Why We're Hosting the Remote Job Fair & Expo Again in 2026

Remote Work Secrets - Edition #41


What's Inside:

  • Why we keep running the Remote Job Fair & Expo – and why the real motivation has nothing to do with ticket sales.

  • How AI is changing hiring – what happens when employers and candidates both rely on automation, and why the human side of recruitment matters more than ever.

  • What happened last year – the numbers, the success stories and why we deliberately limit attendance.

  • What to expect in 2026 – who's attending, who the event is for and how to make the most of it.

  • This Week's Remote Roles. Real remote roles for Senior Professionals.


The Remote Job Fair & Expo is a two-day online event that brings together remote-first companies and experienced professionals through live networking, company booths, keynote talks and genuine conversations. Rather than relying solely on applications and algorithms, the event is designed to help employers and candidates connect as humans.

Maybe some of you are wondering why we keep doing this job fair. Or what it's even about beyond "an event for remote jobs."

Fair question.

Here's where it actually comes from.

I spend my days surrounded by genuinely brilliant people - sharp, capable, easy to work with - doing everything right in their search for remote roles. They've put in the work, refined their resumes, polished their LinkedIn profiles, practised for interviews and sent out application after application.

And so many of them are still stuck.

What Is the Remote Job Fair & Expo?

The Remote Job Fair & Expo exists to make remote hiring feel human again.

Instead of relying entirely on online applications, candidates have the opportunity to meet remote-first employers directly, ask questions, build relationships and learn about company culture before applying. Employers, in turn, get to meet talented professionals whose experience and personality might never come across in a CV alone.

We believe hiring works better when people can have conversations - not just exchange applications.

Why Remote Hiring Feels Broken for Employers and Candidates

Companies are leaning on AI to churn out job ads that all sound the same, and candidates are leaning on AI to churn out CVs that all sound the same. Neither side is doing anything wrong necessarily. Everyone's just trying to save time and keep up.

But somewhere between the two, the human disappears.

Applications become numbers. Rejections become silence. "No-reply" inboxes become normal. In some cases, AI decides whether you're worth speaking to before a human ever sees your application.

I don't think anyone deliberately built hiring to work like this. Recruiters aren't the problem, and neither are candidates using every tool available to them. Everyone's simply trying to make a difficult system work.

The trouble is, somewhere along the way, that system quietly stopped working for either side.

Having spoken with hundreds of candidates before, during and after last year's event, one thing became clear: most people weren't struggling because they lacked talent. They were struggling because they couldn't get meaningful conversations with employers.

That's the gap the Remote Job Fair & Expo exists to close.

Not because it's a magic fix, and not because networking events solve every hiring problem. It's simply a deliberate way to put the human part of hiring back where it belongs.

It's a place where remote-first companies can meet exceptional people who might not tick every traditional box but are outstanding at what they do. Where job seekers can tell their story, ask honest questions and get a genuine feel for a company's culture instead of trying to guess from a careers page.

It's also a chance for hiring managers, recruiters and founders to show what makes their company worth joining beyond salary and perks. And for candidates to find a role that genuinely fits their strengths, values and lifestyle - not just something that pays the bills.

At the end of the day, it's about fit.

Because behind every resume is a real person. And behind every company is a group of people trying to build something worth building.

Remote Job Fair Results from Last Year

We didn't build this on a hunch. We built it because we believed there had to be a better way.

Last year's event gave us every reason to keep going.

  • 295 attendees accepted from more than 600 applications

  • 15 remote-first companies meeting candidates directly

  • 3 attendees received job offers within 19 days

  • 10 networking sessions and 9 presentations across two days

  • Thousands of conversations between companies and candidates

  • 93% said they'd attend again

  • 90% said they'd recommend it to someone else looking for remote work

The numbers were encouraging, but what really mattered was what people said afterwards.

"The companies at the event were all high quality remote-first organizations, the presentations all had relevance to remote work, and the peer networking was amazing."

"It was very well organized and the experience, even though virtual, was truly lovely. Having the booths made it feel almost like we were there in person, which really helped with interaction. The platform worked great and really helped create the atmosphere of a real job fair."

"I have truly enjoyed going to all the different booths and learning more about each company and what they're looking for. I can't say enough good things about the job fair and how smoothly it's gone."

These are people who finally had the conversations they'd been trying to have for months.

What to Expect at the 2026 Remote Job Fair & Expo

We're back for two days: 18 and 19 September 2026, online, running from 10:00am to 2:00pm EST (4:00pm to 8:00pm CET) each day.

Tickets are $30 for both days, and half of every ticket goes directly to Na'Amal, a charity helping refugees access remote work.

Remote Job Academy members get in free with a guaranteed spot.

Each day includes a welcome session, company booths, keynote talks, live networking sessions and dedicated one-to-one conversations with hiring companies. We've also built proper breaks into the schedule because virtual events shouldn't mean staring at your screen for four hours straight.

Who Should Attend the Remote Job Fair?

This event is designed for remote job seekers, career changers and professionals exploring a move into remote-first companies.

We're prioritising people who've worked remotely before, while keeping some spaces open for those making the transition for the first time.

The companies attending this year have told us they're particularly interested in meeting:

  • Professionals with at least 2 years of experience, especially those with 5+ years of experience

  • Software Engineers and other technology professionals

  • Senior Sales and Customer Success professionals in AMER

  • SaaS professionals across LATAM

  • Senior AI/ML Engineers

  • Product and Engineering professionals with HealthTech experience

  • Operations and Delivery professionals

  • Account Managers and Partner Managers

  • Marketing and Product professionals

  • Professionals from SaaS, FinTech, HealthTech, EdTech, Digital Marketing and eCommerce

If you're reading that list and thinking, "That sounds like me," then this event is probably worth your time.

How to Get the Most Out of the Remote Job Fair

A little preparation goes a long way.

Before the event, take some time to update your LinkedIn profile and CV. It's also worth researching the companies attending and the roles they're hiring for, so you can make the most of every conversation.

Most importantly, don't sit back and wait for someone to notice you.

Introduce yourself. Ask questions. Join the networking sessions. The people who get the most out of the fair are usually the ones who actively take part in it.

You don't have to attend every minute if your schedule doesn't allow it, so feel free to drop in and out around the sessions that matter most. That said, if you can make both full days, you'll give yourself the best opportunity to meet the right people, build genuine connections and discover opportunities you might otherwise have missed.


This Week's Remote Roles

🎯Fully Remote Jobs (No "Fake Remote" Here):

And if you want to meet the recruiters behind these jobs, then join us at the 2026 Remote Job Fair & Expo! Get your ticket below! 👇


Places Are Limited

Last year, more than 600 people applied.

Only 295 were able to attend.

We intentionally keep numbers manageable so every attendee has a genuine opportunity to meet employers, ask questions and build relationships throughout the event.

If you'd like to join us this year, don't leave it until the last minute.

Apply now and give yourself the chance to have the conversations that online applications rarely create.

Let's make remote hiring human again.

Stay Rebellious,

Michelle & The RR Team

P.S. If you're a remote-first company hiring this year and would like a booth at the fair - or you're interested in sponsorship opportunities - you’ve got until 16 August!

And remember, half of every ticket sold supports Na'Amal's work helping refugees access meaningful remote employment.

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