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How to actually get a remote job as an intermediate developer?

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Re: How to actually get a remote job as an intermediate developer?

#11

Post by jinfiesto »

deedubaya wrote: post #4

I see a lot of devs trying to convert to remote positions who get frustrated that they haven't landed a job after days/weeks/months. Going remote isn't as easy as what many devs are probably accustomed to, especially if you're new to the game (as the tech hiring market has been :fire:). If you're going to go remote, you need to realize a few things: - You're competing against waaay more candidates. You need to stand…

This. I work remote currently and my job was not initially a remote position. After about a year of demonstrating the above, I was offered remote as a benefit. So that's something that might also be an option: finding a company that's open to remote work and converting after working in office for some amount of time.

Re: How to actually get a remote job as an intermediate developer?

#13

Post by jbuss »

I have worked remotely for just about 1 year right now. This answer may not please you, but I became remote by starting on-site for the company I now work remotely for.

After about 2 years of working in the office I told my manager that I would be moving to another state and that I was interviewing for remote positions. I also said I would stop interviewing if they gave me the ability to work remotely, which they did (and I was very, very happy to stay). It is going to be difficult to find your first remote job, but this is how I did it.

Re: How to actually get a remote job as an intermediate developer?

#14

Post by kinetik-pro »

Awww this feels like a fresh shave, so many answers. Thanks a lot!

A month ago I didn't even have any web presence because I didn't need it. Since then I've polished my CV, made web portfolio, and every few hours I check each site that posts Remote/Freelance jobs. . .

Re: How to actually get a remote job as an intermediate developer?

#15

Post by vcanales »

bphogan wrote: post #6
deft wrote: post #3

Good question, I have a bit less experience but am looking for the same thing soon. I have no idea how to find one. Not even sure where to look.

http://weworkremotely.com http://jobspresso.co Indeed has some too.

One more: http://remoteok.io

Re: How to actually get a remote job as an intermediate developer?

#16

Post by kinetik-pro »

deedubaya wrote: post #4

I see a lot of devs trying to convert to remote positions who get frustrated that they haven't landed a job after days/weeks/months. Going remote isn't as easy as what many devs are probably accustomed to, especially if you're new to the game (as the tech hiring market has been :fire:). If you're going to go remote, you need to realize a few things: - You're competing against waaay more candidates. You need to stand…

Really constructive answer. Thanks a lot!

Re: How to actually get a remote job as an intermediate developer?

#17

Post by Nadya »

I worked on-site and became a Very Valuable Individual. I then told my manager that I'm moving out of the country and would love the opportunity to continue my work remotely.

In other words, I controlled more bargaining chips. I feel that is going to need to be true for any remote position. You need to be experienced and valuable enough that letting you work remotely is worth having you over someone on-site (for non-remote cultures).

For remote-cultures, the talent pool interested in remote work and the sheer number of people interested in it makes it far more competitive. As deedubaya said in their earlier response. You need to show without-a-doubt why they should choose you over anyone else. The competition is more fierce.

Re: How to actually get a remote job as an intermediate developer?

#18

Post by savanaly »

I know this probably isn't the route you can go down, but I'll share my story since it's one more data point.

The company I'm working for is fairly distributed across the globe, and a lot of the computer engineers are part time remote (three days at home, two days at office, say). But typically no one is fully remote at this company. I came to work on site at a city where they had an office and a few employees but it was a satellite office and I worked there for a year or so. Then the boss that was managing that office left the company and they decided to let the remaining workers from that city go full remote (it was just two of us and they didn't want to continue paying for an office for just two of us). Since I was going to be full time remote anyways I kept working for them but I can live whereever I want so I just relocated back to my hometown.

I did have to push at one or two points to ensure I ended up full time remote, but mostly it was luck, in other words. This company knows I'm a good worker and responsible from my year working on site so that may be why I can get away with the full time remote whereas for new people joining a company I can see how it would be a hard sell.

Re: How to actually get a remote job as an intermediate developer?

#19

Post by nannal »

jinfiesto wrote: post #11
deedubaya wrote: post #4

I see a lot of devs trying to convert to remote positions who get frustrated that they haven't landed a job after days/weeks/months. Going remote isn't as easy as what many devs are probably accustomed to, especially if you're new to the game (as the tech hiring market has been :fire:). If you're going to go remote, you need to realize a few things: - You're competing against waaay more candidates. You need to stand…

This. I work remote currently and my job was not initially a remote position. After about a year of demonstrating the above, I was offered remote as a benefit. So that's something that might also be an option: finding a company that's open to remote work and converting after working in office for some amount of time.

I'm in a similar position.

Started on site, early on asked for remote which wasn't possible at the time, circumstances changed and I asked again. It felt like forever it was in the hands of higher-ups but after two years fro my my start date with the company I went on a 3 month remote trial.

Trial went well and I'm now permanently remote.

Ask, provide reasons why you should be permitted to work remotely & if denied ask why so that you can change and try again.

Re: How to actually get a remote job as an intermediate developer?

#20

Post by ninjakeyboard »

Specialize - how can you compete in a market of PHP backend devs when you want to work remote?

Be a Distributed systems specialist. Or a machine learning guru. write a book, go talk at meetups and get them posted online. You need a differentiating factor.

If you think people are going to trust you to work remote because you have 3 years of PHP backend experience, you're wrong. You need to be trusted in the greater community, to have presence. If anything you should be landing gigs through referrals, not applying with your CV. So how do you get from point a to b? network. Meet people. Go to lots and lots of meetups and talk at them.

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