Especially in remote work – the hard skills will get you the interview, but the soft skills will win you the job. That’s why our last article looked at the hard skills needed for finding a remote job, while this article is fully focused on the soft skills. In remote work, there are no borders, so it’s typical that the soft skills are the deciding factor between two candidates.
1. Ability to work independently
Remote work requires people who are not afraid to be independent and work on their own. When you work remotely, your manager is not next to you, so you have to make your own decisions more often than otherwise. You are in charge of organizing your own workday. This skill can be hard for some, but it’s a must-have for working remotely.
2. Self-discipline
Self-discipline is an essential skill for anyone who works remotely. Distractions are one click away and it’s up to stay on track. As a remote worker, the distraction cannot be completely switched off, as they are even on your own computer (YouTube, Netflix, 9gag and on and on). Your ability to stay focused on your goals is of paramount importance when it comes to remote work.
3. Effective communication skills
The factor that often separates the best remote candidates from the rest is simple: communication skills. Even though it’s simple, communication skills can be challenging and they play a central role in your remote work productivity. When you cannot rely on body language, facial expressions, and intonation, it’s important that you are good at expressing yourself. Most remote teams use either Slack or Hipchat, so written communication skills are especially helpful.
4. Socially independent
For extroverts, this is an important point. When you work remotely, you still have the community and camaraderie of the workplace, but it’s not face-to-face communication. If you are an extrovert, you would want to plan social activities outside of your job to maintain your positive spirit. Alternatively, you can work from a co-working space. But in any case, to stay happy with your remote workplace, you must not use your workplace as the only source of social interactions.
Bonus: How to communicate your soft skills?
Unlike the hard skills, soft skills are not easy to communicate (especially before the interview). Our number one tip for overcoming this challenge is to refer to your past success at working remotely. It’s the nature of the work that counts, not the reason why you worked remotely. Maybe you have had a remote job, or a freelancing project, or perhaps you have worked with some partners remotely. It doesn’t matter as long as you have a good story to tell.
Do you want to work remotely?
There are a couple of things that can accelerate your remote job hunt. Download our newest ebook: The Ultimate Guide to Finding a Remote Job.
