How to Get a Remote Job, Abroad or at Home

How to Get a Remote Job, Abroad or at Home

Your Guide to Landing Flexible Work in a Digital World

The rise of remote work has transformed how we think about careers. Whether you dream of working from a cozy home office, a beach in Bali, or a bustling European city, remote jobs offer unprecedented freedom. However, competition is fierce, and standing out requires strategy. Hence, one of the most frequently asked questions I receive is how to get a remote job. So, I put together a guide for you on how to secure your ideal remote role, no matter where you are.

Places to Find a Remote Job

There are plenty of job websites out there that specialize in remote job opportunities. They offer a wide range of options, so you can explore and identify remote jobs that match your skills and interests.

Choosing the top remote job boards can be subjective, as the best platform often depends on your specific industry, experience level, and whether you're looking for paid or free access. However, based on widespread recognition, the volume of listings, user experience, and overall reputation, here are three highly recommended remote job platforms from your list:

1. FlexJobs (flexjobs.com)

Why it's a top choice: FlexJobs is renowned for its rigorous vetting process. They manually screen every single job listing to ensure it's legitimate and truly remote or flexible, which saves job seekers immense time and protects them from scams (a significant concern in the remote space). They offer a huge database across almost every industry imaginable, from entry-level to executive roles. While it's a paid subscription service, many users find the value in the quality and safety of the listings worth the cost.

Best for: All industries, all experience levels, those prioritizing legitimacy and a wide variety of remote and flexible options.

2. We Work Remotely (weworkremotely.com)

Why it's a top choice: As one of the oldest and largest remote-only job boards, We Work Remotely has built a massive community and a strong reputation. It's truly dedicated to 100% remote positions. While it has a strong leaning towards tech (programming, design, marketing), it also features roles in customer support, finance, and more. Its clean interface and high volume of listings make it a go-to for many remote job seekers.

Best for: Tech professionals, digital marketers, designers, and those looking for a high volume of genuinely remote roles.

3. Remote OK (remoteok.com)

Why it's a top choice: Remote OK is another powerhouse in the remote job space, particularly favored by digital nomads and tech professionals. It's known for its user-friendly interface, robust filtering options (including salary and visa sponsorships), and transparent display of job details. It aggregates remote jobs from various sources and is constantly updated. It's very strong in software development, design, and marketing roles.

Best for: Tech roles, developers, designers, digital nomads, and those who appreciate advanced filtering and transparent salary information.

Honorable Mentions / Niche Top Choices:

  • Wellfound (formerly AngelList Talent) (wellfound.com): If you're specifically interested in startup roles, many of which are remote, Wellfound is absolutely a top platform. It's the go-to for finding opportunities at innovative, often fast-growing companies.
  • Jobgether (jobgether.com): This platform is rapidly gaining traction due to its AI matching capabilities and focus on both remote and hybrid roles, with a large and growing database. It aims to streamline the application process.

You should also try general job boards with remote filters, such as:

  • LinkedIn Jobs
  • Indeed
  • Glassdoor
  • ZipRecruiter

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Example: Where to find the remote filter when searching for jobs on LinkedIn

Problems with Finding Remote Job

If you have already tried to find a remote job, you may have found that it is not all that easy. Let’s dive into the reasons why.

Remote Work Types

Let's explore the different forms of remote work and categorize them for clarity:

  • Work from Anywhere (WFA): This is likely a dream for many. In this arrangement, your employer doesn’t care where you are. You might work from Caribbean beaches or even atop the Himalayas, as long as you deliver on your responsibilities (which usually requires, at minimum, a stable internet connection). However, such opportunities are rare—read on to find out why.
  • Work from Home (WFH): In this case, you aren’t required to work at the company’s premises, but you will typically need to work from a designated location (or region, e.g., “Remote in California”)—usually your home.
  • Hybrid Working: This model combines on-site work with remote work. You’ll be required to spend part of your working hours at the company’s premises, while the rest can be completed from home.

Limitations of Remote Opportunities

Although Work from Anywhere (WFA) is often considered the pinnacle of remote work, there are significant limitations that explain why not every remote job can be performed in that manner:

  • Taxes: When you work in a different state or country, even briefly, it can trigger tax obligations in that location. This means both you and your employer might have to pay taxes there. Many companies want to avoid such complications and therefore limit remote work to countries where they already have a legal presence or where they've resolved the tax implications. They may also prefer that you work in locations with tax treaties in place with their headquarters to avoid double taxation.
  • Employment Laws: Every country has its own set of rules regarding working hours, minimum wage, overtime pay, vacation days, employee benefits, and payroll in general. Your employer must comply with the labor laws of the country where you are physically working, even if the company is based elsewhere. To keep things manageable, companies often restrict remote work to locations where they understand the local labor laws and can ensure compliance.
  • Immigration Laws: You will need a work permit in the country where you are working, and you may also require one for the country where the company operates, unless they use an Employer of Record (EOR) service*)—a solution not every company opts for due to the additional complexity and cost incurred.
  • Data Security: Some countries have very strict data privacy regulations that dictate how data can be stored, processed, and transferred. Companies must ensure they comply with these regulations, no matter where their employees are working. Naturally, they might be concerned about data being accessed from countries with suboptimal security standards—countries that are sometimes coincidentally attractive for remote workers due to their relaxed rules and lower cost of living.
  • Time Zone Differences: Certain roles (e.g., customer support) often require alignment with a region’s business hours. Although you might initially think that working at night and sleeping during the day is manageable, you will soon realize that it can impact your social and family life and may even take a toll on your health in the long run.
  • Meeting Requirements: While you might not be required to work from the company’s premises, depending on your role, you may be required to meet customers, suppliers, or even government representatives in a certain area.
  • Local Knowledge and Culture Specifics: Some roles necessitate familiarity with local laws, languages, or the possession of region-specific certifications.

*) EOR is a third-party company that legally employs a workforce on behalf of another company. This allows businesses to hire and manage employees in a new country without needing to establish a local legal entity or subsidiary, simplifying global expansion and operations.

Increase Your Chances

Choose the Right Profession

Not all jobs are equally suited for remote work. Roles that are project-based, require independent work, or involve digital communication are prime candidates. Common remote-friendly roles include:

  • Software Development / Engineering
  • Digital Marketing (SEO, Content, Social Media)
  • Graphic Design / UI/UX Design
  • Customer Support
  • Technical Writing
  • Copywriting
  • Project Management
  • Virtual Assistant
  • Data Entry
  • Data Analysis / Consulting
  • Finance/Accounting

If you are facing challenges in finding a remote job in your profession, consider switching to a career path that is more remote-friendly. Learn how to do it here: Navigating Career Change: How to Make the Switch

Go Freelancing

If you're looking for remote work quickly, consider becoming a freelancer. Many small businesses and startups hire remote freelancers for short-term projects to limit liability and bypass the geographic restrictions mentioned earlier. Consequently, platforms such as Upwork, Fiverr, Toptal, and Contra host millions of remote gigs across industries—approximately ten times more than the remote opportunities available to traditional employees. In some industries, freelancing literally dominates the job market, such as:

  • Writing/Content Creation
  • Graphic/Web Design
  • Digital Marketing
  • Software Development
  • Virtual Assistance

Freelancing has its pros and cons, though—learn about them here: Freelancing or Traditional Employment: Explore the Pros and Cons

Beware of Scams

Remote job seekers are more vulnerable to scams than others. The entire recruitment process is conducted remotely, and many companies offering remote opportunities are lesser-known small businesses or startups that may not be easy to verify. Therefore, you should exercise extra caution to ensure that both the company and the opportunity are legitimate.

Read more here: Job Seeker Alert: How to Spot and Avoid Scam Job Opportunities

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Do you need my personal assistance? Simply send me your resume and a link to your LinkedIn profile at vaclav@getyourdreamjob.co and I will come back to you!


Fatima tuz zohora

HR executive(Digital marketing expert)

1mo

Thanks

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Reply
Sudha Patel

HR & Talent Acquisition | AI in HR | Former Process Trainer | Learning & Development | Market & Financial Analysis

1mo

Very insightful sharing Sir,could you please let me know what is the platform for remote work for HR background..I am looking for an opportunity to start my career in HR background Remote and freelance..Thank you

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Ernest Mavuka

Promoter at Sun Mobile Africa

2mo

Thank you

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