful for all weather, rain or shine, because she never used to see it.

She spent her days cocooned in a dark office, a situation that's left its mark.

PTSD, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, isn't just for veterans.

Traumatic work experiences can lead to similar symptoms.

Some folks I've coached have described their fear of returning to the office almost like PTSD, and while I'm no therapist, the sentiment resonates.

Whether it's PTSD or just a strong preference for remote work, I get it.

And this newsletter is all about making remote work happen for you.

I realize our time is limited; you have a million other newsletters to get to in your inbox.. so, let's cut to the chase.

I have been scrapping my way into remote roles since 2013 before remote was even common. 

If I can make it happen so, can you. 

If I found myself looking for a new job tomorrow-

This is what I would do.  

If you look at my history.. I have been remote since BSI in 2013.  How did I make that happen?

I took a chance on contract roles. I went permanent. I stayed remote.

And I did the EXACT same thing at the next company.

 Is it nerve wrecking taking on contract roles? Perhaps.

But so is not working.

Look around... this market isn’t exactly secure.

Think of me as the best friend that tells you what you need to hear.

If you are totally opposed to contract, are there other areas you can flex?

Again... this strategy is for people whose main goal is REMOTE BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE.

Do not give up.

Job searching is about mindset.

If you don’t quit, you will find a remote role. 

Do not waste your time with bait and switch.

If a company is listed as on site, or hybrid, save your time, and your energy.

Your energy is your currency, so use it wisely.

If a company has the job listed as on site. Believe them.

With the competition fierce, make sure your resume is tailored to remote roles.

And 100% Clean.

 I almost didn’t get a job over one single error on my resume.

Get help here!

• Give your old Resume that extra polish with KickResume in seconds! GPT-4 will fix any mistakes in your resume and even make it more professional.

Hang tight- the climax of the newsletter is ahead:

Stories of real-life people like you, experiencing the same challenges, that have all successfully landed remote roles in this market.

Here is how they did it:

 Amanda Prell- A Talent Acquisition Specialist offers up this valuable advice:

“I looked for companies not roles. 

I knew my field, the industry, and looked at the best companies within that industry.

I knew my current company had been listed as #1 in the industry through an online magazine.

I applied, searched the Talent Acquisition team on Linkedin, and sent a direct message to the Hiring Manager. I was hired in February.” 

Listen to Janna Pugh's story:

Janna found her fully remote role at Five9 in July 2023.

“I was laid off from my last job December 2022 and started looking right away!

 SEO is a niche segment of digital marketing, and I had some non-negotiables:

(Remote, company size, established history of SEO work) so I knew it was going to take a while to find.

The job search took about 8 months from start to finish.

In total, I applied to over 800 roles, had over 200 interviews, and 6 offers.

The job search was a combination of “spray and pray” and “targeted search strategies."

I followed up via email with all the interviewers and asked for feedback to bring to the next interview. I added hiring managers and introduced myself via Linkedin after applying (Direct Message on Linkedin.)

There are so many ways for companies to see you as a face, not a name.

I almost exclusively used Linkedin for my search.

I prepared a 3-6-12 month strategy to show I took their pain points seriously.

I am in a 12-month contract-to-hire role and am hoping to convert in July.

This was the first time I accepted a non-full-time role, but my unemployment exhausted, and I needed work.

I also compromised on my title.

I was an SEO Manager in my last role and am a SEO Specialist now, but I think that was an acceptable compromise for the work culture Five9 has.

Don't miss this story from Robert Wiley Jr.:

I retired from the Air Force as a vehicle fleet manager with 21 years back in 2012.  I had looked for a couple of fleet management jobs here in Idaho but the job market for fleet managers was pretty thin here. 

I decided to go back to school for my Masters in Cyber Operations and Resilience from BSU. During that time, I networked with as many IT and Cyber people as I could find on LinkedIn. 

I applied to roughly 40 local positions.  I was not able to secure a job, but I was able to secure two internships.

Both internships showcased a full spectrum of a good cyber program to just barely having passwords. An excellent source of education to pair with my classes.   If I had to pick the one major factor that helped me land this role, it would be networking. 

Network with every resource that is available to you. 

For instance, I was in the Air Force, so I networked with a huge amount of DoD people.

My internships opened me up to the State Government people across the nation, so I networked with them.

I had a new roof put on my house, I networked with several roofers.  All of these networking opportunities allowed me to display my professional desires.  I was hired in April 2024.

Which one of you is going to be the next success story?

Like this newsletter?

Please support, comment and like, and as a special thank you, I will offer resume advice, or a clarity coaching call to one of you in the comment section.

Ask me anything in the comment section!

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