Top Advice for Finding Remote Work and Building Out Your Remote Career
The coronavirus pandemic and the evolution of technology have made remote jobs more and more common. Working from home not only gives you more flexibility with no commute, but it also opens up lots of job opportunities since you aren’t being limited by where you live. Even after the pandemic ends, most companies are planning on having a hybrid, half remote, half in person workplace model. Here is some of our top advice for finding remote UX jobs and building out your remote career.
Try contract work
Contract UX jobs are much easier to find than full time positions since they’re not permanent and typically have a shorter interview process. They also allow you to build your portfolio and add to your resume if you’re new to the industry. Not only will working with lots of different clients give you a new perspective, it’s also a great way to make money while you look for a more permanent role.
Target start-ups
Smaller companies that are just starting out might be more likely to hire someone who doesn’t have as much experience. Start-ups offer more flexibility, and on a smaller team, your work will have more of an impact! You’ll also learn A LOT and find a lot of opportunities to innovate and be creative.
Get familiar with remote design tools
The design process is a little different from home. It will be helpful to learn about the different tools you’ll likely be using as a remote designer. For example, you’d probably use Zoom for meetings, HotJar for when you’re conducting user research, and Crazy Egg for user testing. Having an understanding of these tools will show employers that you’re prepared and have already considered the challenges remote designers face as well as how to overcome them.
Use remote career sites and groups
Job search websites dedicated to remote roles have an endless amount of positions to sift through. Some great places to start are FlexJobs, JustRemote, AngelList, and Jobspresso. You can also join Facebook groups that list remote jobs, like Female Digital Nomads, Remote Work & Jobs for Digital Nomads, Digital Nomad Jobs, and Remote Jobs. Groups like these will help you find remote positions as well as connect with other remote workers who could give you insights and advice for building out your remote career!
Know what qualities remote employers are looking for
Due to the nature of remote work, most employers are looking for someone who is reliable, self-motivated, and passionate. They want someone they can trust to get their work done without needing to be micromanaged. Some ways to show that you’re trustworthy during an interview are to use less corporate terms, be genuine, and talk about your interests and side hustles. It could be something like your love of travel, a personal blog, or if you like to hike. People who work remotely are surrounded by distractions at home. An employer will be much more likely to trust you if you show them that you’re passionate and excited about the role.
Take the first step in starting your UX career today!
Sign up to be part of our cohort at Ideate Labs and become a confident UI/UX designer in just three months! Ideate Labs offers a personalized high touch learning experience. We meet one on one with students each week to work through any problems they’re facing. Unlike other programs, we let students pick their own project topics that they can turn into a side hustle to demonstrate valuable senior leadership skills.