Why can’t I find a remote job?

Question:

Why can’t I find a remote job?

Answer:

There are generally more people who want to work remotely than there are remote jobs available, making competition much more intense for these types of roles.

Explanation:

First off, let’s start by acknowledging that it is not a foregone conclusion that everyone wants a remote job. Many people prefer working in an office all or part of the time. This needs to be said because it’s actually not what most remote workers believe. Many think that nearly everyone would prefer to work remotely if only they could find a job that allowed them to stay home. Unequivocally: this is not the case.

The reason this perception has arisen (that everyone wants to be remote) is because remote jobs tend to be harder to find than in-person or hybrid roles. This scarcity makes people think that everyone is hunting for a remote role all the time. While that part isn’t true, what is true is that there are more people looking for remote roles than there are remote roles available, leading to a disparity that creates more intense competition than for other types of roles. In simple terms, your specific industry and seniority level may have 100 remote roles currently available, but there are likely hundreds (if not thousands) more candidates applying for those jobs than there are positions.

Now for the first hard truth—if you literally can’t find a remote role (meaning, you’re searching for remote roles and there just aren’t any), then the reality is that your industry probably isn’t one where remote roles are common. Some jobs are just by their nature in-person roles, like retail, food service, and other hospitality jobs. Other fields simply haven’t adopted the remote work culture. For example, investment banking is notorious for its in-person work culture.

In these cases, there’s nothing you’re doing wrong. You’re just not in a field where remote work is common. Finding a remote job will either require switching industries entirely or switching to a job within your industry that is more commonly done remotely. For example, let’s say you’re a hotel manager. That job is likely to remain onsite forever. But, if you can pivot to a corporate job that handles purchasing for multiple hotels, that is a job that could potentially be remote (although probably with some travel required to the hotels you support). So, if you’re a worker in one of the industries where remote work is uncommon and you really want a remote job, then start thinking about which industries you could shift into or look for roles within your current industry that are remote and start making a plan for shifting into roles like those.

Second hard truth—if you are in an industry where remote jobs do regularly pop up and you’re applying but not getting interviews (or getting interviews, but not getting offers), then the truth is that you are likely being beaten out by more qualified candidates. Studies have consistently shown that people are willing to take a step back in seniority and/or salary if it means moving from an in-person job to a remote job. This is akin to a boxer fighting below his weight class. You may very well be competing against people who are significantly more qualified than you who are willing to take a job they’re overqualified for because it means they’ll be remote. What’s more, employers know this. They know that when they make a role remote, they can be pickier and really look for the cream of the crop.

So what can you do? If you’re applying and not getting interviews, then your resume could be to blame. If that’s the case, then you need to make sure your resume (and cover letter, even if it’s not required!) are the best they can possibly be. You also need to continue to grow your skills and enhance your qualifications. What that means will be different for every industry. It might mean getting some certifications or a degree. Or it could be as simple as learning some new skills or requesting some additional responsibilities at work to get some of the experience employers are looking for. If you can afford to take a hit in terms of seniority or pay, you can also try applying for jobs below your current level, making you the outsized fighter.