Digital Nomad Job
Obviously you want to become a digital nomad, who wouldn’t? You get to travel the world, set your own schedule and just enjoy life to the fullest extent. There’s just one problem, or rather one glaring question that we have to answer: how do I become a digital nomad?
Well, the very first step is acknowledging the unfortunate truth that no matter what part of the world you are in, you are still going to need money. Considering you are here, reading this blog post, you probably dream of quiting your 9-5 job, so the money problem can be a set back. But don’t panic, it’s a minor set back which can be overcome. Which brings us to finding a non-location specific revenue source. If you want to become a digital nomad, then you’re going to want to find a digital nomad job.
Now, while for some this may mean a career switch, that is not necessarily the case for you. The COVID pandemic turned a lot of traditional office work into remote work, and even after the COVID scare, the Bureau of Labor Statistics noted that a large portion of the population quit their jobs, calling it the Great Resignation. This means that not only is working from home, or remotely, becoming more popular, it is more and more turning into the norm. This great news, there is more opportunity now, than ever before to find a remote job. And once you do, you’re going to unlock the ability to visit places like Thailand or Vietnam. A remote job even increases you flexibility with how you save your money for retirement with a GEO-Arbitrage strategy.
So, the first thing you will want to assess is whether your current form of employment is location specific or if it can be done from anywhere. Common types that can easily transition into remote positions are:
Accounting
Software development
Sales roles
Medical and Health
Coaching and Teaching
These are just a few considerations.
Kristin M. Wilson in her book Digital Nomads for Dummies, a wonderful resource for first time nomads, suggests to ask yourself three questions to figure out whether you should stay with your current job or quit.
- Do you like your job?
- Can your job be done remotely?
- Would you want to keep your job if you could work remotely and travel?
She further suggests to list out your responsibilities and determine which tasks can be done remotely and which have to be done in a physical setting. Then do research on similar remote positions and compare them to your current job.
In the case that you are required to be in the office on Monday at 9 am, then you will need to shift gears and develop a new skill set. While this might not be the news that you want to hear, understand that this is just a transition point in your life. As far as employment goes, so long as you have a computer and WIFI, you can work from anywhere. Here is a list of job types to look into:
Software development
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
UX/UI Design
Sales
Digital Marketing
Now, the idea of making a career change may be causing some anxiety for you.
“Oh, no, do I have to go back to college?”
“Does this mean another 4 to 8 years in stagnation?”
Hey, take a breath and calm down. Becoming a digital nomad requires a lot of things, but college is not one of them. You can build skills without it. Most information today can be researched and learned on YouTube for free. Now, this will mean creating a road map and solving problems on your own. If you want more of a structured learning experience and are willing to spend some money, then you can find a number of different courses on cites like Udemy, Coursera, and also Google Certifications, all of which are less expense and take less time than college.
Freelancing Vs Salary Job
An important question to ask, is whether you want to work freelance for yourself or full time for a company. There are pros and cons to both. The main pro to working freelance is the flexibility. You choose your hours and are in full control of how much you scale. This gives you a lot of freedom as a nomad. You set your schedule however you want. You plan what days and hours you’re going to commit to the hustle versus when you are going to take in the sites and explore your new location. But, beware of the pitfalls. This also means you have to be more organized and disciplined with setting deadlines and chasing down prospects.
The main pro to working full time for a company is the stability. You will have a consistent pay check at the end of the month. You won’t be worrying about where your money will come from or if you will be able to pay the bills this week or next. A salaried job may mean a stricter schedule. You will have to plan your adventures around your work hours. Freelancing, the money you bring in could fluctuate month to month. Paul Lee from the PaulLee YouTube Channel, another great resource for first time nomads, said that the best way to overcome the inconsistency of freelancing is to prioritize consistent customers. Have a client base of three to four people who you do consistent work for, rather than trying to get ten or twenty new clients every month.