Remote jobs are the way of the future. In 2016, 43% of employed Americans spent at least some time working remotely.
If you’ve ever fantasized about the digital nomad lifestyle, you’re in luck – it’s a good time to make the switch, and it might not even involve a drastic change from your current career path.
Here are 16 jobs you can do from anywhere that strikes your fancy.
Media buyer
Media buyers negotiate with advertising agents to secure ad placements that get the most bang for a client’s buck. As a media buyer, you may be purchasing ad space for traditional media – TV, radio, newspapers, and magazines – or for digital media, such as display, video, and paid social and search.
With digital ad spend forecasted to total over half of total U.S. ad spend by the end of 2021, there’s a tremendous opportunity for media buyers with experience in programmatic and digital.
Project manager
If you possess strong leadership skills as well as multitasking and problem-solving abilities, project management might just be the remote job of your dreams.
As a project manager, you’ll plan project timelines, manage resources, coordinate team schedules, and ensure successful completion of milestones. Besides regularly working with internal staff, you may also be involved in client onboarding.
Online instructor
If you love to teach, you’re in luck: There’s diverse opportunity in the online education sector. Adjunct professor, math tutor, teaching assistant, ESL teacher, special needs instructor – the list of potential online jobs goes on.
As an online educator, you’ll spend your days preparing and updating course materials, instructing students, moderating forums, and grading student work.
Customer service rep
Today, the list of SaaS startups and web hosting companies is endless – and so is the demand for customer service reps, such as live chat agents. If you’re tech-savvy and good at responding tactfully in high-pressure situations, then this is a great opportunity for you.
As a customer service rep, you’ll respond to questions about products and services, offer technical support, and resolve customer complaints.
Onboarding specialist
If you have a background in HR and recruiting, consider taking it online and becoming an onboarding specialist or hiring manager.
Onboarding specialists source, screen, and recommend new candidates as well as help to coordinate new hires. Many companies also require onboarding specialists to handle new customers and clients.
Administrative assistant
Are you a wizard at Microsoft Office? Are your organizational skills and multitasking abilities above average? If so, then you’d likely make a great administrative assistant.
Often called virtual assistants or VAs, online administrative assistants perform a wide variety of clerical tasks – from handling phone calls and emails to coordinating schedules, performing data entry, drafting and filing paperwork, and even handling travel arrangements for clients.
Digital marketing manager
Digital marketing is a booming industry. SaaS companies and startups often hire content managers, social media managers, SEO professionals, email marketing specialists, and paid search experts – all of which can be done entirely online.
If you’re just breaking into the challenging and ever-changing world of digital marketing, consider getting your feet wet with a do-from-anywhere job as a digital marketing assistant.
Payroll support
If you’re detail-oriented and comfortable working with spreadsheets, then you might enjoy working remotely as a payroll support clerk.
In this role, you’ll be responsible for managing employee timesheets and other payroll records, filing taxes, processing payments, and communicating with staff about payroll issues.
Transcriptionist
Transcriptionists convert recorded speech into text format – here’s an example transcript. Some transcription providers specialize in academic, legal, insurance, corporate, or medical transcription services.
As a transcriptionist, you’ll need strong spelling and grammar skills and a fast typing speed. You’ll be expected to transcribe a wide variety of audio, including podcasts, videos, lectures, conference calls, focus groups, and interviews. If you speak another language, you can also offer translation services.
A closely related job is video captioning – perfect for movie buffs.
Event planner
If you want to work remotely but still interact with other people daily, then event planning could be the perfect online job for you.
Your duties as an online event planner will include managing event logistics and budget, generating audiences and speakers, and handling event registration. You’ll also act as the liaison between exhibitors, event producers, and other staff.
Designer or illustrator
Many companies – particularly start-ups and digital agencies – regularly require the services of creative professionals like designers and illustrators.
As a professional designer, you’ll use your expertise in programs like Illustrator and PowerPoint to create visuals, charts, diagrams, infographics, and other marketing materials for your clients.
Conversion optimization skills are in especially high demand. If you have them, consider marketing yourself as an expert landing page or email newsletter designer.
Video or audio editor
Video and audio editors use a combination of technical and creative skills to create and edit trailers, films, podcasts, advertisements, games, radio broadcasts, and music.
To qualify for this online job, you’ll need to be proficient in industry-standard audio and/or video editing software such as Adobe After Effects, Adobe Premiere Pro, Photoshop, and Pro Tools.
Voice talent
Has anyone ever told you that you have a great voice? If so, then you might consider becoming a professional voiceover artist.
As a voiceover artist, you’ll be lending your voice to TV and radio programs, documentaries, commercials, audiobooks, and games. To be successful, you’ll need a home studio with professional audio recording equipment so you can record and master your tracks.
Interviewer
Companies and clients hire interviewers to interview authors for autobiographies and magazine or news stories. Your job as a professional interviewer will be to conduct interviews over the phone or via Skype, asking questions and recording participant responses with digital recording equipment. You may also be required to produce a transcript of the call.
To succeed as a professional interviewer, you’ll need excellent communication skills.
Writer or editor
There’s no shortage of do-from-anywhere jobs for skilled writers and editors, especially when it comes to digital media. Competition for the best jobs is fierce, though, so consider specializing in a specific medium, such as press releases, grants, proposals, marketing copy, or online courses.
Technical, medical, and scientific writers and editors are in high demand, and the work can pay very well.
Travel consultant
Travel agencies, airlines, resorts, rental companies, and cruise lines hire travel agents to assist clientele with business and leisure trips.
Your tasks as a travel consultant will include booking reservations, handling cancellations, providing customer service, arranging accommodations and rentals, and confirming client itineraries. For a travel agent, good phone skills are a must.
Whatever your talents are, there’s probably a remote job out there that’s a great match for your skills and experience. It may take a little digging to find it, but it’ll be worth it!
About the Author:
Chloe Brittain is a freelance writer and the owner of Opal Transcription Services, a North America-based company providing interview transcription services to companies in the U.S., Canada, and abroad. Connect with Chloe on LinkedIn and Twitter (@opaltranscripts).
