Why is landing a remote job so complicated?

The reality of the remote job market has changed.

I’ve been working remotely since 2014, and I’ve seen firsthand the ups and downs in the remote work landscape. So, if you're struggling to land a remote job, I can tell you this: most likely,? the problem is not you.

Blaming yourself because you haven’t landed the remote job you want won’t fix the situation.         

Yes, the market is competitive, but just acknowledging that won’t transform your career. I invite you to take a closer look at the 5 points below to gain a fresh perspective on the challenges.

1 - The growing demand for remote jobs

10 years ago, when I started working remotely, my mom was worried and told me “You’ll never get a promotion because your boss won’t see you in the office every day.” Back then, remote work wasn’t as popular - it was seen as strange, even suspicious. But after the pandemic, many professionals have shifted, or want to shift, to remote work for more flexibility, better work-life balance and autonomy. Remote work has definitely become “popular.”

2 - Limited availability of fully remote roles

While remote work is on the rise, the number of fully remote positions remains limited. There's more demand for remote jobs than there are remote companies hiring - this is a fact. Most companies still offer hybrid roles (working 2-3 times a week from the office, with the rest from home), which narrows the pool of truly remote opportunities. This scarcity makes the competition for fully remote jobs even tougher, so don’t blame yourself if you haven’t landed one after just a month of “casually searching”.

3 - Competition on a global scale

Remote job seekers aren’t just competing with local candidates anymore. Remote roles attract talent from all over the world, which significantly increases the competition. The upside is that you now have access to opportunities outside your city or country. The downside is that you’re up against professionals with diverse skills and experiences worldwide, which means you’ll need to position yourself as a top candidate who brings something unique to the table.

4 - The importance of tailoring your application

As competition for remote jobs grows, you might feel tempted to settle for an office job or a hybrid role that partially meets your needs. But if you truly want a remote job, you need to adopt a targeted job search strategy. Unlike traditional job searches, applying for remote jobs requires you to showcase specific remote work skills, such as self-management, communication, proactivity, and familiarity with remote tools. Tailoring your resume and cover letter to each position is crucial. Networking plays a key role too - far more than simply applying to 10 remote jobs a day. A generic approach won’t work. You must effectively demonstrate your ability to thrive in a remote environment.

5 - Navigating the remote job search with the right methodology

Although landing a remote job might be challenging, having the right strategy and methodology can make all the difference. Professionals all over the world are still landing remote jobs, so it’s not “over.” Being proactive about showcasing your remote work skills - whether or not you have prior experience - will get you noticed.

When the number of remote jobs decreases, the quality of your job search needs to increase. Remember the old “spray and pray” approach of sending your resume to as many jobs as possible? Forget it. That no longer works in today’s competitive market.

If you haven’t landed a remote job yet, it’s likely not because of you.         

Maybe your remote job strategy needs refining, or perhaps you don’t have a strategy at all (so there is plenty of space for trying new things). Identifying key areas for improvement can speed up your results and bring you closer to the flexible career (and life) you’re aiming for.

Do you want to know how I can help you in this journey? Start here .

Who is Juliana Rabbi?

Juliana is a recruiter-turned-career coach. She is also a keynote speaker for international audiences.

Over 15 years experience in Human Resources and Recruitment in multinational companies, Juliana has been working remotely since 2014 (yes, way before the pandemic).

For + 4,5 years, Juliana has managed her own career coaching business, providing services, coaching, consulting and mentoring to +430 clients in +2.700 consulting/coaching sessions.

She helps senior professionals to land a flexible job faster, make better career choices and create the lifestyle they want.

Her background is in Psychology, with a Master Degree in Human Resources.

She is also a Digital Nomad who has been to 56 countries, can't resist playing with dogs, tries different animal poses in yoga and enjoys acting in improv comedy.

+72.000 candidates interviewed as a Recruiter over 15 years.

+190 recommendations and 5 star reviews on LinkedIn.

76 nationalities impacted from different continents over her career.

14 companies (mainly multinationals) directly benefited from her services.

+440 clients in +2.500 consulting/coaching sessions.

Bachelor Degree in Psychology with a Master in Human Resources.

Trilingual (English-Spanish-Portuguese).

Follow Juliana on other social media platforms

YouTube | Instagram

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