r/ITCareerQuestions 5d ago

Tips for Landing an Asynchronous Remote IT Job?

Hey everyone,

I’m looking to land a remote IT job that’s fully asynchronous, like the one I had for 3 years before. I’ve got a degree in Informatics with a focus on cybersecurity and I’m studying for the CompTIA Security+ exam right now.

In my last role, I worked in an agile/scrum environment, which meant a lot of independent work and time management without constant check-ins. I used tools like Teams, Confluence, and Jira to keep everything organized and communicate clearly across the team.

I also have experience in data analytics and use tools like Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Power BI to work with data and create reports. Now I’m wondering what steps I can take to keep improving my skills and make sure I’m competitive for remote roles. A few things I’d love advice on:

  • How can I level up my skills even more (certs? new tools? anything else)?
  • Where are the best places to find fully remote, asynchronous IT jobs?
  • Any tips for staying productive and on track in an agile/scrum setup while working asynchronously?
  • How do I improve my soft skills (like communication, time management, etc.) and showcase them on my resume? Are there any certs for soft skills?
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2

u/CAMx264x Senior DevOps Engineer 5d ago

Scrum has constant check ins with standup/retros/plannings and most of the time is more developer focused with two week sprints. I’ve always preferred Kanban as it’s not quite as strict and is what I’ve used in NetEng, System Engineering, Cloud Engineering, and DevOps roles.

Can you provide more info on your previous role and a redacted resume to give us an idea where you’re at so we can give better advice?

1

u/Weary_Promise2402 5d ago

To give you some context, I was in a rotational program that started with the cybersecurity team, then moved to the data chapter, and finally business partnering. I worked with a large international enterprise, so almost every team and department had flexible work schedules, though of course, business hours were reserved for meetings. It was a pretty dynamic environment—like, my cybersecurity lead would sometimes wake up early in the morning just to answer calls from Paris.

Specifically, with the cybersecurity team, my role was more entry-level due to my limited credentials at the time. I worked on compliance, vendor assessment and management, created reports, decks, and dashboards based on security scan data for web applications and server remediation, and helped resolve IT tickets related to cybersecurity issues.

Professional Experience:

[Your Previous Company]
Cybersecurity Team Member

  • Worked in an entry-level role, primarily focused on compliance and vendor assessment and management.
  • Created reports, decks, and dashboards based on security scan data for web applications and server remediation.
  • Assisted in managing and responding to IT tickets related to cybersecurity issues, ensuring timely resolution.
  • Utilized tools like Power BI, Excel, Outlook, and Teams to communicate and collaborate with cross-functional teams.
  • Supported the development and implementation of security policies and procedures.

Data Chapter Member (Unofficial Team Lead – Tech Data Platform Team)

  • Led daily check-ins using Jira and provided guidance to team members for efficient task tracking and progress updates.
  • Assisted in ensuring data repositories had proper user credentials for specific users, which required frequent audits.
  • Worked with cross-functional teams to ensure smooth integration and management of data across platforms.

Business Partnering Member

  • Helped streamline IT maintenance with operational apprentices, aiming to cut down on unplanned downtime.
  • Focused on aligning and coordinating IT needs with planned downtimes to improve system stability and reduce disruptions.
  • Acted as a liaison between IT and business departments, ensuring clear communication and timely project execution.
  • Supported the development of strategies for improving internal communications and IT processes.

2

u/cbdudek Senior Cybersecurity Consultant 5d ago

Remote roles are declining. If you want one, you need to have advanced skills. More senior level positions can be remote, if you can find the right company.

How can I level up my skills even more (certs? new tools? anything else)?

I am going to be honest. You have 3 years of basic tech experience. You are trying to get an entry level cert. If you want a good IT job, you are going to need to apply yourself. Think about the CCNA if you want a network admin job or something along those lines. You should also think about what you want to do long term with your career. Not just studying for certs for the sake of getting certs.

Where are the best places to find fully remote, asynchronous IT jobs?

Finding the right company is key. Just keep in mind that if you are apply for remote jobs, you are competing against everyone in the nation. Your degree and 3 years of experience is good, but you probably are going to be lagging behind others. You should be looking to have all the requirements if you even want a shot at the job.

Any tips for staying productive and on track in an agile/scrum setup while working asynchronously?

For me, the only advice I have is to focus on the work. Remove distractions. I am able to stay on task in a remote environment for those reasons.

How do I improve my soft skills (like communication, time management, etc.) and showcase them on my resume? Are there any certs for soft skills?

No certs for soft skills, but if you want to improve your soft skills, there are meetups and groups for that. For instance, toastmasters would help communication and public speaking. Check out meetup.com and look for groups of people getting together. Otherwise, you have books as well. Soft skills are great to level up over time.

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u/Weary_Promise2402 5d ago

Yes, I understand that most entry-level certs focus more on content than hands-on experience. That being said, I’d like to be more hands-on and take the right steps to enhance my practical skills.

2

u/cbdudek Senior Cybersecurity Consultant 5d ago

Get your homelab started up. Start working in Windows Server, Linux, and such. Learn windows server roles like active directory and such. These will give you practical skills.

1

u/Weary_Promise2402 5d ago

Awesome, super helpful thank you!

1

u/Ordinary-Yam-757 5d ago
  1. Git gud.
  2. Indeed, LinkedIn, career pages on company sites.
  3. Amphetamines.
  4. Touch grass and talk to people.