The no-nonsense guide to working remotely with no experience

By Jeff Altman, Big Game Hunter

1. Give up mass applications and acquire niche markets

Stop looking for generic “remote customer service” jobs. It’s a quantity game and you will lose to AI applications and experienced candidates.

• Target specific industries: Focus on the following industries always Need entry-level remote help: software as a service (Software as a Service), Educational Technologyand health technology. These companies typically grow quickly and are built for distributed teams.

• “Entry” role: Look for roles that are inherently suited to remote work and serve as a stepping stone to excellence. think:

  • Data entry/annotation: Companies need to perform basic, tedious tasks remotely. It proves that you can be reliable and manage your time.

  • Virtual Assistant (Professional): Don’t just provide generic VA services. supply niche VA support such as Podcast Scheduling Assistant or E-commerce Product List Manager.

• Experience proves: Your experience gap must be determined by Proof of ability. This means creating a skill setrather than a combination of past work.

2. Build your “remote-ready” portfolio

Since you have no work experience, you need to prove that you have Remote work skills company needs.

• Skill: Emphasis on soft skills that translate directly to remote success: Asynchronous communication, Self-management/time limitsand Digital Tool Proficiency (Slack, Asana, Notion, Google Workspace).

• Project-based proof:

  • volunteer: Provide pro bono work (remotely of course) for a local nonprofit or small business. Proactively manage their social media calendar or organize their database. This is a real project with real deadlines that you can use as a reference.

  • Certification: Get free or low-cost certification on work-related tools. HubSpot Academy for marketing/sales, Google Analyticsor a project management Courses on Coursera. These demonstrate initiative and verifiable skills.

• Use the right tools: Proficient in tools used by remote teams. List them on your resume and talk about them during interviews. example: “I use Asana to manage my volunteer project schedule…”

3. “Contract Rental” Gateway

The biggest risk for companies hiring new employees remotely is commitment. Reduce risk by accepting a contractual role.

• court: Search for “contract,” “freelance,” “temporary,” or “intern” roles. Many remote internships are now paid and available year-round.

• Why it works: The company prefers to offer entry-level candidates 3-month contracts rather than full-time, permanent positions. Once you join, you prove your value and you become a full-time, permanent employee. This is how many experienced remote workers really get started.

4. Leverage remote-specific job boards

Don’t get overwhelmed by LinkedIn’s generic pool anymore. Go to places specifically posted about remote jobs.

• Specific remote board: Check the website e.g. We work remotely, remote companyand flexible working (While the latter usually costs a small fee, it filters out a lot of junk).

• Reverse search: Find a company you admire Known to be 100% remote (e.g. Automattic, GitLab, Zapier). Go directly to their career page and look for their lowest level role. They often hire entry-level “associates” or “experts” because their entire culture is already set up for remote onboarding.

Bottom line: no experience does not mean No skills. This means you need exhibit your skills, prove your reliability, and Target A company that aims to train entry-level personnel remotely. Now get to work.

Ⓒ Big Game Hunters, Asheville, NC 2025

“Looking for remote jobs”

About big game hunter Jeff Altman

Jeff Altman, Big Game Hunter is a coach who has been a recruiter for a hundred years. His work spans career coaching, executive job coaching, job coaching, and interview coaching. He is the host of “No BS Job Search Advice Radio,” the #1 job search podcast on iTunes with over 3,100 episodes.

Are you interested in 1:1 coaching, interview coaching, advice on more effective networking, how to negotiate an offer, or leadership coaching? Schedule a discovery call on my website, www.TheBigGameHunter.us

Connect with me on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/thebiggamehunter Mention that you listen to the podcast or watch my YouTube channel.

Looking for a job with nowhere to go? Kindle version of “Diagnose Your Job Search Problem” on Amazon and get free Kindle versions of “No-BS Resume Advice” and “Interview Prep.”

If you want to start your search, order “Prepared for the Work Jungle” on Amazon

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