Are you a software developer looking for remote work? Whether you’re seeking a better work-life balance, aiming to work from anywhere in the world, or simply prefer the flexibility of remote work, this guide will provide you with valuable insights on how to find remote opportunities as a software developer.
By the end of this guide, you will have a thorough understanding of the employment landscape and the range of salaries available for remote developers. Additionally, you’ll have some obvious next steps to take to build your remote career.
State Of The Job Market For Remote Developers
The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the employment of web developers will increase by a staggering 23% between 2021 and 2031, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. At the same time, remote work is becoming more common; by 2028, 73% of all teams are expected to have remote workers.
In 2022, Glassdoor predicted that the competition for remote workers would be a significant workplace trend in the coming years. Forbes also predicted that remote work would be a top trend in 2023, indicating its ongoing popularity and significance in the modern workforce.
There has never been a better time to start a career as a remote web developer, thanks to the rapid employment growth in both the remote market and the web development industry. How does this translate to actual jobs, then? We looked through some of the most well-known job sites to understand the current job market for remote developers.
Indeed and LinkedIn each had over 55,000 remote developer job openings at the time of writing. This is only the tip of the iceberg; there are dozens of other job boards to consider, in addition to companies that post remote job listings on their own websites.
In summary, the demand for remote developers is strong, and given the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting labor shortage, companies are now competing globally for remote workers.
How To Become A Remote Software Developer
The idea of working remotely as a developer is realistic and can be just as financially rewarding as doing so. What steps must you take to become a remote developer? Follow these steps to increase your chances of landing your dream remote software development gig!
1. Acquire the required abilities.
You must first and foremost be adept at the required skills. At the very least, you must become familiar with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Additionally, you’ll need to learn how to use essential tools like GitHub and various libraries and frameworks.
Adopting a structured learning strategy is best if you’re serious about becoming a web developer, ideally through a top-notch certification program.
2. Update Your Resume & Get Your Portfolio Ready.
First impressions matter, so make sure your resume and online presence are up to par. Tailor your resume to highlight your software development skills and experience and showcase any relevant remote work experience. The next step is to build and polish your portfolio as a web developer.
Your portfolio essentially serves as a personal website where you can introduce yourself to potential employers, list your qualifications and areas of expertise, highlight the projects you’ve worked on, share your contact information, and link to relevant GitHub projects and social media profiles (e.g., LinkedIn).
Highlight your remote work experience and relevant projects that demonstrate your ability to work independently and collaboratively in a remote setting.
3. Weigh your options
There are numerous approaches one can take to building a remote career. For example, do you prefer to work for different clients as a freelancer, or do you prefer to be employed by a company remotely? Do you intend to launch your own company? Your choice of how to begin your remote career will be heavily influenced by how much experience you have.
If you’re new to the industry, begin with a company to get your bearings before moving on to a freelance career. After some time in the industry, you can work independently and establish yourself as a freelancer. Your individual career goals will determine everything.
4. Prepare for Remote Interviews
Remote interviews may differ from traditional in-person interviews, so be prepared. Familiarize yourself with common remote interview practices, such as video interviews, coding challenges, and technical assessments. Test your video conferencing tools, make sure your internet connection is stable, and create a distraction-free environment for remote interviews.
Prepare for technical questions and be ready to showcase your skills and experience through virtual presentations or coding exercises.
5. Set up your remote workspace.
Although it might seem obvious, this is crucial. You must have a dedicated workspace with a suitable desk, a comfortable chair, good lighting, a dependable internet connection, and a good laptop or desktop computer if you plan to work remotely full-time (or both).
With the right setup, it will be easier for you to focus and devote hours to coding or debugging. Therefore, treating your remote job as seriously as any in-house one is crucial, which calls for providing the right equipment and working conditions.
Soft Skills for a Remote Software Developer
The good news is that there has never been a better time to work remotely as a developer. Since the Covid-19 outbreak, working from home has increasingly become the norm for developers. According to the 2022 Jamstack Community Survey, 62% of developers work entirely remotely, and 83% do so for at least 50% of the time.
However, before settling into life as a remote developer, it’s crucial to consider what it takes to succeed in the industry. Not everyone is suited for remote work, so if you’re used to working in an office, you may need to change some aspects of your routine.
A successful career as a remote developer can be attained with a few traits and the necessary hard skills, including discipline, communication, self-motivation & time management.
Top Resources For Finding Remote Developer Jobs
It’s a good idea to cover all your bases if you’re looking for a remote web developer position. Examine both standard job boards and those specifically for remote positions. At the same time, focus on a few particular companies; many companies will only decide to advertise job openings on their websites.
And finally, if you see a job that looks interesting but isn’t marked as remote, still apply! You can negotiate a more flexible arrangement, given that more and more employers are now willing to hire remote workers. Here are some of our top picks for remote developer job search engines:
- – Tunga.io
- – Glassdoors
- – Wearedevelopers.com
- – Remote.co
- – Weworkremotely.com
- – Remotive.io
How Much Do Remote Software Developers Make?
Web developers make an average base salary of $67,787 in the United States, and those who work remotely can earn just as much or even more than those who work in offices. Tech behemoths like Spotify pledged in 2021 to pay workers equally regardless of where they reside—something we’ll see a lot more of in 2023!
How much you make as a remote developer depends on several variables:
- – Your particular skill set, such as the languages you know well and whether you work on the front end, back end, or across the entire stack;
- – Your level of seniority and the amount of experience you have in the field;
- – Whether you are an employee of a company or a freelancer;
- – Where you are;
- – Where the company (or client) you work for is located;
- – How much prior remote work experience do you have?
Consider your location and level of experience when negotiating your pay, and use the going rate for similar positions as a guideline.
Conclusions
The job market for web developers is booming; according to the BLS, the employment of web developers will increase by 25% between 2021 and 2031. As a result, the demand for remote work is rising. It is predicted that 73% of teams will have remote workers by 2028.
Getting a certification program is the most effective way to acquire the skills needed to work remotely as a web developer. In addition, it will help you organize your learning, create a portfolio, and ensure that you cover the tools and languages most pertinent to your field.
