Best jobs for working remotely

If you’re looking to make the leap to remote working - or want a job that can be done from home - there are plenty of options out there. To inspire you, we’ve put together a selection of top jobs for remote freelance work.

Online counsellor

If you’re a natural listener, you may have already wondered whether counselling would be a good fit for you. Even if your career's moved in a completely different direction so far, this doesn’t mean you can’t make a drastic change. In fact, counselling is often a second or third career and you don’t necessarily need to have a specialised university degree, as there are a number of routes into counselling. If you’re looking to take a completely remote route, fully online-based qualifications are available too. Find out about what it takes to become a counsellor.

However, before diving in, it's worth considering that taking the remote route in counselling isn't the same as an in-person conversation. If video conferencing and telephone calls aren't mediums you enjoy communicating over, online counselling may not be for you.

Programmer

Programming can be a pretty lucrative freelance job. Unsurprisingly, programmers have led the way in the digital nomad lifestyle, developing hubs of digital nomads across the world, from sunny European hotspots like Porto to the tropical shores of Bali.

Depending on the type of work you’re undertaking, you can charge by hour or by project. Figuring out what you should be charging clients is down to a few key things, including: the industry your client is in; the programming languages you use; and your proficiency level(s).

If you don’t have a coding background and are considering this as a longer-term goal, there are plenty of free and paid online resources at your fingertips, including:

• Codeacademy
• Udemy
• Udacity

Teacher

Pretty much any skill can be monetised through teaching and it can be a great way to work flexible hours, on your own terms, anywhere in the world. Whether you have computer skills, language skills, or specialised academic subject skills, there’s always someone out there looking to learn. Even musical instruments can be taught via video conference these days.

However, teaching is a high energy profession and not everyone has the mindset for it. Just because you possess a skill - or expertise in a subject - it doesn’t necessarily mean you know how to best go about imparting that knowledge on somebody else. While you may have picked up some great teaching skills informally, pedagogical technique is a heavily researched topic and there’s plenty of theory and methodology to explore.

And if you’re going to be teaching online, it’s worth making sure you’re using the right tools. Check out our list of the best videoconferencing tools.

Translator

Fluent in multiple languages? You’re in luck. This particular job requires an excellent grasp of at least two languages (sorry, GCSE Spanish definitely won’t cut it). However, it’s worth bearing in mind that even if you do speak two languages, you may find translating from one to the other more difficult than anticipated. It’s often thought that people who grew up learning two languages naturally find it much more difficult to translate between them than someone who mastered a second or third language through formal learning.

If it’s something you are good at, however, there’s plenty of work in translation (and most of it’s freelance). Find out more about becoming a freelance translator.

SEO

With so many companies competing to reach customers online, search engine optimisation is big business. It’s a long term, ongoing process for any business wanting to rank on Google. This means that broadly speaking you have two options when it comes to SEO services: as a strategist, offering advice on technical or content strategy - or as a SEO copywriter. In any case, there’s no reason why SEO work can’t be done remotely.

If it’s not something you’ve thought about before, it requires learning some basic technical concepts and how to apply them. It doesn’t require a specific degree or formal training. If you have a flair for content, design and an interest in the technical aspects of the internet and websites, SEO could be just the job for you. There are a myriad of free online resources available to get you started, including our very own introductory guide to SEO.

More free SEO resources:

• Brighton SEO, (probably) the world’s largest bi-annual SEO conference
• Digital marketing entrepreneur Neil Patel’s website is a treasure trove of SEO information

Writer

If you write well, your skills are probably more sought after than you realise. There are literally thousands of businesses out there in need of copy. Whether you have a knack for ad copy, email, technical writing, editorial, editing, blogging or interviews, freelance work for writers is in high demand.

However, what can be a little more tricky is finding freelance writing opportunities. For many businesses, sourcing freelance writers is a casual word-of-mouth affair. You may need to explore your network and even scour social media for opportunities.

Some gigs will pay by word count, others will simply ask you to state your price per piece of work, which can be a little daunting if you’re new to freelance writing. But once you’ve started developing a network and portfolio, you’ll find that work quickly ramps up.

General resources for freelancers

• Creative Commission connects artists to paid work within the creative industries.
• Finmo helps freelancers to manage their tax responsibilities.
• Freelance Lifestyle offers practical tips and advice for freelancers.
• Freelancer Club connects creatives with freelance jobs.
• Peopleperhour connects freelancers to businesses.
• The Work Crowd connects freelancers and businesses.
• UnderPinned is an app designed to take care of all freelancers’ admin needs.

Insurance for freelancers

While freelancing will give you the flexibility to choose when and where you work, it does come with a little more admin, including sorting out your self-employed business insurance, to protect your business from otherwise unaffordable unexpected costs.

From public liability to cyber insurance and equipment cover to professional indemnity, we can help you get protected with customisable business insurance.