6 Important Questions to Ask Yourself Before Getting into A Remote Job

The recent pandemic opened our perspectives and changed how we see work and career. Because of the lockdowns, almost the entire workforce has adapted to the new normal of working away from their offices and in the comforts of their own homes. It has been like this since 2020 and even though the world is gradually getting back to its pre-pandemic state, it seems like remote working is here to stay and considered to be the future of work.

Whether you are still studying, a fresh graduate, or someone with experience, you might be thinking of becoming a part of the remote workforce. Here are the 6 most important questions you should ask yourself that can help you decide if you should get into a remote job:

1. Why do I want to work remotely?
2. What is it that I want to work on?
3. Who do I want to work for?
4. When will I be ready for remote work?
5. Where do I start looking for remote opportunities?
6. How can I grow moving forward?

Question 1: Why do I want to work remotely?

Before planning for anything in life, you have to establish your plan’s purpose. A clear and personal purpose will be your main source of motivation as you go through your plan. Decision making and problem solving will also be much easier when you align your goals and solutions to your purpose.

When creating your purpose as to why you want to work remotely, keep in mind that there are pros and cons to it which will help you decide if it really is for you. A lot of people may say that flexibility is remote working’s biggest selling point. However, some may argue that it can lead to a blurred division between a person’s personal and professional life, especially when you will be working from the comforts of your own home most of the time. Make sure to weigh each aspect of remote working carefully and come up with a personal purpose that best works for you.

Question 2: What is it that I want to work on?

After coming up with your purpose, it is time to think of the kind of work you would like to get in. Just like in a traditional working setup, one of the biggest dilemmas that people commonly struggle with is between passion and practicality. Luckily, for some people, what they are passionate about can also pay their bills. But for most of us, this is not the case—we often have to choose between doing what we love and what can sustain us.

To help you resolve this dilemma, you can research the top industries that commonly accept remote working setup and see if it is possible to get into a job that interests you and, at the same time, can pay you well. Based on our data, the top 5 industries in the Philippines which commonly accommodate a remote working setup are:

1. IT and Software
2. Business Process Outsourcing (BPO)
3. Accounting and Finance
4. Sales and Marketing
5. Human Resources

Question 3: Who do I want to work for?

Now that you have considered the kind of industry and job you want to work in, it is time to focus your attention on the type of people you want to work for. Finding the right job is only half of the battle; the other half is finding the right employer and company. No matter how good or interested you are at a specific job, that can easily change—for better or worse—once you learn about the company’s culture and operations.

Our tip: after finding a job you are interested in, check their company website and social media platforms to get a preview of how it is like to work there. Better yet, try reaching out to an employee and ask them for their honest opinion about the company.

Another thing to consider here is if the company is a startup or an already established company, as they differ in how they operate. Startup companies are typically fast-paced and will often ask you to wear multiple hats and touch on different aspects of the business. On the other hand, established companies can also be fast-paced, but will often allow you to only work on your specific tasks and department. Depending on where you are in your career, working in one type of company may be more beneficial to you than the other. 

Question 4: When can I be ready for remote work?

You got your mind set on finding your ideal job in the ideal company—are you ready to be part of the remote workforce? You need to make a lot of adjustments to help you become ready, such as the technical requirements. Because you will be working away from an actual office, some companies will provide you some form of help in setting up your workstation. However, most companies expect you to provide the setup you will need, which typically includes a good working computer, a stable internet connection, and a conducive working environment. For more technical jobs, be ready to invest in tools and softwares that you need to get the job done.

Aside from the technical qualifications, you would also need to pay attention to your professional qualities and competencies. On Get Hired with Kalibrr: The Future of Remote Work in the Philippines, Ms. Chichi Marbella—Head of HR & Administration of Nelnet Philippines—shared some supplementary questions that can further help you in assessing your readiness for remote working. These questions include:

• Is my internet connection good?
• Am I going to be okay working alone everyday, or do I need to be with others?
• Am I tech-savvy enough?
• Do I manage my time well?
• Will I be able to plan, organize and monitor my own work?
• Am I disciplined enough to structure my day?
• Can I focus when I am at home?
• Am I willing to take responsibility for myself, my work and my results?
• Will I be happy working from home?

This resource is from Get Hired with Kalibrr: The Future of Remote Work in the Philippines. To learn more about remote working from the industry standards, check out the full webinar and stay tuned for future events on our Facebook page.

Question 5: Where do I start looking for remote opportunities?

Once you can confidently say that you are ready to join the remote workforce, it is time for you to start actively looking for opportunities. Opportunities do present themselves, but you also have to find them yourself. There are a lot of job boards and sites out there that will give you endless possibilities. You can also join online communities, such as in Facebook and Reddit, where you can interact with other remote work jobseekers and see how you fare against them.

This is where Kalibrr can come in and help you out. We work with startups to established companies to help you choose among a wide range of jobs in different industries. Not only do we provide a platform for you to find a meaningful career, but also some helpful resources to guide you through the process. We’re not just here to get you a job, we also want you to excel in it. 

Start your remote working journey with Kalibrr by creating your free jobseeker account here.

Question 6: How can I grow moving forward?

When you start applying for remote jobs, you are also entering a competitive  battlefield with millions of other remote jobseekers. This is why it is important for you to upskill and to expand your professional connections, both to increase your chances of finally landing a remote job. 

Aside from Kalibrr’s helpful resources, there are other ways for you to learn new skills and to attract the companies you want, through free webinars and conferences, paid courses and training. These avenues can also serve as a bridge for you to meet other professionals and build connections with them. As mentioned earlier, being part of a professional community, such as Kalibrr’s own Facebook community, will help you see where you might need improvements. These may seem tedious, but look at them as an investment for yourself that can significantly help you secure your future.

Remote working is here to stay and you have the chance to get on board with it. Know your why, what, who, when, where, and how before deciding whether or not you should get into a remote job. 

—

Kalibrr is a recruitment technology company that aims to transform how candidates find jobs and how companies hire talent. Placing the candidate experience at the center of everything it does, we continue to attract the best talent from all over, with more than 5.5 million professionals and counting. Kalibrr ultimately connects these talents to companies in search of their next generation of leaders.

The only end-to-end recruitment solutions provider in Southeast Asia, Kalibrr is headquartered in Makati, Philippines, with offices in San Francisco, California, and Jakarta, Indonesia. Established in 2012, it has served over 18,000 clients and is backed by some of the world’s most powerful start-up incubators and venture capitalists. These include Y Combinator, Omidyar Network, Patamar Capital, Wavemaker Partners, and Kickstart Ventures.

For more tips on acing job interviews, follow Kalibrr on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Tiktok.

Every week we produce new insights perfect for fresh graduates like you. Subscribe to our email newsletter.

Subscribe Now