The freedom to work remotely is indeed a great advantage for any career. However, you shouldn't be blinded by the phrase "remote work" in job ads.
It's important that you understand what the job you're applying for entails and how your potential employer defines it, especially if you're new to the world of remote work. Only then can you decide if it aligns with your values, priorities, lifestyle, and preferences.
By accepting a remote work position after you've familiarized yourself with its various aspects, you'll be able to step into your new role with more clarity and confidence, and work more effectively with your teammates and supervisors.
Plus, by asking the right questions, you can show your potential employer that you understand this form of work well and are ready to tackle the challenges it presents.
Detailed information about the position will also increase your chances of being happier and more successful in your professional life, while keeping you in good physical and mental shape.
In this post, we've put together some questions that can help you better know what you're getting into.
1 - Is this a freelance, contract, full-time, or part-time job?
This information may be included in the job posting. If it's not, you should find out if it's freelance, contract, full-time, or part-time, not only to make sure it fits your schedule, but also because it may affect your tax obligations.
Now you may be wondering what the differences are between freelance, contract, and part-time/full-time positions. Read on to find out.
Freelance
As the name suggests, you, as a freelancer, have the freedom to work for the clients of your choice, and you bill them according to your payment schedule.
You can also set your own hours and deadlines, and work with as many clients as you want.
In addition, you're responsible for your own taxes and aren't entitled to the benefits that your corporate clients offer to their employees who work on a contract, part-time, or full-time basis.
Contract
As a contractor, you usually work on fixed projects with a specific deadline and hourly wage. You may work with different clients at the same time.
Once a project is completed, the company you work for can decide whether or not they want to collaborate with you on future projects. They aren't legally required to hire you, but they may choose to do so depending on their requirements and the skills you demonstrate.
It's not uncommon for some employers to offer similar benefits to their contractors as they do to their part-time and full-time employees.
Part-time or full-time
This is pretty straightforward. As a part-time or full-time employee, you consider the company your employer, not a client.
You're entitled to certain benefits associated with this type of employment. Part-time or full-time employees either have a fixed salary or are paid by the hour.
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2 - Would I have to work regular office hours? If not, what are the working hours?
Some people assume that flexibility in "where" they work implies flexibility in "when" they work. However, that's not always the case. Many companies seeking remote workers have strict schedules and deadlines.
That's why it's important to ask about the exact hours and time zone you'll be working in. This way you can find out if working outside of office hours (your local time) is a requirement for the job or not.
3 - Will I be part of a distributed team? If so, what percentage of the team works remotely?
The make-up of the team says a lot about the extent to which remote work is integrated into the company culture. It can also help you have realistic expectations about the job.
For example, if you're the only person, or one of a few, working in a different time zone, you may feel lonely and disengaged after a while and find it difficult to work around other team members' schedules.
Also, you can't expect the company's communication processes and infrastructure to be fully optimized for remote work if there aren't many remote workers in the company.
4 - Does your company consider itself "remote work-first" or "remote work-friendly"?
There's an important distinction between "remote-first" and "remote-friendly" companies that you should know before considering a remote job offer.
Remote-first companies treat and encourage remote work as the default and preferred form of work. However, that doesn't mean they're "remote-only".
Many remote-first companies also have offices for those who need or want to work in the office. The remote-first approach affects all aspects of the company, from how it positions and markets itself to how meetings are scheduled and communication is handled.
Remote-friendly companies have a hybrid model. They allow remote work as a benefit to attract new employees or retain existing team members, but aren't optimized for remote work.
These companies typically face more challenges when it comes to remote work because the hybrid model often results in the company existing on two—usually unequal—levels.
The answer to this question can help you figure out what to expect as a remote worker and prepare you for potential challenges when you start working at the company.
5 - What has the remote work experience been like at your company?
Although remote work has been on the rise since the coronavirus pandemic, some companies are still figuring out how to handle it.
That's why it's good to ask this question, because it'll give you a better idea of the challenges your potential employer faces with remote work and how they plan to handle them.
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6 - Will equipment or services be provided to me to work remotely?
This information is usually in the job posting, but if not, ask the company if they'll, for example, provide you with a laptop, give you access to software you need, or cover remote work expenses such as Internet and phone bills.
7 - How does the team communicate? What team collaboration tools do you use?
When it comes to remote work, communication is key. So you should always know how communication works at your future workplace, especially if you're going to be working remotely.
Also, the communication and collaboration tools a company invests in will show how important communication is to them.
8 - How will you evaluate my performance and give me feedback?
When you're working remotely, it's very easy to become disconnected from the rest of the team. This can easily lead to a lack of motivation.
However, if there's a proper system in place to evaluate team members' performance and give them regular feedback, you'll be more motivated to do your best because you'll feel that your work is being recognized and rewarded.
9 - What are the opportunities for growth in this position?
The career ladder is almost invisible in the virtual world. So if you're a remote worker, chances are you don't know what your career path will look like in the new role.
If your professional growth is important to you, you should clearly ask how your role will evolve and what opportunities await you if you demonstrate excellence.
It could be a red flag if the company doesn't offer its office and remote workers the same opportunities to grow and improve their position and salary.
10 - Would you mind telling me about your onboarding process and training programs?
This question can help you distinguish a great employer from an average or not-so-good employer.
An efficient and well-thought-out onboarding process shows that a company values its team members and is willing to invest time, money, and energy in them, especially new hires, so they can do their best work.
A great employer also believes in the constant professional and personal development of its team members and regularly organizes training sessions where they can learn new things.
11 - How is the payment handled?
This question should preferably be asked during the discussion about salary. The answer will clarify when and how you'll be paid, and whether the company agrees to do an international wire transfer or send you the money via PayPal, for example.
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12 - What's the daily work routine like in this position?
Make sure you know the details of the job description and the scope of your duties before accepting a remote job.
This is because there may be some requirements that aren't in the job posting, but are expected of you.
You should also find out if the company requires you to travel frequently or attend meetings on short notice.
13 - What do you expect the person starting this job to accomplish in the first six months and within the first year?
You should ask your interviewer this question for two reasons.
First, it helps you see whether or not the company has realistic expectations. Second, it helps you get your priorities right and focus on what truly matters from the start when you join the company.
14 - How would you describe your ideal candidate for this job?
This question is somewhat similar to the previous one. But here you can dig deeper into the non-technical requirements of the job and better understand whether or not your values and personality align with what the company is looking for.
15 - What goals does the company want to achieve in the coming year? What about the next three years?
This is perhaps the most important question you should ask an interviewer. The answer can shed light on the company's vision and whether it's a company worth investing time in.
It'll also clarify whether and how you can contribute to those goals in your new role as a remote worker.
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