Remote Work
A work arrangement where the employee works outside a traditional office — typically from home or another location of their choice. Remote roles may be fully remote, remote-first, or remote-friendly with occasional office requirements.
Remote work describes any arrangement where an employee performs their job outside the employer's physical office. It became mainstream during 2020-2022 and has settled into a new baseline that varies significantly by company and role. **Types of remote arrangements:** - **Fully remote**: No office; team is distributed globally or nationally. No expectation of in-person attendance. - **Remote-first**: Company is structured around remote work, but may have an office some employees use. Remote is the primary mode. - **Remote-friendly**: Office exists and is the primary work location, but remote work is permitted (sometimes all of the time, sometimes for a portion of the week). - **Hybrid**: Expected combination of remote and in-office days. Requirements vary widely (1 day/week to 4 days/week in-office). **Remote job search:** - Filter by 'remote' on job boards, but verify the actual arrangement in the JD or interview - Remote roles that are 'remote in US only' or 'remote in specific states' have geographic requirements that affect applicants - Fully remote roles attract global candidate pools — competition is typically higher than for office-based roles **For your resume:** If you've worked remotely and are targeting remote roles, mention it: 'Led fully distributed team of 12 across 6 time zones' demonstrates remote collaboration competency that many employers now value explicitly.
Why it matters
Remote work preferences dramatically affect the job market you should target and the types of companies that will hire you. Being clear on what arrangement you need — vs. what you'd prefer — helps you qualify opportunities faster and negotiate more effectively.
Candidate tip
When a JD says 'remote' without specifying, confirm the arrangement at the screening call before investing in the process — 'remote in California only' is a different constraint than 'fully remote, hire anywhere.'
Related terms
Hybrid Work
Job SearchA work arrangement combining in-office and remote work, typically on a set schedule (e.g., 2 days in office, 3 remote). The most common post-pandemic work model for knowledge workers at large and mid-size companies.
Job Description
Job SearchThe official posting that describes a role's responsibilities, required qualifications, preferred skills, and company context. Job descriptions are the primary source of keywords for resume tailoring and interview preparation.
Work Authorization
ApplicationsThe legal right to work in a given country. In the US, citizens, permanent residents, and certain visa holders are work-authorized. Employers frequently ask about work authorization in screening, as sponsoring a visa has cost and process implications for them.
Salary Negotiation
Offers & NegotiationThe process of discussing and agreeing on compensation with an employer — most critically when negotiating a job offer, but also during performance reviews. Most candidates underestimate their leverage and leave significant money on the table by not negotiating.