When I started my education, I never expected to end up working as a writer. And I certainly never expected to be blessed enough to work with a phenomenal international team producing marketing materials for a leading health sciences academy – but here I am.
And the best part?
I’m able to do it all from the comfort of my couch (or desk) most days.
Remote work has become more than just a professional myth! In many industries, it’s becoming a widely accepted norm. When you combine your college education with the right technology, the possibilities are endless.
Non-traditional work opportunities are becoming more accessible.
Once upon a time, we were expected to graduate, apply for sometimes hundreds of positions, drive to an interview, pass a screening process, and THEN make sure that we were able to balance our time between home and the office.
And there’s nothing wrong with this for many people who enjoy getting out and building their career surrounded by a different environment. However, this isn’t always feasible. Especially for those with small children living in rural areas far from the nearest professional building.
This is where remote work comes in. Remote work refers to any profession that allows an employee or independent contractor to complete the majority of their duties from home. Teachers, nurses, writers, businesspeople, salespeople, and tech majors can all find jobs working online in a remote capacity if they know where to start looking!
How and where to look for remote job opportunities…
The first step in your journey to a remote career is to define the type of employee you’d like to be. There are generally two types when it comes to remote work:
- A W-2 employee is one who is a recognized employee of a specific company. Taxes are automatically taken out of each check, and that person is entitled to all state and federal protections that come with being a legal employee of a company.
- A W-9 employee is considered an independent contractor. You will be responsible for paying your own quarterly taxes, your own insurance, and will not (usually) receive any paid time off.
For international positions, you may have to work as a sole proprietor – acting as a one-person business and taking full professional responsibility for your status. Just make sure that you understand the restrictions associated with this, and don’t become a misclassified employee!
What you choose to do will largely depend on the location of the company you want to work for, your industry, and the type of services you’ll provide.
When looking for remote job opportunities, there are several great places to start:
- Indeed.com- (I’ve personally had a lot of luck with this one) Make sure to set the filters to “remote” and the name of the industry you’re interested in.
- Angel.co- This is a great place for new graduates looking for remote job opportunities with startups and smaller companies.
- Glassdoor.com- Again, just set your filters to include a remote location and the industry you’re interested in.
- Fiverr.com- This is more of a freelance site but can help you get your foot in the door for long-term remote work opportunities.
Even if you’re applying for local positions, don’t be afraid to ask about remote options or regular flex-time.
Adjust your resume for remote work opportunities.
As any professional will tell you, read the job description and THEN adjust your resume to highlight the most crucial qualifications. It’s important to be ethical and honest on all applications and on your resume, but there’s nothing wrong with prioritizing the most important skill sets on paper.
Your college credentials can help place you at the top of the stack as well. Make sure that you also understand the types of tech required for communication and job duties before jumping in with both feet.
And don’t give up!
For every twenty applications you put in, you may only get one or two interviews. This is okay! The key is to continue to refine your resume, learn new skills, and trust in God to help you end up where you’re supposed to be!