Some jobs are listed as “remote”, but actually aren’t - what’s going on?

On Today’s Launch

• Some LinkedIn remote jobs aren’t actually remote

• How one early career job seeker landed a job in an unexpected way

• Subscriber Question: How do I vet a company to make sure it isn’t a toxic place to work?

About the Author

I’m James, Cofounder of Final Draft Resumes. I’ve been in the career consulting space for 13 years, and before that, I was a recruiter for AECOM.

I’ve helped thousands of job seekers, from industries like software engineering, IT, sales, marketing, manufacturing, and more generate job opportunities through well-written resumes that translate unique backgrounds into coherent narratives.

If you’re struggling with your resume for whatever reason, reach out - I just might be able to help!

If you’re more of a DIY person, then check out Resumatic, my free-to-try resume builder.

An unconventional way that my business partner landed a job in the environmental sector

When I met my business partner Alex, he was working for a small engineering company in a small town located a couple hours north of Edmonton, my city.

It was a very uncanny acquaintance at first that began on Reddit. He was looking to leverage his experience in screening environmental professionals at their company to start some sort of side hustle, but wasn’t sure how. I was looking for someone to help me run my resume writing business. It was an odd match, but one that ended up working quite well for the both of us.

When we met, he told me how he landed a job with SolidEarth six years prior. When he told it to me, he said it felt like all the pieces coming together. At the time, he was a recent graduate, unemployed, and looking for his first real job.

He had been applying to dozens upon dozens of jobs in the environmental science space, to no avail. To take a break from all those job applications that weren’t going anywhere, he decided to take a weekend off and go visit some family up in Bonnyville, Alberta, a two and a half-hour drive from Edmonton.

While there, he was sharing with his brother-in-law how hopeless he felt - how things just weren’t going his way, and how he might decide to pivot into something else where he could actually find a job.

You see, the problem with environmental science at the time (a problem which I’m sure many new grads face) was that seemingly entry level jobs required 2-5 years of experience. And so the vicious cycle went.

But his BIL knew somebody that owned some sort of engineering company that did environmental work. He told Alex to give the guy a call, and that’s what he did!

Alex got the guy’s number from the BIL, gave him a call (Jay), and gave him the 30-second pitch. I’m paraphrasing here, but it went something like this:

---

Alex: Hi Jay, you don’t know me, but I got your number from Mike, who said you might be looking for new hires with my background. I just graduated from the University of Alberta with a bachelor in biology, environmental focus.

Jay: Hey Alex nice to meet you. Yes actually I am hiring right now - we just opened our doors this past July and we’re looking for staff in geo, materials, and enviro. You said your focus was environmental?

Alex: Yeah that’s right. I just finished a research assistant position with the UofA as part of my 4th year biostatistics course - we basically monitored hundreds of hours of a hawk species nest recordings, compiled data, and ran some analyses - I used Excel to do that. I’m also a great report writer.

Jay: Great! Do you have any other internship experience or any other kind of experience?

Alex: No, nothing that’d be relevant.

Jay: Okay no worries. Actually I could use somebody like you. We do a lot of work in environmental site assessment and remediation, and I think your report writing skills may come in handy for that. Who knows, we may even have you learn some of the field work too. Keep in mind we’re still not at full capacity for enviro work, so you’ll probably be doing some supporting field work in geo and materials. Does that work for you?

Alex: Yeah for sure. I have no issues with that.

Jay: Perfect. I’m fairly busy till end of month, but I’ll call you early next month to arrange a meet, and we’ll take it from there.

---

Alex ended up meeting with Jay about a month later, and was offered a job shortly after. And it all started with that one conversation with Alex’s BIL. That’s how these things go.

Lessons learned here that you can apply to your job search

So this story touches on a few key areas.

Alex's story highlights several key takeaways for anyone navigating the job search:

First, network beyond your immediate circle. Alex didn't land the job through formal applications or job boards. It was a casual conversation with his brother-in-law that opened the door. Don't underestimate the power of your extended network – friends, family, acquaintances, even people you meet briefly.

Second, be open about your job search. Alex shared his frustrations and career goals openly with his brother-in-law. People often want to help, but they need to know you're looking for opportunities.

Third, practice that elevator pitch. Alex was ready with a brief summary of his background (a TLDR of sorts) when the opportunity presented itself. If had fumbled that pitch, things may have gone different. Have a clear and engaging pitch prepared so you can make a good impression fast.

Fourth, don't discount "unconventional" leads. Alex's lead came from an unexpected source. Be open to exploring all leads, even if they don't seem directly related to your field at first.

Fifth, highlight transferable skills. He didn't have direct experience in environmental site assessment, but Alex emphasized his report writing and data analysis skills, which were valuable to the employer. Focus on how your existing skills can be applied to new roles.

Sixth, be flexible and eager. Alex was willing to take on a variety of tasks, even outside his primary area of interest. This flexibility can make you a more attractive candidate, especially in smaller companies.

And last but not least, be persistent. Alex's job search was filled with rejections, but he didn't give up. Keep applying, keep networking, and keep refining your approach. The right opportunity may be just around the corner.

Subscriber Questions

Question: I'm exhausted from my job search and feel pressured to accept the next offer that comes along, even if it's not perfect. How can I make sure I'm not walking into a toxic workplace?

It's so important to trust your gut and not settle for a job that raises red flags. There's a simple, low-stakes way to gain good insights about a company's culture and work environment before you accept an offer.

It's a quick 20-minute experiment that could save you months of misery and potentially expensive therapy later on.

Here’s how you do it, using LinkedIn.

• On LinkedIn, start by searching for the company name.

• Click on the "People" tab to see a list of current and former employees.

• If you're looking for a location-specific perspective, filter by your home office location.

• Click "All Filters" and then select the company name under the "Past Company" header. This will show you people who used to work there.

• Connect with at least one former employee and send them a simple message like: "Hi, I noticed you previously worked for [company name]. I'm considering signing an offer for [role]. Would you be willing to tell me about your experience there? I'd appreciate it."

You might be surprised at how many people are willing to connect and share their candid experiences. They can offer invaluable insights that you won't get from current employees or recruiters.

Remember, no one deserves to be traumatized at work. A toxic workplace, a terrible boss, or illegal behavior can have lasting negative effects on your mental health and well-being. Taking a few minutes to do this research can help you avoid a potentially harmful situation and find a company that truly values its employees.