If you’ve ever thought about becoming a digital nomad, then you’re in good company. Some of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs, from Instagram influencers to ecommerce store owners, are digital nomads working with a huge remote team. They can travel wherever they want and set their own schedules. In a world where so many skilled people are slaving away at nine to five jobs, becoming a digital nomad is a dream. And because it’s such a great lifestyle, it can seem unattainable. But that isn’t true at all. More and more people are going remote now, and it’s becoming the norm in the gig economy.
So if you’re ready to take the leap, and live a new life that gives you the independence you need to flourish and be happy, it’s all about knowing how to get started. Once you’ve followed these tips, you can live the life you’ve always wanted.
1 Go remote at your current job
Before you decide to run your own online business–which can take years to start and even longer to make successful–see if you can go remote at your current job. Especially if you’re working at a startup or a tech-related office, your boss might be willing to let you work from anywhere. If they’re hard to convince, think about what might sway them, such as getting fewer benefits (health care is usually cheaper outside of the US), or including convincing statistics in your reasoning. For example, you could mention that 52 percent of employees around the world work from home at least once a week.
If your boss still won’t budge, then that doesn’t mean it’s time to quit right away. Especially if you don’t have a lot of money saved up, you’re better off getting some experience.
2 Get a part-time remote gig
If you’re looking to get a remote job, a lot of employers will expect to have some remote experience already. It can seem counter-intuitive, and you may be asking yourself: “But how do I get remote experience if employers require that experience in the first place?” The answer is part-time remote gigs. You can work on your own, blogging regularly or volunteering as a remote designer for a non-profit you admire. Additionally, you can get a part-time gig using an online service such as Upwork.
Whatever you do, make sure your remote work relates to the industry you want to work in once you go fully remote. If you aren’t sure where to start, take a look at what your skills and goals are, and explore job boards to see what would be a good fit. Remember that, over the past decade, the number of young professionals working remotely and living a nomadic lifestyle has risen, so you’re sure to finding something that’s a great fit.
3 Get the right certifications
In addition to having remote experience, employers will want you to have certifications related to your eventual career. For example, if you want a job as a social media manager, you need to understand the statistics showing why Instagram marketing is crucial. This means understanding not only social media generally, but also how to create great content, analyze data and statistics, and measure ROI. If you’re training as an English teacher, then a teaching certification will get you better jobs and pay.
Even though it may seem like a lot of work, the good news is that a lot of certifications are available online, and many of them free. If you aren’t sure where to start, ask around in the online remote world (which we’ll get to in a second). Considering that remote work is now the standard operating mode for at least 50 percent of the US population, you’ll get some good advice.
4 Become part of the online remote world
The online remote world is arguably where you’re going to get some great tips. Because digital nomads aren’t based in just one place, they connect online to give each other tips. Whether that’s the best places to move, where to get free certifications, or productivity strategies, you’ll gain a lot from joining the right Facebook groups and getting active on social media. Considering that 70 percent of all workers telecommute, there are going to be so many people to get advice from.
Don’t forget to check out the right job boards, too. Many of them have social media pages, and you can check out groups such as Digital Nomad Girls to find the best ones.
These are some of the best ways to get a digital nomad job and build your digital nomad career. Why have you decided to become a digital nomad?