How to Advance Your Career While Working Remotely
Out of sight shouldn't mean out of mind. Here's how to stay visible, build relationships, and climb the ladder without being in the office.
Many remote workers share a common fear: that working from home means being invisible when promotion decisions are made. It's a valid concern. In traditional offices, visibility happens naturally—hallway conversations, impromptu meetings, being seen working late. Remote workers don't have these passive visibility channels.
But here's the reality: remote workers who are intentional about career advancement often outpace their office-bound colleagues. The key is replacing passive visibility with active strategies that demonstrate your value and build meaningful relationships.
The Visibility Problem
In an office, your presence is noticed. You're at your desk, in meetings, grabbing coffee with colleagues. This creates ambient awareness of your work and contributions. Remote work eliminates this—if you don't actively communicate your work, it can feel like it never happened.
The core insight: Remote career advancement requires treating visibility as a deliberate practice, not something that happens automatically. Your work doesn't speak for itself—you need to speak for your work.
Strategy 1: Document and Share Your Wins
Keep a running log of your accomplishments—projects completed, problems solved, metrics improved. This serves two purposes: it gives you material for performance reviews and promotion discussions, and it forces you to recognize your own contributions.
More importantly, share these wins regularly. Weekly updates to your manager, team Slack channels celebrating project completions, or short posts about lessons learned. This isn't bragging—it's professional communication that keeps stakeholders informed.
Strategy 2: Participate Actively (Even When It's Uncomfortable)
In video meetings, speak up. Share your perspective. Ask thoughtful questions. It's easy to fade into the background on a video call—actively resist this instinct.
In Meetings
- • Turn your camera on
- • Contribute at least once per meeting
- • Volunteer for action items
- • Follow up on commitments publicly
In Async Channels
- • Respond thoughtfully to discussions
- • Share relevant articles or insights
- • Recognize colleagues' contributions
- • Ask questions that spark conversation
Strategy 3: Build Relationships Intentionally
Office relationships form through proximity. Remote relationships require deliberate cultivation. Schedule virtual coffee chats with colleagues across the organization. Find mentors and sponsors who can advocate for you in rooms you're not in.
Your Manager
Schedule regular 1:1s beyond standard check-ins. Discuss your career goals explicitly. Ask for feedback on what it would take to reach the next level. Make sure they know your aspirations.
Skip-Level Leaders
Find opportunities to interact with your manager's manager. Volunteer for projects they oversee. These relationships matter for promotion decisions that happen above your immediate reporting line.
Cross-Functional Partners
Build relationships outside your immediate team. Collaborate on cross-functional projects. These connections create advocates across the organization and expand your visibility beyond your direct team.
Strategy 4: Take on Visible Projects
Not all work is equally visible. Projects that impact multiple teams, involve senior stakeholders, or solve high-priority problems create more visibility than routine tasks. Seek out these opportunities strategically.
This doesn't mean ignoring your core responsibilities. It means, when given choices about what to take on, prioritizing work that creates impact and visibility for you and your team.
Strategy 5: Communicate About Career Goals
Your manager can't advocate for your promotion if they don't know you want one. Be explicit about your career aspirations. Ask what skills or accomplishments you need to demonstrate for the next level. Create a development plan together.
Questions to Ask Your Manager
- • "What would it take for me to be promoted to [next level]?"
- • "What skills should I develop over the next year?"
- • "How can I create more visibility for my work?"
- • "Who else should I be building relationships with?"
- • "What projects would help me demonstrate readiness for the next level?"
Strategy 6: Develop Portable Skills
Career advancement sometimes means changing companies. Build skills that transfer across organizations—leadership, communication, technical expertise that's in demand. Document your accomplishments in ways that translate to resume bullets.
Remote work gives you flexibility to invest in learning during time you'd otherwise spend commuting. Use this advantage to continuously develop skills that accelerate your career trajectory.
Ready for Your Next Career Move?
Whether you're seeking internal promotion or exploring external opportunities, Landera helps you optimize your resume to showcase your accomplishments and land more interviews.
Optimize Your Resume FreeFrequently Asked Questions
Can you get promoted while working remotely?
Yes, but it requires intentional effort. Remote workers must be more proactive about visibility, documenting achievements, and building relationships. Those who treat career advancement strategically can advance as fast or faster than office-based colleagues.
How do I stay visible while working remotely?
Document and share your wins regularly. Participate actively in meetings and async channels. Take on cross-functional projects. Schedule regular 1:1s with your manager and stakeholders. Create visibility for your work through internal presentations or written updates.
Does remote work hurt career advancement?
It can if you're passive. Research shows remote workers who are proactive about visibility and relationship-building advance at similar rates. The key is treating career advancement as a deliberate practice, not something that happens automatically.