3 Tips to Help You Find Remote Work

By Kyla Hensley for HHUSA Serving Spouses Program

I used to dream of remote work. Not only to mitigate the earning gaps around each PCS, but as someone who is a homebody, I knew I could do some of my best work in a good pair of yoga pants and slippers without leaving my house.

I am so grateful that, as our next move approaches, I can take my laptop and my job with Hire Heroes USA with me. I know what a huge game-changer remote work can be for you, too. I’m here to walk you through some tactical tips, so you can enjoy writing emails and taking conference calls without ever having to put on shoes. 

1. Know How to Look.

In order to find a job you can do from home, you need to make sure you are using applicable search terms. When searching for the type of role you want, try adding terms like virtual, telecommute, telework, non-location, or anywhere U.S. to the job title. This should help you populate roles you’re interested in that are actually work-from-home positions.

2. Know Where to Look.

Using the right kind of job board is also key to achieving your work-from-home dreams. You can certainly try searching on general job boards, but to make sure you’re finding legitimate roles and avoiding scams, use job boards that are specifically built for remote roles. Here are a few you can check out:

• Grow with Google
• FlexJobs
• Instant Teams
• Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP)
• Virtforce (Check out their appearance on Army Wife Talk Radio here.)
• SkipTheDrive
• Virtual Vocations
• USNLX Virtual Jobs

3. Become an expert tailor—in resumes, that is!

I’m sure if you’ve read my other articles, I sound like a broken record, but I truly cannot drive this point home enough. Tailoring your resume for each job application is your way of standing out in the world of Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). An ATS scans resumes for keywords based on the job description, so you need to make sure your resume includes those exact keywords. This is how you show employers you have the qualifications they are looking for. If your priority is remote work, be sure to include any software you’re familiar with that demonstrates you understand how to mitigate communication gaps when not working in an on-site location. For example, if you’ve used Zoom or Google Hangouts in past jobs, or even in virtual family gatherings, list those on your resume. 

I hope these tips help you on your journey to find the right work-from-home position. May you soon find yourself filling up your coffee cup in your own kitchen and enjoying the long commute home from your spare bedroom or nook all the way to your living room. 

Kyla is a Transition Specialist with the Serving Spouses Team at Hire Heroes USA. Her husband is active duty U.S. Army, so she understands the challenges and rewards of military life. She is an active member of the military community and volunteers her time to be involved in local family readiness efforts. Her career working with the military began at an Army Education Center in Germany. She then worked with the Army Career Skills Program and has since found her home with Hire Heroes USA. She has dedicated herself, personally and professionally, to supporting our service members and their families. She enjoys getting to know her clients individually to help them achieve their career goals and find meaningful work the same way she has. She has helped 250 veterans and military spouses find employment since joining Hire Heroes USA in 2019.