How to Find a Part-Time Remote Work Job to Ease into Location Independent Work

More than two-thirds of the world's workers work from home at least once a week. Couple this with the fact that 56 percent of global companies are fully distributed or hybrid, and we have a considerable number of individuals working remotely. While many are likely holding full-time positions, there are quite a few who are working part-time.

Some professionals are working part-time to have more time with family, travel, or want to experiment with remote work before jumping in fully. There are a variety of reasons part-time remote work makes sense, and it can be an excellent way to ease into the location-independent lifestyle.

If you have the option of choosing between full-time and part-time at the moment, here are some reasons why part-time remote work may be the better option for you.

The Benefits of Part-Time Remote Work

• More work flexibility – Today, the digital gig economy has made it easy to turn a collection of various gigs into part-time work. So, you have the flexibility to work more than one remote work job, or work a full-time remote work position along with a part-time gig. You have options for how you want to earn a living, and a part-time position can allow you to pursue each option.

• Create a side hustle – So, let's say you are working a full-time position, and want to try out a business idea or develop a side hustle. Part-time work enables you to make this a reality. Whether you are teaching English, writing blog posts, or handling someone's social media, you can use a part-time gig to test the waters for a small business or create a side income.

Rose, the founder of Grow Remote, was able to find a part-time SEO position that allowed her to grow her own business:

But over time, I started to learn more about remote working as an employee, and I was brought on the journey of Grow Remote. From there, I actually took on a part-time remote position this year which has freed me up to do so much with developing Grow Remote as well as my own client work."

• Take a hiatus from an intensive work schedule – We all need a break, and part-time work can give you just the breather you need. Maybe you need some time off to take care of an ailing relative, or want to ease up on working so much. Part-time work allows you to earn an income while taking a break from a full-time job and creating a sustainable work-life balance.

• Expanding your skills – This entry is especially relevant for individuals stepping into coding, or another skillset they have taught themselves. If you want to learn a new skill or expand on one you have, a part-time remote position gives you the room to explore these scenarios without having the pressures of working full-time. You have a less intensive work schedule, which can give you the time to develop and expand your skills.

Hanling, a data scientist, was able to use a part-time schedule as a means to further his skills by going to graduate school.

Since at the moment I'm a master student, I can work remotely only part-time. Most of my contracts are short-time (completed within one week)."

Part-time work offers flexibility when it comes to how you choose to work, and it even allows you to sample various work environments if you so decide.

Also, if you do choose to go full-time, a part-time position can turn into full-time if you and the company decide you are a good fit for one another.

The perks of part-time work can be plentiful, but because of this, it can be harder to find a part-time remote job that works for you and your needs. So, we have some tips to put yourself in the best position to find a part-time remote work job.

How to Find a Part-Time Remote Work Job

Since you are looking for a telecommuting job that is not full-time, your search is going to be a bit different since part-time roles may not be as easy to find as full-time ones. However, there is a way to excel. Take a look at these tips for finding and landing a part-time remote work job.

• Ask your employer – Before you strike out on your own and hit up the job boards and job listings, ask your employer if you can take down your hours and work remotely. This situation is one of the best scenarios as you already have a working relationship with this company and your manager. However, here are three things you should do before you make the ask:

  • Find out if your company supports remote work and is open to it. - See if there are any employees already working remotely, or if HR allows this arrangement. Understanding if your company does this will either give you the confidence you need to ask, or it will help you determine that your company doesn't have a culture of remote work and that you might want to seek this perk somewhere else.
  • If they do, create a proposal. - Approach this situation like you are asking for a promotion or raise. You need to show evidence that this arrangement will benefit yourself and your employer. Create a proposal that highlights the reasons why this is a good step, and then give your employer time to decide what to do with the information you have provided them.
  • If they say yes, create goals. - You want to come out of the gate showing your employer that you moving to a part-time role was a good move. So, work with them to set goals, establish times you will be available for meetings, identify your working hours, and select the equipment you will be using.

These three steps will allow you to create an "asking strategy" that will help your employer see that this workstyle can work for both of you.

• Use Angellist – Angellist allows you to search for positions with startups. The website's search feature will enable you to get detailed regarding what you are looking for. You can use the word "part-time" as a search keyword. Also, some startups on this platform hire for internships (which are usually part-time). So, see if that is an option. Many individuals have gotten their start with a company through an internship or contract work, so don't rule out those options as you are searching for jobs.

• Seek out contract positions – Regarding the entry above, contract positions can also be a great way to turn a gig project into a part-time remote position. On job boards like We Work Remotely, FlexJobs, and Remote.Co, Jobspresso, and Working Nomads, companies may post contract positions in addition to full-time ones. Many times, these roles can be turned into part-time arrangements if you build a good rapport with the client. One of the greatest things about remote work is that there is the flexibility to turn one situation into another. So, don't automatically shut down an opportunity if it isn't what you were initially seeking.

• Go freelance – This one comes up a lot on our lists and guides, but for a good reason. Freelancing is one of the best ways to turn an opportunity into a work situation that favors you and your income goals. It allows you to create your own schedule, pick projects that resonate with you, and make as much as you need. So, use places like Upwork, Fiverr, or Toptal to seek out freelance work that allows you to develop a part-time schedule. While we could have a whole article on how to get into freelancing on its own, here are a few quick tips for jumping in:

  • Create a portfolio and collect recommendations – Your clientele wants to know what they will be getting from you. So, work to do all you can to put their mind at ease and show them what to expect. Develop a body of work that shows off what you can do. If your field is challenging to represent in a portfolio, focus on recommendations. Have previous employers or individuals you have worked with talk about what you did for them.
  • Have a stellar resume and proposal – Again, it is all about showing potential clients what they can expect. Use your resume and plan to exhibit your experience and inform them of what you can bring to the table. Look at what your potential clients needs are, and show how you can meet them.
  • Inform friends and family – Some of your first clients may be referrals from family and friends. These individuals know many people who may be interested in your services. So, tell them. Also, use Facebook to inform a larger group of people of your freelancing services.

Hannah, a freelance writer, describes how she grew her part-time freelance writing business:

My part-time writing grew until I decided to risk having it as my only gig. It was not easy going from there. However, I was in a point in my life where I was willing to take that risk. I recommend easing into 100% freelance unless you have a significant amount of money saved. It ended up working out for me, but not without some stress along the way. It also helped when I really started to learn to charge closer to what I'm worth. Think about it: Would you rather work 10 hours for $10/hr or 4 hours for $25/hr? It's the same amount of money, but very different amounts of work."

Freelancing can be an excellent way to ease into remote work and turn your schedule into a part-time job. You can take on as much work as you want, or scale back to create a work arrangement resembling part-time.

• Use search engines – Google, Yahoo, and Bing are going to be exceptional tools for you as you search for a part-time remote position. Type in terms like:

  • "part-time remote jobs"
  • "part-time home jobs"
  • "part-time remote work"
  • "part-time telecommuting jobs"
  • Also, combine the term "part-time" with "remote work" and your industry (ex. Customer support, customer success, project management, social media marketing, and content writer)

The above terms will allow you to see any timely remote work job postings or come across job board sites that offer these types of positions.

• Use Slack and LinkedIn – Both of these platforms can be used to find positions. Look up Slack groups that pertain to your industry, and also search out remote work-related Slack groups. Most will have a job postings section.

Some will also allow you to go in and inquire about positions. Also, don't forget to look up part-time jobs on LinkedIn. When you put in a keyword to search by on LinkedIn, you can add additional filters to the search (and one of them is job type). So, be sure to add these two resources to your job search strategy.

• Tell others about your job search – Your network is a significant resource. So, use it. Tell everyone you know that you are looking for a part-time remote position, and ask if they know any recruiters or remote companies that are offering part-time job opportunities. The more people in your network who know what you are looking for, the higher the probability you have of getting hired.

It may take a little while, but if you dedicate yourself to the search, and use the tips above, you can put yourself at the head of the pack in the part-time remote work job search.

Additional Helpful Tips

In addition to the steps above, we have included some extra tips and advice that could help propel you even forward regarding your part-time remote work job search.

• Have a remote work professional look at your resume or cover letter – You want to show that you are the best candidate for a remote, part-time position. So, have a remote worker who you know look at your hiring documents and provide feedback. They can point out the skills and experiences that you could include and can provide insight into the types of attributes a remote employer would need.

• Seek out lesser-known remote-friendly companies – Every remote work company doesn't broadcast that they allow flexible work arrangements or schedules. So, use search engines and social media to seek out companies who may offer remote work but don't explicitly say it. Look for companies on social media who regularly post about remote work or flexible scheduling, and be sure to take a look at startups. For more insight into how to do this, check into this article.

• Know the right tools – Slack, Salesforce, WordPress, Asana, Trello, GitHub, and Google Drive are tools that are used within the remote work environment. Be familiar with them and determine how they fit into a remote work infrastructure. If you are unaware of tools like these, many have free pricing structures that allow you to try them without costs. Also, resources like YouTube can help you go step-by-step in learning how to use them.

• Don't give up during the job hunt – Again, the job search is never easy. There will be ups and downs. However, you know exactly why part-time remote work works for you. So, stay dedicated to the job search, and don't settle. With perseverance, you can eventually find what you want.

Vaishali Badgujar, a content marketer, found a position after over a year and a half of searching.

I did a few certifications and also earned a distance MBA degree. Meanwhile, I was applying for remote jobs. I kept trying my luck for over a year and a half, and one day I received a reply from my current employer, Time Doctor. After some discussions and verification, I received the confirmation. That's when I actually started working remotely full time."

So, don't give up. Spend the time networking, leveling up your skills, and continuing to put your best foot forward. Eventually, you will find the position you need.

Final Thoughts

There are many pros involved with part-time remote work. From more flexibility to the option to try out a new skill set, there is a lot to gain. However, with any job search, it helps to have a strategy. The steps and tips above can help you start thinking about how you want to tackle this job search. Here are also a few other resources that can help you get started:

• Use our RemoteHabits job search site to find part-time or contract jobs.
• Also, see how others are fitting into the remote work life by checking out our RemoteHabits interviews with various location-independent professionals.

Part-time work can be an excellent way to ease into a remote career, so use this article as a resource to help you do exactly that.

Best of luck in your search!