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For many people, remote work offers substantial advantages over those that require you to report to an in-person office. Fewer potential distractions, no commute, and greater flexibility are enticing benefits, but how can you increase your chances of finding this type of work in 2024?

Check out the following tips and tricks for helping you land a remote position this year:

Don’t lock yourself into your current industry and specialty.

Opening yourself up to a different industry and specialty can increase your chances of scoring a remote job. Some jobs are often more remote-friendly than others and can prove to be a good fit even if you lack specific experience in the field. These include jobs for language tutors, customer service representatives, sales representatives, community managers, tech support specialists, and tax preparers.

Update your CV to reflect remote work skills.

If you have experience working remotely, be sure to include this information on your resume. Even if you lack this specific background, include soft skills that will translate well into a remote job, including proven time management, organization, collaboration, and communication skills. Experience in relevant software can also help you land a remote job.

Look at international remote roles to expand your options. 

International companies are hiring more American workers than ever before, with the number growing by 62% last year. And the vast majority – 85% – are for remote positions. In particular, companies in the U.K., Canada, France, Singapore, and Australia often turn to the U.S. for remote workers.

Ensure you have the right materials and setup for working at home to increase your chances of success.

Making sure you have what you need to succeed in working remotely is important. You’ll need a dedicated quiet workspace away from the hustle and bustle of kids, pets, and other distractions. A reliable computer with a fast processor and sufficient memory to handle your tasks is also essential, as is a fast internet connection.

Although many companies have transitioned back to in-office work, it’s still very possible to find a remote position that’s a good fit for your skills and needs. These tips should give you an advantage that can increase your chances of landing the right remote position.

Leadership development is important for every business. It improves productivity, innovation, employee engagement, and customer retention and reduces employee turnover. A structured leadership development plan highlights how a company intends to train and help employees hone their leadership skills. 

In most cases, leadership development occurs in a formal classroom setting. However, individual leadership development plans, such as reflective journaling, coaching, and constructive feedback, are also effective. Implementing a leadership development plan helps businesses avoid the leadership gap that occurs following the unavoidable retirement or step down of current leadership. 

Below are a few tips for creating a leadership development plan. 

  1. Evaluate your business goals and needs

Identifying business needs and goals is crucial to creating a leadership development plan. This essentially involves identifying leadership qualities that can benefit your organization. Knowing what type of leader your company needs should be a priority. You should ask yourself the following questions:

  • How many leaders does your company need?
  • Are there notable gaps that need improvement?
  • Which strategies work well for your company?
  • How will the new leaders commit to organizational goals?
  1. Consult your employees

Employees play a key role in determining the success and productivity of the company. Therefore, you should ask for their perspective on leadership. Ask them what they want or looking for in a leader. They can help you identify leadership strategies that are working or not working in your organization. Taking their input can help you design an effective leadership development plan. 

  1. Define the type of leaders your company needs 

You should also define the type of leaders your company requires. For this, consider reviewing key business objectives and how they can be achieved. Below are a few tips to consider:

  • Create a detailed list of the skills you expect to see in leaders that fit your company profile. 
  • If one of the departments requires better leadership, create a different profile for the department.
  • Assess your current level of leadership. Use emails, anonymous tips, and feedback from your employees. 
  • Create a list of employees who are talented enough and interested in management roles.
  1. Identify the best method of development 

As mentioned, leadership development was traditionally hinged on formal programs. While they are effective, you should consider other leadership training methods, such as mentorship programs, working groups, and task forces. You should also choose between conducting in-house training or hiring a third-party company. 

Conclusion

Around 77% of companies struggle with leadership gaps. This explains why 89% of company executives agree that strengthening leadership development should be a priority for most companies. Having a leadership training plan can help your company mold successful future managers.

There are indications that tech jobs have resumed the positive trajectory after slamming into reverse during the pandemic. Figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimate that over 12,900 tech opportunities were created as of last year September. Interestingly, the number of job seekers remains at an all-time high, making the job market competitive. As such, succeeding in your next tech interview requires that you stand out from other applicants. Below are a few tips.

1. Understand your CV

While it seems obvious, many people don’t understand their CVs deeply, especially after applying for hundreds of positions. Besides tailoring your CV to suit the advertised position, memorize the version of CV you sent before the interview. This reduces the chances of going blank during the interview. Below are a few things to do with your CV:

  • Read the job description carefully – highlight transferable skills if your skills don’t match those required.
  • Have proof of success stories, key results, and challenges you mentioned in your CV.

2. Learn about your Employer

Researching your employer before the interview is also crucial. Check their website, social media, and featured stories in local and national media. For established tech companies, know the basics, such as their share prices, senior leaders, and company deliverables to customers, before sitting for the interview.

3. Show you are Always Learning

Tech is always evolving. Therefore, you shouldn’t stop learning after mastering a skill. If your specialty involves software, processes, and algorithms, show what you’ve been doing to keep up to date. If you recently completed a project that can help your employer, bring it up.

4. Prepare for Common Tech Interview Questions

Employers often use the interview process to learn more about applicants and their technical skills. Therefore, you should prepare extensively and expect tough questions. Simple questions, such as “why do you want to join this company? What are you looking for in this career move, and what qualities do you bring to this role” help potential employers gauge your suitability for the role.

You should also expect specific questions about your applied role. For instance, what experience do you have with specific technologies, or which problems have you solved using a specific technology? Depending on the vacant role, questions in the last stage become more complex. For instance, developers may be asked how to maintain a code base. Most employers also give candidates technical tasks to complete during the interview.

Conclusion

As you prepare for the interview, remember that new opportunities often come through professional connections and referrals. 30% of job candidates find opportunities from their networks. Therefore, you should keep expanding your network with professional peers and others.

Most businesses spend years adapting new sales and marketing strategies or improving their marketing funnel and customer revenue pipeline. Unfortunately, according to recent research by Josh Bersin, more than 74% of businesses perform poorly during recruitment. While most company executives ignore the essence of proper recruitment, hiring is currently the biggest obstacle to organizational growth.