The 5 Steps to getting a remote job (& exactly where to start)
From identifying your skills to finding legit remote jobs & applying consistently. Here's how to use the resources in my Substack, so you can get a remote job sooner than you would without guidance.
If you want a remote job but feel overwhelmed by the process, I have good news.
You don’t need to guess your way through it.
Since 2019, I’ve helped hundreds of people land their first remote job, and one thing I’m sure of is that people who succeed follow the same sequence of steps.
They’re not randomly applying to jobs from LinkedIn. They’re not waste time time doing the wrong things. They’re not waiting and wishing for a job to magically find them.
They’re just following a simple system I created, which I call…
The 5 Steps to Remote
And the best part is that everything you need to follow these steps already exists inside this Substack.
So, if you’re new here, or if you’ve been reading but haven’t joined the paid subscription yet — this article will show you exactly how to use all the resources here step-by-step.
Before We Start (Quick intro if you’re new here)
I’m Andrea Valeria. I’ve been working remotely since 2015, when I landed my first full-time remote job in Human Resources, where part of my role involved hiring and recruiting remote candidates.
So I’ve seen the remote work process from both sides:
as someone working remotely in a full-time remote job
and as someone recruiting, screening and hiring remote workers
Since then, I’ve worked remotely in different ways — full-time remote roles, freelance work, online services, and other income streams that can be done from anywhere.
In 2019, I started sharing what I had learned about remote work online because people kept asking the same questions:
Where do you find remote jobs?
Do you need special skills?
Can someone without remote experience actually get hired?
That’s when I started building resources to help people figure this out.
Since then I’ve:
helped thousands of people navigate their remote job search
created the first Remotify Your Resume services specifically for remote jobs (in 2019)
built programs and resources to guide people step-by-step through the process
And one thing I’ve noticed over and over again is this:
Most people who want a remote job are much closer than they think — they just don’t know the right steps to follow.
Step 1: Identify the Skills You Already Have
One of the biggest myths about remote jobs is that you need brand-new technical skills. You don’t.
Most people already have experience that can translate into remote roles. The real challenge is recognizing what those skills are and how they apply to remote work.
If you’re not sure whether you have what it takes, start here:
→ Read this article:
Yes, You Can Land a Remote Job With No Experience (Here’s How)
Inside this one, I walk you through:
how to identify your remote-friendly skills
examples of roles you may already qualify for
how companies actually evaluate candidates
Many people realize after reading that article that they were closer than they thought, because you can land a remote job without previous experience!
Or if you prefer videos…
→ You can start with this 1-hour video training
It will help you with identifying the skills you already have for remote jobs — much more in depth.
Watch the 1-hour video training
Step 2: Learn the Right Tools
The second step is learning the tools remote teams use. Notice I said tools, not brand-new skills.
Things like:
Zoom or Loom
Slack
Google Workspace
Project management tools
These are some basic ones to start with. Those are easy to learn, and once you understand them, you immediately become a stronger candidate for remote roles.
This is why I always tell people:
You don’t need to start from scratch. You just need to learn the tools that would allow you to do the same job you do now in an office… but remotely.
Step 3: Remotify Your Resume (and Cover Letter)
This is one of the most important steps.
Remote jobs are competitive, and employers want to see evidence that you can succeed in a remote environment. That’s why your resume needs to be specifically made for remote work.
Inside the paid Substack, I also break down exactly how to do this.
Paid subscribers get guidance on how to create what I call a “remotified resume.”
And if you upgrade to the ‘I’m a VIP’ tier, you also get access to:
the Remotify Your Resume template
a remote-optimized cover letter template
Because yes, most remote jobs still require a cover letter.
Having the right templates makes this process much easier and faster.
Step 4: Learn Where to Find Legit Remote Jobs
Not all job boards are equal. Some are full of straight up scams. And some of them, might be better curated, but they still have jobs that aren’t actually fully remote, so you’d be wasting time browsing through them. That’s why I created detailed guides showing exactly where to find legitimate remote jobs.
→ Start here
How to Find Legit Remote Jobs Hiring Worldwide
→Then explore this list:
The Best Companies to Work For
Read this article to learn more about Remote First companies, which are some of the best employers for remote workers. That’s because their entire business is designed around distributed teams. Remote work is not just an afterthought for them or an option.
That means:
better remote culture
better tools
more flexibility
Step 5: Apply Consistently
Finally, once you have your strategy in place, your resume updated, and your job sources ready, it’s time to apply.
Because remote jobs will not magically appear in your inbox, and consistency matters.
A good target is applying to about 5 remote jobs per week. That gives you enough opportunities without burning yourself out.
If you follow the system and stay consistent, things start to move.
→ If you’re wondering how long it realistically takes to get a remote job, read this article:
How Long It Actually Takes to Get a Remote Job
Many people land one within 3–6 months when they follow a structured approach and stay consistent. So, if you’ve been at it for longer, stop & let’s change the strategy before you keep wasting time!
If you’ve already started the search without seeing results, read this first:
Fix the Most Common Mistakes First
If you’ve already been applying for remote jobs but haven’t gotten interviews yet, this is where most people get stuck. It’s rarely because you’re not qualified and don’t have the skills to get a remote job.
Usually it’s because you’re making a few very common mistakes that prevent you from getting callbacks.
→ So, before you apply to another job, read this:
Most Common Mistakes People Make in Their Remote Job Search
That article explains things like:
applying with the wrong resume
searching in the wrong places
misunderstanding job descriptions (more about that in this private voice note you can listen to on the go too)
other things that quietly slow people down
Fixing those mistakes alone can completely change your results.
And this is one of the most important resources you need to take advantage of if you want a remote job
The 3-Month Plan to Get a Remote Job
Once you understand the basics and avoid the common mistakes, the next step is having a clear plan and following it step by step.
getting a remote job is about doing the right things in the right order and not wasting time in things that don’t matter at this stage.
→ That’s why I created a detailed roadmap:
The 3-Month Plan to Land a Remote Job
This article walks you through exactly what to focus on for 3 months (broken down week by week), so that you’re not guessing your way through the process.
This article includes exactly what you have to do each week with goals for the week and how to achieve it.
Everything You Need Is Already Inside This Substack
This is exactly why I built this Substack the way I did. It’s essentially a library of remote job resources designed to guide you through the entire process step-by-step.
The same topics I teach in my programs and courses are broken down here in articles you can read at your own pace.
This Substack is also the perfect option for you if you…
Prefer reading over video
Prefer more DIY resources
Like to work independently
And the paid subscription gives you access to all of it for just:
$6 per month
That’s the most affordable way to get my guidance.
And if you join now, you lock in that $6/month price forever, even when it increases soon.
If You Want Help Landing a Remote Job
You can absolutely keep trying to figure things out on your own.
But if you want a structured path with resources that already exist for you, the paid subscription is where you can access all of that.
I recommend jumping it so you can speed up your process and get a remote job much faster than you would if you did it on your own and made common mistakes.
Inside the paid area of this Substack, you’ll find:
step-by-step guides
remote job search strategies
resume guidance
templates (I’m a VIP tier)
lists of remote companies to apply for
recommended job boards
a handbook for the remote job search (with an application tracker HERE)
Everything designed to help you move closer to your first remote job.
Upgrade to the paid subscription here
And of course, start working through the 5 Steps to Remote as soon as possible.
Your future remote job might be closer than you think, and please let me know as soon as you get it.
💜
Andrea Valeria