Applying for Remote Jobs: Key Strategies and Frameworks

Jun 22, 2024

Applying for Remote Jobs: Key Strategies and Frameworks

Overview

In this video lecture, the speaker outlines a framework for applying to remote jobs, particularly in early-stage startups. The lecture is divided into two main parts:

  1. Finding Companies: How to identify and evaluate potential employers.
  2. Making Contributions: Steps to impress potential employers before interviewing.

Key Points

Part 1: Finding Companies

Criteria for Target Companies

  • Focus on companies that have raised funding, ideally Series A or $10M+.
  • For this video, the focus is on companies with $0.5M to a few million dollars in funding.
  • Early-stage companies, especially those hiring offshore engineers.

Websites and Strategies

  • Use fundraising platforms: Check how much funds companies have raised.
  • Apply selectively: Avoid spamming resumes. Be strategic in choosing companies.

Initial Steps to Evaluate Compatibility

  • Research the company thoroughly before applying.
  • Provide value (e.g., contributions to their projects) before applying.

Part 2: Making Contributions

15-20 Day Window of Contribution

  • Engage actively and contribute to the company for a period of 15-20 days before applying.
  • Examples of contributions: open source projects, project enhancements, or writing blog posts.

Strategies to Impress

  • Understand their needs: Show a deep understanding of their business and technology stack.
  • Build something relevant: Create tools or features that would be useful for the company.
  • Direct contributions: Actively contribute to their open-source projects if available.

Common Pitfalls

  • Avoid using AI tools like GPT to generate contributions without understanding the codebase.
  • Do not spam the same resume to multiple companies.
  • Focus on quality over quantity in your applications.

Important Considerations

  • Skill Level: Ensure you have relevant skills before starting the application process. Remote jobs require high levels of proficiency from day one.
  • Beginner Advice: Complete beginners should first build relevant technical skills before attempting to apply.
  • Advantages of Offshore Engineers: Lower costs and potentially high skill levels can be advantageous.
  • Persistence: Two to four weeks of consistent contributions to showcase your dedication and skill level before reaching out to the company.
  • Follow-Up: If no communication after initial contributions, follow up with the company showing your work.

Sample Roles in Startups

  • Frontend Engineer: Strong portfolio of UIs, live project demos preferable.
  • Fullstack Engineer: Competence in popular stacks (e.g., MERN, Python, Node.js).
  • AI Engineer: Familiarity with GPT APIs and building practical AI applications.
  • DevOps Engineer: Proficiency in tools like Docker, Kubernetes, CI/CD pipelines.
  • Mobile Engineer: Experience with mobile app development (less common but still useful).
  • Designer and Smart Contract Engineer: Expert skills in design or blockchain (e.g., Solidity, Rust).

Practical Steps to Identify Companies

  • Accelerators: Look at companies recently funded by accelerators (e.g., Y Combinator, TechStars).
  • Websites: Utilize websites like Y Combinator's 'companies' section to find startups.
  • Categories: Focus on AI companies, developer tools, or other niche sectors depending on your skill set.

Example Contributions and Approaches

  • Front-End: Rebuild a company’s landing page or create a design portfolio relevant to their aesthetic.
  • Open Source: Contribute to an open-source project the company maintains or find one with clear issues that need solving.
  • Libraries and Integrations: Create useful libraries or API integrations that can be valuable to the company.
  • Collaboration Tools: Build or enhance tools like collaborative editors to showcase practical utility.

Conclusion

  • Effort and Customization: Emphasize deep contributions and understanding of the company’s needs rather than broad, shallow applications.
  • Long-term Engagement: Be prepared for a potentially long and involved application process, including multiple contributions and follow-ups.

The core message: Focus on providing clear, demonstrable value to the companies you are interested in, leveraging your unique advantages as an offshore engineer.

These notes summarize the speaker's approach to applying for remote jobs in early-stage startups. By strategically choosing and rigorously validating your contributions, you can significantly improve your chances of securing an interview and eventually a job offer.

Full transcript