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Digital Nomad Stories
Digital Nomad Stories
Remote Work Freedom: Transition, Balance, and Career Mastery
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Transitioning from office cubicle to the autonomy of remote work is no small feat, and Juliana's candid sharing of her transition, equipped with psychological know-how and recruitment acumen, is nothing short of inspiring.
She recounts the tactical steps that secured her place in the digital nomad pantheon, from preserving a safety net while freelancing to launching her own career coaching enterprise.
Our conversation is a treasure trove for those ready to transform their careers and seize the freedom that beckons beyond the traditional workplace.
Connect with Juliana:
- On LinkedIn
- @juliana.rabbi on instagram
- YouTube
Connect with Anne:
- Leave a review or voice message at digitalnomadstories.co
- On instagram @annes_nomadstory
- Learn more about my business: The Podcast Babes
Digital Nomad's Balance of Flexibility
Speaker 1Hey Nomads , welcome to Digital Nomad Stories , the podcast . My name is Anna Claessen and , together with my co-host , kendra Hasse , we interview digital nomads . Why ? Because we want to share stories of how they did it . We talk about remote work , online business , location and dependency , freelancing , travel and , of course , the digital nomad lifestyle . Do you want to know more about us and access all previous episodes ? Visit digitalnomadsdoriesco . Alright , let's go into today's episode . Hey Nomads , welcome to a new episode of Digital Nomad Stories . Today , I'm here with Juliana Robby . She is here to talk about her own digital nomad life , of course , but also to give us some really good tips on how to land remote jobs . She is a career coach for remote jobs , so she knows a lot about this topic . I've been following her for a while and I know that she has the best tips and advice for us today , so I'm very excited to have you on the show today , juliana Welcome .
Speaker 2Thank you , happy to be here , Ani . Thanks for the invitation .
Speaker 1Yeah . So first of all , can you share a little bit about where you are today , like where are we recording this interview , and kind of like what life looks like for you ?
Speaker 2I am today in Barcelona , spain , a sunny day , nice weather here , like most of the year . I actually lived in Barcelona before it started my digital nomad life , so it always feels good to come back . I have friends here . Like the city , I know how to navigate it well and life today is looking very flexible . I would say when I look back at times that I was going to an office and having a very structure and I don't know ordinary life . I would say it looks much more flexible now . It looks much more aligned to the way I want to live it .
Speaker 2It's not perfect . I still keep changing things and my goals also keep changing and my struggles keep changing as I move into this digital nomad life and I go deeper into it . But yeah , I really like to be able to choose how I organize my day , my agenda . So yesterday , for example , I remember I started working at 11.30 am because I wanted to go to two classes in the gym and then I came back home , I went to the supermarket before took a shower . So , like I find I'm very lucky to be able to choose on a random Wednesday to start working at 11.30 am , it's true that I was working until 8.39 , but I have this flexibility . So I think flexibility is a word that could define how life looks like for me at the moment .
Speaker 1Amazing . That is absolutely the dream , right . I think that flexibility is what a lot of people are looking for , especially nowadays . So how would you then say what does your typical work week or week in general look like ? Do you have a certain structure , with work and going to the gym , things like that , or free time that you use , or is it just really dependent on the week or maybe even a day , and you just it maybe changes a lot ?
Speaker 2It changes depending also on where I am , the location , the country and the city that I am and the options that are available around . So this year 2023 , I've been very intentional about going to the gym and keep fit and be more physically active . So since the beginning of this year , I'm very proud to say that I have been going to the gym like most of the days , including weekdays , and this has given me a lot of energy . It just feels like I'm a morning person , so I'd like to start my day taking care of myself , doing something for myself . So journaling , a little bit of journaling this is something I have been doing for years already . I even travel with a small five-minute journal Paper book right , I travel with that . And , yeah , in the past 10 months , I have been going to the gym early in the morning , basically every day . So whenever I travel , I try to find a gym close by or , if I don't have access to it , I like to do yoga at home . So I like to start my day . The beginning of the morning , at least , is for myself . So I do some journaling , I like to do some physical activity and then I have breakfast , shower and then I start working . So most of the mornings look like that . But then it can change which class I do , where do I do my journey , if I go for a walk , if I do yoga at home , if I go to the gym and all of that , and then I like to work also in the morning .
Speaker 2I'm very productive in the morning . I have a lot of energy . I can work from home , depending on where I am , if I have like a good , proper working table , silence and all of that . Sometimes I go to a working space , sometimes I go to a coffee shop . So it really depends on the kind of task I have to do . So as a coach I have a lot of calls with my clients , so I prefer to be home or in a working space that has a designated space for calls . I don't like to be talking in open space where other people can hear , because of the privacy of my clients and also because I don't need to worry about how high my voice is . I'm fully concentrated on the call and not like when I'm speaking too loud . So I prefer , like , quiet space for calls . But then if I have more admin tasks there are some creative stuff , content creation , whatever then I like to go to a coffee shop and to a working space , for example . So it really changes according to the task I have during the day .
Speaker 2I like to meet friends for lunch it's an option or to work together with them or do some errands during the day . That's the flexibility that we can have , so I can easily go to the supermarket at 1 pm or I can go for a shop that I need to buy something at 3 pm . So this flexibility also depends on the day , depends on the need , depends on what I have to do , and then at the end of the working day sometimes I just stay home reading and relaxing . Sometimes I socialize , I go to some networking events , I'm going to meet some friends for dinner . I go for a walk , depending on where I am . So if I'm by the beach , I might go for a sunset walk or just read by the beach , or yeah . So I don't know , it depends .
Speaker 2I try to keep a certain level of routine , because I figured it out . I don't know about you , annie , but the times I try to go completely crazy and have no routine and just go with the flow . It didn't really work out well for me . So a certain level of routine , like my morning routine . It really like centers me and gives me the energy that I need for the day . How is it for you ? Do you have some kind of routine or you ?
Speaker 1go like Definitely no , I definitely do have a routine and I also like what you said , that you can be flexible within that routine . I also try to do that Like I have my work hours that can be working , or like I don't know , like my normal working hours , and then I can always decide you know what , I'm going to start late today , or I will stop early or in like I don't know , do a longer break in between or something like that . Or maybe start early , right , and also finish early . But I think for me , having a set like part of my day , that I , that my intention is working , at least that really helps .
Speaker 1Like you said so also because then you don't feel like you're missing out on the place where you are at that moment , like the location , the destination . Because I used to do that more towards the start of my Nomad Live , where I was like , oh , we'll just , we'll see , and then when I was working , I felt guilty for not exploring . But then when I was exploring I felt guilty for not working . And now I never have that because I have those set hours that I quote unquote should be working , and then you know you can still decide not to do it . Yeah , if you can , right , If it's one of those weeks . So , yeah , no , I absolutely agree and I feel like we have a similar schedule .
Speaker 1What I also love what you said of taking a moment for yourself in the morning before you start work . I think that is a really beautiful practice and it's also something that I quite recently started doing and I love it . It just it makes , makes my days feel so much longer , because in the morning you have you have all your energy and it's , I think it's a beautiful thing to spend it on something that is important to you , whether that is going to the gym or otherwise , maybe a hobby , but doing something for yourself . I think that's a really beautiful practice .
Speaker 2Yeah , and that was a big change because I remember when I was going to the office there was one time specifically that I had to like drive to the train station to go to the office . Then I was taking the train , then I was taking the bus and then I was walking for like 10 minutes . So it was already like a long journey just to get to the office and be there at 9am . I was waking up very early , taking a shower , having a quick breakfast , starting all this journey . So I was already in action mode as soon as I opened my eyes and you know , by 9am I was . I was almost tired . It's like wow , I could go back to bed because it was such a journey just to get to the office .
Speaker 2So now that I can structure my morning in a different way , it feels so empowering and it feels like , you know , this is one of the reasons why I changed my life , why I went remote , because I want to be more in charge of my schedule . I want to add those small things . For some people it might not be that important , but because I'm a morning person and because I know I'm my best energy , my best mood , my best creativity mode in the morning . It just feels right and feels like a pleasure to dedicate these initial hours of the morning to myself . For some people it might look like in the evening , right , but for me it's like the morning and it has been serving me very , very well .
Speaker 1Amazing .
Office to Remote Career Transition
Speaker 1So can you talk a little bit more about what you did before ? You were a digital nomads , a career coach , like what did you , what did you do when you worked in an office and then , like , how did you transition out of that into the career that you have now ?
Speaker 2Yeah , so my background is in psychology . I studied psychology , I have a master in HR , so for 20 years almost around that I have been working with careers , job interviews , people looking for a job . So this has been my background and the topics I talk about every single day , but of course , it had different shapes . So I was working as a recruiter for 15 years . So I started with office jobs . I had different jobs or multinational companies , different countries and all of that I'm from Brazil . Then I moved to Spain . I lived many years in Spain and I worked as a recruiter for 15 years .
Speaker 2And then at some point that was specifically end of 2013 , there was some change in the company I was working for . There was some layoffs , and my manager at the time he said look , basically we have two options for you or you're going to need to , you know , let you go to layoff , are you going to be part of the layoff , or you we can change your contract to another company of the group . So you're going to do the same job , is still going to be a recruiter , but you won't be able to come to the office anymore because the office for this company is located in another city . This was back in 2013 . And then I told him but then , where I'm going to work from ? I had no idea , right , my mind couldn't picture that . And he said , well , I think you're going to need to work from home , let's see how it works . So there was no , it was not a remote company , nobody was working remotely . So I was one of the first , if not the first , doing that and I didn't know if it was going to work out , if I was going to like it . I have never done it before . But then I was like , yeah , instead of losing my job , let me just give it a try to it .
Speaker 2So , first of January 2014 , not by choice , but because of the circumstances , right , I started working from home , and it took me just a few months to start actually loving it . I was like , wow , this is perfect , I can do my job from home . I had two dogs at the time , so I was playing with the dogs , I was having lunch outside , so , you know , all those small things start being part of my life and I loved it . So it was really really good . But , funny enough , I didn't choose it . It just like happened to me and I started , you know , embracing it , and then I ended up moving to the city where the office , the new office , was located and I was like , okay , so I'm just going to go back to the office , right , that's the logic choice .
Speaker 2And then I went back to the office for like a month and I realized , like , what is the point , like I don't need to be here . I did the same job that I was going to do at home , right , and I was a recruiter , so I was . It was still Skype at that time , so I'm a bit old here , but I was still doing Skype interviews , yeah , a lot of the time . So I was , you know , in the office , inside the room with the door closed , and I was like , no , it doesn't make sense , I'm much better at home . So after this one month back in the office , I went back working from home . So I experienced the traditional working from home .
Speaker 2Then I start traveling , a little bit for pleasure , because I had to travel a lot because of work . But I start traveling for my own personal travels and trips and work from the different places that I was traveling to . And then at some point I was like you know what ? I want to travel even more , I want to be even more in charge of my agenda . So I want to take my career to the next level . I don't want to be remote but attached to a location .
Speaker 2So I took two years . It was 2018 , 2019 . My life went upside down . I hired a life coach . I was like thinking and designing what I was going to do next in my career .
Speaker 2I considered several options and then I decided to start my own business . But in the meantime I was like I'm going to still keep my remote job . I started doing freelancer gigs and I started my own business . So at that point I was working like 12 hours per day . I was just working because I wanted to have incomes before I could remove my remote job . That was the fixed income I had at the time .
Speaker 2So I did this career transition in a very intense way , but it made sense to me . I didn't want to just quit and then start looking . I want to create a new option while I still had safety net , let's say , of my remote job , and then at some point I quit my job . I remained with the freelancer gigs and then my own business , and then at some point I stopped the freelancer gigs and I started my business . So I went from working from home to traveling a little bit and working from time to time from different locations , to now that I have my own business as a career coach and I helped professionals to lend a remote job in their life as they want , with the flexibility that they want , and I can't even work from anywhere . So , yeah , that's where I am at the moment . That's not shall my remote story .
Speaker 1Yeah , amazing , you really went through so many
Remote Work Freedom
Speaker 1transitions . I feel like , you know , like working from home without even choosing it , but kind of like being pushed in that direction . You know , thank you , universe , for providing that direction , right , yeah ? I had like looking back now , so that's so interesting .
Speaker 1But then also going back to the office thinking , no , this is not it . And with the remote job that you had at the time , could you only travel within Spain or within Europe ? Or how is that ? Were there certain rules that you had to keep in mind ?
Speaker 2I had to talk to my manager and get like a verbal agreement , but I was traveling internationally also . Yeah , I was traveling internationally , but I was still . It was still , you know , I had to be in Spain at the time . That's why at some point I was like I want to take my career to the next flexibility level . Yeah , exactly . And then I started making all the arrangements .
Speaker 2So I always say that to people like there are different levels and different ways that you can work remotely . So people might think , oh , a remote job looks like this , but there is no shape . There is no one shape that fits all . So some people just need the flexibility . I have clients like that . They say look , all I want is to be able to pick up my kids at school and to have lunch with them . That's more than enough . So a job that I can work from home is all that I need , and maybe when the kids grow up their needs for flexibility will be different . But right now for some people it's just like I just want to work from home . Some people want to be able to travel from time to time . So like a work case and a two , three months work case at summertime somewhere , that's all that they need , and some people like me , they want to be able to travel from anywhere . They don't want to have a fixed agenda , so an async company will be better for them , having autonomy through their schedule . But not everybody needs the same thing .
Speaker 2So I experienced different levels of flexibility and different ways of working remotely , even regarding the contract . So first I was working as an employee to a company , so I had a remote contract working for one company and I added some freelancer gigs . So I had different clients that I was providing services to them . I was invoicing those clients , I was choosing the clients I wanted to work , the service I was providing , how long I was going to be with those clients , and then I started my own business . So I now definitely choose my clients to service . I have people helping me . I have a small team . So there are different shapes also that the remote work can have , depending on your needs , depending on the stage you are in your life , depending on how many hours you want to put , depending on the income you want to have . So there's a lot of flexibility out there that people might not see at a first glance .
Speaker 1Absolutely . Yeah , when I started nomadding , my only kind of requirement that I really wanted was location freedom . I was like what I need to do or how much money I earn or what the actual work is , I just want to be able to do it from wherever I want to . That was the only thing I wanted . Then , when I reached that , I was like , okay , this is fun , but I feel like I also need a little bit more financial freedom , and I mean financial freedom in the sense that I could make enough money so that I could also pay for living anywhere . So I don't mean necessarily like being retired , but just making enough money in the job that I had .
Speaker 1So that was like the second level for me . And then the third level for me personally is time freedom . So it is really fun to live wherever you want to live or travel around , but if you don't have the time to actually enjoy it and you're just staring at a computer screen all day , then is it actually that much fun ? And I think for some people it also depends how much time you need to really enjoy a place . Like , probably for many people it is fine to work 40 hours a week and you know then the rest of the time enjoy a place . For me , apparently , it's not .
Speaker 1But that's like the next level , I feel like I always say that I am mentally ready for retirement , just financially not yet .
Speaker 2So maybe that's the next level of freedom .
Speaker 2But , it's nice to think about your journey in different layers , right ? So when you started , all you wanted was I want to be able to travel and to be whatever I want . And then , once you achieve that level , you kind of see around that there are other options so I can also make more money , so I don't need to use my savings . So you go for the next level and then when you achieve that , you're like now I want to work less hours because I want to enjoy even more the places that I am . So that's perfectly fine , and that's what I tell a lot to my clients . It's like your first remote job doesn't need to be the job you're going to spend the rest of your life . Like people are not thinking about retirement . Most of people , right , barely think about retirement . Like this job that I start today it's going to be the job I'm going to retire with . So it's the same approach with remote job . It can be a job that meets your requirements at the moment . It can be a job that will give you experience to start your remote career , to get a feeling of it , to see if it works out well for you or not , to learn the adjustments you need to make to play a little bit with it making some travels , maybe changing your schedule and going to the gym at lunchtime . I was talking to a client and she was like all that I want she'll be able to take a longer lunch break , go to the gym , go to the sauna , take a shower . Then I come back and I work . So for her , this is what she's looking for and that's how a remote job is going to serve her at the moment . Right , she's not thinking about traveling at the moment , but maybe in a few years she's going to consider that or depend on your personal situation If you have kids , if you have a partner , if you live with your family , if you live alone . So it can take so many shapes and it's okay if you start with a goal and then , during your remote or digital nomad career , you change the goal and you go for something else .
Speaker 2I think that's the normal journey of life . If we knew everything already , it would be easier , but we don't have like a crystal ball . So as soon as you walk a little bit , you figure it out oh , there's more out there , or this is not making me happy anymore . Right , I want more . It was like this for me . So at the beginning it was fine to travel from time to time .
Speaker 2Then , at a certain point , I was like I want to make traveling my lifestyle and my friends are like , oh , but you already travel a lot . So also be careful with who you listen to , right , because people from the outside they might say , oh , your life , they used to tell me that already . Oh , you're living in Barcelona , you have a remote job already , you travel a lot , your apartment is super cool , so you already have a perfect life . Why do you want more ? But deep inside , I knew I wanted more .
Speaker 2So I started surrounding myself only with people that were living the way I wanted to live .
Speaker 2You know , instead of listening to people who thought that I had everything already , because I didn't feel like that , I was like I want to be surrounded , I want to learn from people who are in the next level . So that's when I started proactively attending digital normal defense . I was like I want to be with those people , I want to have conversations with them , I want to see how they approach life and their routine and all of that . So I intentionally started using my holidays at the time to travel to digital normal events and I was going before and staying longer . So instead of a three days event , I was staying maybe two , three weeks there to really experience and put myself into the situation of the next level of flexibility , because that's what I wanted to test it out to have in my life . So , once you know what you want , surround yourself with people who are living that reality , because that's going to make your life much easier and you learn from them , definitely definitely easier , absolutely .
Speaker 1One of the insights that I had early on in my nomad life was , like I said , my first steps into digital nomad life was I just want to live wherever , I don't want to go home .
Speaker 1That was the only thing , and I'll do whatever to make the money that I need to make , as long as it's online , so that I can just do it on my computer while traveling . That was the only thing , and in my mind I felt like I had to choose between a career or a traveling lifestyle . But after a few months , or like within that first year , I realized you know what . You actually don't have to choose , because there are people who are still very career focused and very ambitious and also working remotely and traveling , and I understand that that is exactly the people that you work with professionals who are really career focused , who want to work remotely . So it is a honours and possible . How would you say , does looking for a remote job for professionals ? How does that differ from looking for a normal job Like ? What are the main differences that we have to keep in mind ?
Speaker 2A normal job . Yeah , that's funny . A lot of people do this expression A normal job and then a remote job .
Speaker 2A real job , a office job , a regular job , a standard job , I mean some things will be similar , right , you need to be good at what you do . You need to make a choice at some point . So forget about any remote job . Is fine for me , I just want to have a remote job . No , you need to net it down at some point . You need to target the companies you want to work for . You need to show up as a professional , so your resume needs to be good , your LinkedIn profile . You need to perform
Starting a Remote Career
Speaker 2well in the interview . So this is the same for any job searching that you're doing , for a normal job or for a remote job . But when it comes to start your remote career , I think there are some specific aspects to consider , right ? So one thing is to be open to different jobs that are not necessarily the jobs that you have done , because maybe if you try to translate exactly the job you're doing now to a remote job , you might find it A lot of jobs can be done remotely . So , especially now after the pandemic and all of that , it's much easier .
Speaker 2But if you're not happy with the job you're doing now or with your career , don't make the mistake of I'm going to keep doing the same thing that I hate . That I have been hating for 10 years , but you know I have experience on it , so I'll just keep doing it . Don't do this . If you're going to change , make sure that you go for something that you like or at least that you don't hate . I always say that right . I believe that the change they should be for better . So if you have the chance to go for a new job , try to find something that brings you pleasure . That will motivate you to keep going , because , yeah , like . Why going for something that you know already that you don't like ? So if you are happy with your career , with your background , with your studies , you just want to go remote , but you don't want to change your area , you actually like what you do , then go for it and search for similar job titles . That's the easiest way .
Speaker 2But if you're not happy with your career journey , if you want to change , make sure you go for something that you like , or you think you're going to like at least , and check also the reality of the job market . So , instead of going back to the university , paying a super expensive MBA or waiting to feel 100% prepared , check what are the demands of the job market , what are remote companies looking for ? So you can adjust the needs that are out there with something that you know , something that you like , something that you can easily learn , and then you make the career transition . So I think you should be very intentional when searching for a remote job , which is the opposite of what I see . Normally . People say I'm open to any remote job , as far as it is remote , right . So make some choices , and if you're flexible , it's even better , because if you're not only going for one job , you have more options , but still you need to make a choice .
Speaker 2So , being intentional about it , and then you understand also what is interesting for remote companies regarding skills , regarding experience , and you make sure that you highlight that . So small things like communication , for example , that might seem obvious . It's like , yeah , I mean obviously that I can communicate , right , we are talking here right now . I send messages , I send emails , I write . It's more than that . So when you work remotely , some skills they are highly in demand , because lack of communication can be a big problem when you work remotely , right . So I sent you the email . I assumed you received it . I never checked and then you're late for the meeting , I didn't confirm the attendance . All those small things will make a big difference . So understand what remote companies are looking for , the skills , the experience , and then you highlight that in all your marketing materials , like in your resume , linkedin profile , when you approach a recruiter , when you're networking with someone .
Speaker 2So start being familiar with the reality of the remote job market , because a lot of people they come to me and they say I have no idea what remote companies are looking for , which kind of jobs , and all of that when you need to start bringing this reality closer to you , if you want to be part of this reality , just like I did going to digital nomad events and started at the beginning I knew nothing , I knew nobody , I don't even know which kind of conversations I was going to have with those people . But once you go , once , twice , you start following them , you do a follow up , you start reading about it , you get more familiar . So get yourself closer to this environment of remote companies , people that work remotely . What do they do ? Which kind of jobs they have ? Can I connect with them ? Can I chat with them ? Can I eventually go in one informal online call with them ? And the answer is yes , of course you can , and that's how you learn and that's how you create networking .
Speaker 2So another thing that is important in this process of landing a remote job is creating networking with people who are working remotely .
Speaker 2And this is funny because a lot of my clients , when they start the journey with me , they say you know , this networking thing doesn't work for me . I tried already but it doesn't work out or I don't like networking that's a very common thing or it doesn't work for me because my case is different , because my situation is different , and what they normally mean is like I send three code emails , I copy and paste the same emails , I send it to three people . They never replied . So Therefore , I'm assuming my conclusion is that networking doesn't work out for me , right ? So there are different ways you do network and it will definitely open doors for you , not only professionally , but regarding friendship , regarding tips about where to go about cool companies , to work for , people you can meet when you arrive at a new destination , people that can introduce you to new people that might open doors that you have never thought about . So the networking part , both in the remote work , in the digital nomad work , are extremely important , right ?
Speaker 1Yeah , absolutely yes , I used to be one of those people who said I hate networking , but I think one thing you just said really stood out to me , which is there are a lot of different ways to network . Right , like sending cold emails yes , it's one way . Or having informal coffees with people that's another way . But , especially in the , in nomad world , there are so many events that you can go to , like conferences , like you mentioned , that you can go to , but also just being like doing the thing , being in nomad hubs , for example , and like literally you go to a cafe , you see 10 nomads sitting there . So it's really easy , it's ? You always have something to talk about . Or my newest hack is staying in a co-living space , because you literally live with them for a certain time and you will automatically network . And it's really , it's really organic way to do it . It's not forced like Hello , this is who I am and this is what I do , but like it's a really natural , right yeah it's really natural , it's really easy and you automatically make those also deeper connections .
Speaker 1So I think that's just a really interesting way to also keep in mind , like that's also networking and that can also you can also learn from those experiences .
Speaker 2So I think that's a learn and have fun , make friends and develop your career and work together , do business together , know about a remote company that you have never heard about , and then you ended up being referred to that company . So there are so many possibilities that happen when you connect with people . So , as you said , there are levels . So maybe at the beginning you're just like I just need any remote job to start traveling and having more flexibility . That's fine . But I think it's nice to bring to your audience this light that hey , there is more out there . You can be a successful professional . You can be like a very business driven person .
Speaker 2I am business driven person , I am ambitious , I have my own company . That's why I never really considered take a sabbatical year or being a backpacker and traveling . I wanted the travel part in my life but I wanted to keep developing my career because I like what I do , I like the impact I make . This career thing has been present in my life for so many years so I didn't want to leave it behind . So I was like how can I keep developing my career but bringing more of the things that I like ? In my case it was the traveling part . So working remotely allows you to keep being an amazing professional , be paid what you deserve , but on the top of that , have the flexibility level that you want and it can look like working from home and pick up your kids at school , spend time with your dog , travel a couple of months per year , take care of a familiar that needs your assistance , or just travel like we do . So different shapes , different ways , and your own needs might change from time to time .
Speaker 1Yes , I think . Huge takeaway for sure . I have one final question for you , juliana , before I let you go , because one thing I also hear a lot of people say , and I'm usually on the other side of the hiring process now , where I hire people into my company and for many remote jobs , literally hundreds of people apply for the same job .
Speaker 1Oh , I know that so my question for you is how to stand out within hundreds and hundreds of applicants . How can I try to get my application as a remote job ? How do you say that Remote job Stand out ? Yeah , exactly Like as an applicant . How can I make my application stand out ?
Speaker 2Yeah , this is very common and I know examples of jobs that were posted like two or three days ago literally , and then you have 500 applicants , which is ridiculous if you think about it right . So I was a recruiter for many years , so I know a bit what happens on the backstage . So let me , let me just share that .
Remote Job Networking and Strategies
Speaker 2I always say that let's pick up a 100 applicants , just to make the math easier . Out of 100 applicants , easily , easily , I will say that 60% of those people they didn't bother reading the job description . They don't care if they meet the requirements or not , they just click in , apply . Especially if it is a easy application process , like on LinkedIn , you have the easy apply bottom right , so you just literally click once , then a window pops up , you attach your resume and that's it . So in those cases especially , 60% easily of the people who applied , they don't meet the requirements , but they are there , so the number is there . So don't be impressed by those big numbers . Remember , out of 100 , approximately 60 , they directly will be eliminated because they don't meet the requirements . So you're actually competing with 40 applicants right Out of 11 , out of 100 , just as an example . Then I would say that probably 10% of those applicants . They are better than you , because probably there are people out there that are better than you . I don't know your profile , but still I can guess that . And then the real people you're competing it's like 30 people out of 100 . And then that's when your profile needs to be better , the tasks you're going to do , the interview process and all of that . But just this initial comment , that don't get so impressed or don't get paralyzed by oh , if I see 500 applicants , then it's a waste of time , it's not worth it to apply . So you can apply .
Speaker 2But what I will suggest is that before you apply , actually you start creating a relationship with people in that specific remote company you want to work for . So my suggestion is actually like don't focus that much into the application process , because that's the old way to land off jobs and remote jobs . The modern way is more through networking so people in that remote company . That's why we should target the remote companies we want to work for . They should know you before you apply for the job . And what do I mean by that ? It's not necessary that you have to meet the CEO of the remote company in person . It might happen in one of the events that you mentioned right , but this relationship can be perfectly created online and LinkedIn is a great tool to do it . So , even before there is a position , you're already chatting , connecting , commenting the content of people who work in those companies , especially the ones who work in the department you want to work for . That's why you need to target at some point which kind of remote job you want to do .
Speaker 2Not every remote job , anything is valid . So you can target a couple of job titers or areas or departments at least , and then intentionally network with people in those departments , so people that will be your future colleagues once you're going to work together , or people in one level above . So the hiring managers , because they are the decision makers . They are the ones that are going to choose between you or the other candidates . So , if you're already part of their ecosystem , if they know that you exist , if they know your name , if you have exchanged a few methods , eventually met in person when you apply for the job , your name won't be only one more out there . Like you are someone that they know . Or , even better , they might even say you know what ? Just send me your resume and I'm going to send it directly to Human Resource .
Speaker 2So you kind of shortcut , instead of going through the traditional application process and having your resume together with the other 500 people out there , you kind of take a shortcut which is valid , which is a correct way , so it's not that you are doing something illegal or not following the rules . So the referral process , for example , it is something that happens in companies . So if you can be referred by someone that works in that company , you shortcut the process and if they know you're ready , that also increase the chance that at least they want to interview you for their position . So I know it's scary to find a lot of people applying for remote jobs , but keep in mind that most of them are just applying , even if they don't meet the requirements , and they are doing nothing else .
Speaker 2So if you combine that with the networking , with participating in events that are even online events like online job fairs , presentations or webinars that people from those companies do , that you can join and then you can ask a question , and then you can send a follow-up email and say , hey , I loved your presentation the other day . I learned so much . That's how you start appearing in a professional and natural way to those people and then , when there is a position , it's like , oh , maybe Yannick would be a good fit , and then they contact you and say , hey , yannick , there is a position in our company . Do you think you would be interested ? I thought about you . How amazing is that people think about you for a position and you don't need to apply for it . So I would say don't worry too much about how many people are applying , and do other things outside of the application only .
Speaker 1I think that's so smart . And I also just wanted to add one more thing . In my experience , the way I set up our hiring process in my company , if there are questions that are not required , or that's like the bonus points questions or I always do when I hire someone for bonus points you can create a short video just introducing yourself the people who do that . They literally get bonus points , and I don't think I've ever hired anyone who has not done that .
Speaker 2So just put yourself , just saying yeah , just saying Little tip here .
Speaker 1Yeah , I think , yeah .
Speaker 2So we need to go an extra mile , do a little bit more . You probably will stand out , and I understand that this can be complicated because some recruitment process they already take so long , they have so many steps and the job searching process can be exhausting . So I understand all of that and with my clients , we always try to optimize and identify the tasks that will make more difference . Right , that we have a big impact . So what you shared is amazing .
Speaker 2One video presentation video that you record with your phone . It doesn't need to be edited . They're super complicated with a music background and you're paying someone to edit the video . No , no , just put your phone in a stable place , get a decent , lightening dress up properly , watch your background and you record a two minutes video introducing yourself , saying why you are motivated for that job , why you like that specific company , what you can bring to the table and send that together with your resume . You are saying that there's a private message on LinkedIn , whatever . That's exactly what you are saying . So it can be something that will take you 10 minutes thinking about the guidelines , getting dressed and all of that , and then the record is like two minutes . But those 10 minutes can be an amazing use of your time and it will make this impact that it just mentioned . Like wow , nobody that I hired didn't do this . So , in other words , everybody that I hired , they went extra mile some way . So those are the things that can make all the difference .
Speaker 1Exactly , I think . Great tip . What I'm hearing you say is just not to apply to a hundred different remote jobs and just spreading yourself super thin and just apply for whatever . No , you target specifically the companies that you want to work for , the departments that you want to work in , and then for those limited amount of applications that you will send out , you also will have the time to go the extra mile . So what I'm hearing you say it's better to go the extra mile for a few applications instead of just sending out hundreds and just see what happens there , which I think is an amazing lesson Less is more , Less is more .
Speaker 2Quality quality over quantity . Yes , quality over quantity .
Speaker 1I love it . Well , juliana , thank you so much for being here today and sharing your own digital nomad story , but also sharing all your tips and tricks for landing remote jobs . I think this was an amazing episode . I can't wait to share it with our audience . Before I let you go , can you please tell us where we can find you online and where we can get all of your other tips ? See where you're traveling to and just stay connected to you ? Yes , sure .
Speaker 2So if you search for Juliana Rabi , my surname is RABBI Maybe you can also share the links . I am very active on LinkedIn . It's my main social media . I'm also active on Instagram . I have a YouTube channel also . At the moment that are like , I think , 106 videos about remote jobs , career , job interviews and all of that . So those are the three main channels that people can find me LinkedIn , instagram and also in my YouTube channel . So just search for Juliana Rabi and you're going to find me there and say hi , say that you heard a podcast show and it's always nice when I know where people are coming from , so it feels really , really good . So don't be shy , say hi and say where you knew me from .
Speaker 1Yes , and you can also click the links in the show notes , because I will put the links to all the channels that Juliana just mentioned in the show notes , so click there . Make sure to connect with Juliana . I got all her other tips because , like she said , she has over 100 videos , so much content for you to look into . So definitely do that , juliana . Thank you again for being here today , thank you for listening and until next time . And that's it for today . Thank you so much for listening . I appreciate it very , very much . I would appreciate it even more if you could leave a review on Apple Podcasts for me . That way , more people can find this podcast , more people can hear the inspiring stories that we're sharing , and the more people we can impact for the better . So , thank you so much if you are going to leave a review , I really appreciate you and I will see you in the next episode .