Remote jobs: The opportunities and challenges of a digital era

If you’ve been following the news and social media trends over recent years, then you’ll likely understand how unpredictable the world is at the moment—in particular, the job market.

Just a few years ago, many of us were given the opportunity of a lifetime at the expense of isolation and the rippling effects of COVID’s fleeting presence. While a difficult period for many, it opened our eyes to a few things: the possibility of working remotely, the freedom we desire in our careers, and the tight grip placed on employees to return to work despite undeniable evidence that the vast majority of knowledge workers can do their jobs from the comfort of their chosen environment.

The struggle of the masses in the corporate working environment is that many of them find themselves restrained; at the mercy of their employers as they make bold decisions about employment, resulting from either a down-period of business or simply a shifting view of how they want their companies to look. Those at the bottom of the ladder will never fully understand the choices made in the land of ‘higher-ups’.

Sadly, the larger the business, the more malleable the workforce is expected to be. More layoffs, as we witnessed rising in 2023, brought about a major shift in the way people view working and how it aligns with the lives they want to lead. In my own personal experience, it’s much more fulfilling to slot work into my daily life, considering I’m not the kind of person to spend more than two hours a day in hyper-focus mode.

However, those looking for the comfort of a full-time salaried position with the flexibility to manage their own timetable might not be in a position to do so. The question that I’d urge anyone to consider: “Is this job right for my lifestyle?”

A forewarning, asking yourself such a deep question can uncover multiple conundrums, a deep dive into your personal life, and a potentially life-changing realisation!

With that said, if you’re willing to venture on this introspective journey, you’ll likely want some answers as to the types of jobs that will let you build the lifestyle you wish to lead. Luckily for you, the whole point of this digression is to give you an idea of some great jobs for a remote-working lifestyle.

The remote-working potential of a software designer/developer

These days, everyone knows someone who is either working on websites, mobile apps, or other coding-related projects—game developers and virtual reality included. Their work is severely understated in the eyes of those who envy their positions. While many of these people train and work within some of the largest companies, their skills set them up for a lifetime of digital working. 

This type of work is in high demand so…guess what…they have the power to not only negotiate their pay to a higher degree, but become more flexible in their approach to work. HR professionals say that almost 40% of software engineers will only accept a position if they can work remotely, which shows the power they possess and the confidence they have to create the working lifestyle they want. 

The question that I often ask when I meet people in these roles… Well, firstly I’ll wonder how they seem so content all the time… but then I ask myself, ‘How are they so confident in their ability to ask for what they want?’

The answer is simple—understanding the demand. Technology has evolved significantly over the past few years, which makes room for more developer roles. The real professionals in this space are incredibly studious people—much more so than myself—and they understand the industry they work in and keep up with industry changes. As a result, they recognise the sought after skills that will either pay them top dollar or make them (somewhat) indispensable.

Marketing and sales jobs go remote

Marketing and sales careers are, in many cases, considered technology professions—most likely a result of the 9% (and rising) population of digital nomads doing these jobs. Among marketing and sales executives—as well as PR- remote working is a growing trend as they recognise the possibilities when combining their roles with their mobile devices.

Marketers are no longer the coffee-shop-loving extras in the decades-old corporate world. Sales teams are more reliant on marketing expertise, meaning they must brush-up on their 4 Ps and understand the art of digital marketing. Sales is one of the primary working scenarios that once expected employees to be suited and booted to earn signatures.

But the tides are changing. Smaller companies, generally speaking, are less bothered about the picture-movie corporate image that workers have long supported in order to look the part. This stereotypical corporate suit-and-tie mindset changed for the better as employees and freelancers let their knowledge and experience shine through—selling their expertise rather than their appearance.

Project managers rejoice, but not without challenges

For established businesses, the project manager (PM) role is one that often shows little immediate returns, but is invaluable for any company with multiple moving parts. In the digital environment, though, comes a unique skill among PMs. For the sake of this, we’ll call it ‘remote project management’ (yes, we love that word ‘Remote’!)

Unleashing employees into the big, wide world to decide which country, city, or co-working cafe they log in from isn’t without its challenges—particularly in the eyes of those that pay your wages. While we know you’re someone who can be trusted to manage your time and do your job with enthusiasm and gusto, not everyone is like that. Keeping track of projects becomes a little more tricky for PMs as they can’t simply tap you on the shoulder when you’re in the full flow of work—no matter how unhealthy this approach is (more on that another time).

In order to cater for a team of remote workers—take our software developers as an example—, PMs must switch their approach to, well, managing. A team of people that don’t collaborate in an office environment, aren’t going to be any more available. Therefore, remote PMs have to be good at engaging their people despite these barriers.

Creatives shone a light on the digital nomad lifestyle

The instagrammable lifestyle of creatives tends to draw many people into the remote working trend. I, for one, have also succumbed to the idea of living this life and turning my passions into pounds.

While this culture looks great as we scroll through social media, the level of work and mental energy to be creative far exceeds the understanding of employers—those working creative roles for larger companies can be pushed to the brink, sapping their imaginative minds of new ideas and, on a personal, hinder them producing their best work. 

This, along with an overwhelming growth in revenue opportunities through YouTube, TikTok, and other platforms, flips the equation slightly from our humble marketing and sales people. What I’m referring to is the number of creatives and influencers that don’t possess particularly unique skill sets, but make up for this in their image and media personas. This space is saturated yet, how the world seems to be evolving, there’s plenty of space for more creatives—YouTubers, influencers, video makers, and the like—to build a following and make money. 

The cherry on the cake for anyone that can leverage their creative skills for a living is, of course, being able to work from anywhere. You don’t have to be a travel photographer in order to venture to the world’s unknowns and experience the best that other countries and cultures have to offer. Bloggers, writers—like ourselves—, designers, and physical craftsmen (and craftswomen) can do more with the digital powers in their possession.

The reality of employment freedom

These are just a few of the careers that have benefited greatly from the digital landscape’s growth. Allowing more people to work from home demonstrated the opportunities that freedom brings to the best minds and dedicated individuals. 

What I’d like to stress is the diversity of opportunities for people like you and me. You may not be the most technical person, but digital could open up potential doors for most people. While we often hear concerns around the tight job market, there’s a crowd of individuals working independently to differentiate themselves and generate an income. 

For skilled workers, the trend is in their favour as they benefit from more job opportunities overseas that will pay them wherever they are in the world. As for those ‘unskilled’, Freedom is power and energy that reignites their creative spark and allows them a unique opportunity to build their own lifestyle.

What are your thoughts on this article? Maybe you already do a similar job and experienced greatness through freedom, or you know someone looking to take a more flexible approach to working.

Either way, hopefully you gained something from this. We’re here to inform, but also inspire those with a burning desire to move forward with their careers in the direction they choose.

Your time is appreciated—as always!

Tom

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