The Complete Guide To Listing Remote Work on Your Resume
Job seekers are regularly advised to tailor their resumes to fit the specific position they’re seeking. That same customized approach to resume-writing should also include ensuring that your resume is aligned with the times and current job market trends.
For many of today’s job seekers, that means emphasizing key skills and qualifications that employers need to meet their increased reliance on remote work. In this guide on how to list remote work on your resume, you’ll find vital tips that can help you write a resume which will increase your odds of landing a remote-worker job.
Be clear about your desire for remote work
It is important to be extremely clear that you are looking for a remote work opportunity. While remote employment has been on the rise since 2020, most jobs are still designed for on-site employees. As a result, resumes and job applications tend to be for those types of in-house positions.
However, there is a growing need for remote workers, and you should take advantage of that by clarifying your desire or openness to working off-site or from home. You can also target companies and job boards that focus on remote opportunities.
You should make that clear in your resume, as well as in your application and cover letter. There are several opportunities for you to mention your experience with and desire for remote work.
Contact section
If you want your abilities with remote work noticed right off the bat, then you should include some mention of it in your contact section. You’re already putting your location in with your contact details (or at least you should be), add a blurb about being open to remote work. Here’s how to list remote work in the contact section of your resume:
Your Name
City, State, Zip (Open to Remote Work) | (123) 456-7890 | email@email.com
Summary paragraph
One of the best ways to list remote work in your resume is in your summary. Simply highlight the fact that you are qualified and interested in working remotely. This is best done right at the beginning of your paragraph so that it’s easily noticed by the hiring manager who is quickly skimming through your resume. Here is an example of how to list remote work in your resume’s summary paragraph:
Resume Title That Mirrors Job Description
Dedicated and hard-working Executive Assistant with over 20 years of experience (the last 3 of which were remote) leading geographically dispersed teams to and managing competing priorities on multiple and concurrent projects. Proactively prioritize office management, administrative support, and operational tasks to maximize efficiency and exceed goals.
Professional experience
If you have successfully done so in previous jobs, be sure to note those experiences in your work history section. There are actually a couple of chances you can do this:
Include “Remote” on the line where you list the company name and location
You can, and should, talk about remote working achievements in the bullet points
Here’s what that would look like:
ABC Company | Tampa, FL (Remote, based in San Francisco, CA)
Title of Position | mm/yyyy-mm/yyyy
Expertly hosted weekly lunch and learns across time zones
Leveraged remote communication tools (e.g., Zoom) to nurture client relationships, achieving 120% of monthly targets
Sourced and implemented project management software that boosted team productivity by 20%
Launch virtual team-building activities that increased employee satisfaction by 15%
Showcase critical hard skills needed for remote workers
When you’re creating your remote work resume, be sure to emphasize those critical hard skills that employers are seeking. Pay special attention to the hard skills used by remote employees. For example, the following skills are all potentially invaluable to employers who might be considering remote worker candidates:
Familiarity and experience with video conferencing tools
Expertise leveraging chat platforms, instant messaging, and other real-time communications platforms like Slack
Experience using project management tools
Competence using computers and other technology, with specific examples
Coding skills, if that’s a requirement for your industry
Bookkeeping or record-keeping
In addition, you may want to note your technological assets as well. That includes your in-home workspace and tools. If you already have a home office equipped for remote work, that can be a real advantage to employers.
In an interview, don’t forget to note that you have reliable internet connections, and any other services that may contribute to your ability to be a productive worker.
Expert Tip
EXPERT TIP: Check out the most in-demand skills employers are looking for in 2023.d
Don’t forget your vital soft skills
Hard skills can help get you an interview, but it is usually your soft skills that help you land the interview. Therefore, it is vital that you properly convey your soft skills in your resume and cover letter to differentiate yourself from any potential rival candidates.
Useful soft skills for remote work resume:
A demonstrated ability to work independently
Effective communication skills: both verbal and written communication
Self-discipline to keep you on track and productive
Proper time-management
The ability to collaborate remotely with others
Adaptability
Problem-solving
Organization
Don't simply list the skills above and call it a day – you need to have examples and metrics of how you use soft skills to provide value.
Unlike hard skills, soft skills can be more difficult to demonstrate in a resume. After all, there are no degrees or certificates that can prove that you have such skills. To demonstrate these skills, it is usually important to provide examples of how you used them to benefit prior employers.
You can usually do that in your resume’s work experience section, but some examples merit a dedicated section such as speaking engagements or publications.
Expert Tip
EXPERT TIP: you can learn more about the best ways to highlight communication skills in our primer on including Communication Skills on a Resume (Examples and Tips).
Remember to quantify your achievements
Finally, always remember to focus on value. Employers may be willing to hire remote workers, but they won’t be doing it for your benefit. As with any new hire, each remote worker is hired only because the employer believes that he or she can add real value to the company. To demonstrate that you’d be a valuable addition to the firm, it’s vital to show how you have benefited your previous employers.
When you create a work experience section on your resume, don’t just describe what you did at previous jobs. You should instead make sure that you include real numbers that demonstrate quantifiable results that you provided in those jobs. For example, do not just note that your job involved transforming a sales department. Instead, add real numbers to your description to show how the company benefited from your presence:
As sales manager, I was responsible for completely revamping our sales department to increase productivity and sales revenue. That transformation led to a 35% increase in closed sales, a 28% rise in revenue, and a 19% increase in repeat sales.
What to do if you have no prior remote experience
Don’t worry, if you’ve never worked remotely before, there are some strategies you can employ to land a new remote job. Breaking into remote work may take some time and persistence, but if you’re patient and seek opportunities for growth it can be done. Here’s what you need to do:
Remember your transferable skills: Chances are that you’ve attended a Zoom conference or had to manage a project without someone telling you every move to make. These things go a long way in showing that you have the skills to work independently.
Learn something new: There are online courses and certifications you can obtain that will demonstrate you have the knowledge to work remotely. A simple online search of the term “remote work certification” returns countless programs you can attend. Then, you can add that professional development to the Education section of your resume.
Do some gig work: Freelancing on platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, or Fiverr can give you a leg up on building remote work experience. Not only can you gain valuable experience, but you can also start to build an online portfolio that proves your abilities.
Competitive advantage
Applying for jobs is all about having an advantage over rival job seekers. Your remote resume can make all the difference in the world! By tailoring your resume to meet the remote work market, you can give yourself an edge over the competition.
Just remember to be clear, concise, and focused on demonstrating the skills and achievements companies want to see, and you can dramatically increase your chances of landing an interview and great remote work opportunity.
Need help ensuring that your resume reflects your ability to work remotely? Get a free resume review today!
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Written by
Marsha Hebert, Professional Resume Writer
Marsha is a resume writer with a strong background in marketing and writing. After completing a Business Marketing degree, she discovered that she could combine her passion for writing with a natural talent for marketing. For more than 10 years, Marsha has helped companies and individuals market themselves. Read more advice from Marsha on ZipJob's blog.
