As remote work becomes increasingly popular, it’s crucial to develop the right skills to succeed in this environment. Whether you’re just starting or looking to advance your career, mastering the essential skills for remote work can make all the difference in your productivity, job satisfaction and career opportunities.
In this article, we’ll explore the key skills needed for remote work, in-demand skills for remote jobs, why each skill is important, how to develop them, and how to effectively showcase them on your resume to make the hiring manager fall in love with you on your next interview!
The Importance of Remote Work Skills
Remote work has seen a dramatic increase in recent years. According to a FlexJobs survey, 51% of employees would prefer to work from home full-time, and this trend is expected to continue. The flexibility, cost savings, and improved work-life balance associated with remote work make it an attractive option for both employers and employees.
Increased Competition for Remote Roles
As more people seek the benefits of remote work, the competition for these positions has intensified, with research showing “there are now three times more remote jobs compared to 2020,” with some industries seeing even higher growth.
This high demand means that having strong remote work skills is not just an advantage but a necessity to stand out in a crowded job market.
Not only are there more work from home positions available, the fight for these remote jobs is increasing, with one survey even finding that 17% of workers would give up 20% of their paycheck to work remotely, while 10% would surrender more than 20%.
In this increasingly competitive market for remote job opportunities, it’s important that this doesn’t become a race to the bottom and that candidates hold strong on their value and deserved salary!
Impact on Productivity and Job Satisfaction
Studies have shown that remote workers who possess the necessary skills are more productive and have higher job satisfaction.
Amongst call center employees who were randomly assigned to work from home or in the office for 9 months, home working led to a 13% performance increase compared to their in-office counterparts.
This proves the importance of developing skills that enable you to work efficiently and effectively in a remote environment.
Employer Expectations
As remote work becomes more mainstream, employers are increasingly expecting candidates to demonstrate proficiency in remote work skills.
With Forbes reporting 1 in 5 Americans (20% of the workforce) as working from home full-time, and predicted growth of 2% by 2025, employers are now looking for candidates who can thrive in this setting.
By honing your work from home skills, you not only increase your employability but also position yourself as a top candidate in your field.
The Best Skills for Remote Jobs
The importance of both hard and soft skills in remote work should not be overlooked!
Hard skills refer to the technical abilities that are specific to a job, such as digital literacy or proficiency in project management tools. These are often quantifiable and can be learned through training or education.
On the other hand, soft skills are personal attributes that enable you to interact effectively with others and manage your work environment. These include communication, time management, and emotional intelligence.
Both sides of the coin are equally important as you balance professional skills with working from home:
- Hard skills ensure you have the technical capabilities to perform your job
- Soft skills help you navigate the unique challenges of working remotely, such as managing your time, staying motivated, and collaborating with a distributed team.
Together, these skills allow you to not only do your job but to thrive in a remote work environment.
9 Essential Skills for Remote Work
So let’s dive into it!
What exactly are the top 10 skills for work from home jobs?
1. Digital Literacy and Technical Proficiency
Digital literacy is foundational for any remote position. You’ll need to be comfortable using a variety of tools, such as Zoom for video conferencing, Slack for communicating with team members, and project management software like Trello or Asana.
Since the remote work landscape is constantly evolving, with new tools and technologies emerging regularly, staying tech-savvy and committed to continuous learning will keep you competitive in the job market. If you’re not familiar with these tools, many offer tutorials or online courses to get you up to speed.
Being proficient in these tools ensures you can stay connected with your team and manage tasks efficiently. For example, imagine you're leading a virtual meeting with your team via Zoom. Suddenly, a colleague has trouble sharing their screen to present important project updates. With strong digital literacy, you can quickly guide them through the process, ensuring the meeting stays on track without significant delays.
2. Writing and Communication Skills
Clear and effective communication is crucial in remote work, where most interactions happen through emails, chats, or other written forms. Your ability to convey ideas, provide updates, and collaborate with colleagues across different locations relies heavily on your writing skills.
Imagine your manager asks you to provide a detailed project status update via email to stakeholders across different departments. With clear and concise writing skills, you craft an email that effectively communicates progress, challenges, and next steps, minimizing misunderstandings and ensuring everyone is aligned.
You could also explore more visual ways to share ideas and updates like through presentations or Loom videos, avoiding the need for lengthy meetings and allowing everyone to digest the information in their own time.
These additional formats also force you to be concise and succinct with the information you share - a great transferable skill!
3. Time Management and Organization
Being a remote employee requires excellent time management and organizational skills.
Without the structure of an office, it’s easy to get distracted or overwhelmed by tasks. Household chores can quickly take over when you’re looking to procrastinate - suddenly cleaning the oven or hoovering the landing becomes extremely enticing!
Use tools like Google calendar, task management apps, and timers to help you stay on track. Prioritizing tasks and setting daily goals can also enhance your productivity and ensure you’re meeting deadlines - according to HubStaff, spending just 12 minutes planning a day can eliminate 2 hours of wasted time.
4. Self-Motivation and Discipline
In a remote work setting, you won’t have your hiring manager looking over your shoulder and keeping you accountable, so self-motivation and discipline are key.
Although being free of micromanaging can be liberating and gives you control over your own task management, it’s important to develop a strong sense of accountability to yourself and your team in order to stay focused and productive.
Set up a dedicated workspace, establish a routine, and set clear boundaries between work and personal time. Oten, changing environments can help with this separation - for example, don’t set up your workspace from your bedroom, find a separate room or neutral space in your home which isn’t associated with personal time.
5. Adaptability and Problem-Solving
Remote work often comes with unexpected challenges, from technical glitches to miscommunications, so being adaptable and having strong problem-solving skills will allow you to navigate these hurdles efficiently.
It’s also important to be open to the ever-changing landscape of digital tools. For example, if your company suddenly decides to switch project management tools, your adaptability and problem-solving skills will allow you to quickly learn the new tool and identify ways to streamline the transition for your team, minimizing disruptions to workflows.
6. Collaboration and Teamwork
Collaboration in a remote environment requires a proactive approach. It’s important to keep the lines of communication open with your team, especially when working across different time zones.
Effective collaboration skills enable you to coordinate schedules, set up asynchronous workflows, and maintain clear communication so that everyone contributes efficiently, regardless of time differences.
Tools like shared documents, regular check-ins, and clear communication protocols can facilitate teamwork and ensure everyone is aligned on goals and expectations.
7. Critical Thinking and Decision-Making
In a remote role, you may need to make decisions independently without immediate feedback. Critical thinking and decision-making skills are essential for analyzing situations, weighing options, and making informed choices.
For example, understanding how to manage conflicting feedback on a project you’re leading. Using critical thinking allows you to analyze the feedback, consider the project’s goals, and make a decision on how to proceed. You can then communicate your decision to both parties, explaining your rationale, and moving the project forward smoothly.
Strengthening these skills by practicing decision-making in low-stakes situations can help you become more at ease when taking on more responsibility and making larger, more impactful decisions.
8. Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand and manage your emotions, as well as those of others. In a remote setting, where face-to-face interactions are limited, emotional intelligence is key to maintaining strong relationships and effective communication.
Imagine a team member is struggling personally. In a face-to-face environment this may be more obvious to spot - a subdued mood, facial expressions, presence in the office, but working remotely it can be more difficult to identify.
Looking for more subtle signs like being disengaged and less communicative during meetings is an example of emotional intelligence at play. This allows you to reach out to them privately, offering support and understanding - a crucial skill needed in any role, and especially those in HR and management.
9. Networking and Personal Branding
Even as a remote worker, networking is important for career growth. Building a strong personal brand on platforms like LinkedIn can open up new opportunities and help you stay connected with industry professionals.
Regularly update your profile, share insights, and engage with others to establish yourself as a knowledgeable and approachable professional.
How to Develop Remote Work Skills
Free and Affordable Online Courses
There are plenty of online courses available to help you develop the skills needed for remote work. Websites like Udemy and LinkedIn Learning offer courses on everything from digital literacy to communication and time management. Many of these courses are affordable, and some are even free, making it easy to enhance your skill set without breaking the bank.
Practical Tips for Enhancing Soft Skills
Soft skills like communication and time management can be improved with practice. Set aside time each day to focus on one area, whether it’s writing clear emails or organizing your tasks. Role-playing scenarios with a friend or mentor can also help you refine your communication and problem-solving skills.
Building a Routine to Practice Skills
Integrating skill development into your daily routine is crucial for continuous improvement. Dedicate specific times each week to learning new tools, practicing communication, or working on your emotional intelligence. Consistency is key to mastering these skills and making them a natural part of your workday.
Demonstrating Remote Work Skills on Your Resume
Now you might be thinking “I have a great array of remote job skills but how do I express that on my resume?”
That’s ok, we’ve got you covered…
Highlighting Skills Relevant to Remote Work
When applying for remote jobs, it’s important to highlight your relevant skills on your resume.
Tailor your resume to the specific skills required by that job, emphasizing the skills that are most critical for the role, such as digital literacy, time management, and communication.
Use the job description as a guide to ensure your resume aligns with what employers are looking for, and if you’re still not quite sure where to go, download the resume templates inside Paybump to get started!
Providing Examples and Metrics
Quantifying your skills with examples and metrics can make your resume stand out.
For instance, you might mention that you successfully managed a remote team of five people or that you consistently met project deadlines while working independently. Providing concrete examples shows potential employers that you have the experience and capabilities they need.
Ready to Win Your Next Remote Work Position?
To succeed in remote work, it’s essential to develop both hard and soft skills. Digital literacy, communication, time management, and adaptability are just a few of the skills that will help you thrive in a remote environment. Continuous learning and practice are key to mastering these skills and staying competitive in the job market.
Now that you know the essential skills for remote work, it’s time to start building and demonstrating them.
Enroll in online courses, practice your skills daily, and update your resume to showcase your remote work capabilities. Grab the perfect resume template inside your Paybump careers hub and get applying for your next work from home position!
