Hey Reader,

It was just another typical morning in August 2021.

Summer vacation was over and I was on my way to the office. I had a hybrid job at the time, so 2-3 office days per week were mandatory.

I remember getting stuck in traffic (again) and wondering:

"Is this really what the next 30-40 years will look like?"

It was at that moment that I made a promise to myself: I was not about to let this be my path until retirement. I was going to figure this whole "remote work" thing out.

After several months of looking for remote jobs, tens of interviews, and countless discussions with accountants, I landed my first remote contract with a company in a different country.

Five years later, and after working with some amazing companies all over Europe, I can safely say that the remote workers and digital nomads that have been at it for a while do the following:

1) They are relentless in their job search.

When I landed my first remote contract, I kept looking for more.

Crazy, right? Well, not so much...

Consider how competitive the remote job search is.

Now also consider the frequency with which layoffs and contract terminations happen and the fact that a remote contractor is generally an easier target for a "restructuring" than an on-site employee.

It's for those reasons that looking for better opportunities even after landing a seemingly secure job or contract is a long-term mindset that is worth adopting.

Don't forget: You're always "one quick call" with HR away from having that "secure" income stream taken away from you.

2) They upskill like it's nobody's business

Is a new tool, programming language, or framework suddenly appearing in every job posting under the sun?

They learn it quickly (now easier with AI), and they create a relevant project that incorporates it, which becomes part of their portfolio when applying for jobs.

Having a self-learning mindset is key, especially in the current job market.

3) They stick to what works

If they land a job through their network, they'll keep utilizing their network to land more of them. If a niche job board gets them ten interviews and three offers, they'll keep using it.

They've learned to identify which job boards to trust, which tools to invest in, how to avoid scams, how to optimize their CV, and which networking events to participate in. They don't get impressed by the latest "send me a DM for work" post that pops up in their feed.

My recommendation is to use reliable job boards, and avoid opportunities that seem too good to be true. Stick to what works, and you'll be experiencing very few if any issues in your job search.

One more thing

I'm building something special for job seekers. To make it as awesome as possible, I'd love to hear from you!

What is the biggest challenge you've faced in your job search?

Just hit "Reply" and let me know!

Talk soon,
Alex