A Guide on Starting Work Overseas Remotely

Landing a remote job overseas is an exciting opportunity for many people but it requires intense research, careful planning, and preparation. You must consider several critical factors to secure your next remote job overseas, including navigating the legal requirements, assessing your remote work skills, acing your virtual interviews, and starting strong in your new role.

This post provides a comprehensive step-by-step guide on how to land your next dream remote job abroad.

Navigating the Legal Requirements

Before diving into the remote job search, we recommend taking some time to research the legal aspects of working overseas. You’ll want to look into the local laws regarding tax responsibilities and international payments. You must understand all legal requirements to ensure there aren’t any issues regarding earning and accepting payments for your remote work.

Consequently, you must consider the cost of living in the target location to ensure your remote job salary covers your expenses, including food, transportation, rent, and other essentials.

Language can also be a potential barrier, especially if you don’t speak the language of your target locations. Therefore, check the language preferences of businesses you intend to apply to. Speaking another language fluently can also give you an advantage over other applicants for the same position, especially if it is a local company operating abroad.

Finally, be mindful of working across different time zones. Many remote workers find working with teams in different time zones quite challenging. But it can be manageable with the right approach. Start by determining the hours you will be working or expect to work and select the time zones that align with your schedule.

Assess Your Remote Work Skills.

Your best chance of landing a remote job overseas successfully and keeping it is by applying for positions where you can apply your skills. Ask yourself, what can you offer your potential remote employer? What skills are they looking for? And how well do you fit in the job role the employer is looking for?

Use your technical skills to determine which job roles and workloads you can handle autonomously. Many remote jobs also require workers to use specific remote tools for project management, communication, and collaboration.

These are critical must-haves to find and maintain a job with remote companies. Highlighting these skills in your resume and during your application will give you a leg up on your competition. Potential employers will also not invest more time training you or wait for you to go over the remote work learning curve. They want you to hit the ground running. So, note your most impressive or attractive skills for the remote position you are applying for.

Find Remote Positions Overseas.

Many job hunters look for remote work using traditional online job markets, which aren’t always promising or as forthcoming. Instead, use remote-specific job boards like We Work Remotely to increase your chances of finding remote work.

Finding the right remote job overseas starts by knowing exactly where to look. Look for employers who are specifically looking for remote teams. We also recommend using a spreadsheet to keep your job hunting organized and efficient.

Carefully read each employer’s job description before sending your cover letter and resume, highlighting specific keywords the employer used, especially those touching on your experience. Many hiring teams automatically scan resumes for specific keywords using applicant tracking systems. Therefore, having these keywords gives you a better chance of proceeding to the next step, where a real person reads your resume.

Ace Your Virtual Interview.

Remember, employers receive hundreds to thousands of applications, giving you a short window of opportunity to impress and show them why you’re best fitted for the role. As such, we recommend practicing some basic interview questions beforehand, so you have thoughtful answers that highlight all your best-selling points.

Common virtual interview questions to prepare for include:

• Tell us about yourself.
• Why would you want to work with us?
• Why did you leave your previous role?
• Where do you see yourself in the next three or five years?
• Why are you searching for remote work overseas?

You can also prepare top questions you can ask remote companies during your virtual interview. Asking questions about the position also shows the employer that you are interested in the company and the business. They will appreciate knowing you did your homework before sitting for the interview.

Finally, always thank your interviewer for their time, and a follow-up thank you to leave an excellent first impression afterward.

Start Strong in Your Remote Job.

Congratulations on landing your dream remote job. But you’re not out of the woods yet. Your first task is to ensure a smooth transition into the new position to make a stellar first impression. It is vital that you start your new remote position on the right foot. And you can do this by following these steps:

Prepare for the New Role.

Ensure you have the right tools and equipment to kickstart your work immediately after landing your new position.

Get Up to Speed.

Read the company’s blogs and press releases and stay up to date with the latest trends in your position. This allows you to make meaningful contributions as the newest team member. You want to understand the company better and know exactly what you’re getting into.

Learn About Your Managers and Coworkers.

Interact with your managers and coworkers to understand them better. Finding common ground with your workmates from your first day at work is important to break the ice. Remember, this is a remote position, and you will likely interact and collaborate with your team remotely or virtually.

Create a Dedicated Office Space.

Set up your office space where you’ll get all the work done. You’ll need a safe space to focus on your work, meet deadlines, and complete projects per the company’s requirements.

Practice a Dry Run.

Conduct a dry run to address any technical issues in advance. Test your remote software and ensure all the necessary updates are installed on all your work devices.

Make Your Next Remote Job Hunt A Success

Following these steps will set you up for success on your journey to landing your next job remotely overseas. Set yourself enough time to prepare, learn, and establish a productive work environment that will help you make a great first impression and pave the way for long-term success in the new remote position.