Remote Work Guide: How to Find Work-From-Home Jobs

In recent years, more employees prefer jobs that enable them to work from home full- or part-time. A 2022 survey from Benefits Canada found that, when offered, 78 per cent of workers opted to work remotely, and 31 per cent said they made a change in their job to continue working remotely [1].

Although remote work has become increasingly common across many industries, flexible work options tend to be most common in occupations that rely on digital innovation, like computer-related fields, business and financial operations, and engineering.

In this article, we’ll discuss how you can structure your job search to find a remote job that aligns with your skills and goals.

Read more: Job Search Guide: Resources for Your Next Career Move

How to get a remote job: 4 steps

Landing a job that allows you to work from home is similar to getting any other job. You may need to tailor your job search for remote positions, highlight remote-friendly skills, or consider alternative job functions or fields. Here are four steps for getting started:

1. Consider your goals.

One way to focus your job search is by centring it on your career goals. When your job enables you to live in alignment with your values, you may feel more fulfilled and happier across all areas of your life.

Think about the type of life you want and how your next job can impact your ability to live that life. In addition to a flexible work environment, you may consider skills, specific functions, or long-term achievements.

2. Assess your skill set.

In addition to what you want, think about what you already have. Regardless of your experience level, chances are you already have a solid transferable skill set that encompasses both technical skills (sometimes referred to as “hard skills”) and workplace skills (also known as “soft skills”).

List the skills you feel most confident in and enjoy using daily. In particular, consider your skills that translate well to remote work, such as effective communication, time management, and other interpersonal skills. Along with your goals, this list can help guide your remote job search.

3. Research the roles you want to get.

Since remote work is available across a wide range of fields, narrowing your job search to specific roles of interest can help you find the right job quicker than you might with a broad “remote work” search.

With your goals and skills in mind, consider the types of remote jobs you are interested in. Here are some fields to consider as you begin your remote job search:

• Sales

• Marketing

• Project management

• Finance

• Design

• Writing and editing

• Web development

• Data analytics

• Cybersecurity

• Information technology

As you research your roles of interest, update your resume to showcase your relevant skill set and consider filling any skill gaps by taking an online course or earning a certification.

Read more: Upskilling: What It Means and How It Can Help Your Career

4. Apply for relevant roles.

With clarity about your desired roles and your updated resume in hand, you’re ready to apply for jobs. Most online job boards will allow you to search for remote positions—simply select the search option for “remote only” or write “remote” into the location. Some websites to search for remote jobs include:

• LinkedIn

• Workopolis

• CharityVillage

• Google

• Talent.com

• Indeed Canada

• ZipRecruiter

• Monster.ca

• FlexJobs

• Remote.co

If you are interested in working for a specific company, you can often search for open positions via the “career” tab on the company's website. Many large companies enable you to tailor your search by location.

10 remote work-from-home jobs

As you search for remote work, you’ll notice various opportunities available. Here are 10 examples of remote work-from-home jobs that tend to pay well, along with average Canadian salary data (in CAD), according to Glassdoor as of November 2022:

1. Computer support specialist: $56,741

2. Social media marketer: $53,042

3. Project manager: $85,996

4. Data analyst: $65,046

5. Information security analyst: $73,145

6. Web or software developer: $63,881; $79,343

7. UX designer: $80,720

8. Sales representative: $48,469

9. Data scientist $91,231

10. Translator or interpreter: $59,761

Keep learning

Continue growing your skills with Coursera. Prepare for a remote job in data analytics, project management, social media marketing, cybersecurity, and more with a Professional Certificate from industry leaders like Google, Meta, and IBM, or explore new career opportunities with Career Academy. Sign up for a free seven-day, all-access trial and start learning today.

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