Landing the First WordPress Job

One of my email list subscribers asked me how to find a remote WordPress job. I was facing the same issue looking for my first remote WordPress job, so here’s the list of the options if you’re looking for a full-time WordPress job as a remote worker.

Build a Portfolio

If you are coming from another area close to WordPress, but not WordPress itself, the best bet for you is to build a portfolio. Work on some free plugins or themes, start a decent pet project based on WordPress, adopt a plugin or help with some pull requests on GitHub.

Even if you have a solid portfolio with PHP or theme development for another CMS, small WordPress bits are almost mandatory, unless you are a Core PHP developer or the creator of Smashing Magazine. 🙂 At the very least there is some learning curve switching from a framework or another system to WordPress, and your future employers would like to see how deep have you researched into it.

There are other ways to build your online presence too, if you are a blogger, tutorial writer, start a podcast or anything that would position you among the reliable WordPress folks.

Contribute to WordPress

Giving back to WordPress is helpful for several reasons.

First, you learn more about WordPress, the ecosystem and the accompanying users.

Second, you will become a part of the community by helping newbie users, providing your expertise and proving yourself as a reliable WordPress member. Furthermore you can share your know-how in your blog, writing tutorials or giving talks at WordCamps or meetups.

Thirds, decent companies value community work. By being a part of the community, you bring some good karma to your employer, and your projects accordingly.

Target the right job spots

There are various places online where you could apply for work.

You could go to SimplyHired or WPhired and check the open job offers. You can search for full-time options in jobs.wordpress.net and wpjobs.com. You can browse other relevant job boards like the one from Smashing Magazine.

Additionally, you can browse the websites of the larger WordPress agencies and apply with them.

If you don’t know them, you can browse WordCamp Central and browse the sponsors pages for several WordCamps. You can take the next step by browsing the speakers’ profiles – some agency owners or lead engineers present at many WordCamps and look for expert folks to join their team.

There is also Google, the WordPress communities in the social networks, and the holy Twitter – plus the main WordPress news and tutorial websites that mention some of the companies regularly.

Network, network, network

Networking is the best way to prove that you’re not only a professional, but a contactable human being. ITs are known to have quirks back from the early years of development when only wunderkind nerds were able to play with computers. Still, making the right contacts would meet you with the right people, or at least they could recommend you when someone is looking for employees.

Your first stop should be your local WordCamp or a meetup group, or if possible, go to one or two events abroad. You will learn a lot and meet lots of community people, too.

Sales Pitch

Too many experts have no idea how to promote themselves. Chances are that you’re a good fit, but you are unable to explain that in an interview or online.

Spend some time reading freelancer resources focusing on marketing and sales. Most freelancers focus on those aspects since that’s what brings leads in the first place.

Update your online portfolio and presence, your LinkedIn profile, and your GitHub. Focus on WordPress or the skills where you excel best. Approach more companies and convince them that you’re experienced, motivated and willing to work extra hours at first in order to prove them that you’re a great fit. Prepare to do a small test project for free if needed, and be serious.

What would you do now if you were just getting into WordPress and looking for your first full-time remote job?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *