1 in 4 people in the US workforce will be remote working by 2025, according to Upwork. As remote positions continue to rise, this is great news for anyone hoping to transition into working from home or upgrade their remote role.
However, with remote and hybrid work models becoming the new normal, the most desired workplace skills are shifting too. Working online requires mastering a whole new set of skills, which can range from working autonomously to mastering new tech tools.
Displaying these skills on your resume instantly shows employers that you can handle a job remotely. It can make you more attractive to employers, open you up to new opportunities, and even land you the new job you want.
So if you are wondering what must-have remote skills for a resume employers are looking for and how to add them, you’re in the right place. Here are the top five skills to include on your resume that will help you stand out in the world of remote work:
1. Time management
Time management is one of the most important skills necessary for remote working. With no manager or boss on hand to oversee how long you spend on each task, you will be responsible for completing your to-do list each day. Managing your time effectively will help you do this without getting burned out. Therefore, good time management is something many remote employers look for when hiring new employees.
Most of us have had to develop our time management in previous employment or education. But how can you highlight your exceptional time management skills on your resume? The best way to do this is by giving hard examples — and don’t be afraid to get specific.
Here’s one effective example:
2. Virtual communication tools
When colleagues are not in the same physical space, virtual communication becomes integral. You may need to host a video conference, collaborate online, or make a presentation. Therefore mastering online and digital tools is vital when working in many remote jobs.
Depending on your age group and previous work experience, you may be more or less tech-savvy. But whatever unique tools you have mastered, make sure they are displayed on your resume.
Having experience with these common tools and platforms can help you stand out to many employers.
Video calling tools:
- Zoom
- Google Hangouts or Meet
- Skype
Digital messaging tools:
- Slack
- Microsoft Teams
- Telegram
Collaboration tools:
- Asana
- Google Workspace
- Trello
If you don’t have much experience with online tools, don’t worry. They are easy to learn. If you need to improve your skills, there are plenty of free resources available. Use YouTube to find tutorials about how these platforms work, or download the apps and practice with some personal projects. You will master them in no time.
3. Adaptability
When you work remotely, you have to be as adaptable to changes in your work day as to changes in your location. You may need to navigate any number of unexpected issues, including:
- Video calls in different time zones
- Technology failures
- New collaboration tools
- New digital strategies
Making your ability to successfully handle change clear on your resume will instantly grab the attention of remote employers.
How can you add this to your resume? Draw upon professional experience, including times you have overcome obstacles or last-minute changes.
Alternatively, look to your personal life. Have you ever moved country, had children, or undergone big personal changes? How did you handle it? Were you able to manage your stress successfully?
4. Ability to work independently
The ability to work autonomously is a key skill for achieving tasks when you don’t have a manager or colleagues in the same physical space. Being independent also extends to your personal life. When working from home, you must be able to manage your stress and work well alone.
You must be able to independently:
- Create your own schedule
- Complete work tasks
- Motivate yourself
- Avoid procrastination
Look back over your work and education history. Have you ever worked on independent projects or to your own schedule without input from others? 30% of people found they are more productive when working from home, according to one study. Can you offer examples that show this is true for you?
Here are some examples of how to add this to your resume:
- Add it under your career or education experience. Example: In this role, I had sole responsibility for carrying out the project from start to finish over a six-week period.
- Add time management as a soft skill. Example: On a three-month solo trip across Asia, I successfully organized all travel plans, accommodation, and budgeting.
5. Problem-solving
When something goes wrong, there is not always someone to turn to when you work from home. Of course, there are tools available to connect you with your manager or teammates, but the reality of remote work means they will not be instantly available for every issue.
Problem-solving is a highly desirable skill for the remote work model. Workers that can resolve issues themselves, and even create more effective company-wide processes, can save an employer time and resources.
A big part of problem-solving is about being resourceful. Can you find resources online, work through a problem yourself, or watch a tech tutorial before asking for help?
To showcase your problem-solving skills on your resume, try and include specific, measurable results. What problem did you solve in the past? What was the impact?
Takeaways
If you are looking for a remote job, you do not want to overlook these five skills when crafting your resume. Make sure potential employers can clearly see just how well you manage your time, navigate digital tools, adapt to change, work independently, and solve problems.
If you are a little overwhelmed with creating an impactful resume, don’t despair. There are hundreds of tools and resume-writing services out there that can help you do just that. Using a resume builder tool allows you to select the top HR resume templates and craft an outstanding resume using AI software, saving you time and the trouble of finding the right words to describe your experience.
