I keep hearing from professionals who spend countless hours applying to fully remote positions, only to discover they require being physically located within the U.S. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone—and it’s not your fault.
The Problem Behind the Problem
Companies are using “fully remote” as a catch-all term that means different things to different organizations. Often, this actually means “fully remote…within your home country.” Many don’t clarify the distinction until deep into the application process.
For professionals who’ve relocated abroad or want to build truly location-independent careers, this creates a frustrating cycle of wasted effort.
Why Fully Remote Doesn’t Always Mean Global
From my experience working internationally, I’ve observed that companies often benefit from casting a wider net with “remote” language, even when geographic restrictions apply. The broader applicant pool serves their recruitment goals, but it doesn’t serve you if you need genuine location flexibility.
Additionally, having staff working in different countries creates ambiguity and extra paperwork in terms of legalities and tax considerations. Many companies simply aren’t equipped to handle the compliance complexities of truly global employment, so they default to domestic fully remote work instead.
The Real Cost of Misleading Remote Listings
This isn’t just about frustration. Every hour spent on an application that was never viable is time not spent on opportunities that could actually work. It’s energy not invested in building the right networks or developing the skills that international employers value.
When you’re constantly hitting geographic restrictions after investing time in applications, it creates a cycle of discouragement that can derail your entire international career strategy.
A Strategic Approach to Finding Truly Remote Work
Rather than playing the application lottery, focus on building relationships with companies and professionals who understand genuine location independence. Network with people who’ve successfully made transitions to legitimate fully remote work.
Research Global-First Companies
Don’t just browse remote job boards—actually research organizations that actively hire across borders. Start by looking at websites that aggregate truly work-from-anywhere organizations. Also, research specific organizations in your field that you would want to work for/align with your values and interests and find out via LinkedIn if they hire contractors globally.
Target Flexible Organizations
Alternatively, target smaller startups or boutique organizations within your field and look for signs that they hire people as contractors. This often indicates more flexibility with global employment since contractor relationships sidestep many of the legal complexities of international employment.
Verify Before You Apply
Make sure to read job descriptions thoroughly. Remember that fully remote jobs restricted to one country are still considered “remote” and you’ll find them even on dedicated remote work websites like FlexJobs and RemoteOK.
Most importantly, verify location flexibility before investing hours in applications. Try calling, emailing, or connecting with recruiters on LinkedIn to ask if remote work from your location is compatible with the role. A two-minute conversation can save you hours of wasted effort on an application that was never viable for your situation.
Moving Forward with Real Remote Opportunities
The solution isn’t to avoid fully remote opportunities entirely. It’s to become more strategic about identifying which opportunities offer real location flexibility and which ones don’t.
If you’re unsure about a company’s global hiring practices, reach out directly. Many organizations are more flexible than their job postings suggest, but you won’t know unless you ask.
This is exactly why I developed my approach to remote and international career strategy: to help professionals stop wasting time on jobs that look global but aren’t, and instead, build pathways to jobs that genuinely support location independence.
Ready to stop wasting time on misleading remote listings and build a truly location-independent career? Let’s talk about creating your strategic approach to finding legitimate global opportunities. How to connect: Send me a DM on LinkedIn today!
About me
I’m Megan, an International Career Coach who has lived and worked in over 10 countries. At the time of writing, I am on a digital nomad visa in Spain 🙂 I’m dedicated to helping ambitious professionals identify pathways and develop strategies that will allow them to live and work abroad in the regions and countries that truly excite them.
Whether you’re just starting to dream about international opportunities or you’re ready to make your move, I understand the challenges because I’ve lived them. From navigating visa requirements to mastering the art of international networking, I help people turn their overseas career dreams into concrete action plans.
If you’d like to learn more about my story, click here.
Also, feel free to book a 1:1 free Work Abroad Exploration call where we can discuss your specific goals and the best path forward for your international career journey.