Working from home abroad: 10 jobs for remote workers

Whether you’re new to the job market, are looking for a side hustle, or are a keen entrepreneur with an eye on the world, there are plenty of reasons and opportunities to start working from home. For example, startups are especially keen to hire remote workers and can provide a more relaxed work environment with people eager to succeed.

Here’s what you need to know before you get started:

The benefits of working from home

As with almost anything in life, working from home has several benefits and several challenges. A 2021 paper by the Product Innovation Centre from Nottingham Trent University (UK) dug deeper into the science behind it all.

According to the study, respondents found that these were the top five benefits:

1. Less travel time
2. Lower costs of travel and subsistence
3. No formal work attire, but rather comfortable clothing
4. More time with family and pets
5. More efficiency and productivity

It is easy to understand why working from home has become so popular. The freedom of wearing whatever clothing you want, being able to spend more time with yourself or your family, and the opportunity to save some money are all good reasons to want to work from home.

It is difficult for some people in management to trust an employee who is working from home, because the physical presence of the employee in the office brings an idea of control. Their logic is, if I can’t see my employee, I can’t trust them. Luckily, this old-fashioned concept is shifting to finding more efficient ways of goal setting and achieving that doesn’t require the employee to be physically in the office at all times.

Challenges of working from home

Nevertheless, many people have concerns about working from home and find it challenging to make the transition. Conversely, these people argue that there are quite a few downsides and prefer the security of a cubicle at the company’s office.

Five of the main challenges were:

• Lack of face-to-face communication
• Lack of informal discussions and advice
• Lack of physical exercise during the day
• Feeling lonely and lacking a daily social life
• Too frequent snacking or gaining weight

The best job opportunities for remote work

For many, the benefits outweigh the challenges, and, if done right, working from home offers them the freedom they’ve always wanted.

Here are 10 of the most interesting job opportunities for working from home:

1) Virtual Assistant (VA)

This is a relatively new job that grew exponentially with the increase of online businesses. VAs are responsible for several different activities and thus may have various levels of responsibilities. From a simple receptionist to a business manager or an administrative assistant to a marketing director, VAs are becoming increasingly popular.

2) Freelance writer

The Internet has opened up many opportunities in the field of copywriting. Many bloggers outsource their writing to online writers (ghostwriting) and pay a considerable amount of money for it. As an author, you can also work from home on your book and use the many online services to help you publish it.

3) Freelance translator

Just as with writers, the need for translators has increased exponentially in the past decade. Translators are needed not only for legal matters but also for articles in magazines and newspapers, finances and banking, and even games.

4) Online tutor

Surprisingly, many teachers are leaving the classroom to become online tutors. The possibility of helping students online is attractive because it allows the teacher to work their own hours and scale thus getting a higher compensation.

5) Online nurse practitioner

This is one of the fastest-increasing careers in healthcare. When working online, a registered nurse might work with telephone triage for insurance companies, or answer questions via telephone for health call centers.

6) Software project manager

These are specialized professionals who manage projects in the software industry. Some of the project manager’s responsibilities include managing communication, budget, schedule, and suppliers.

7) Customer service manager

This professional is responsible for the happiness of the customer, and the tasks vary according to the needs of the company. Typically, a customer service manager is responsible for providing support and advice to customers, dealing with customer complaints, liaising with the sales technical department on behalf of the customer, managing refunds when necessary, and so on.

8) Video marketer

Video marketing services have many different aspects that can be explored by people who decide to work from home. Videos are one of the best ways to market a service or a product because they bring a more personal approach to the business.

9) Web designer

Web designers are responsible for maintaining a website through graphic design, programming, search engine optimization, and copywriting.

10) App designer

A recent development in the online business world is designing smartphone applications. Professionals in this area may also be responsible for creating, developing, fine-tuning, and even marketing apps.