FINDING REMOTE WORK: HOW TO START INTO YOUR LOCATION INDEPENDENT LIFESTYLE

RODOLPHE DUTEL REMOTIVE

Rodolphe Dutel - @remotiveio

@rdutel

You’re in the right place if….

You want to work remotely at a startup

You are committed to finding a remote job

@rdutel

You’re in the right place if….

- You have a relevant, identified skill/expertise

- If you’ve already applied to a remote job...

...OR if it’s the first time!

@rdutel

Here is what you will learn today...

The 3 Key Mistakes to avoid when looking for a remote job

...and what to do instead!

@rdutel

+ Sharing slides! + A Cheat-sheet!

@rdutel

Why am I telling you about remote jobs?

2011 -

@rdutel

Why do we work this way? Is there another way?

Do we really need to commute EVERY DAY?

Do we ALWAYS need to work in OFFICES, from 9-5?

Could we live and work differently?

@rdutel

2013 - Decided to devote years to remote work…Looking to crack the code!

@rdutel

Why is Remote Work awesome?

1. No commuting, flexible hours

2. Living from the place that makes me the happiest

3. Spend more time with the people I love

4. Work my own way - make the rules

@rdutel

Were there mistakes/setbacks?

You bet! 2013: I messed up many times...

@rdutel

How does this “remote job” thing work?

- How do I find the BEST remote jobs?

- I’ve no idea how to APPLY so that they consider me!

- What’s the best way to NETWORK remotely?

- Remote INTERVIEWS? What should I do?

@rdutel

Two pivotal moments

1. This guy, Leo

@rdutel

2014 - I joined Buffer.com

“It’s a truly remarkable story when I think about how Rodolphe first reached out to us at Buffer and how he

eventually became part of the team.”

Leo Widrich, Buffer.com co-founder

2014 - Working at Buffer.com

@rdutel

@rdutel

Two pivotal moments

2. Creating Remotive.io

A zillion experiments :) To figure out everything else

@rdutel

My results after 3 years:

#1 - Reviewed 1,000s of remote workers applications

#2 - Interviewed tons of remote worker as a recruiter

#3 - Helped Buffer grow from 15 to 80 employees

#4 - Created Remotive.io

@rdutel

Today on remotive.io

- Remotive Jobs was voted #1 on ProductHunt

- Email subscribers from 185 countries

- A buzzing community chat of 600+ Remotivers

@rdutel

Myths on Remote Work

@rdutel

Myths on Remote Work

1) “I can’t land a remote job without remote experience”

2) “No one will hire me if I live outside of the US”

3) “I’m not an engineer, so I won’t find a remote job”

4) “Self taught candidates can’t land remote jobs”

5) “There is PERFECT time to apply!”

6) and… “I don’t know where to start at all”

@rdutel

Now let’s get into the mistakes:

These mistakes are based on…

1. Personal experience (as a candidate AND a recruiter)

2. 100s of email conversations/interviews with subscribers

@rdutel

Here is what you will learn today...

The 3 Key Mistakes to avoid when looking for a remote job

...and what to do instead!

@rdutel

Mistake #1: Being a Jack of All Trades

- “Oh, I’m a Jack of all trades...”

- Hiring a generalist is not helpful for remote teams

- Going “way too broad”

@rdutel

Mistake #1: Being a Jack of All Trades

@rdutel

How to avoid it?...

@rdutel

My own example!

- BROAD (= My LinkedIn)

“I do Business Development”

- BETTER (= My “Craft”)

“I enjoy selling SaaS Products”

- SWEET SPOT (= What THEY can gain from me)

“Buffer needs Inbound SaaS B2B Sales, that’s what I do”

@rdutel

EXAMPLE: If you’re an Engineer...- BROAD (= Your LinkedIn)

“I’m a Front-End Engineer with 3 years experience”

- BETTER (= Your “Craft”)

“I enjoy using React to improve websites!”

- SWEET SPOT (= What THEY can gain from you)

“Your FAQ is broken, here is how I would fix & improve it...”

@rdutel

It’s all about “THEM”

- How can you help THEM from day 1?

- How do you market yourself to THEM?

- Remote teams hire for IMPACT

- How can you be Niching down?

- Have Multiple talents, but know which one is #1

- If you’re not sure...

@rdutel

Mistake #2: Spray & Pray approach

Most people I know focus on volume:

Using a “spray and pray” approach

- “I need to subscribe to 20 job boards!”

- “I need to apply to 10 companies per week!”

@rdutel

Mistake #2: Spray & Pray approach REAL example

Dear Sir/Madam,

I'm a SF based Full stack developer with 2 years of commercial experience in magento.

I'm open for offshore/on-site developer job.

Please let me know if you have any opportunity for me

Thanks,John DoeDeveloper

@rdutel

#2 - It’s exhausting...

- Applying for tons of jobs almost never works

- When it does, you may get hired for the wrong reasons

- You’ll get tired of applying very quickly

@rdutel

How to avoid it?...

- What are top 10 companies you’d like to work for?

@rdutel

How to avoid it?...

- List 10 remote startups you’d like to work for, no more.

- Are you using their product/service?

- What do they need/struggle with TODAY?

- What’s your best way in?

@rdutel

How to avoid it?...

@rdutel

Mistake #3: No Networking

Looking for a job IS a job:

Your job is to build Trust

@rdutel

How to avoid it?... Need to build trust

Example: Imagine renting your house.

@rdutel

How to avoid it?... Need to build trust

@rdutel

How to avoid it? It takes a village...

@rdutel

So...

@rdutel

But… my friends don’t do this

- Most People only focus on skills / years of experience

- For Remote teams skills are important but not sufficient

Don’t TELL me what you can do, SHOW me!

@rdutel

No running and gunning...

Not having a system to follow may have you waste time and money

Not having a community makes it even tougher!

And I don’t want this to happen to you.

@rdutel

All about the 4 steps:

1) Finding Opportunities

2) Getting Ready to Apply

3) Applying Remotely

4) Acing Remote Interviews

@rdutel

Q&A!