It's My Birthday. And I Have A Confession. (Copy)
Remote Work Secrets - Edition #03
There's almost nothing worse than going through months of job searching, hundreds of applications, countless interviews to finally landing that remote job, and then realizing on Day 3... it's just your old office job, but in your home.
Same burnout. Same “always-on” culture. Same 9–5 chains.
You didn’t fight this hard for freedom just to be tethered to Wi-Fi instead of an office.
The reality is, many “remote” jobs that offer freedom and flexibility are just traps in disguise.
I’ve seen thousands as a recruiter and fallen for one myself.
Here's what I've noticed from working with hundreds of job seekers over the last few years.
The traps fall into 4 categories:
Jobs that say "flexible" but are practically 9-to-5
Jobs that say "remote" but are locked to one location
We're a family" culture (translation: no boundaries)
The fear of being micromanaged by tracking software.
For me, the top two are the most common. Here’s how to spot them before you even apply.
🚩 Red Flag #1: The "Flexible Hours" Lie
This is the most common and sneakiest trap. The job description says "flexible hours" or "flexible schedule," but it’s buried next to code words like:
"Fast-paced environment" "Must be available for 9-5 core hours" "Able to juggle multiple priorities"
Let me translate that for you:
"Fast-paced" = Chaotic, under-staffed, and you'll be working all the time. "Core hours 9-5" = Not flexible. That's just a regular office job. "Juggling priorities" = three jobs, one paycheck.
Real flexibility looks like “async-first”, “work when you’re most productive”, or “collaboration hours 11–1.”
🚩 Red Flag #2: The "Location-Locked" Trap
The ultimate travel dream-killer. You find the perfect role… then the fine print: “Remote (US only).”
It feels like a bait-and-switch, right?
It's almost never about a lack of trust. It's about taxes and legal compliance. The company is only set up to hire and pay employees in those specific countries.
How to spot it (even when it's hidden):
Check the Benefits: The job description might not say "US-Only," but if the benefits section only lists "US Health Insurance," "401(k) matching," and "HSA accounts," that's your answer.
Check the Application Form: Start the application. If the "Country" field is a dropdown menu locked to one country, you know the truth.
The Pro-Move: Look at the location of employees on LinkedIn: If 90% + of the team are in one country, chances are you wont be able to work outside of that country either.
🚩 Red Flag #3: The "We're a Family" Trap
I know you probably already know this, but let me remind you, that when a company says "we're a family," it often means "we expect family-level loyalty, but will give you corporate-level treatment.”
Here's how to spot it in a job description:
"We're a family here." (The classic)
"We need someone who can wear many hats." (Translation: three jobs, one paycheck)
"We have a 'work hard, play hard' mentality." (Translation: you will work late, and then be expected to socialize)
"After-hours community events are mandatory" (yes, I've seen this)
They’ll expect loyalty at midnight but pay you like a stranger.
Language that signals respect for boundaries: • "We respect work-life balance" • "Async-first culture" • "No mandatory meetings outside core hours" • "Unlimited PTO" (if backed up with actual policy, not just words)
The Pro-Move: In your first interview, ask: "What does a typical week look like? What’s your remote work policy? How does the team collaborate and when do they typically all get together?”
If they hesitate or say "well, it depends," that's your answer.
Now, spotting these traps is just step one.
The real shift happens when you stop reacting to "fake remote" jobs and start proactively designing the life you want first.
It's the exact shift that allowed me to build the life I have now, working from places like Bali.
And it's the core of what I'm teaching in my LIVE event on October 30th - “The 39 Bootcamp Masterclass.”
It’s a one-time session for women 30+ who want to get a remote role so they have the freedom to move abroad!
Click Here to Reserve Your Seat for the Live Event
Stay Rebellious,
Michelle
Throwback to when I was trapped! 😅
P.S. Now you know the red flags to spot. But do you know YOUR blind spot?
The quiz will show you exactly what's holding you back in your remote job search, whether it's visibility, positioning, or something else entirely.