Working remotely. It’s the dream right? Digital nomads fill their Instagram feeds with images that look something like this: a laptop strategically placed next to a cocktail against the background of an idyllic beachscape with white sand and blue water. Pop a good filter over that and they’ve captured everyone’s ideal picture of remote coding jobs. If you’ve just completed a coding bootcamp, you may feel ready and able to go out there and conquer the world. If you are, firstly congrats – you’ve taken an inspiring leap forward. But there’s work to be done. And it’s not all cocktails and beaches.
Is Working Remotely For You?
That is indeed the question. And don’t be intimidated if you can’t answer the question right away or if you’ve jumped right into the job search without thinking about it. Now’s your chance to find out whether remote working is for you.
Ask yourself:
Do I enjoy forming relationships with the people I work with?
When you work remotely, there’s no such thing as “Friday drinks” or “lunch with the guys/girls” or having a paper jet flying competition. You won’t have the chance to immerse yourself in company culture and reap the benefits of forming relationships with colleagues. For some social butterflies, this is a deal breaker. For others, the chance to work sans office politics couldn’t come soon enough. Remember, if you choose to work remotely from a collaborative space, you will inevitably form good relationships with your freelance colleagues so there are ways to surround yourself with people who uplift and inspire you even if you’re a lone ranger.
Are you mature enough to handle working remotely?
Maturity has absolutely nothing to do with age. You can be fresh out of high-school and be able to take initiative, ask for help when it’s needed and manage your time so you can meet your deadlines. Conversely, you could be in your 40’s and still have snooze alarm syndrome. Working remotely means being a self-starter and not needing to be micro-managed. That’s a huge plus but it’s also a big responsibility. Your employer will expect you to deliver efficiently and on time. If you’re mature enough to manage your own schedule and set priorities, then you’ll be a great remote worker.
Do you have nerves of steel?
In an office, if you get stuck or the Wifi crashes or you need help with a coding dilemma, help is only a desk away. But when you work remotely, you’ve got to use your initiative to solve problems. A fellow worker may be too busy to take your call or not at their desk when your email lands in their inbox, and you may need to make decisions on demand. For that, you need to have a good head on your shoulders and be prepared to do whatever it takes to find the help you need in a proactive and constructive way.
Tips On Finding Remote Coding Jobs
1. Talk to the Decision-Makers
Felix Feng spent three months applying for jobs after coding bootcamp and learnt some important lessons in the process. One of them was that often, applying through third-party job boards means that your application gets lost in a black hole of admin. Taking a more direct, personal approach is often the key to getting your foot in the door. If you use a job board, try to find out which company the job advertised is for, then call them and get the email address for the head of recruitment, or better yet, the head of the department you want to work in, and send them a direct email to introduce yourself. Decision-makers will give you a simple yes or no. No time wasted.
2. Brush Up Your Social Media Profiles
Here’s something you can do right now. Login to your Linkedin profile and remove that cheesy-grinned, blurred profile image of you from five years ago. Replace it with a professional-looking one that says “I’m responsible, diligent and eager to get started,” as opposed to “I’m good-looking and I’ve spent a lot of time tanning in Thailand as you can see from this picture.” Make sure that all your professional details are correct – it’s all about the fine details.
3. Prepare To Put In Some Free Hours
One thing you would have learnt if you ever received sales training, is that the worst thing a prospective buyer can say is “no.” Picture yourself surviving that little hint of rejection and you’ll be just fine. Instead of waiting for employers to come to you, go to them. Email the MD or department head at the place you’d love to work for and pitch them. Invest in putting together a good CV and portfolio and volunteer to show them what you can do by means of a coding test or small pilot project in which you will participate for free. People who land their dream jobs are go-getters who’ve put in their fair share of free hours.
Working remotely is not for everyone, but then neither is the typical 9 to 5. It’s all a matter of perspective. The fact is that many developers who enjoy their own company, their own space and their own time schedule, find remote working to be absolute bliss. Think about it, weigh up the pros and cons, then take constructive action – there’s no time like the present.
Considering changing your career path or heading into the big wide world of coding? Sign up to find out more about HyperionDev’s coding bootcamps and how we can enable your next career move.
