How To Find Flexible Remote Jobs That Allow You To Work From Home or Anywhere
Trying to find a flexible remote job? You should search for different terms depending on exactly the type of job you’re looking for. Some of the most common search terms include:
- Remote Jobs
- Work From Home Jobs
- Online Jobs
- Flexible Jobs
- Telecommuting Jobs
- Freelance Jobs
Times have changed, and so has the workforce. Gone are the days of geographical limitations on who companies can hire. Digital nomads are on the rise, but they’re not the only ones looking for flexible jobs. Stay-at-home moms, people with physical mobility issues, and myriad more can benefit from the option to work from home.
You can find all of the types of jobs listed above on our site, and while many of those terms can be used synonymously, it’s good to be able to define them and know what you’re looking for so that you can find a job that’s the best fit for you.
Remote Jobs
A truly remote job allows you to work from anywhere, with no restrictions on timezone, state, or country. So if you’re hoping to be a proper digital nomad, make sure you’re looking for remote jobs. It’s also worth noting that most “remote jobs” are considered full-time roles.
You can learn more about the definition of remote jobs here. Note, Many companies will mention that a job gives you the option to work remotely - it’s good to clarify whether they mean the position can be done remotely full time, or if what they’re really offering are home office days. Phrasing like “option to work remotely once a week” should make it clear that you’re expected to be physically present the rest of the time.
Work From Home Jobs
“Work from home jobs” is one of the most common search terms for folks looking to break away from the restrictions of a traditional office. In fact, it returns 10 times as many results as “remote jobs.” So if you want to cast your net wide, then this may be the way to go… But “work from home jobs” can function as a bit of a catch-all - unlike a search for remote jobs, which will tend to return a number of legitimate full-time opportunities like the ones on our site, work from home jobs can mean a lot of different things. Everything from teaching English online to selling your crafts on Etsy would be considered work from home jobs.
Unlike remote jobs, work from home jobs don’t necessarily mean you’ll have the support of an employer… it’s literally any job that you can do from home. So if you want to see the full breadth of non-office jobs/work that’s available, search for “work from home jobs”... but if you want a full-time role with a 401k that lets you work from anywhere, consider a more tailored search for “remote jobs.”
Online Jobs
“Online jobs” returns even more searches than work from home jobs. Online jobs are any jobs that you can do just by being connected to the internet. Lots of these jobs are part-time, pay by the hour type roles. Think English teacher, online tutor, part-time blogger, resume writer… they tend to be very gig focused, and companies offering these roles will almost always pay you by the hour. Great if you want flexibility, not necessarily if you want stability.
Flexible Jobs
Flexible jobs can mean a lot of different things. You can have an in-office job that’s flexible because you’re allowed to set your own hours. Or because you’re allowed to work from home a certain number of days each month. It might also mean working part-time (or having the option to).
Flexible jobs can also be remote or work from home jobs in which you’re allowed to set your own schedule (though you should note, not all remote/virtual/online jobs are actually flexible - many of them assign strict hours). In conclusion, flexible jobs mean a lot of different things to different people, but if the ability to set your own schedule is important to you, you should definitely be looking for flexible jobs - regardless of whether they’re remote or in-office.
Telecommuting Jobs
A lot of jobs listed as remote jobs are actually telecommuting jobs. Telecommuting jobs are full-time roles with companies who can offer you the flexibility to work from home 99% of the time, but might need you to reside in a certain physical location or time zone due to practical constraints. (You can learn more about the tax reasons for this here.) You might be expected to occasionally go to the office for trainings, or you might need to meet in person with clients in a certain area. These jobs are great if you want both a high degree of flexibility and stability, while remaining in your current area. They’re not ideal for would-be digital nomads.
Freelance Jobs
Freelance jobs are booming in today’s gig economy. They afford you a lot of flexibility because you set your own schedule, and oftentimes your prices. But as noted with online jobs, a lot of times, you’re “freelancing” for a company even though you’re really working for them almost full time.. But instead of paying you as a full-time employee, they’re paying you by the hour or by the product. This is often less preferable to a full-time remote job that offers more stability and better pay. That said, searching for freelance jobs online can be a helpful way to launch your own freelance career. Maybe you start doing freelance work on gig sites like Fiverr, but are ultimately able to go out on your own once you’ve built up a portfolio and client list. It’s at this point that freelance work can become truly lucrative. It’s worth noting that not all freelance work can be done remotely - depending on your skill-sets, you may need to be able to meet in person with your clients.
You can find freelance opportunities with legit companies here on PowerToFly.