Why tools matter in hiring
Remote teams run on a small set of tools. When a hiring manager sees that you already use them well, they worry less about your first month. You don't need to master everything. You need to be comfortable with the tools in the job ad, and safe with your accounts.
This checklist covers the tools most remote teams use, what "comfortable" looks like for each, and the security habits employers expect from day one. Many of the tools have free versions, so you can practice before you apply.
Chat: Slack and similar
Slack, Microsoft Teams and Google Chat are where day-to-day talk happens. What good looks like:
- You post in the right channel and use threads, so conversations stay tidy.
- You write messages that stand alone: context, the question, and the deadline in one message, not "hi" and a wait.
- You set your status and working hours. Slack lets you set a notification schedule so alerts pause outside your hours, and it shows others a snooze icon next to your name. That matters when your team is several hours behind or ahead of you.
- You reply within your working hours, and you say so if something will take longer.
Documents: Google Workspace, Microsoft 365 and Notion
Most remote work is written down. Expect to use at least one of these suites every day.
- Google Workspace or Microsoft 365. Shared documents and spreadsheets, comments and suggestions, version history, and sharing settings. Know the difference between sharing with your team and making a link public.
- Notion or Confluence. Team wikis, meeting notes and project pages. Learn to search them before you ask a question. The answer is often already written.
- Calendars. Keep your calendar accurate and set your working hours in Google Calendar or Outlook, so colleagues in other time zones book you at sensible times. When you suggest a meeting, give the time in both time zones.
- Project trackers. Jira, Asana, Trello, Linear or ClickUp. You should be able to pick up a task, update its status, leave a clear comment and link your work.
If an ad names a tool you've never used, spend an hour with its free plan or tutorial before the interview, and say so honestly.
Video calls: Zoom, Google Meet and Teams
Many remote teams keep calls to a minimum, but the ones you have need to work. Zoom publishes the bandwidth it recommends:
| Call type | Zoom's recommended bandwidth |
|---|---|
| One-to-one, 720p HD video | 1.2 Mbps up and down |
| Group call, 720p HD video | 2.6 Mbps up, 1.8 Mbps down |
| Screen sharing only, no video | 50 to 75 kbps |
| Audio only | 60 to 80 kbps |
So audio and screen sharing still work on a weak mobile connection when video doesn't. If your line drops, turn your camera off before you drop out. Have the tools installed and signed in before the call, test your microphone, and use a headset in a noisy home. For a backup connection, see our guide to power and internet backup.
For developers: Git and code review
If you write code, Git isn't optional. The official Pro Git book describes Git as storing data like a series of snapshots, with most operations needing only local files. In practice, teams expect you to:
- clone a repository, create a branch, commit with clear messages and push
- open a pull request or merge request on GitHub, GitLab or Bitbucket, and describe what changed and why
- review others' code politely and respond to review comments
- resolve a simple merge conflict
- use SSH keys or tokens, never your password, to connect
Keep a public profile with a few real projects. It's the easiest proof you can give. Our guide to remote software developer jobs has more.
Security basics employers expect
A remote employer trusts you with access to its systems from your home. Get these right before day one.
- Strong, unique passwords. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) recommends passwords at least 16 characters long, used for only one account. A password manager makes that practical.
- Multifactor authentication everywhere. CISA's advice is to turn on MFA for each account or app. Google's 2-Step Verification lets you use phone prompts, an authenticator app, a hardware security key or backup codes. Print or save the backup codes somewhere safe.
- Updates. Keep your operating system, browser and apps up to date.
- Screen lock. Lock your laptop when you step away, especially in shared spaces.
- Separate work and personal accounts. Use the work accounts the company gives you for work files.
- Public Wi-Fi. For work, a phone hotspot is usually safer than open Wi-Fi in a cafe or hotel.
- Phishing. Be suspicious of urgent messages asking for passwords, codes or payments, even if they look internal. Check through another channel.
Your checklist
| Area | Ready when you can |
|---|---|
| Chat | Use channels and threads, set a status and a notification schedule |
| Documents | Comment, suggest edits, share a file safely, find version history |
| Projects | Update a task, comment clearly, link your work |
| Calls | Join on time with a tested headset, and switch to audio if the line is weak |
| Git (developers) | Branch, commit, open a pull request, resolve a simple conflict |
| Security | Unique passwords in a manager, MFA on every account, backup codes stored |
| Setup | Work through a power cut or an internet outage |
Name the tools you use well on your CV and in your cover letter. Then browse remote jobs open to people in Africa.
