A remote work resume means showcasing remote work experience. Add “(Remote)” next to your job title or work location. When applying for a fully remote (or hybrid) work position, demonstrate your success in working independently and collaborating virtually. Make it clear that you’re reliable in independent work settings. Showcase impeccable digital communication and time management skills, as well as proficiency with online collaboration tools.
You can clarify that some of your previous roles were remote by simply adding “(Remote)” next to the job title or in the work location. To describe remote work experience, use concrete action verbs and data. Specify your responsibilities and achievements by using numbers.
In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about writing a remote resume and what to focus on.
What Is Remote Work?
Remote work means you’re not limited to doing your job in the company office. This is also known as telecommuting.
Traditionally, employees would have to go to work in a set location within company premises. However, remote work allows people to do their jobs from outside the office, which gives them more flexibility.
Other similar terms you might’ve come across include:
- Work from home (WFH): doing work from the comfort of your own home.
- Digital Nomad: this refers to a person’s lifestyle where they’re able to work and travel at the same time.
- Hybrid work: employees have the option to work onsite or offsite.
For some jobs or tasks, all that’s needed is a laptop with a stable internet connection.
One of the reasons people find remote work appealing is because of the work-life balance aspect it offers. It’s a factor that pushed the great resignation.
Examples of other locations to work include:
- Cafés
- Home office
- Libraries
- Private workspace
Popular Remote Job Examples
- Accountant
- Consultant
- Data scientist
- Graphic designer
- Marketing manager
- Recruiter
- Sales agent
- Social media manager
- Tutor
- Web developer
Is There a Difference Between Writing a Normal Resume and a Remote Work Resume?
In terms of writing a remote resume, you’ll want to share evidence of successfully working remotely. Make it clear that you have the necessary skills and software proficiencies to work independently and from outside the office.
In other words, the difference is what you focus on. A remote work resume does everything a normal resume does, but it also emphasizes certain skill sets that prove the candidate is capable of working independently and collaborating virtually.
Do You Need to Tailor Your Resume for a Remote Job?
100%. Failing to tailor your application to the company’s requirements will lead to rejection.
Even if you’re a competent candidate, you must show that you’re qualified based on the company’s standards and that you’re capable of succeeding independently and as a team in a remote setting.
How to List Remote Work On Your Resume
Here’s how to list remote work on your resume:
- Highlight “Remote.” Either add this in as the work location or after mentioning a job title.
- Mention your remote background in your summary. To tailor your resume for a remote role, briefly mention your background working remotely in the summary section.
- Emphasize achievements. Prioritize relevant achievements when describing remote job positions.
- Describe remote-friendly skills. Communication, self-management, and proficiency in collaboration tools are your best friends. Mention these in relation to the job description.
Below, we’ll go through the process of creating a remote resume, including how to list remote work experience.
1. Complete the Resume Header
The resume header includes your personal contact information such as:
- Full name
- Location (city or country, or both)
- Professional email address
- Phone number
- Website or LinkedIn URL
2. Complete the Work Experience Section Headings
The headings under the work experience section are for including essential employment details. This lists the following:
- Your job title/role at the company
- The company you worked with
- Time of employment with the company
- Company location
3. Write “Remote” in Brackets After Putting Down the Company Location
If the job you’re listing was a remote role, write remote in brackets after you put down the company location such as:
- New York (Remote)
- London (Remote)
- Seoul (Remote)
However, this step can be skipped if you’re expected to work in a hybrid or fully remote setting.
Recruiters will surmise your employment history includes remote experience by seeing your personal location in the resume header compared to the company location you wrote in the work experience section.
4. List Jobs in Reverse Chronological Order
The reverse chronological format is the most preferred way of listing your work history. It reveals no gaps in your professional background by starting with the most recent events.
However, there is an exception to this approach. That’s if you’re going to use the functional resume format. In this scenario, you may want to structure your resume slightly differently to highlight your skills since you lack direct experience in the role.
5. Talk About What You Did at the Company
All that’s left is to describe what you did at the company. In other words, how well you carried out your work responsibilities.
Remote job or not, the same best practices will apply to how you’d normally approach the work experience section. For instance, emphasize a positive outcome achieved through your efforts. If you have no data to use then point out the goal you worked towards and the purpose you served. We’ll go through example sentences of this shortly later on in this guide.
Here’s a few more of the best practices:
- Start your bullet points with strong action verbs
- Revolve each sentence around achievements
- Mention numbers and statistics to showcase the results you were responsible for
- Use resume keywords in the context of your accomplishments
Tips to Personalize Your Application for a Remote Job
Take these tips into account to personalize your resume for a remote job. These can boost your chances of overcoming the initial screening process and landing an interview.
Bring up the Skills Beneficial for a Remote Work Environment
Not everyone is as skilled or efficient as others in a remote environment.
Most times, you’ll be working by yourself with limited supervision. So give examples on your resume that prove you’re a reliable person who knows how to self-organize, take initiative, and meet deadlines.
Those who can demonstrate an extraordinary ability to work independently are more likely to give employers confidence that they’re a good fit.
Here’s a few examples of useful skills to have:
- Discipline
- Collaboration
- Written communication
- Software proficiency
- Time management
Another option is to categorize them in the skills section like the examples below.
Mention Your Remote Work Background in the Summary Section
Let recruiters know immediately that you’re experienced in working remotely by mentioning it in your resume summary.
Here’s some alternatives for saying you have 5 years of experience:
- <Job> professional with 5 years of remote experience…
- <Job> professional with 5 years of experience working remotely…
Also, your resume doesn’t need to go as far back as 10 years unless it’s necessary. Going as far back on your resume as up to 3 years can be enough. What’s more important than showcasing the length of your employment history is showcasing that you’re capable of bringing results.
Only List Matching Job Titles
Portray yourself as a specialist in the field by only listing exact matching job titles. A consistent career timeline like this implies you’re well-versed in that specific role.
Still, make it clear you have a diverse skill set by mentioning other transferable skills. It proves you have more to offer than what the job description says.
If your corporate history for the past 3 years doesn't consist of the same job titles, then only list your most relevant work experience.
Include a Link to Your Website, Portfolio, or LinkedIn Profile
All links that point the reader elsewhere from your application belong in the resume header section. These links can lead to one of the following:
- Portfolio
- Website
Even if you choose not to share these links on your resume, some companies might do a background check either way. This means they’ll search you up online via social media. Therefore, it’s important to optimize any public profiles they can access.
Share More Details Using a Cover Letter
Cover letters give you extra space to show employers why they should hire you. Use this space to do one of the following:
- Go in-depth on your most exceptional remote achievements including how they were achieved
- Write more detail about something you’ve mentioned on your resume, e.g. qualifications and relevant coursework
- Showcase your passion and interest in the field by talking about a personal project you worked on
Depending on what you want to put in the spotlight, there are different ways to structure your cover letter.
How to Prove You’re Competent Enough to Work Remotely on Your Resume
Prove you’re qualified for any remote position by:
- Showcasing achievements that you were solely responsible for.
- Demonstrating leadership qualities in virtual settings.
- Categorizing relevant skills and software proficiencies.
Even when you don’t have professional remote experience, you can still follow these steps to an extent. It’s also worth noting that applying these steps may help you overcome the distance bias that some hiring teams seem to have.
Highlight Achievements From Independent Work
As mentioned, you’ll have little to no supervision. Remote employees must be capable of doing tasks independently. It requires more self-motivation too. This isn’t everyone’s cup of tea since some people prefer to work in teams.
To communicate to employers you have the qualities to succeed remotely, highlight your accomplishments from independent work. These are times when you took initiative with minimal or zero assistance.
Here’s some examples:
- Created and initiated an email marketing campaign to engage and interact with over 300 subscribers.
- Pioneered electronic delivery of annual reports and statements saving $210k annually.
- Launched a startup and grew the company to 6 employees, 7,000 customers, and $300,000 total raised investment in 2 years.
Demonstrate Leadership Qualities
Good communication is key for remote teams. It’s one of many desirable leadership skills to have.
You’ll still be collaborating with others. The difference is that you’re not in an office, meaning that you could be working with people from around the world.
Having strong people skills enables you to perform better. It’ll even be essential for some job titles as hiring managers will need someone who can lead and cooperate effectively with a global team.
Here’s 3 ways to show your ability as a leader:
- Write about difficult problems you faced and how you overcame them
- Mention the outcome gained from previous group projects you were involved in
- List relevant soft skills in the skills section
Categorize Relevant Software Tools
In some job descriptions, software proficiency isn’t something that’s nice to have. It’s a requirement.
Succeeding in a remote environment only works by using technology to your advantage. You’ll even find that most of the in-demand positions shown on LinkedIn will include a point involving software.
See the example below for categorizing relevant software on your resume.
Free Remote Work Resume Templates and Examples
Need inspiration? Check out our resume examples library here.
And if you’re just looking for a template to write your resume, you can browse through our ATS templates here.
Modern Resume Template
Freelance Writer Resume
Marketing Manager Resume
Or You Could Automatically Create a Remote Job Resume Using Rezi AI Bullet Point Writer
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Summary
Let’s summarize how to write a remote work resume:
- Mention your background as a remote professional in the summary section.
- Clarify the location of previous job positions in your work history by adding “(Remote).”
- Use action verbs to describe relevant remote responsibilities and achievements. Use numbers to emphasize your impact.
- Categorize skills in the skills section to highlight your diverse range of abilities.
Overall, a remote work resume isn’t much different from a standard resume.
Ultimately, hiring managers want to interview those they see as a good fit for the company. How they make that decision is based on your ability to convey how your skills and experience would be valuable to them.
