For job candidates whose goal is to land a remote job, highlighting the appropriate skills on your resume is very important. “Employers tend to want some specific skills,” says Toni Frana, FlexJobs’ lead career expert. In fact, if you consider Monster’s 2024 Work Watch Report, 22% of employees rate working from home as the most important benefit to support mental health and overall well-being. And with so many jobs continuing to turn remote, hiring managers want more than for you to simply be able to work in your pajamas, they’re looking for certain qualities that signal you’ll truly thrive in a virtual set-up.
Skill breakdown: key skills employers want you to have, and how to emphasize them on your resume, to make you stand out.
Communication
Communication is everything when you’re not working face-to-face. Try to imagine this: You are leading a virtual meeting and need to make your point without the assistance of nonverbal cues. Miscommunications can occur in the blink of an eye if you’re not clear. That’s why excellent communication skills feature very high on remote jobs. Employers want someone who will keep things running smoothly from miles away.
To make your communication skills shine on your resume, get specific. Is it leading virtual meetings? Mention the usage of Zoom or Microsoft Teams. Collaborative projects? Slacking on Slack or Trello, keeping everybody on the same page. For instance, under an older position, you might write: “Led weekly virtual team meetings via Zoom to ensure clear communication and project alignment across multiple time zones.” This will help prospective employers understand how you have applied communication tools in action, which would make you an asset to any remote team.
Organizing
Working remotely is like managing a busy kitchen during the dinner rush. Without the structure of an office, it’s crucial to stay organized and keep all the ingredients (tasks) in order. A chef coordinates multiple dishes simultaneously, while a remote worker needs to keep tasks, deadlines, and projects in perfect harmony.
To illustrate your organizational skills, consider what tools and methods you use to keep everything together. Have you utilized project management tools like Trello or Monday.com? Mention it. Have you managed your productivity by working with time-tracking software like Toggl? Mention it. Here’s an example of what could look like on your resume: “Effectively managed multiple projects using Trello, maintaining deadlines and team coordination across multiple time zones.” This points out to the employer that one can indeed handle a busy workload at home and deliver results.
Flexibility
“You need to be flexible and able to adjust in the fast-moving, ever-changing environment,” says Toni Frana. Flexibility is a necessity in remote workers. It can be changing priorities or learning new tools on the fly; the ability to make quick changes makes a great remote employee.
Stress these experiences on your resume: Outline times when you had to learn new systems or processes. Did you have to learn new software during a project? Or perhaps adjust your workflow for an exact tight deadline? Give specific examples: for example, “Adapted to new project management software for the team; improved efficiency by 15%.” It simply tells employers that you are not only flexible but can deliver in a dynamic remote work setting.
So, are you ready to unlock the mysteries of remote work and get your dream job? Potential employers need individuals who are excellent in communication, being organized, and flexible. Tailor-make your resume to show these, and you’re one step ahead in landing that perfect remote opportunity. Good luck!