Remote work is undoubtedly on the rise, and knowing how to tailor your CV when applying for such roles has become essential.
Lorraine Otieno is the founder and CEO of Beyond the Savannah, a company that trains people for remote jobs and equips them with relevant skills. In a recent interview with Youtuber Susan Wanjiku, she shared valuable insights on how to tailor a CV to increase the chances of landing a remote job.
Here are some of the tips:
Avoid unnecessary information
According to Lorraine, there is absolutely no need to include details like your P.O. box, marital status, ID number, and profile picture on your CV when applying for remote jobs.
“Many applicants are often surprised when I tell them that they don’t need to include their profile pictures when applying for remote jobs. Remote employers don’t need to see you to hire you,” she said.
She, however, cautions that this rule depends on the employer’s geographical location, as employers in countries like Germany and Dubai may require you to include your profile picture.
Don’t add referees unless prompted to
Lorraine also cautions against including references in your CV, categorizing them as unnecessary information.
“Many remote companies operate in companies that are very strict in enforcing data protection laws. The recruiters are aware that if they need to run a background or reference check, they will first need to seek your consent. In such cases, the job application form will often include a checkbox asking if you are comfortable with them running a background or reference check on you,” she said.
CV should be concise.
Lorraine’s rule of thumb is to limit your CV to one page if you have 0-5 years of experience, two pages for 5-10 years, and three pages for over 10 years.
According to Indeed, a leading career site, employers take 6-7 seconds to scan through your CV before deciding whether they are going to toss it away or invite you for an interview. You don’t want to bore them with unnecessary information.
Finally, drop the irrelevant education. Your KCSE or KCPE grades don’t matter—stick to diplomas, degrees, or certifications.
Highlight remote work experience and skills
If you’ve ever participated in any remote role, start by highlighting it on your CV, even if it was only part-time. This, she says, immediately informs hiring managers that you are familiar with the dynamics of remote work.
No remote experience? Don’t worry. Focus on transferrable skills like active listening, team collaboration, meeting deadlines, and digital communication. Provide specific examples of when you applied these skills, like leading meetings or using digital tools like Zoom or Trello.
If you are pivoting from one career to another, be sure to let the hiring manager know why you are making that decision.
Lauraine cautions against leaving unemployment gaps on your CV. “Ask yourself, during that gap period, what were you doing? Had you registered for a course? Were you running a business? Include this information in your CV,” she advised.
Customize your CV for each remote role.
Don’t use a generic CV template to apply for all remote jobs. Instead, carefully go through the job description and identify the skills and experiences that the employer is looking for. Then, incorporate these keywords naturally throughout your CV.
Such customization will help your CV pass through the Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), which is a computer system that scans your CV for role-specific keywords before a human reviews it.
Indicate that you are proficient with digital tools
Showcasing your digital proficiency can significantly impress potential employers, especially if you demonstrate expertise in tools that support remote collaboration.
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Highlight your familiarity with video conferencing platforms like Zoom and Google Meet, project management tools such as ClickUp and Trello, and communication apps like Microsoft Teams and Slack.
This reassures employers that you can seamlessly integrate into their workflow with minimal onboarding.
Optimize your LinkedIn profile
According to Lorraine, employers will often look up your LinkedIn profile to see if it matches the information in your CV. Therefore, your LinkedIn profile needs to be optimized with industry-relevant keywords so that it can be searchable and visible to recruiters.
Aside from just having keywords, your profile needs to be active.
“Active means posting original content at least once a month. Nowadays, you can even use AI to help you with creating content, so you don’t have any excuse,” said Lorraine.
You also have to engage with other LinkedIn users, which means liking, commenting, and sharing their posts.
As a rule of thumb, Lorraine suggests that professional remote workers should strive to have at least 500 connections on LinkedIn. These include people in your industry, other remote workers, and people you aspire to emulate. That’s how you grow your network.
Finally, be sure to complete all sections of your LinkedIn profile, which includes having a professional headshot as a profile picture, a headline, an ‘about me’ section, certifications, interests, and any volunteer work you may have been involved in.
“While a CV is limiting in terms of what information you can and cannot include, your LinkedIn profile allows you to describe your background, personality, and career achievements in detail,” said Lorraine.
Strategically tailoring your CV and LinkedIn with these elements will increase your chances of landing a remote role.
