More and more companies are embracing the idea of remote working. In an increasingly digital world, there are more and more opportunities for workations and remote working. Many jobs can be done from a laptop, which therefore often makes it possible to work remotely. But how do you find remote work? That still turns out to be difficult, because remote jobs are still hard to find. In this blog I will help you on your way to find that job.
(Remote) Working anno now
More and more people have the dream of working remotely. More and more people are making that dream a reality. It’s a matter of making choices and perseverance, you might say. Not getting stuck in your comfort zone, but taking steps to perhaps completely change your life. Yet that is not so easy. Changing course is not an easy decision. Although it doesn’t have to be all that rigorous. After all, working remotely is not always full-time; you can also go away for a week now and then. Then you also work remotely. I do that myself. It doesn’t have to be on the other side of the world, in Europe there are also plenty of great workation destinations. There are many assumptions surrounding remote work, while this can mean something different for everyone.
My own remote job
Before founding Working Remotely, I worked in salaried employment for 14 years. I was an event manager at several companies. Then you would think, as an event manager you have to be on location, right? True, but there are only x number of events per year, then I have to be there yes, but in between I can work wherever I want. My employer Frankwatching was very flexible and so 5 years ago I went on workation often, well before covid changed the way we work. This employer was ahead of its time.
This also proves right away that you shouldn’t see too many bears in the road, considering it was possible even with my job.
I now speak daily to employers who are struggling with their remote work policies. Only a handful are so flexible that they are fine with (temporary) remote work. As long as everything is consensual. The majority are still defining the rules of the game or are not in favor of workations. I don’t think the latter is a smart move, by the way. There’s nowhere to prohibit it and you increase the chances of them switching to competitors.
Forms of remote working
Remote jobs vary widely in terms of requirements, responsibilities and work styles. Before you start looking, it is important to understand what type of remote job best suits you:
- Full-time remote: These jobs require you to work completely remotely. You speak to your clients, associates and colleagues only digitally.
- Partially remote: Here you can spend part of your time working remotely and part in the office. This is ideal if you want to maintain flexibility but also value personal interaction.
- Freelance or contract work: As a freelancer, you work on a project basis and have complete control over your own schedule and workplace. Contract jobs usually offer a degree of flexibility.
- Digital nomad: For adventurous types, this is the ultimate remote lifestyle. You travel the world while working. However, it requires a specific mindset and organization.
Remote working as an important condition of employment
For more and more people, the degree of freedom in your work is important. Especially for millennials. It’s not just your duties and salary that matter, but also how you work. We want flexible employers and clients who move with the times. I marvel at 3 things:
- That job postings don’t mention anything about working remotely. Because many people consider this an important fact.
- That companies that do allow you to work remotely are not using this to attract talent. Don’t they realize what a USP this is?
- That there is no Dutch platform for jobs yet. With us, one of the most frequently asked questions is “where do I find a remote job?”
So, where do I find these remote work jobs?
Internationally, there are already many platforms for remote jobs. Although these are often jobs that are completely remote. I notice that there are many people who do not necessarily want to work full-time from abroad, but just want the freedom to sometimes combine work and travel. Those Dutch companies are there, because they are in my network. But they are not found online. That is why we now bring supply and demand together on our website. Here you can find Dutch companies where you can (sometimes) work remotely and who embrace workations.
Increase your chances of getting a remote job
Now it’s not just a matter of finding the right jobs that give you the freedom to go on workation, don’t forget that you also need to sell yourself. The market is favorable for job seekers right now, but even then you need to get hired for that dream job. This is how you increase your chances:
- Remote work is nice, but of course not the only reason you choose the company. Let us know what else attracts you to that employer.
- Freedom is nice, but it also brings responsibility. How do you handle this? And how will you show this?
- Breaking in is almost always in the office. I think that’s appropriate. You have to get a feel for the company and your colleagues.
- Credits have to be earned. Make some meters at a company first before you want to go on a trip right away. Then you will show your talent and they will gain confidence in you.
- Prepare your workation well. By doing so, you will come across as professional and show that you have thought this through. List the opportunities and challenges.
Check remote work vacancies here.
