Recently got a lot of DMs asking how I got a remote job. So here's what worked for me.
β Pick one niche and go deep. Something you actually like, that you can talk about without running out of things to say.
β Be consistent. Do what you're doing everyday, even if it's just for an hour. It builds muscle memory.
β A few places to find these companies: YC jobs, Wellfound, Remote OK, We Work Remotely. Look for the ones that recently raised funding, they're hiring fast.
β Find the founder or their employees. Get their contact, X, or email, and message them directly.
β Keep it simple. Who you are, what you do, one line on why this company. Know about the company first, don't message blindly.
β If you only want remote, say it upfront in the first message. Don't let it come up later.
β Send proof of work, not just a resume. Make a Notion doc, write a bit about yourself, and drop the links to your best projects. Add a 2-3 minute Loom video walking through them, it shows the actual effort. If you have open source work, add that too.
β Don't wait to feel qualified. Just start. But have a few good projects ready before you do.
β Even if someone rejects you, keep the connection. Say thank you, end it well. I actually got referred to another company by a founder who rejected me.
β Post your work on X. Doesn't matter how much reach you get, it still increases visibility. I was getting clients even without much reach.
β It's a numbers game. Do cold DMs every day, make it a habit, not something you try when you're desperate.
β Keep the consistency and the hard work. You don't know when the opportunity will come.