Remote work is a rapidly growing career phenomenon that is undeniably changing the landscape of the job market. And it doesn’t seem to be a passing fad.

A recent report by U.S. market research firm Gallup determined that 43% of American employees worked remotely at some point in 2016 – a number that’s likely increased since then. And a study by FlexJobs, a telecommuting research, analytics, and recruitment firm, found an increase of 115% over 10 years (2005 – 2015) in American workers who said they telecommuted at least half the time.

And the people who are working remotely are enjoying it. Like, really enjoying it.

In fact, 90% of remote workers plan on working remotely for the rest of their careers, and 94% encourage others to give remote jobs a shot. Which makes sense, because most of the stats on remote work are super positive.

Remote workers (or flex workers) report lower stress and increased morale, companies who employ remote workers report higher employee retention, and there are even environmental benefits to a higher remote work population.

So what does this all mean for you, and is remote work even a possibility for you?

Well, there are several different types of remote work, so it really depends on what your situation is and what your preferences are.

For instance, freelancers make up a bulk of the remote work segment, with nearly 50% of millennial workers already freelancing. Not to mention, freelancers are projected to become the majority of the U.S. workforce by 2028.

But freelancing isn’t the only way to work remotely. ‘Flexible jobs’ – a term encompassing work-from-home and remote positions – have become a growing trend in corporate companies, as well. Companies like Amazon, Dell, Humana, and Wells Fargo (along with 96 other top companies) all have incorporated remote work positions into their corporate structure.

With so many new available options for working remotely, it can be hard to know where to start or even what to look for!

As a remote worker myself (aka ‘digital nomad’) since July of 2017, I’ve been fortunate to meet dozens of others professionals who work remotely in some capacity or another, and I’ve learned quite a bit about it. If you have questions about what it’s like to work remotely, don’t hesitate to contact me at Lezlie@ResumeLezlie.com.

You can also join my network to receive career tips and advice regularly!

Toward the bottom of this blog, I’ve included a break-down of the 4 types of remote workers, along with resources to learn more about each one. But first, I’d like to share some information about one of my favorite little gems I’ve come across for getting started in the world of remote work: Remote Work 101. (This is an affiliate link*, which means I may receive compensation for purchases made – at no additional cost to you.)

Remote Work 101 is an online course by Camille Attell, fellow digital nomad and entrepreneur with 20 years’ experience as a corporate trainer.

The course includes a variety of resources to help you be successful in your remote work career. In it, you’ll complete self-paced modules on a variety of topics like building and planning your remote-work dream, managing change and shifting into remote work, transitioning your resume, options for remote employment, job searching strategies, and so much more!

Along with the modules, you’ll have access to bonus expert interviews, activity sheets (to put your learning into action), and a private Facebook group with built-in Q&A community and job leads.

This course is full of valuable information, and if you purchase by March 31, 2019, you’ll also receive 3 bonus items:

• Bonus #1 – 5-Pack Done-For-You Resume Templates ($150 Value)
• Bonus #2 – Crush-It-With-Confidence Coaching Session – up your confidence game for remote interviews and negotiating job offers in this group coaching session ($250 Value)
• Bonus #3 – Quarterly “Level Up” Meetings. Every quarter join this online meeting to level up your thinking and skills to get you even further in your remote work journey. ($800 Value)

If you’re interested in learning more about how to transition your own life to include more remote work, I highly recommend Remote Work 101*. It will help you build more confidence in your skill sets, prepare yourself for the job search, find remote work opportunities, and learn how to make this dream your reality!

As promised, I’ve included a break-down of the 4 types of remote workers, along with resources to learn more about each one. Don’t forget to join my network if you want to receive more information on this and other career-related topics.

4 Types of Remote Workers

There are 4 basic types of remote/non-locationally-dependent workers:

1. Work-From-Home Employee
2. Remote Employee
3. Remote Franchisee
4. Freelancer/Entrepreneur

Since work-from-home employees and remote employees are similar in many ways, I’ve grouped them together below.

Work-from-Home vs. Remote Employees – What’s the difference?

Although ‘work-from-home’ may seem equivalent to ‘remote’ – the two differ in a few key ways.

Both work-from-home and remote employees are considered full-fledged employees of the company they work for. They are usually interviewed and hired just like in-office employees and are usually held to the same performance expectations. Also just like in-office employees, work-from-home and remote employees can receive benefits including health insurance and paid time off.

Companies often require work-from-home and remote employees to work in-office on a regular basis (i.e. once per week, twice per month, etc.). For many companies, this offers a great compromise between the benefits of having a non-locational employee, and the uncertainty that comes with not having daily supervisory control over the employee.

The major difference between work-from-home jobs and remote jobs is that work-from-home positions usually require the employee to use a landline and non-mobile internet connection during work hours. Often, the company will install company equipment in the work-from-home employee’s home/workspace to facilitate work functions.

Remote workers, on the other hand, are not restricted by landline access and non-mobile internet requirements, and are therefor free to choose their locations and travel at will.

To find more information and/or search for work-from-home and remote jobs, check out the following resources:

• https://www.flexjobs.com/blog/post/100-top-companies-with-remote-jobs-in-2019/
• https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexandratalty/2019/01/15/work-from-home-2019-the-top-100-companies-for-remote-jobs/#6c68ff411544
• https://www.flexjobs.com/

Remote Franchisee

As a remote franchisee, you have many of the freedoms of an entrepreneur without so much of the uncertainty. You’re responsible for building your own clientele base (or ‘book of business’), creating effective marketing, generating sales, and managing inventory. But, unlike entrepreneurship, there is at least some level stability since the products you’re selling already have brand recognition and they’ve already been tested out in the marketplace.

Multi-level marketing companies like Mary Kay, Herbalife, Monat, and so many others have made this an incredibly viable option for building a fully remote-based and mostly independent income.

Additional Resources:

• https://www.franchisedirect.com/usfranchises/
• https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/franchise/
• https://www.franchiseopportunities.com/blog/general-franchise-information/franchise-trends-for-success-in-2019

Freelancer / Entrepreneur

Freelancers predicted to become the U.S. workforce majority by 2028, with nearly 50% of millennial workers already freelancing, annual “Freelancing in America” study finds. Freelance workforce growth is accelerating and has outpaced overall U.S. workforce growth by 3x since 2014.

And the great thing is, freelancing can encompass almost anything! I’m a freelance resume writer, so that’s 1 option.

You can also be a blogger, a virtual assistant, a photographer, an RV repair specialist, a videographer, a chef/caterer, a gig musician, a branding and marketing guru…you name it! Just about any skill you have can be translated into a freelance gig. (Don’t believe me? Remote Work 101 has a lot of great content on building confidence, recognizing and marketing your transferrable skills, and Starting a Virtual Business…)

Another popular option for creating remote income is drop shipping. Drop shipping is a supply chain management method in which the retailer does not keep goods in stock but instead transfers the customer orders and shipment details to either the manufacturer, another retailer, or a wholesaler, who then ships the goods directly to the customer.

Additional Resources:

• https://www.upwork.com/
• https://heathandalyssa.com/rv-entrepreneur-podcast/
• https://www.freelancer.com