9 Things You Should Know About Remote Work - Featuring Kristin Vierra

It had only been six months since Kristin Vierra moved from California to Buenos Aires to pursue a dream of learning Spanish, exploring South America, and broadening her horizons.

And she was on the edge of burnout.

With her demanding work schedule and office 9–5, she had little time for the very goals that had inspired her move abroad.

It was time to make a leap.

In 2019, she left her job in HR tech implementation, securing a fully remote position in recruitment strategy while she retrained as a remote careers coach — a move she describes as "terrifying at the time and one of the greatest decisions I've ever made."

Today, Kristin runs a successful business helping others realign their careers and find fulfilling, life-centered work.?

A growing number of workers like Vierra are leaving the traditional office setup for remote roles. According to recent HR statistics, 30% of workers say they want a fully remote job, while 11% want total flexibility over when and where they work.

If you are like Kristin and considering a similar move, here are nine insights to help you adjust to remote work and succeed in your new flexible setup.

1. Outreach is an art

It's important to know how to build connections and remain visible to employers, particularly when looking for jobs or networking.

So, your messaging matters.

Vierra stresses that you should personalize your messaging by identifying employer needs and thoroughly researching the niche you're entering.

"When preparing for my move to South America, I connected with organizations and hiring managers in Colombia and Argentina by creating personalized, authentic messages."

Here are Vierra's tips for crafting impactful outreach messages:

• Research the company’s missions, values, and culture, as well as local work etiquette and preferred communication styles in their region
• Personalize your messages and highlight your specific connection to the role/organization, along with the value you’re bringing
• Demonstrate genuine passion and authenticity in your communications

2. It pays to get proper intel on employers

It can be difficult for remote workers to get an honest view of potential employers and their company culture.

Vierra recommends contacting former employees for informational interviews before accepting a job offer.

"Speaking with someone no longer at the organization gives you a candid, 'behind-the-scenes' perspective with less risk," she explains.

"This allows you to ask about their experience with the company's culture, values, leadership, and operations in a less formal setting and open dialogue."

Use LinkedIn to find past employees and send a message explaining your interest in their experience. Say that you're considering working for the employer and are eager to better understand the company culture. You then can prep questions beforehand to allow you to get the insider intel you need before making your decision.

3. Learn to recognize red flags

The nature of remote work opens the door to scams, unclear employer expectations, and unsustainable opportunities, so it's important to know a red flag when you see one.

"Poorly written job descriptions, reachouts to interview via telegram, or no interview process at all are all glaring signs of an untrustworthy employer," says Vierra.

"And if the perks look to good to be true, they probably are."

Even if the opportunity is genuine, Kristin also recommends looking out for signs of a poor remote work setup, such as unclear time zone expectations, and unclear location guidelines."

"Additionally, be sure to research your target country's job market, including any visa requirements, and how best to communicate your commitment to relocating and adding value to the company," says Kristin.

4. Showcasing a remote skillset is essential

Employers know that to get ahead in the remote workplace, you'll need to be able to hold yourself accountable and stay focused on your objectives and deliverables.

Kristin suggests emphasizing key remote skills like communication and self-motivation to reassure your employers of your ability to make meaningful contributions in your role.

Use your CV to highlight examples from your previous experience that demonstrate these skills, such as managing projects independently or communicating effectively across remote teams.

5. Adaptability is an asset

Remote work lacks the stability of in-person offices.

Often, you'll be your own IT guy, responsible for ensuring you have access to reliable internet or installing and configuring any software you might need.

And you'll need to be ready to roll with the punches.

"There were certainly some stressful moments in the beginning — like the WiFi dropping just as I was about to open to lead an important call," remembers Vierra.

"You quickly learn the importance of always having multiple backup plans. When nomadding, I ensure I have a local data plan for tethering and access to a reliable coworking space."

6. Boundaries are crucial

Switching off for the day can be surprisingly difficult when your office can be anywhere. This is especially true if you work with stakeholders in different time zones or do project-based work.

Set clear start and finish times for each day, and review your workflow and workload if you feel you don't have enough time to complete everything.

"Time blocking is one of my favorite strategies," says Vierra, who dedicates time each Sunday to planning her upcoming week.

"It's essential to ensure that your calendar tends to both work responsibilities and self-care activities. Include time for work-related activities such as meetings, client sessions, deep work, and those for personal well-being, like morning rituals, travel adventures, dance classes, cafe time, and workouts."

"Make sure you're honoring your commitments to your career and self-care."?

7. It's an opportunity for goal realignment

Whether your remote job just cuts your commute time or gives you complete control over when and where you work, you'll gain much more flexibility to go after your personal and professional goals.

Vierra remembers that one of the most significant setbacks of her full-time office job was that it prevented her from pursuing her personal goals.

"By the end of the workday, I was too exhausted to even speak in my Spanish classes."

But by switching to a remote setup, she could organize her professional life around her personal commitments.

"I can structure my schedule to align with when I'm most productive and how I best thrive. I value my morning routine and rituals, and I’ve optimized my time zone and remote work around these priorities."

8. You'll need to be proactive in your professional relationships

As a remote employee, it's important to remember that you won't be working side-to-side with your team members.

Working in isolation can wear down your motivation and slow your professional development, even if you're a proud introvert. Employees visible to their higher-ups are quicker to advance up the career ladder.

Make it a point to have regular one-on-one interactions with your team members, regardless of whether you have task items to discuss. If the company has a strong work culture, physical distance should prevent you from feeling engaged and supported by your colleagues.

9. The payoff is worth it

There isn't a single clear path toward a successful remote career, which is one of the scariest things about the experience. But if you're unsatisfied in an office 9–5, going remote might be precisely the kind of professional change you need.

"Transitioning to a fully remote career has been transformative, both for my career fulfillment and overall well-being," says Vierra.

" Every journey is unique, but the payoff is so worth it if you let your dream drive you.? Set clear career goals and put time into structuring a life-centered work schedule. Stay committed to your dreams!"

Seb Morgan is a Careers Expert and Digital Content Writer at Resume Genius , where he helps professionals in a variety of industries get the jobs they want. With over 7 years of experience in business and lifestyle journalism, he's written for a stack of careers-focused publications, including theHRDirector, Employee Benefit News, the Vector Impact, and 360 Learning. His expertise includes skill development, interview preparation, and resume and cover letter writing.