Remote work is disrupting traditional workplace norms as it gains significant popularity in recent years. Previously, remote jobs were deemed unattainable, but technological advancements and globalization have made them increasingly prevalent. Remote work is now becoming the new normal, allowing individuals greater flexibility and access to job opportunities from anywhere in the world.
Moreover, the best remote jobs frequently offer flexibility in how and when you complete your hours, making them a more manageable way to work for many people. If you have family obligations or other work that requires some of your time, remote work may be the accommodating alternative you need.
And let’s not forget: Remote positions are a lifesaver in times of recession, with many people relying on them to stay afloat.
Our hand-picked remote jobs for 2023
1. Developer
If there’s one type of job that works well online, it’s those in the development sphere. Whether you’re a website developer, software developer, app developer, or anything in between, you can work remotely.
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Not only are developer roles frequently remote, but there’s also massive demand for these positions, making them top remote jobs. Because of this, remote jobs in the development realm don’t mean working for lesser-known companies or taking a pay cut. In fact, it might mean the opposite.
The computer and information technology industry will only grow, so there’s only going to be more demand for software developers. If you’re not already a developer, there are many resources available that will help you build your skills for free. From there, you can jump into an internship or junior developer role and work your way up.
2. Translator
With the internet connecting us all, the demand for translators has only increased, with businesses eager to bridge the communication gap. A translator can work in a variety of different roles, such as testing websites, translating documents, or proofreading.
This remote job requires you to be very proficient in at least two languages. If you speak multiple languages, this will give you even more scope.
3. Designer
Designers have sought-after skills that many companies want. And many graphic design jobs, including Shopify theme design and UX and UI design roles, allow you to work remotely.
Design roles require a lot of knowledge, but much like developers, you can learn many of these skills with the help of free tools. These days, much value is placed on a well-designed website—and rightly so.
What this means is that companies will always need designers, making it a solid career choice. If you’re considering remote opportunities, this alone is a strong case for working as a designer.
4. Journalist/writer
Working as a journalist in the internet age isn’t as easy as it once was. With that said, it is still a popular work-from-home job.
Most remote jobs pertaining to journalism require you to have exceptional research skills and be a well-developed writer. But if you’re not quite at that stage, you could also start writing content for different types of online websites.
Doing that would help you improve your writing and enable you to create a portfolio of your work.
5. Career coaching
This is a slightly different remote job, as it requires you to work for yourself rather than a company. But if you’ve been searching for remote jobs and nothing seems to fit, perhaps the answer is to start something yourself.
Career coaching is not for the faint of heart. But if done well, it can be massively rewarding. Career coaches are driven to succeed by believing they can positively impact the professional lives of other people.
Starting your own career coaching business will teach you various skills you don’t yet have—and sharpen the ones you do.
6. Customer service representative
If you are comfortable using computers and good at communication, consider working remotely as a customer service rep.
Typical duties in this role include answering customer queries and referring people to higher-level support or self-help resources. Both large and small companies require customer service reps to assist their customers.
One tip for standing out is creating an example demonstrating your ability to serve customers effectively. You can take screenshots of your chats with customers where you turned a complaint into an opportunity—or create other demos.
7. Social media manager
If you’re searching for remote marketing jobs that will allow you to utilize all your social media skills, you should look into social media manager roles.
A social media manager job can easily be done from home as you communicate with your team via chat or email and schedule your posts using online tools. An excellent grasp of the different social media platforms and what content does or doesn’t work is a must. However, you can build these skills over time.
Start out by helping a small company and then use that experience to gain work with bigger businesses.
8. Product manager
This isn’t a marketing job per se, but working as a product manager requires sitting between the development team and the marketing team and coordinating with them to gather the information you’ll later translate into different product features.
So it’s more like working alongside the marketing department than in it, but it’s fun and rewarding once you get the hang of things.
Plus, the self-esteem you’ll gain by spearheading the launch of new products can’t be compared to any other perk you might get while working as a remote marketer.
9. Online marketer
Could you sell ice to a polar bear? If you answered yes, perhaps an online marketer role is the one for you.
Online marketing is a catch-all term for many different skills that fall under the marketing umbrella. Some of the different areas of expertise include working in search engine optimization (SEO), search engine marketing (SEM), affiliate marketing, content marketing, or email marketing.
Remote marketing jobs are becoming easier to come by, especially as marketing roles generally require very little specialist equipment. Because there are so many different areas of marketing, there are plenty of opportunities for you to refine your skills in one area and look for remote jobs in that space.
10. Virtual assistant
Ready to help entrepreneurs and businesses get organized? Becoming a virtual assistant is a role that does just that. This is one of those remote jobs that helps alleviate some of the pressures on others by taking on simple but time-consuming tasks.
A virtual assistant may perform customer service duties or fulfill orders for online stores. They might also make small updates and changes to websites, or handle calendars. To be a virtual assistant, you need to be responsible and organized and have excellent communication skills.
Virtual assistant roles aren’t necessarily full time, which leaves a lot of flexibility. If you have time constraints, being a virtual assistant is one of the best part-time remote jobs.
11. Online personal shopper
If you’ve got a way with people and love shopping, an online personal shopper role is one of the remote jobs that would suit you. Working in this role requires you to buy clothing for people, but you don't have to visit the stores physically.
To excel in this role, you need to have a fantastic eye for trends and be able to quickly make purchases before stock runs out.
While some remote personal shopper roles are full-time positions, others may be part-time or weekend or evening work. This makes it easy to work around other commitments you may have.
12. Transcriber
If you’re considering part-time remote jobs and have fantastic attention to detail and listening skills, add the transcriber position to your list.
A transcriber works to convert audio files into written text. It’s a service used by many professionals—from medical personnel to podcasters.
Transcription work requires you to master the ability to listen and type at the same time. Although it sounds straightforward, that doesn’t mean transcription is the easiest of all work-from-home jobs. However, there is a lot of demand for it.
13. Website content uploader
This part-time remote job can be done by anyone. It requires you to upload product descriptions, videos, images, and more. Without you, an employer’s website is just vacant land with a foundation.
Help companies establish their online presence by uploading the materials they’ve published about their business. Becoming a website content uploader doesn’t require much except familiarity with different content management systems.
Essentially, you need to know how to navigate the back end of a content platform to upload text, images, and other media there.
14. English teacher
Teaching English overseas is already a very common job for travelers, but you may not know that teaching also makes the list of remote jobs. With the help of a stable internet connection and a headset, you can easily start online teaching and help students with their language skills.
English teachers are always in demand, but there’s also a need for many different languages. To be a great teacher, you need to have excellent communication skills, be organized enough to put together lesson plans, and have a genuine interest in your students’ development.
Also, you need to have a bachelor’s degree in English, which is typically considered the minimum educational requirement for teaching positions.
15. Data entry specialist
As a remote data entry specialist, your responsibilities would include inputting and updating various types of data into computer systems, such as customer orders, employee details, and financial records. Given the importance of accurate data in decision-making, this role is considered essential for many businesses.
One of the main benefits of working in a data entry position is the ability to set your own schedule. Many companies offer project-based work, allowing for better work-life balance and the opportunity to complete tasks at your own pace.
A high school diploma is typically the minimum requirement for a remote data entry role, but experience with database software can help you stand out.
Where to find remote jobs?
You probably have a great idea of the remote jobs that will suit you and your skill set, but now you’re wondering, “How do I conduct remote job searches?” or, more specifically, “Where do I find remote jobs?” Well, there are a lot of sites that feature remote job listings spanning various categories.
While we couldn’t list all the websites here, remote job seekers can get started on the following platforms.
FlexJobs
FlexJobs covers remote jobs, work-from-home gigs, and all manner of flexible work.
Dave’s ESL Cafe
This is a site specifically for English teachers. Here, you’ll find remote job opportunities for teaching pupils in China, Korea, and other countries.
We Work Remotely
This is a great one for those looking for design or development remote jobs, but you can find all types of work here too.
Scribie
One of many transcription services, Scribie is frequently on the search for more home-based freelancers.
Remote OK
A colossal job board with postings looking for a range of skill sets. It also has some interesting statistics about its trending jobs and top remote companies.
Arc
A great place for developers to find a project or team. Arc will suit whether you’re looking for full-time or part-time work and permanent or limited contracts.
Working Nomads
Working Nomads is primarily a place to find digital nomad jobs. Here, you may find some great employers who are more interested in how you work rather than where you work.
Toptal
If you’re established in your field, consider joining Toptal. This site connects companies with freelancers who have been vetted through a screening process.
Quick tips for working remote jobs
Whether you’re considering remote jobs or already have one, there are a few things you have to consider when trading a cubicle for a home office. Take a look at these five tricks for some easy ways to make your remote working experience enjoyable.
Have a routine
A daily routine gets you out of home mode and into work mode. Your routine could be as simple as establishing hard start and finish times, or a little more elaborate. For example, you could incorporate a morning routine that includes a “commute” around the block for some fresh air and mental preparation before you start your day.
Try and work regular hours
We touched on this above, but sticking to regular work hours will help you mentally get in the right mind space for work. For many remote jobs, you may be working a regular eight-hour day, which could be easy to accomplish.
However, for jobs with hours that are more freeform, try at least to set up blocks of regular dedicated work time. Don’t fall into the trap of consistently working late—a work–life balance is important.
Have scheduled breaks
Yes, amongst all that work, it’s essential to take breaks to recharge as well. It’s hard to do your best work when you’re feeling burnt out, so taking your full scheduled breaks is incredibly important for productivity.
Sometimes distracting yourself with something as simple as brewing a cup of coffee will be enough to reset your brain and leave you refreshed to continue your day.
Have a dedicated work area
Working from the couch might seem like a dream, but there’s something to be said about being able to physically leave your work area at the end of the day. If you’re considering a remote job, setting up a dedicated work space will help keep your work and leisure separate.
Create an area that’s clearly for work time—perhaps include a desk, supportive chair, and office supplies. This will make that couch time all the more relaxing. Plus, it’s one of the keys to working at home with kids around.
Get fresh air
If you’re working a remote job, it can be incredibly easy to get to the end of the day and realize you haven’t been outside at all. But just because it’s easy to do doesn’t mean it’s good for you!
Making sure you get some fresh air and a change of scenery will do wonders for your mind. And if it’s sunny, you’ll also get to soak up all that beautiful vitamin D from its rays.
Ask about retreats
Remote-friendly companies often arrange team meetups in exotic locations (think: Bali, Barbados, Maldives, etc.). You’ll want to inquire about these, as they’re a great way to not only take some paid time off from work but also to meet your co-workers.
For many remote workers, these company-sponsored holidays are a great way to explore new places and build friendships with their colleagues. Imagine how exciting it would be to meet someone in real life who you’ve only talked to on Slack. Going on a retreat can be fun, empowering, and rejuvenating.
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