Key Skills You Need for Remote Work

Since COVID-19 hit, most companies and workers have discovered the many benefits of working remotely. Now, in 2022, both employees and companies should take advantage of these benefits to further improve how we work and do business together.

If you follow us on social media, you already know that we offer in-person, hybrid, and remote job positions, depending on the work required. That’s why, if you want to improve your remote work skills, you’ve come to the right place. We have many articles that can help you better understand remote & hybrid work, their pros and cons, and what you’ll need to land the job you’re looking for. 

Before reviewing the skills required to land the job of your dreams, you must be fully aware of why you want a remote job and whether you are genuinely prepared to have one. 

Why Work Remotely?

Before applying for a remote job, you should have all your bases covered. It’s highly advised to be prepared and have:

• A dedicated workspace.
• Good internet connection (with backups)
• The necessary equipment.
• Knowledge of management apps and tools to facilitate online collaboration.
• Have the soft skills required for the position.

However, don’t worry if you don’t have all of these requirements from the get-go. Every person is going through their journey. The important thing is that you set your goals and go through them. 

We are proud of our ability to help our freelancers have remote workspaces. How do we do this? Depending on the job, each freelancer is given their work PC or laptop with tools such as a mouse, headphones, a second monitor, and everything else they might need to do the job. These tools are free to take home once they have secured a safe home workspace. 

Also, with our monthly Freelancer of the Month reunions, we strive to teach our freelancers new soft skills while discussing their importance, brainstorming ideas, and answering questions. We are more than happy to help you in your journey as a freelancer. 

Once you feel prepared to have your first remote job, you need to understand why you want it.

When you are asked this question in an interview, “because it is more comfortable” won’t be a valid answer. Remember that, in interviews, your goal is to know more about the company and impress your interviewer. So, to land your first remote job, you should answer something like this: 

“I believe that working remotely highly improves employee morale and productivity. When a company offers that flexibility, it allows its employees to have a better work-life balance. Hence, this allows them to be more creative, well-rested, and inspired to do a good job. I am looking for a company that aligns with that mindset, and I heard great things about this company. That’s why I reached out to you.” 

This is interview lingo for “because it is more comfortable,” but we must understand and acquire the skill of communicating effectively to land the job of our dreams. 

For more tips on how to nail your following interview, check out What Should YOU Ask A Job Interviewer & 8 Biggest Interview Red Flags.

“What Does It Take To Land My First Remote Job?”

This is a question we often get asked on our social media, and since our Recruitment and HR Teams recently did a Q&A Live on Instagram, I thought this was the best chance to discuss the topic further and answer some questions in more depth. 

So, I had a small chat with our Recruitment & HR Teams to give you insight into the skills needed to land your first remote job with Freelance Latin America. 

The consensus was that the best candidate should have practical and soft skills to be considered for further interviews or job positions instantly. As for practical skills, I mean something you undoubtedly already have, such as effective communication, the ability to work in teams, project management, etc, but with a twist! 

To work remotely, you must learn how to translate those skills into the remote work setting. That’s when being tech-savvy and knowing how and which tools to use come into play. 

Key Practical Skills For Remote Work:

1. Get Used to Remote Project Management Tools

Let’s face it: it’s easier to know what you should be working on and when it’s due when working in an office. You can ask the coworker next to you, run with someone in the halls, and ask them quick questions, or there might even be notes and reminders in critical places on the office walls or your department’s whiteboards.

This doesn’t mean that we can’t get something similar working remotely, it just means that we are not used to the remote setting and we have to learn to use project management apps and tools that will help us to get more organized and more in contact with your team. 

This is done through tools like: 

• Trello
• Asana
• Monday
• Basecamp

Learning and mastering these tools will be crucial to staying organized and on track, improving your chances of getting hired for a remote job. 

2. Learn How to Collaborate Virtually

The fact that your coworkers are not working near or near you doesn’t mean you can’t ask them questions when in doubt. To truly master remote working, you’ll have to get comfortable with using and reaching out to your coworkers through tools like:

• Slack.
• Zoom.
• Teams.
• Email.
• And other project management tools.

All of your suggestions, feedback, and brainstorming sessions will go through tools like these ones. So, try to get used to these tools and think about how to elaborate your thoughts effectively through a computer screen without coming off as dismissive or passive-aggressive, things that can be easily misinterpreted when you are not working face-to-face. 

Learn to respect online boundaries and when, where, and how you should communicate with someone using online tools. 

3. Communicate Effectively Through Online Tools

This connects perfectly with the previous point. 

Slack, Zoom calls, Microsoft Teams, Emails. From the beginning, you should know which communication channels your organization uses and how. You should know the best way to communicate with your coworkers and superiors, where to leave a message that should be read the following day, and the best way to ask for advice and support in case of doubts or anything that happens. 

Communication within an organization is essential, especially when your company is fully remote or hybrid. Since you are not seeing each other face to face, you need to be 100% aware of when and where you can reach out to each other so as not to break any boundaries and communicate as efficiently as possible. 

If you work with people worldwide, it is common for the company to have an asynchronous communication system in which you and your team send messages without expecting an immediate response.

On the other hand, this means you’ll need to be as specific as possible when explaining project details, concerns, and questions you may have in a well-written message through the corresponding channel.

I advise you to create boundaries between work and your personal life, not send or allow your coworkers to send work-related messages through your personal phone number or email and always keep clear work-related communication throughout its respective work channels. 

You can learn more about this topic by checking out Building Connections in a Hybrid Workplace & Setting Boundaries for Digital Communication

4. Get Comfy With Video Conferencing

All of your work-related social interactions will now happen through chats or video calls, and the best way to get to know your new teammates and get some “face time” is by video conferencing. 

Supervisors and managers frequently use virtual meetings to convey messages, motivate people, and share weekly, monthly, and yearly goals. They are also helpful in ensuring everyone is still on the same page. 

Since your new playing field will now be these online calls, you should be comfortable expressing your thoughts on camera. As I said at the beginning of the article, you should also be prepared by having the right tech on your side, camera, microphone, and a fast and reliable internet connection so you are not cutting in and out of the calls or unable to listen to the other speakers. 

You can download apps like Zoom, Teams, or Google Meets right now to get a feel for them and explore the many uses and tools you’ll have at your disposal. 

In short…

Having these skills means that you won’t need much training to get up and running on your new job, which also means that you can impress hiring managers and position yourself as a top candidate for remote roles. 

Remember that most of these apps and tools are free, so you can start checking them out immediately and watch tutorials, tips, tricks, and anything else that might help you understand them better. 

All remote jobs require you to use these tools; having them listed on your resume will help you get the job you’re looking for!

However, remember that working remotely is not only about the tools you know how to use but also about the skills and interpersonal skills you possess. Your job interviewer will evaluate your ability to organize and manage your time independently, multitask, and communicate regularly. 

That’s why if you have already developed your practical skills, you’ll also need to take care of your interpersonal skills, also called soft skills: 

Key Soft Skills For Remote Work:

Soft skills are non-technical skills that are not related to what you do for work but how you work. Even the most qualified candidate can succeed in the workplace without soft skills. They can make you shine, stand out from your colleagues, and achieve your desired success. 

These skills include communicating with colleagues, achieving targets, solving problems, responding to a situation, and many more. They are the most basic yet vital part of the working culture. 

Let’s have a look at the critical soft skills you need for remote work: 

1. Active Communication: 

Being an active or effective communicator is a skill that will help you succeed in all areas of your life, whether personal or professional. Mastering communication skills will help you be more confident and optimistic, two character traits that enable you to accomplish your goals. 

Communicating can be natural for some people but rather complicated for others. If you fall into the second category, these tips will help you to start developing your communication skills and, in consequence, start climbing ladders at your workplace:

• Identify your objectives. Understanding your objectives will help you shape your communication style and become more effective. Try asking yourself: “What do I hope to accomplish?” ” Short or long term?” and “How will I know I communicated successfully?” 
• Listen Actively. If you want people to listen to you, you need to listen to them. Please don’t get so focused on what you’re saying that you miss their critical comments, emotions, and reactions. Communication is far more effective when both parties actively listen to each other. 
• Check your body language. Without realizing it, your body language can send a more vital message than your words. Some signs show whether you are willing to have an open conversation before you’ve said a single word.
• Know your audience. Adjusting how and what you say matches your audience will improve your communication skills. Remember that the same speech, conversation, or sales pitch won’t succeed with every audience. It would be best to modify your language for each group so that you’re not being condescending or speaking in a way your audience can’t understand. 
• Pace Yourself. Pay attention to how quickly you’re speaking and whether your audience appears to be processing your words. Slow down if necessary, and vary the volume and rhythm of your speech to hold their attention. Remember to repeat essential points when required; the goal is for the audience to understand what you’re saying, not just to say words out loud. 
• Choose the Right Time. There’s always a suitable time for everything, and an active person knows how to take advantage of these opportunities. Timing is a significant factor in successful communication. So, be aware of your audience’s mindset, whether you’re planning to deliver good or bad news or simply presenting a new idea that requires energy and focus.
• Be Clear. People appreciate clear and direct information. You don’t have to spend too much time setting up your ideas or requests; instead, try to communicate your needs more clearly. By doing this, you’ll not only avoid misunderstandings but also earn respect through your honesty and clarity. 

Remember, there’s a better chance of accomplishing your goals when you communicate effectively, and these tips will be the start of your journey to being a better communicator. 

2. Organizational Skills:

Organizational skills can help you solve problems, plan projects, collaborate better, and maintain an organized life. These skills are most effective when rooted in your daily routine, and organizations often search for quality employees who possess strong organizational skills because they demonstrate your dynamic qualities as an employee. 

Developing organizational skills is something that happens slowly because you will be gradually introducing them to your workday routine. After some time has passed, you will start to notice an increase in efficiency throughout your projects and routine. 

These are a few ways you can get started to develop organizational skills that you can use regularly at work: 

• Create a clean workspace. The first step will always be to declutter your digital and physical workspace area. Get rid of any unnecessary objects or documents, and only maintain close to you what is necessary to complete your daily responsibilities. With fewer distractions around you, you might find that it’s easier to focus on the task at hand.
• Identify goals to meet. As in the previous step, you’ll need to identify the goals you would like to meet. Your goals may be goals that are assigned by yourself or your superiors, or they can even be self-improvement goals you set for yourself. List them down and note how long each goal may take to accomplish so that you can better organize your schedules by… 
• Building a to-do list. Once you establish a goal, build a to-do list to establish the necessary steps to achieve it. Try starting with a larger project or goal. Evaluate how long it might take to estimate a final deadline, break it up into smaller tasks, and write them down in a list. You might also assign due dates to your tasks to help you stay on track. This can help you complete larger projects without feeling overwhelmed.
• Organize your materials. To increase productivity and remain organized, store documents in files that are clearly labeled and easy to find. The goal is to establish a system where documents are quick and easy to retrieve, so avoid creating too many folders. Instead, create folders based on broad categories like “team meetings,” “quarterly reports,” or “training documents,” and add subfolders within those categories if necessary.
• Reward yourself regularly. Build a reward system for yourself. When you acknowledge your achievements, even in small ways, it can help you build motivation to complete each project. This can build a productive work cycle for yourself and can encourage you to remain organized.
• Maintain a healthy work-life balance. Your brain can process information better when you give it some rest and allow yourself to also focus on non-work-related activities. Give yourself some time to rest, and once you return to work after resting your mind, you may find that you feel better prepared to be productive and organized throughout your day as you work toward your goals.

3. Time Management:

Time management is the process of organizing and managing your time. It means to work smart, not hard, and to focus your time on the things that are most important to you. Good time management helps you schedule your time between important activities, enabling you to achieve greater levels of performance and productivity. Achieving bigger results in a short period of time leads to a decrease in your stress and gives you more time to spend with the people that matter the most to you. 

There are many benefits that come with improving your time management skills, but these are the most important ones: 

• Less stress. Good time management means meeting tight deadlines and planning your time. And not having problems when meeting deadlines will cause a significant decrease in your stress levels and increase your confidence. It will also allow you to improve your sleep schedule and create a better work-life balance. 

• More free time.  When you have greater time freedom, you can focus your time on setting and achieving your biggest goals. It also ensures you have more time to spend with family and friends, deepen relationships, and pursue new hobbies. It allows you to find and follow your purpose in life.
• Greater focus: Remember, good time management doesn’t mean expanding your to-do list and working longer, it means working smarter, not harder. Effective time management increases your focus and improves your productivity, allowing you to capture bigger opportunities and spend more time on the projects, goals, and people that truly matter.
• Less procrastination: It’s easy to procrastinate when you don’t know how to manage your own time, and when you aren’t clear and focused on your goals. Managing your time ensures you feel in control of your workload and helps to stop procrastination. 
• Increased energy:  Increased energy helps you focus on your most important work. When you work longer and harder, your energy levels can drop, and you feel tired all the time. At this time, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and start procrastinating, that’s why is important to take regular breaks throughout the day to keep your energy levels high and increase productivity.

If you are interested in improving your time management skills, there are three skills that you need to develop, and those are: Awareness, Arrangement, and Adaptability.

Awareness to start thinking realistically about your time, and understand that it is a limited resource. Arrangement to improve your organizing and planning skills, and schedule activities and tasks effectively. And lastly, adaptability, to be able to adjust to interruptions or changing priorities. 

To learn more about how to improve your time management skills check “3 Vital Skills to Improve your Time Management”. In that article, we go into full detail about what you need to do to better manage your own time. 

It might seem like much, but by dedicating a few hours of your time per day, I assure you that you’ll be able to develop any type of skill that you are aiming for, whether they are technical, practical, or soft skills. 

Once you have developed these skills I assure you that you’ll nail each and every interview that you have in the future! You can also check out our available positions right here. 

See more articles by Ender Cárdenas