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ing.I'm not going to lie and tell you it's EASY to get a remote job — it isn't. I've been searching for over a year and applying for over 100 jobs, and I've only had two interviews.But it is possible.I look for opportunities on Indeed and Flexjobs and have also sent my resume "cold" to certain companies via email.Here are a few tips for your online job search:<ul><li>Ensure your resume is relevant to the position you are applying for. For example, if you are applying for customer service, ensure the positions that utilize customer service are at the top of your resume.</li><li>Relevant to the above point, have multiple versions of your resume emphasizing different foci. I have versions of my resume that emphasize communications, customer service, social media marketing, research, writing, and executive assistant skills.</li><li>Ask a savvy friend to check out your resume and offer suggestions. I overhauled my entire resume two years ago after doing this.</li><li>Ensure the resume has the keywords for the job you are applying for. Many companies use AI to scan your resume for keywords before it gets to the next step (an actual human hiring manager), so make sure you don't give the algorithm a reason to trash your application.</li><li>Avoid the scammy listings. I've seen several on Indeed and almost applied until I did more research. Google the "company's name + scam," and if it's an established scammy listing, you will see feedback from others. If all else fails, go by the maxim, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."</li><li>Apply for many jobs, even if they differ from what you were looking for. Experiment and be creative. Even if you get the job and don't like it, it's still experience.</li><li>If you can, work with a career coach. They can help you tease out other marketable skills you might not know you had. For example, I work with a coach and went into our coaching relationship thinking all I could do was write. With her help, I discovered other avenues I excelled in, such as research, editing, social media marketing, customer service, management, and non-profit coordination.</li><li>Be consistent and patient. Check out the job sites every day and try to apply for at least one every day.</li></ul>And, most importantly….Don't expect to get a job right away. Remote jobs are in demand, and finding something that works often takes a while.<h2 id="8f95">If you're creative, you can make your opportunities</h2>I used to be one of those people who rolled my eyes when someone (usually my mom) told me this.But over the last year, I have started to think differently.There are so many things you can do online. You can:<ul><li>Write a blog</li><li>Sell handmade goods on Etsy</li><li>Start a newsletter</li><li>Learn to code and offer web design skills</li><li>Practice social media marketing</li><li>Start a podcast</li><li>Become a life coach and consult online</li><li>Fitness/sports lessons via Zoom to private clients (you have to have some training to do this)</li><li>Become a tutor</li><li>Write e-books</li><li>Start a Youtube channel</li></ul>Follow whatever your curiosities are and see wh

Options

ere they take you.Of course, all of these require building to become successful. Don't expect to make millions (or even hundreds) right away.But now that you don't need a location or "legitimacy" to establish yourself, you can create your own business based on your skills and what you naturally enjoy doing.The old way of doing business was to find a brick-and-mortar location, buy inventory, open the door, and hope people buy.I did this for over ten years, running an ice skating business. I saw the business change incredibly in that time frame.We watched Amazon and online shopping's convenience trump knowledge and experience.Similarly, the old way of becoming a published writer was to go to school for journalism or communications, work in print media, or write a book published by a major publishing house.The internet disrupted that.Blogs emerged during the 2000s, allowing wannabe writers like me to write for an audience. I started a Blogspot blog, creating my niche of part personal blog and sports news (figure and speed skating). I made a brand, Lake Placid Skater, which was also the blog's name.From there, I wrote for our local newspaper from age 18 to 29. For the first few years, I wrote for free as I honed my skills (I later found out I should have asked to get paid).I was contracted by a publishing house (at 21!) to write a history of figure skating in Lake Placid.Then, I got freelance writing opportunities from National and International publications focused on skating and winter sports.In the meantime, I used social media to my advantage. I posted videos and photos of my skating journey, landscapes, and whatever else struck my fancy.Because of my omniscience online, I started getting opportunities for film and commercial work. I was already in the acting world, so skating for film was a reasonable next step. I booked several skating commercials and a print campaign or two. I worked with a friend on the latter and helped produce the shots. I found the whole experience exhilarating.COVID disrupted everything, but it was bound to change anyway.I stopped writing so much freelance as there wasn't anything to report on, and eventually started writing here.I didn't do all this "building" in a calculated way — I did it because it was fun. And I think that's why it went so well.It was then I realized this eternal truth.Make your work online your portfolio and do things you like to do, and opportunities will find you.If it could happen to me when I was still writing for a newspaper and blogging on the side, it could happen to you, too.Mingling and searching for jobs in person is so 1980. Trying to get someone to hire you in real life is old school.If you prefer to work in person and genuinely enjoy networking IRL, do so. But realize there are other ways to get opportunities. And they usually come when you aren't pushing to make them happen.Create yourself online, and the rest will follow.</article></body>

You Don't Have to Hustle IRL to Get Opportunities Anymore

The game has changed.

Years ago, an acquaintance told me a fantastic story.

She was working at a bar when a lawyer walked up and ordered a drink.

At the time, she was looking for a new career path and started chatting to him, not realizing who he was. The lawyer offered her a training position at his law firm.

She worked and trained at the firm, went to law school, and passed the bar exam.

This sounds like a work fairy tale, but it happened to her.

I was inspired and just a bit jealous. I had been searching for more reliable work for years with no success, so I reached a conclusion I now recognize as false.

I need to get out more. I need to network. I need to “hustle”.

But that's old-school thinking and not necessary at all. Here's why.

The game has changed.

Before, opportunities essentially went to those who went out and interacted with people IRL.

While that works sometimes, everything has moved to cyberspace in recent decades.

You can apply for jobs online. You can interview online. You can become a freelancer online. You can network online.

And you can work online now, too.

Some people might chafe at the thought of everything being mediated through the internet, but I love it.

As someone who long ago realized in-person work would not work for me, I have been gratified to realize that remote work opportunities are only growing.

A Gallup survey found that 8 in 10 people work hybrid or remote, and that doesn’t seem to be changing anytime soon.

As much as my acquaintance was able to get a random opportunity, you can get random opportunities online just as much.

There might be greater chances because you and your work are being exposed worldwide.

You no longer have to rely on "knowing the right people," going to the right places, or hustling in your area. An opportunity can come from near or far.

Yes, you can work remotely.

Remote work is more accessible — and more appealing — than ever before.

Companies have been advised to offer remote and hybrid options to entice potential employees. Ninety-five percent of U.S. knowledge workers want to work remotely, and 74 percent would be willing to quit a job to make that happen.

Considering what we saw during COVID and how much BETTER many found it to work outside an office, it's unsurprising.

I'm not going to lie and tell you it's EASY to get a remote job — it isn't. I've been searching for over a year and applying for over 100 jobs, and I've only had two interviews.

But it is possible.

I look for opportunities on Indeed and Flexjobs and have also sent my resume "cold" to certain companies via email.

Here are a few tips for your online job search:

Ensure your resume is relevant to the position you are applying for. For example, if you are applying for customer service, ensure the positions that utilize customer service are at the top of your resume.
Relevant to the above point, have multiple versions of your resume emphasizing different foci. I have versions of my resume that emphasize communications, customer service, social media marketing, research, writing, and executive assistant skills.
Ask a savvy friend to check out your resume and offer suggestions. I overhauled my entire resume two years ago after doing this.
Ensure the resume has the keywords for the job you are applying for. Many companies use AI to scan your resume for keywords before it gets to the next step (an actual human hiring manager), so make sure you don't give the algorithm a reason to trash your application.
Avoid the scammy listings. I've seen several on Indeed and almost applied until I did more research. Google the "company's name + scam," and if it's an established scammy listing, you will see feedback from others. If all else fails, go by the maxim, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."
Apply for many jobs, even if they differ from what you were looking for. Experiment and be creative. Even if you get the job and don't like it, it's still experience.
If you can, work with a career coach. They can help you tease out other marketable skills you might not know you had. For example, I work with a coach and went into our coaching relationship thinking all I could do was write. With her help, I discovered other avenues I excelled in, such as research, editing, social media marketing, customer service, management, and non-profit coordination.
Be consistent and patient. Check out the job sites every day and try to apply for at least one every day.

And, most importantly….

Don't expect to get a job right away. Remote jobs are in demand, and finding something that works often takes a while.

If you're creative, you can make your opportunities

I used to be one of those people who rolled my eyes when someone (usually my mom) told me this.

But over the last year, I have started to think differently.

There are so many things you can do online. You can:

Write a blog
Sell handmade goods on Etsy
Start a newsletter
Learn to code and offer web design skills
Practice social media marketing
Start a podcast
Become a life coach and consult online
Fitness/sports lessons via Zoom to private clients (you have to have some training to do this)
Become a tutor
Write e-books
Start a Youtube channel

Follow whatever your curiosities are and see where they take you.

Of course, all of these require building to become successful. Don't expect to make millions (or even hundreds) right away.

But now that you don't need a location or "legitimacy" to establish yourself, you can create your own business based on your skills and what you naturally enjoy doing.

The old way of doing business was to find a brick-and-mortar location, buy inventory, open the door, and hope people buy.

I did this for over ten years, running an ice skating business. I saw the business change incredibly in that time frame.

We watched Amazon and online shopping's convenience trump knowledge and experience.

Similarly, the old way of becoming a published writer was to go to school for journalism or communications, work in print media, or write a book published by a major publishing house.

The internet disrupted that.

Blogs emerged during the 2000s, allowing wannabe writers like me to write for an audience. I started a Blogspot blog, creating my niche of part personal blog and sports news (figure and speed skating). I made a brand, Lake Placid Skater, which was also the blog's name.

From there, I wrote for our local newspaper from age 18 to 29. For the first few years, I wrote for free as I honed my skills (I later found out I should have asked to get paid).

I was contracted by a publishing house (at 21!) to write a history of figure skating in Lake Placid.

Then, I got freelance writing opportunities from National and International publications focused on skating and winter sports.

In the meantime, I used social media to my advantage. I posted videos and photos of my skating journey, landscapes, and whatever else struck my fancy.

Because of my omniscience online, I started getting opportunities for film and commercial work. I was already in the acting world, so skating for film was a reasonable next step. I booked several skating commercials and a print campaign or two. I worked with a friend on the latter and helped produce the shots. I found the whole experience exhilarating.

COVID disrupted everything, but it was bound to change anyway.

I stopped writing so much freelance as there wasn't anything to report on, and eventually started writing here.

I didn't do all this "building" in a calculated way — I did it because it was fun. And I think that's why it went so well.

It was then I realized this eternal truth.

Make your work online your portfolio and do things you like to do, and opportunities will find you.

If it could happen to me when I was still writing for a newspaper and blogging on the side, it could happen to you, too.

Mingling and searching for jobs in person is so 1980. Trying to get someone to hire you in real life is old school.

If you prefer to work in person and genuinely enjoy networking IRL, do so. But realize there are other ways to get opportunities. And they usually come when you aren't pushing to make them happen.

Create yourself online, and the rest will follow.