How Can I Be a Remote Worker?

Remote work is gaining momentum, so the right time to consider your future work prospects is exactly now. Remote work is highly flexible since there are four different opportunities, all of which we’ll briefly consider below.

The two chief factors driving the popularity of remote work are lower costs of office space rentals and outsourcing, especially for large companies. For remote workers, the main benefit is that they can work from anywhere, both in terms of country and space.

However, it is important to underline that working remotely doesn’t equal being on a constant holiday, as many inexperienced people think. True, remote work can help everyone make their private life more ideal because it allows the freedom to better organize one’s time, but it is still – work.

The 4 main modules of remote work are, as follows: freelancing, digital nomadism, hybrid work, and fully remote work for one company.

Let’s take a look at each of these opportunities.  

Find a Company Hiring Remote Workers

For people used to full-time work and fixed working hours, finding a company that hires remote workers is the best option. For starters, there are numerous remote startups to work for, especially with labor shortages.

Startups employ tech-savvy people and may operate either fully remotely or via a hybrid work model (see below for an in-depth explanation).

In addition, many traditional businesses are beginning to recognize the importance of remote work and also the huge savings it brings in its wake. Don’t be surprised if you land a well-paid position with a reputable company starting off on its remote team.

Look for Hybrid Work Opportunities

As mentioned above, remote work is still in its formative era, so there’s a lot of opportunities to experiment and find the work mode that suits you best. Hybrid work is one good example. It is great for those who can stick to learning solutions, especially.

Hybrid work covers a couple of models, as follows:

·        Almost entirely off premises – mostly remote work with no office space

·        Almost entirely on premises – limited remote work, large office space the majority of managers and workers

·        Partially remote work, large office space –  the majority of managers and workers spend most, but not all, of their time at the office

·        Partially remote work, multiple hubs – multiple offices with the workforce dispersed among them

·        Multiple microhubs – management and employees are dispersed across small microhubs located in different cities and countries

·        Partially remote work, with flexible office space – no permanent offices; rented flex space used for periodic collaboration (but not connectivity)

Basically, there is an opportunity for everyone’s taste, so don’t give up that easily if you don’t see an option you’re looking for immediately. Keep looking!

Acquire Clients and Become a Freelancer

Taking up gig work is usually considered the basis of freelancing, but there are really various different opportunities. For example, with the rise of eLearning, many online schools have popped up. If you’re a skilled teacher, you can even teach online. ESL is particularly on the rise, but there are other opportunities as well.

As regards classic gig work, it covers pretty much all vocations, save for manual work, so there is an opportunity for everyone. You can also obtain a new skill and start your career anew if you’re interested in jobs that are in demand.

Jobs that are always in demand are IT-related, design, copywriting and online marketing, so there are a lot of options to choose from.

Develop a Client Base and Travel as a Digital Nomad

Last but not least, there’s digital nomadism. The trend allows the nomads to work independently while traveling the world, but remember that traveling can be expensive. That being said, if you’re planning to become a digital nomad, you should make sure to develop a client base first so that you can calculate your income and expenses.

Speaking of the latter, consider streamlined filing for the taxes. Keep in mind that, in the great majority of cases, U.S. citizens are obliged to pay U.S. taxes no matter where they are, and there are also the taxes of the country you’re visiting to consider.

Which Remote Work Option Suits You Best?

You don’t have to necessarily pick only one option. It is totally fine to experiment a bit or take up multiple projects. For example, working remotely for a company doesn’t stop you from accepting an occasional gig, so make the best of all opportunities.

What’s important to remember is that remote work will only expand. If you’re not ready to take the leap just yet or are planning to change a career, there’s plenty of time to plan ahead. Also, if your ultimate goal is to become a digital nomad, you can take things easy and build a secure client base over time, leaving some money on the side for your future life.

There’s no rush as opportunities will only keep increasing. Make the best of them at your own pace!