Last edited by: Charles Etim
Back in January, I set myself a personal challenge that sounded simple enough on paper: apply to at least fifty remote jobs based in Canada and the UK. I wasn’t necessarily looking to relocate. I just wanted to break into global teams, work with international clients, and expand beyond my local job market. Honestly, I figured I’d land something halfway through the process.
Spoiler alert: I didn’t.
Not at first, anyway.
What I thought would be a one-month sprint turned into something much bigger. And what I learned along the way was worth more than any automated course or job-hunting Ebook out there. This is the raw version of what happened.
Setting Up for the Remote Hunt
I didn’t wake up one day and just start mass-applying. I’m not built like that. I’m a planner. So, I made myself a spreadsheet, opened up every remote job board I could find—LinkedIn, FlexJobs, AngelList, even the odd listings on Twitter—and got to work.
At first, I was excited. Every job felt like a potential breakthrough. I was customizing each application, tweaking my resume for every role, adjusting phrases to match the company’s tone. I’d heard all the advice. Tailor everything. Speak their language. Keep it short but powerful.
But even after sending out fifteen applications, I hadn’t heard back from a single one.
That’s when things got real.
The Mistakes I Didn’t Know I Was Making
You’d think a “remote job” means location doesn’t matter, right? That’s what I thought, too. Turns out, many companies still have restrictions. Some would only hire people legally authorized to work in Canada or the UK—even for roles that didn’t require ever stepping into an office. A few didn’t say it outright, but it became obvious through the wording. Others would reject you simply because of your time zone.
Once I figured that out, I started adding one sentence to every cover letter. I wrote something like: “I’m able to work within UK business hours and am available during 8am–4pm GMT.” It sounds small, but after that, a few replies started trickling in.
There were also the resume tweaks. I used to put my city at the top, loud and proud. But after talking to someone in a Facebook job group, I realized that seeing a non-UK or non-Canadian city could immediately disqualify me in automated systems. So, I removed my location entirely and added “Remote | Available across EST and GMT zones” instead. It wasn’t dishonest. It was just smarter framing.
The Emotional Roller Coaster of 50+ Applications
Let me tell you—there’s something very humbling about applying to a job you’re qualified for, tailoring everything perfectly, and getting no reply. Not even a rejection. Just silence. Multiply that by twenty, thirty, then fifty applications? It messes with your confidence.
There were days when I stared at my inbox thinking, What’s the point?
But then I’d remember why I started: to learn, to grow, to reach beyond borders. That kept me grounded.
Some days I’d get lucky. A thank-you note. A follow-up. Even a short email saying, “We’re not moving forward, but we really liked your application.” That was enough to keep going.
The Interviews That Changed My Approach
By the time I reached the 35th or 36th application, I finally landed my first interview. It was for a content editing position with a small Canadian startup. The interview itself was casual, but they were clear about expectations—EST availability, async tools, and independent project ownership. I felt like I could breathe. I wasn’t just applying into a void anymore.
A week later, another one came through—this time from a UK-based fintech company looking for remote customer support. That one was more structured. They even asked how I’d navigate cultural differences with UK clients, which was something I hadn’t considered deeply before. I did my homework and answered honestly, pulling from a few experiences where I’d worked with European clients in the past.
Both roles taught me something, even though neither turned into offers. But the third interview? That one felt different. It was for a mid-level marketing role with a Canadian digital agency. They asked deep questions. Real ones. Not just the typical “tell me about a time…” stuff, but things like, “What would you do if a campaign isn’t working after 10 days?” I gave them honest, practical answers. We talked about KPIs, A/B tests, burnout, and even tools. That conversation felt like a collaboration, not an interrogation.
That one is still ongoing as I write this. Fingers crossed.
Lessons I’d Tell Anyone Trying This
If you’re planning to do what I did—apply to remote jobs abroad without moving—here’s what you need to know:
Don’t assume “remote” means “from anywhere.” Check every listing carefully. Some will quietly expect local authorization or timezone overlap, and you’ll only find that out once you’ve wasted hours preparing an application.
Don’t apply in massive batches. I made that mistake early on and ended up forgetting who I sent what to. You want quality, not just numbers. Ten well-targeted applications will beat thirty rushed ones every time.
Always localize your language. UK recruiters expect “CV” instead of “resume.” They like straightforward, humble language. Canadian ones tend to value directness but with personality. Adjust accordingly.
Keep your motivation in check. You won’t get responses from everyone. Most likely, you’ll get silence more than anything. But when a reply does come in—when someone says “Let’s talk”—you’ll know it’s because you earned it.
So, Was It Worth It?
A hundred percent, yes.
I didn’t get hired instantly. I didn’t even get a formal offer until weeks after I’d hit my 50th application. But I grew. I learned how international hiring really works. I stopped treating remote work like a lottery ticket and started seeing it as a process. Something you can break down, improve, and master.
And that, honestly, was the most valuable thing I took away from this journey.
