Looking for a little motivation while you search for your remote job? Sometimes we all need a little extra boost to get us going. This playlist of inspiring songs is sure to do the trick!
11 Inspiring Songs for Your Remote Job Search
Songs have a way of inspiring people in all facets of their life. From melancholic songs about breakups to fast-paced party anthems, all types of musical styling can make an impact on your mood and life.
While applying song lyrics to a remote job search may seem counterintuitive, certain tunes and words may inspire you to excel in a virtual capacity. So fire up your Spotify account, crank the stereo, and let these inspiring songs motivate you to find the remote career you’ve always wanted.
1. “Taking Care of Business” by Bachman Turner Overdrive
You get up every morning from alarm clock’s warning
Take the 8:15 into the city.
There’s a whistle up above and people pushin’, people shovin’
And the girls who try to look pretty.
And if your train’s on time, you can get to work by 9
And start your slaving job to get your pay.
If you ever get annoyed, look at me I’m self-employed
I love to work at nothing all day.
And I’ll be taking care of business (every day)
Taking care of business (every way)
I’ve been taking care of business (it’s all mine)
Taking care of business and working overtime.
Nothing quite captures the daily grind like the 1973 smash hit “Taking Care of Business” by Bachman Turner Overdrive. And while you probably won’t want to become self-employed as a couch potato, the lyrics work to motivate you in your search for remote work. Telecommuting offers a chance to avoid the hustle and bustle of the commute or a job you’ve taken just to pay the bills. So fine-tune your resumé, personalize your cover letter, and you’ll be taking care of business in no time. It’s inspiring songs like this that reach the top of the charts each year.
2. “All I Do Is Win” by DJ Khaled
All I do is win, win, win no matter what.
Perhaps the inspirational message of DJ Khaled’s “All I Do Is Win” gets lost in this upbeat, pop hip-hop jam from 2010. Winning in the hip-hop game is tantamount to stacks of cash, fast cars, and mansions. In the remote world, you may not get the wealth that Ludacris and Snoop Dogg have, but you should definitely embrace the idea of winning no matter what. Like any other job search, you might never hear back from employers, or you might apply to 50 jobs only to get one response. And even then, employment is not guaranteed.
But do not let that set you back. If all you do is “win, win, win no matter what,” you can deal with setbacks and push forward. DJ Khaled would almost certainly salute you.
3. “Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley
Don’t worry about a thing,
‘Cause every little thing is gonna be alright.
Commonly misnamed as “Don’t Worry About a Thing,” Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds” from 1977 is an anthem and reminder to not sweat the small stuff. In the remote world—and more notably, the freelance world—not everything goes as planned. You might find lulls in income, require longer time than expected to find employment, or encounter some other obstacle. The idea is that if you believe in yourself and curb your worries, better times will come. Inspiring songs like this one might just get you through the toughest of days.
4. “In This Diary” by The Ataris
The only thing that matters
Is just following your heart,
And eventually, you’ll finally get it right.
If you went to high school or college in the early 2000s, chances are you remember the often-sappy lyrics of the pop-punk movement. While the band may have gained more fame for their cover of Don Henley’s “Boys of Summer,” The Ataris had a hit with one of their 2003 inspiring coming-of-age songs, known as “In This Diary.”
Most of the song is about looking back on fond memories of youth, yet the stanza about following your heart and getting it right applies directly to adulthood. Do not get jaded or let rejections bother you. Just stay on your path, and you’ll succeed. Not only does this line work for adult goals, it also works for a remote job search. Plus, it has enough of a fast-paced pop-punk vibe to keep you pumped.
5. “Don’t Stop Believin'” by Journey
Don’t stop believin’
Hold onto that feelin’.
If you could take every lyrical and musical cliche of the late 1970s and early 1980s and smash them together in a single song, it would inevitably produce Journey’s 1981 single, “Don’t Stop Believin’.” Packed with soaring guitar motifs, a cheery piano riff, and the melodies of a stereotypically high-pitched male singer, this tune also incorporates bars, perfume, wine, small-town girls, and Detroit. Now it’s belted out around 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights at every watering hole from New York City to San Diego.
While most of the lyrics pertain to nothing that is all that tangible and simply tell a story with a nice little melody, the hook of the chorus instills the ideas of perseverance and resilience. So, when you have setbacks, don’t fret—even in the remote world. And if you ever need a little boost, this is a killer karaoke song that is sure to vault you to local celebrity status.
6. “Wonderwall” by Oasis
Because maybe,
You’re gonna be the one
That saves me.
And after all,
You’re my wonderwall.
Perhaps 1995’s greatest hit, “Wonderwall” has been one of the most singable and recognizable songs of the last 25 years. It doesn’t directly apply to the telecommuting world, but if you want to put yourself in a good mood before a Skype interview, few other songs will put that extra spring in your step. Bonus points if you know what a “wonderwall” is.
7. “You Can’t Roller Skate in a Buffalo Herd” by Roger Miller
You can’t roller skate in a buffalo herd,
But you can be happy if you’ve a mind to.
Released in 1965 by country music king Roger Miller, “You Can’t Roller Skate in a Buffalo Herd” is a light-hearted and silly lyrical ditty with a deeper meaning. In a roundabout way, Miller posits the idea that many people stress about what they cannot do rather than focus on what they can do. When you are searching for a remote job, do not become depressed or down-trodden by a lack of experience. Allow inspiring songs like Miller’s to help you cease the power of your strengths and what you can do for a company. You just might find yourself a bit happier.
8. “Survivor” by Destiny’s Child
I’m a survivor
I’m not gon’ give up
I’m a survivor
I’m gon’ work harder.
Before Beyoncé turned into a solo pop superstar, she was the frontwoman of R&B group Destiny’s Child. Perhaps she took the ideas from words of inspiring songs like 2001’s “Survivor” and put them into action.
While the song is a homage to the strength of a woman after leaving a lover, the idea of working harder and never giving up play straight into the remote job search. The more effort you put into finding your ideal telecommute-friendly role, the more likely you are to be successful. And with the dance-inducing, R&B appeal of this song in the background, chances are you’ll take the message to heart.
9. “Ain’t No Man” by the Avett Brothers
There ain’t no man that can save me
There ain’t no man that can enslave me.
Ain’t no man or men
That can change the shape my soul is in.
There ain’t no man
Who can cause me pain
Or raise my fear
‘Cause I only got love to share.
This hand-clapping, bass-driven song from 2016 is a far cry from the Avett Brothers folk-love songs from past albums, but the idea that you have the reins to your own life plays well in the remote job world. If you are confident that you are your own person and that nothing can alter your resolve, you have set yourself up for success. “Ain’t No Man” isn’t only about resilience; it’s about staying true to yourself and what you know is right.
10. “The Middle” by Jimmy Eat World
Hey, don’t write yourself off yet.
It’s only in your head you feel left out
Or looked down on.
Just try your best
Try everything you can.
And don’t worry what they tell themselves
When you’re away.
Almost every line of Jimmy Eat World’s 2001 single, “The Middle” is gold—one of those inspiring songs you do not forget. Between the driven guitar lines and catchy sing-along chorus, the song succeeds in its intention: that you shouldn’t let the doubts of others dictate your success. Interestingly, the song doesn’t pertain directly to the band, but the album “The Middle” is on—Bleed American—was independently financed by Jimmy Eat World after they were dropped by Capitol Records. That’s a testament to perseverance in itself.
You may find that peers or colleagues scoff at your attempts to gain employment in the remote world, but you shouldn’t let the naysayers’ words drive a spike into your psyche. Instead, try your best, and good things will happen. It is almost like the wise words of mom, transformed into a pop-punk format. That’s something everyone can get on board with.
11. “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger” by Daft Punk
Work it harder.
Make it better.
Do it faster.
Makes us stronger.
Although 2001’s “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger” was popularized through Kanye West’s sampling in the song, “Stronger,” the driven, fast-paced, electronic dance song shines even more brightly on its own. Laden with computerized voices, the message seems a bit robotic at first, but repetition will firmly cement the message in your head. When you work harder, better, and faster than everyone else, it only makes you stronger.
Inspiring songs like this one serve a proven motivator as a workout jam, but in the remote job realm, its inspiration is unwavering. If you’re a hard worker, you won’t have to worry about falling behind in a virtual capacity. In addition, your work ethic can only serve as a platform to propel you into your next job as a remote worker.
Through the mix of words and songs, you can find the inspiration you need to excel in the remote world and apply to the thousands of human-screened remote jobs on the Virtual Vocations job board.
Do you have inspirational songs you listen to as you tackle your remote job hunt? Connect with Virtual Vocations on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to tell us. We’d love to hear from you!
Canva Photo Credit: VSanandhakrishna
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