How to Start Working Remotely with No Experience

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I get it.

The idea of working remotely sounds amazing, right?

You wake up, no need to get dressed or get ready or deal with traffic.

You’re free to work from anywhere, your bed, a cozy coffee shop, or even a beach.

It’s the dream for so many people, but what if you’ve never worked remotely before?

But where do you even start if you don’t have experience?

I’ve been working remotely for four years now, and trust me when I say that it’s possible to start from scratch, even if you’ve never done remote work before.

In fact, I started with no prior remote experience, but by learning along the way and applying the right strategies, I’ve built a successful remote career.

If you’re in the same boat I was, feeling uncertain, don’t worry.

There are things we can do to help.

1. Identify Your Transferable Skills

The first step to getting into remote work is recognizing what you already bring to the table. It’s easy to get caught up in thinking you need to learn a whole new set of skills, but the truth is, you probably already have a lot of the right skills, even if you don’t realize it.

Here’s what I did: I took a step back and looked at all the work I’d done in the past, my previous jobs, volunteer roles, and even side projects I’d worked on.

What skills had I used? What had I accomplished?

I found that many of the skills that were important in traditional office jobs could be applied to remote work, and I bet you have these too.

Let’s break it down:

• Technical Skills: These are the specific skills you’ve learned that might be related to particular tools or software. For example, I had experience with Google Docs, spreadsheets, and email communication. These basic tools are often used in remote jobs, and companies want employees who are familiar with them. In fact, being tech-savvy is a huge plus, even if it’s just basic knowledge.
• Soft Skills: Think about your communication abilities. Can you write clearly? Are you good at explaining things to others? These skills are highly transferable. Working remotely requires lots of written communication, whether it’s emails, Slack messages, or project updates. I quickly realized that I was good at expressing myself and collaborating with others, and that was huge for remote work.
• Management Skills: Even if you’ve never been in a managerial role, things like time management, organizing projects, and setting priorities are all incredibly useful in remote work. When you’re working from home, there’s no boss hovering over you, so you need to be organized and self-disciplined.

Once I identified my transferable skills, I was able to shift my mindset. I wasn’t starting from scratch — I was building on the foundation I already had.

2. Build a Strong Online Presence

Okay, now that you’ve identified your skills, it’s time to let the world (and potential employers) know about them. And by “the world,” I mean the internet. Your online presence is your ticket to getting noticed in the remote job market.

When I started my remote career, I knew the competition was fierce, so I had to put myself out there in a way that stood out. Here’s how I did it — and how you can too:

• LinkedIn: This is your professional face online, so make it count. I updated my profile to reflect my skills and experience, and I also started sharing articles or insights that demonstrated my knowledge. I started connecting with people who worked remotely or in companies I admired. I even reached out to a few people just to ask for advice — and a surprising number of them responded!
• Create a Portfolio or Personal Website: If you have any work samples, now’s the time to show them off! I created a simple website to showcase my skills and share examples of my work. If you’re in a creative field, having a portfolio is a must. But even if you’re in something like customer service or marketing, you can still have a personal website with testimonials, a bio, and an overview of what you do.
• Social Media: This was something I didn’t think much about when I first started, but using social media professionally can be super valuable. I used Twitter to follow people in my industry and share helpful resources. Instagram or Pinterest can also work for certain professions, especially if you’re a designer, marketer, or content creator.

The point is to make sure your profiles — especially LinkedIn — are polished and professional. Employers want to see that you take your online presence seriously.

3. Network with Remote Workers

I cannot stress this enough: networking is everything. The biggest lesson I’ve learned in my remote career is that it’s not always about what you know, but who you know.

When I started working remotely, I didn’t have any direct connections in the remote work world, but I changed that by being proactive.

Here’s what I did:

• Join Remote Work Communities: I joined Facebook groups, Slack channels, and forums dedicated to remote work. Being in these groups helped me connect with others who were already working remotely and offered me a glimpse into their experiences. They shared job opportunities, tips, and advice that helped me understand what remote companies were really looking for.
• Attend Virtual Events: If you can, attend virtual conferences or webinars. Many remote-first companies host events where you can learn and network with others in the field. I’ve had some great conversations at online conferences, and many of those connections turned into job opportunities or collaborations down the road.
• Reach Out to People: I started sending polite, genuine connection requests on LinkedIn and had conversations with people who were already working remotely. The goal wasn’t to ask for a job immediately, but to learn about their experiences. This helped me build relationships and even got me some helpful job leads. It’s all about building trust and showing that you’re interested in contributing to the community.

4. Gain Experience Through Freelancing or Internships

I totally get it — you might feel like you’re stuck because you don’t have remote experience yet, but freelancing or taking on an internship can be a game-changer. This was one of the best moves I made when I was starting out.

I started small by taking on freelance gigs on websites like Upwork and Fiverr. Sure, the pay wasn’t great at first, but it helped me build my portfolio, get feedback, and practice working remotely.

Over time, I was able to increase my rates and secure better projects.

Internships are another great way to get your foot in the door.

Even though I was looking for full-time remote work, doing an internship in a remote role allowed me to learn the ropes and make mistakes in a low-pressure environment.

Plus, many internships can turn into full-time offers once you’ve proven yourself.

5. Develop Strong Communication Skills

Remote work relies heavily on communication — and not just any communication, but clear, effective, and timely communication.

I’ll admit, this was an area I struggled with at first. I was used to having face-to-face conversations, but when you work remotely, there’s a lot more written communication.

That means you have to be clear in your emails, messages, and even in video meetings.

Here’s what I did to improve my communication skills:

• Be proactive: I started sending clear updates on my work, even if no one asked for them. It’s better to over-communicate than to leave people wondering what you’re working on.
• Listen actively: I made an effort to really listen to what my team members were saying during meetings. Remote communication can be more challenging because you don’t have visual cues, so it’s important to pay extra attention and ask clarifying questions if needed.
• Be concise and direct: I learned that when communicating remotely, it’s best to get to the point. People are busy, and everyone appreciates a message that’s short, sweet, and clear.

6. Showcase Your Remote Work Readiness

Once I felt like I had the skills and experience to back up my remote work journey, I made sure to show employers I was ready. In interviews or on my resume, I highlighted:

• My ability to work independently: I gave examples of projects I’d worked on without much supervision.
• My time management skills: Remote work means managing your own schedule, and I made sure to explain how I prioritize tasks and meet deadlines.
• Familiarity with remote tools: I talked about my experience using Slack, Zoom, Google Drive, Trello, and other common remote work tools. The more familiar you are with the tools companies use, the better.

Employers want to know you can thrive in a remote environment, so show them that you have the skills to succeed.

Conclusion

Starting out in remote work with no experience is definitely intimidating, but trust me, you can do it.

By identifying your transferable skills, building an online presence, networking, gaining hands-on experience, developing communication skills, and showcasing your readiness, you’ll be well on your way to landing a remote job.

I started just like you, and now, I’m doing what I love every day, from the comfort of my home. You can do it too!