Dreaming of having a more flexible work schedule? Find out how to get a job working from home and what types of qualities remote employers are searching for.

It’s the equivalent of “living the dream” for most employees—get a job working from home and never leave your pajamas and coffee pot again. You’ve probably thought, “I’ll never have to put on real pants again!”

Well, hold that thought, because there’s no doubt that working remotely has its perks, but if you really want to land a position from home, you have to show proficiency with some specific skills and abilities.

With virtual communication and technology on the rise, the opportunity to get a job working from home are higher now, more than ever before. At this point, most companies know what to look for in a remote candidate. They have specific key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure and look for certain experience and qualities that match the “independent” spirit of the work environment. If you’re wondering how to get a job working from home, fine tune the following skills.

How to land a job working from home: qualities remote employers want

You demonstrate an ability to work independently. Have you had any experience working from home (or even by yourself) in the past? Consider what types of projects you’ve worked on independently, and highlight that experience in your application. Explain why working remotely best suits your productiveness, too.

You have prior use of virtual tools. Remote workers keep in touch constantly. Email is quickly going out the window and being replaced by communication software like Slack and other remote tools. Chances are, you’ll have a video interview for this type of position. This is a big opportunity to show your proficiency with virtual tools, so make sure there are no technical difficulties on your side, and you’re fully aware of how to promote your tech-savvy skills and conference call etiquette.

You stay motivated and focused. Being productive and present is probably the biggest sign of a promising remote worker. If you want to get a job working from home, demonstrate your ability to stay focused on your work without in-person management or support. Discuss how you’ve prioritized tasks in the past and consistently finished quality work on-time.

You hit deadlines consistently and understand workflows. People who work from home have to be proactive goal setters and hard workers. Deadlines matter because of the workflows involved with each position. Once you finish your portion of the project, there’s a chance it will get handed off to another team member who also has their own deadlines to hit.

How employers measure your success: Get comfortable with these 4 KPIs

Remote work requires a unique method of performance measurement and management. Companies that run successful distributed teams have established KPIs to keep track of employees and improve productiveness. Don’t worry—these KPIs aren’t meant to micromanage workers. Think of them as skills to master on your own.

1. Proper communication with managers and team members.

Everything depends on constant team updating when it comes to remote work. That’s why instant messaging tools like Slack are so useful – it keeps everyone in touch throughout the day.

Applying for a remote job? Discover the new set of skills you need that allow you to build trust, demonstrate your team value and create your own career path even though your boss and/or colleagues work elsewhere. By developing your superpowers as a virtual team professional (VTP), you can set yourself apart and gain an advantage getting hired as a remote worker. Learn more about our Superpowers to Excel as a Virtual Team Professional course.

You’ll be measured on how often and proficiently you contact your team members. If you receive a message that needs a quick response, you better snap to it. Don’t spend a ton of time away from your computer unless your team knows you’re busy. You may also be measured on how active you are online. Make sure you’re always signed in and your status isn’t set to “away” too often.

2. Handing in quality work within deadlines

Your work will be measured both by deadlines, as well as the quality of work you produce. For instance, if you hit your deadlines, but the work must be returned for revising or fixing, that defeats the purpose. While everyone has “off” days, and sometimes certain projects will need reworking, it’s important that you can produce good work consistently and stay on schedule.

3. Attendance for video and phone conferences

Since you’ll be working as part of a remote team, your meetings will also be conducted via virtual tools (or by phone). Attending any scheduled meetings is extremely important. Conference calls or video chats are how you’ll interact with your team members and get to know them on a personal level, developing stronger ties. Remember that you’re an employee of a company, not a contractor. Meetings aren’t something that only happen in the confines of an office building. They’re mandatory for virtual teams, too.

4. Working within daily timeframes

This might be a slight disappointment to new employees, but remote work doesn’t always allow for unlimited flexibility.

Depending on the nature of the work, you may be required to stick to a daily timeframe, such as 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Workflows vary between companies, and sometimes it’s important for everyone to be signed in and communicating at the same time every day.

If some flexibility is important to your schedule, make sure to talk about it directly with your supervisor. Because of the nature of remote work, you’ll usually have more flexibility to leave and come back when necessary or even make-up work at night. Just be sure everyone is on the same page.

Are you looking to get a job working from home? Make sure you’re proficient in remote technology before your first interview. If you’re already working as a virtual employee, master any KPIs your company requires of you. If you aren’t sure what they are, just ask!

What skills would you add to this list for individuals looking to get a job working from home? Let us know in the comments.

Photo by Andrew Neel

Applying for a remote job? Discover the new set of skills you need that allow you to build trust, demonstrate your team value and create your own career path even though your boss and/or colleagues work elsewhere. By developing your superpowers as a virtual team professional (VTP), you can set yourself apart and gain an advantage getting hired as a remote worker. Learn more about our Superpowers to Excel as a Virtual Team Professional course.