Work from home is something many people have experienced during the pandemic. It is one unexpected good thing to come out of the tragic pandemic, and as a result, you may want to find a new job that embraces working remotely permanently. If you are about to begin making remote job searches, you are likely asking questions such as:
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Should I only search for work from home jobs?
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Should I expect an employer to offer working remotely?
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How do I ask about remote working in a job interview?
In this article, we will answer these questions and give you the advice and resources you will need to find a work from home job and start successfully working remotely.
Don’t know where to start looking for remote jobs? Start your search for a remote job here.
Should I only search for remote jobs?
Remote work was already becoming more popular before the pandemic because of the better work life balance. However, if you made a remote job search before 2020, most search results would be for sales reps and regional managers. Further adding to this mix were working from home jobs for highly educated people, with a higher than average salary or with a highly technical skill set, such as web developers and designers.
Fortunately, in 2022, many employers and hiring managers recognise that many people, including office workers and top talent, are actively seeking remote work, with it being a top priority when choosing prospective employers.
As a result, you will find many job adverts with remote job in the title or as the stated location for the job. However, you might miss opportunities if you only search for ‘remote.’ Instead, complement your remote job search with general search terms for your desired role. You may find a job advert that doesn’t mention remote in the title but does say it is an option in the job description.
Should I expect a prospective employer to offer remote work?
A lot of companies are open to a remote working company culture, with employees working all or most days from home. However, you cannot ‘expect’ a company to let your work from home each week, and they have no legal obligation to do so. If you have been with a company for more than 26 weeks, they must consider flexible working requests, but again companies are not legally obliged to grant such a request.
If you have found an opportunity that looks like your dream job but doesn’t mention remote work, it may come down to how you handle raising the topic with the hiring manager during the interview process.
How to raise working remotely in a job interview
If you are preparing for a job interview and you know you want to raise remote work with the company, you are probably feeling pretty nervous or at least are unsure how to best approach what feels like a daunting task.
These are our top tips that will help you talk about remote work with a prospective employer and secure a job offer:
1. Do your research
Assumptions can halt your quest to secure your ideal position before you even get an interview. Just because a job advert or job description does not mention flexible working doesn’t mean all hope is lost.
Savvy recruiters know that offering work from home attracts higher-quality candidates that are more productive, and make it crystal clear in their job ad. Some employers either miss this opportunity or choose to raise the logistics of where you will work once they have decided who to interview.
So, don’t write off an opportunity, and by doing a little company research, you may find the answers you want. You might discover remote work mentioned on the company’s career page, on their social media page, or on a company review site, such as Glassdoor. Alternatively, if someone in your social, professional, or LinkedIn network works for the company, they may be able to answer this and other questions.
2. Be direct
If remote work is a top priority for you, it is best to raise the topic sooner rather than later. For example, a direct question, such as ‘Do you support remote work?’ will get you the answer you need. Furthermore, you are showing the company recruiter you are confident, versatile, flexible, trustworthy, and capable.
Here is an alternative scenario: You have read a blog post on the company’s website that mentions remote working colleagues joining an in-office team for a meeting or activity. With this knowledge, you can ask, ‘I recently read that remote workers joined an office team for a meeting. Does your department support remote work?’ With this scenario, you also show that you have done your company research and have genuine interest in the position.
3. But be indirect if you must
If you would prefer a remote job but can’t afford to lose a job opportunity, an indirect approach with a little caution can work best. You could ask, ‘In your company, will the people I work with be in the office everyday or is there a lot of telecommuting?’
If you get a positive answer, you can follow-up by saying, ‘Do you think the position I am applying for could work on a similar basis?’
Key takeaways
Your key takeaways to asking about remote work in a job interview include:
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Perform searches for remote jobs and regular jobs. Read the job description carefully for clues about remote working.
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Employers must seriously consider a flexible working request if you have been with them for more than six months. However, there is no law that says an employer must offer flexible working arrangements.
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Do your company research, and you might find that the company supports remote work.
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Be direct and politely ask if remote work is supported. If a remote job is a non-negotiable, it is pointless to waste your time and that of the hiring manager.
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Prepare a subtle question that is indirect if you must land the job no matter where you have to work.
Job candidate reading list
We appreciate that WFH job hunting and the interviewing process isn’t always easy or straightforward. We have created various articles and guides to help you apply for jobs, attract the attention of employers, and secure a job offer:
Working from home FAQs
Next, we aim to give you the best answers to your most frequently asked questions.
Is it okay to ask about remote work in an interview?
It is okay to ask if the role is a remote job during the interview process. Be polite, tactful, direct, or indirect, as the situation dictates.
What questions should I ask about working from home?
The top questions to ask include:
1. Will I be working tradition hours?
2. What tools do your team use to communicate?
3. What proportion of your team is remote?
4. How do you provide performance feedback to remote employees?
5. How has your business overcome the challenges of having a remote workforce?
6. What company and social events does your department hold?
7. What opportunities exist for career progression?
How do you say you want to work from home?
If you are employed and have worked for your company for more than twenty-six weeks, you can ask your employer if working from your home is possible. For example, you might say, ‘I would like to work remote, is this possible or can you consider it?’ Collating and presenting your reasons will help you build a case more likely to result in a positive answer. You can get further employment advice from Acas.org.uk.
How do you ask if you can work remotely?
If you decide you want to work from your home, you should raise the topic in your interview. For example, you could say, ‘Does your company allow people to work out of their homes?’ Alternatively, you could say, ‘I read that some of your employees are remote. Is this something that is possible for this role?’
Resources for getting your remote job
If you are looking to work remotely, you can find work from home job postings in the following business sectors:
