So you’ve decided to start working from home. You know that a remote job will give you the best opportunity to find fulfilling work with compensation while you maintain your home life as a mom. You’re ready to transition to working remotely and have started searching for a position on The Mom Office job board. Now what?
Before you hit “Apply,” you may want to consider a crucial element in landing… well, any job, really. That is your resume.
Let’s be real here. Resumes are not a “one size fits all” document that you can chuck in each job-opening pot and hope that luck will be enough to be noticed.
Sometimes it pays off (literally and figuratively) to be strategic when it comes to your resume for each job you apply for- or at least for separate categories you may apply for.
Do you know how to prepare your resume when applying to remote jobs? Here are ten tips that can help you.
10 Tips to Prepare Your Resume for Applying to Remote Jobs
1. Organize the Structure of Your Resume
Make your resume as clean and organized as possible, so it is easy for interviewers to read. Convey your thoughts clearly and in chronological order. Interesting fonts and styles can make your resume look like a work of art, but they should not take away from the content. Cut back on fonts and designs if necessary, so the interviewer can focus on your text.
Include any gaps in employment in your chronological work history if you decided to leave work to take care of your family. It’s recommended you provide an honest explanation of why you left work and accurate dates when you left. Also, include why you are eager to get back to work remotely.
2. Include a Clear Summary
Instead of an objective goal, remote recruiters will be looking for a brief and concise summary of your resume relating to your remote work. If you have any previous remote experience (more on this later), this is the place to get the recruiter’s attention. Include skills and keywords (more on this later also) that would help you in the remote job you are applying for in your summary.
3. Tailor Your Resume to Remote Jobs
Often pressed for time, moms end up using the same resume they use to apply for traditional jobs. That is where you go wrong! It is important that you tailor your application to remote jobs to grab the attention of a remote employer.
What does this mean? As a general guideline, highlight the following points on your remote job application. Of course, this would vary depending on the exact role you are trying for.
- Software Tools you are already familiar with like Skype, Google Hangout, etc.
- Initiatives or Projects you have led to show a sense of autonomy. Since no one will be physically managing you, employers need to know you are capable of taking the lead.
- Remote, VA, or even Cyber Safety courses you may have taken that will jump out as remote preparation.
4. Mention Any Prior Remote Experience
Experience is indispensable when it comes to jobs… yes, any job! According to a survey, a whopping 91% of employers said they preferred their candidates have prior experience and 65% favored those with relevant work experience.
It’s even more of a preference for employers who need remote employees to hire someone who has remote work from home experience already. Employers want to know that you have the capability and the self-discipline to work from home without supervision.
In light of this, moms should mention any previous relevant experience on their resume. If you worked any remote job before, it will come in handy. Do not dismiss any side blogging, freelancing, or side hustles you’ve been part of that you may have done from home. You can even mention the times you took work home from the office to show your capability of working from home without distractions. This is crucial if you want an advantage over others who may be applying for the same remote position.
You will find that once you have your foot in the door with a remote position, it will become much easier to get hired for future remote jobs.
5. Use the Right Keywords to Avoid the “Reject” Pile
When you send in your resume, you would love to envision someone who is genuinely reading through your entire resume, nodding their head, and thinking, “I want to interview her!”
However, the harsh reality here is that many companies will use an ATS (Applicant Tracking System) which will perform a keyword scan on your resume. Employers also have the option to use a keyword search for any posted resumes in The Mom Office. What’s this posted resumes service, you ask? More on that later in this article.
The point here is no matter how much you may hate the cliche of words used for specific skills or qualities someone may have, it’s exactly what you will need to use to be noticed.
However, it would be unwise to keyword stuff. You see, once the employer uses a keyword search to filter out the qualified from the unqualified, someone WILL genuinely read through your resume. You will certainly be placed right on top of that reject pile if they get halfway through and realize that all you did was stuff your resume.
One of the best ways to know which keywords you should use is staring right at you from the job description itself. For instance, if a job posting lists strong proofreading skills as one of the skills they are searching for, you need to find a place in your resume (and cover letter) to add strong proofreading skills.
You can also go to the company’s website and search around for keywords they use a lot in their company descriptions and culture.
6. Show That You Can Be Collaborative
Remote work will likely have you interacting with team members across the nation and even the world, therefore, a key to your success will be your communication skills. Your resume should include any experience and achievements that relate to your keen collaboration abilities and teamwork. It should indicate that you possess a professional level of communication, both verbally and written. Employers will want to know that you will be able to communicate effectively through email and voice chat with colleagues and clients.
7. Emphasize Your Problem-Solving Skills
Often, remote jobs do not have a large amount of guidance. Show the employer that you have the independence to solve issues that may arise when you’re on your own. It’s best to list somewhere how detail-oriented you are which makes a point that you are able to identify and solve problems as you come across them. If you have experience guiding other team members remotely through problems, this can also be a key selling point for your skills.
8. Show Them Your Home Office is Ready for Work
If you can convey that your office is set up for professional-level work, include it in your resume. You may include any back-up computers, and that you have a quiet and professional office environment in your home that is free from distractions.
9. Include a Cover Letter
Whenever possible, it’s best to attach that “optional” cover letter along with your resume. This is the best way to fully put down into paragraph structure why you would be so wonderful for that position and can showcase a bit of your personality. Now, of course, it’s best to remain as professional as possible, but it doesn’t hurt to express how passionate you are about landing that specific job and what makes you so special.
There are examples of cover letters all over the internet, along with templates you can use for free. At bare minimum, all you have to do is fill in the blanks, add a few keywords, and save that template to your computer for use. Otherwise, you can truly customize a templated cover letter to match what you are trying to convey to the employer. Simply grab something to use as an outline so you’re not sitting there twiddling your thumbs, unsure of what to begin with.
Do not forget to address the cover letter to the company, with the correct date and position you are applying for. This will mean you need to change the cover letter for every single application you submit, whether it’s through the same company or not. Also, to score bonus points, address the cover letter to “The Hiring Manager,” or better yet, do your research through their website or LinkedIn to find a name. But don’t make a guess. If it’s a small one-person business, for instance, an entrepreneur who is starting up, you can address the cover letter to that particular person. Otherwise, it’s the safest bet to address it to the “Hiring Manager.”
Lastly, keep the cover letter to a one-page minimum (unless otherwise specified in their job description), and keep it simple enough that it’s easy to read.
10. Get Your Resume Reviewed
If you are still feeling unsure or got lost in one of the nine prior steps, there are a multitude of resume review companies out on the web.
One of the best resume writing services in the world is TopResume. Once the professional team has reviewed your resume and they’ve determined it could use some help, you have the option to purchase a professionally written resume that will optimize your chances of being hired.
Post Your Resume
Although job searching and applying for jobs on The Mom Office is free, we do offer an optional service called Post Your Resume.
Posting your resume can give you an advantage over other candidates. Utilizing this plan gives you the opportunity to post an unlimited number of resumes that can be viewed by the employers who use our keyword search system.
We offer a 7-day free trial resume post as well as other super affordable options with a longer timeline. You have full control of how many resumes you have on file with us, which means you could potentially edit the keywords in each summary to help match you with multiple categories for employers who may be searching for you before you even apply to their job listing.
Disclosure: The Mom Office has recently undergone some updates and may not offer the Post Your Resume service any longer.
Ready, Set, Hit “Apply”
So you’ve optimized your resume(s) and are feeling confident in moving forward to apply for remote jobs. Go ahead, click “Apply.” You are now prepared with a qualified resume and will stick out from the others. Employers will be impressed and before you know it, you’ll be lining up those interviews.
To search for jobs and to post your resume on The Mom Office, please visit TheMomOffice.com.