How Opportunities work at Remote
How we work
Applying for a Federal Government role can take considerable time and effort. Agencies have different requirements, deadlines and evaluation processes, and it is not always obvious what happens after you express interest.
We’ve put this guide together so you know how Remote works, what we’ll ask of you and what you can expect from us along the way.
For most people, it starts with a conversation.
01. Getting to know you
The first step is usually an introductory conversation.
You might be actively looking for your next contract, considering contracting for the first time or keeping an eye on the market before making a move. You may also be interested in work for which you are not yet eligible, or we may not have anything suitable available at the time.
That’s okay. The conversation is still worthwhile. We’ll talk about your experience, the work you enjoy and what you may want to do next. We’ll also explain how Remote operates and answer any questions you have about contracting, clearances, RFQs or the Federal Government market.
Afterwards, we’ll send you an email summarising what we discussed and any agreed next steps. We’ll also include links to complete our Personal Particulars Form and subscribe to our Job Alerts service.
Because we’re a small team, you’ll generally continue dealing with the same people as opportunities arise rather than having to start the conversation again each time.
There’s no pressure to pursue a role. The aim is to understand what matters to you so future conversations are useful and relevant.
02. Finding a role
Remote publishes current roles on our website and distributes them through our Job Alerts service.
A job listing will generally explain which agency the role is with, what the work involves, the main requirements, contract terms, working arrangements, important dates and the indicative rate range.
If a role interests you, you can request the response template to be considered.
Expressing interest doesn’t commit you to anything, and it doesn’t mean we’ll automatically submit you to the agency. It gives you the chance to review the full requirements before deciding whether you want to prepare a response.
03. Preparing your response
Once we receive your expression of interest, we’ll send you the response package. This will include the response template, the criteria you need to address, writing guidance and Remote’s internal deadline.
Our internal deadline will always be earlier than the agency’s closing date. We use that time to review responses, manage any limits on candidate numbers and work with the people being put forward. We know most people are fitting RFQ responses around full-time work and other commitments. If you’re running behind, talk to us. In many cases we can accommodate a short extension, provided there is still enough time to complete the review process before submission.
For most government roles, we recommend using specific examples structured around Situation, Task, Action and Result, commonly known as the STAR method. Responses are written in the third person, with the focus kept on what you did and the outcomes you achieved.
You’ll then prepare your response and provide an up-to-date CV by our internal deadline.
As our internal deadline approaches, someone from Remote may get in touch if we haven’t heard from you. Often it’s just a quick check-in to see whether you’re interested in applying or whether you’ve decided the role isn’t quite right. If it’s not for you, there’s no problem. Let us know and we’ll close it off on our end.
04. Shortlisting, feedback and rate discussion
Where our experience becomes useful.
Agencies often limit the number of people each supplier can submit. When that happens, we have to review the applications received and decide which ones closely meet what the agency has asked for. We don’t enjoy this part of the process. We know people have given up their time to prepare a response, and we don’t take that effort lightly. Whether or not you are shortlisted, we’ll let you know.
If you are shortlisted, we’ll review your response and CV and suggest changes where we believe they will help. We may identify an answer that needs more detail, an example that hasn’t brought out your contribution clearly enough or a part of your CV that could better support the written response. Our Operations team all have National Intelligence Community backgrounds. They understand the environment you’ve worked in (not just the words on the page!).
We’ll also talk through the proposed rate. That conversation takes into account your skills and experience, the role itself and what we’re seeing in the broader market. Sometimes there can be a balance between aiming for the highest possible rate and remaining competitive for a particular opportunity. We’ll share our thoughts openly and explain the reasoning behind them, but the final decision is always yours.
Our job is to help you describe your experience clearly and make sure the strongest and most relevant parts aren’t being overlooked. No one can promise an interview, but what we can do is give your application the time and attention it deserves before it reaches the agency.
05. Final review and submission
Nothing is submitted without your approval.
Before anything goes to the agency, we’ll confirm you are happy to proceed with your response, CV and proposed rate.
We require written confirmation by email that you’re happy for Remote to represent you for the role. Once we receive your approval, we’ll complete the supplier paperwork, carry out the final checks and lodge the response before the agency’s deadline. The version supplied to the agency will be the version you reviewed and approved.
06. While your application is with the agency...
We keep following up!
Once we’ve submitted your application, you’ll receive a confirmation email summarising the engagement you’ve been put forward for. From that point, the timing largely sits with the agency. Some evaluations move quickly, while others can take several weeks or, occasionally, up to three months. A long wait doesn’t necessarily tell us whether the outcome will be positive or negative.
We can’t control the agency’s timeframes, but we don’t disappear once your application has been submitted. We’ll continue asking for updates and contact you when we hear something worth sharing.
In rare cases, an agency may stop responding despite repeated follow-up. If more than three months have passed without an update, we’ll reach out about the situation. We may consider it likely that the application has been unsuccessful, but we’ll make it clear when that is our assessment rather than a confirmed decision from the agency.
If your application progresses, the next step is usually an interview. We’ll pass on the information provided by the agency and help you prepare.
Whatever the result, you’ll hear from us. If this isn’t the right role, we’ll continue the conversation when another one comes up that genuinely makes sense for you.
What you can expect from Remote
Some people secure a role through Remote on their first application. For others, it takes a few attempts before the timing and role are right. We won’t push you towards every available role or promise an outcome we can’t control.
Much of our consultant network has grown through long-standing relationships and referrals from people we’ve worked with over the years. We take that trust seriously and work to earn it each time someone chooses Remote to represent them.
We know the environment because we’ve worked in it. Our job is to help you navigate it.