Working remotely does not make you invisible. Career growth is equally as possible when working from home. While the path to the top requires you to take a different route, you can think of these steps as a handwritten road map to building the remote career of your dreams.
We’ve already talked about how to get noticed while working remotely, but now, let’s focus on you and your personal goals. Even if you only implement two or three of these tips, people around you will likely notice, bringing you raises, bonuses, and promotions without direct effort.
Whether you’re looking to grow in your current position and company or in a new one, having clear, thought-out goals, a desire to continue learning, and an understanding of remote communication gives you the opportunity to succeed.
1. Create a Vision Board
You’re never too old to make a vision board (virtually or physically). A career vision board is dedicated to specific goals you’d like to achieve professionally. It should clearly state your aspiration and be accompanied by powerful words (such as adjectives that describe that role you desire), photos of successful people performing the role, and positive affirmations.
Career vision boards help you zero in on your goal, believe in yourself, and visualize success. Be sure to place your board in an area that you’ll see every day.
2. Never Stop Learning
Aside from staying relevant in your field, learning new skills gives you great advantages when building the remote career of your dreams. Continuous learning gives you a confidence boost and allows you to see things from a different perspective, making you a more well-rounded employee (and person). In the case that you lose your job, it will be easier to find a new career with a wider skill set.
In addition, you’ll also have more opportunities to switch roles in your current workplace.
3. Take Feedback
Speaking of learning, take notes of the feedback you receive throughout your career. Understanding what you do well and what you need to work on from the perspective of another person is an invaluable way to recognize your work style, notice changes, and improve yourself.
4. Get Comfortable With Asynchronous Communication
These days, we often expect immediate responses and gratification. We google something for an instant answer, and we expect a swift reply when we send a text message.
Asynchronous communication is critical for remote workers, especially if you’re team is geographically dispersed. By practicing and getting used to asynchronous communication, you’ll become more independent and a better problem solver.
5. Find a Mentor
Mentors help you develop and improve hard skills, see things from a different perspective, and recognize your most and least productive characteristics. They’re an ideal source for networking and help keep you accountable for personal goals while building the remote career of your dreams.
If your company doesn’t have a mentorship program in place, join a Slack community to meet people in your same line of work.
6. Network
With or without a mentor, networking will expand your social circle and give you insight into how other companies work. People you network with can give you invaluable career advice, recommend you for positions, offer support, keep you updated on industry trends, and more.
7. Focus on Your Achievements
Many of us only focus on our achievements when asking for a raise or applying for a job. I want you to recall them much more frequently. This will help you build more confidence, which studies show affects your salary. Aside from making more money, you’ll be more likely to go for promotions, complete your work faster, and be open to helping others.
