• Read more about How to Apply for a Job (and maybe win it)

So you're applying for your first job, or you've been around the block and are looking to join a new, exciting team. Congratulations on this new chapter in your professional life!

Applying for a job is a little bit like selling a car. Make sure what you're selling is presentable, that the paperwork is in order, and that your advertising brings potential buyers through the door. I've been through the interviewing process (on both sides) for UX/UI designers, Ruby on Rails, and as of late, Angular developers and have quickly picked up on what works (and what doesn't). Below are a few helpful tips as you navigate the job application journey...

Cover Letter

Don’t skip this one. Call me old fashioned, but the cover letter is the first impression you will make. It doesn’t have to be long or very detailed. Include something you saw or heard about the company to which you are applying. Quick example- “I have seen your open source contribution on GitHub and I would love to work for a place that supports open source.” I think of the cover letter as stepping into your in-laws' house for the first time. Would you walk in, and without saying a word, sit down on the couch? Probably not. Unfortunately, a lot of people don’t send cover letters. Don’t be one of them.

Your Work

There is a saying, "You are as good as your last project”. Make sure your latest and best work is easily seen. Provide working URLs, or links to GitHub repos, and a little bit of information about your role. If you don’t have active apps or websites to check out, provide screenshots or code examples instead. If you are fresh out of school or your current job did not lead to a portfolio, design or build something on your own that you can show. Applying for a job without work examples immediately puts you at a disadvantage, no matter how good your resume is. Invest some time into presenting your latest work. This is your opportunity to show your skill and passion. It will pay off for many years to come.

Resume

Simple is smart. Keep your resume in a simple and easy-to-read layout. Most likely, your resume will be read on a screen and not on paper. Keep that in mind when you select fonts and font sizes. Don’t go overboard and design a resume that looks like a brochure for a Disney cruise. Have your resume available in Word and PDF format. PDF will look nicer because you can use custom fonts. Some large businesses want you to submit an editable word doc, not a PDF. At Intridea, we are happy to accept your nicely formatted PDF resume. Thank you :)

• Include your full contact info and include your LinkedIn URL if you have an account.
• Give your resume a file name that is useful, for example: FullName-Resume.pdf
• Attach a page with a list of your latest work.

Don’t create a long list of every programming language and server technology under the sun. It is not impressive. Instead, it shows a lack of focus and raises the question, "What is she/he really good at?" Good example: If you are applying for a Ruby on Rails developer position, make sure your Ruby on Rails experience is listed first and highlighted. If you have experience in other programming languages and frameworks, list them in a separate paragraph.

Meetings & Communications

Most likely, your first meeting will happen over the phone. Make sure you are in a quiet place and your voice is coming through loud and clear. Calling from Starbucks while you are waiting for your Grande Mocha won’t be impressive. In the days of Skype and GoToMeeting, don’t be afraid to hop on a web meeting with video. When you receive emails, reply promptly with simple language. Don’t reply with novels. When you are invited for a face to face meeting, dress appropriately. Better to be overdressed then under dressed.

Salary

Now to the big question. What to say when your new employer is asking you about your future salary? Don’t stay quiet. If you do, mostly likely the employer will offer a salary that is under market value. Do your homework. Research the position you are after and find out what a fair salary is based on your location and experience. With a little bit of intel, you will feel more confident asking for your future salary and it shows your new employer you know your industry.

Good luck and if you are looking for a new position as Angular, Ruby on Rails developer, or UX/UI designer apply here: http://jobs.intridea.com/

• Read more about DISTRIBUTED: Three Must-Have Traits for Distributed Employees

There’s no question, our awesome team of employees is what makes Intridea tick. Of course, any company could say the same, but being fully distributed takes a truly unique individual and it’s definitely not for everyone.

That’s why during Intridea’s hiring process, we keep an eye out for professionals with three essential traits: self-motivation, autonomy and curiosity. We call these highly desirable candidates SMAIPs (Self-Motivated, Autonomous, Inquisitive People).

In fact although we’re a technical company, we value these three employee characteristics even more than a specific set of programming skills. That’s because SMAIPs seek out and learn new technologies on their own, inspire other employees and produce killer work.

A Remote Chance

In addition to the top three critical traits, we also seek out employees who are most likely to work well in a remote setting. Okay, we know what you’re thinking. Wouldn’t a self-motivated person naturally be a kick-ass remote worker? Believe it or not, the two don’t always go hand-in-hand.

This is especially true for certain extroverts. While an extroverted worker might be extremely self-motivated and independent, he may also need to be around others to thrive. Many of these super-outgoing types will shrivel up and wither away in a secluded work environment.

So we’ve found the most desirable candidate for a distributed workforce is not only self-motivated; she also has the ability to remain engaged and inspired in spatial isolation. That’s why we look for team members who are content working in solitude for long stretches of time.

Slacker Alert

Of course, traditional brick-and-mortar companies also strive to hire self-motivated, autonomous and inquisitive employees—but these traits are particularly important for distributed team members. Because non-distributed supervisors share a physical space with their team, they can easily spot when employees are slacking off. This breathing-down-the-neck supervision is not possible when your employees are spread out across the nation or even the globe.

As a result, unproductive remote employees often fly under the radar. This slacker-effect is one the greatest dangers—and sometimes the ultimate demise—for many distributed businesses. To make matters worse, the unmotivated remote worker may not even realize that his status quo is disappointing his boss. It could take weeks before he’s called out on it, and by then a lot of damage could already be done. This is why it’s vital for distributed teams to hire self-motivated, autonomous, inquisitive people.

“The challenges of identifying candidates who will perform at a high level in office jobs are multiplied exponentially when hiring for home-based jobs,” writes Brent Holland, Vice President of Research & Consulting at FurstPerson, in an ERE article. “Regardless of the job or corporate culture, remote workers must be independent, self-motivated, conscientious, comfortable working in social isolation, and capable of solving problems.”

Tracking Down a SMAIP

When it comes to building a distributed team, the old cliché is absolutely true: One bad apple spoils the entire barrel. That’s why it’s essential to hunt down SMAIPs (Self-Motivated, Autonomous, Inquisitive People) when you’re hiring for a remote position.

Here at Intridea, we use rigorous interview and screening techniques. Throughout the interviewing process, we look for clues that the candidate is self-motivated, autonomous and inquisitive and will thrive in a remote work setting.

So how do you pinpoint a SMAIP? In our experience, a candidate might be the right guy or gal for the job if he/she:

• Contributes to side projects, either in his/her field or outside of it.
• Attends or hosts events or meet-ups.
• Founded a start-up in the past.
• Actively blogs or publishes in other formats, such as books, podcasts, etc.
• Pursues passions outside of work (rock-climbing, cooking, carpentry, etc).
• Freelances, either on the side or as a full-time job.
• Learns for learning’s sake and take classes for fun.

Take Them for a Spin

Still not sure if that candidate is a SMAIP? Take him for a test drive! We’ve found it’s extremely beneficial to arrange a trial run with a potential hire whenever possible. When a prospect is willing to work a one-month trial gig on evenings and weekends before she comes on full-time, this in itself is a sign that she’s a SMAIP.

A trial run gives us a chance to assess the employee’s quality of work, communication skills and reliability. It also helps us determine whether or not the candidate is the right fit for our team.

Every now and then, a candidate’s personality simply doesn’t harmonize with the rest of our employees. In some instances, these trial runs have helped us rule out candidates who are not respectful of their teammates’ time or who don’t effectively communicate their progress.

It’s always better to discover these issues during a trial run than to hire an employee and realize it when it’s too late to pull the plug. And you don’t want a bad apple spoiling your beautiful bunch of SMAIPs.

Once you’ve built a powerhouse of SMAIPs, how do you keep these awesome remote employees happy? Find out in our next blog. In the meantime, got any tips for hiring remote employees? Keep the conversation going! We'd love to hear from you.