6 Careers That Allow You To Work Anywhere In The World

Since the pandemic hit us and disrupted our lives indefinitely, we’ve been taught an important lesson: working from home is always an option. 

Now, imagine working from the comfort of your home for a month, and from a small village in Himachal the next. At one point, you’re living it up in the hustle and bustle of Mumbai; the next, you’re off to a quieter, calmer Goa, letting the tides guide you. For those of us in creative career paths, an office space has become a mere obligation; many of us are comfortable being ‘digital nomads’, and we’re making the most of it.

If you’re looking to venture into a career that allows you to live your life outside of the confines of the office space, look no further. Here are 6 jobs that allow you to work from anywhere in the world.

1. Freelance Content Writing

Writing doesn’t require you to come to an office every day. And the best part about freelance writing is that you don’t even have to work for the same clients every day! Content writing is a major career option at the moment, but if you’re uninterested in it as a full-blown career, you can always take it up as a side hustle. 

You can start by building your portfolio by writing for different online platforms and publications. Pick a niche that works for you, and get into it. Once you’ve built your portfolio just enough, you can register yourself as a freelancer on websites such as Fiverr, and look for paid gigs. From there on, you can choose to work on any niche that you’re comfortable with.

The more experience you gain as a freelance writer, the more opportunities will open up for you. You can then resort to cold pitching and tapping into your network for more assignments.

Skills Required:

1. Excellent communication skills 
2. Excellent grasp on your preferred language (English is always in demand, but regional languages are up and coming as well)
3. Basic knowledge of SEO
4. Basic knowledge of social media marketing
5. Basic knowledge of CMS such as WordPress
6. Networking and negotiation skills

To know more about starting your journey as a freelance content writer, read Kool Kanya’s detailed guide here.

2. Social Media & Digital Marketing 

You may be able to live without food for a couple of days, but living without social media seems absolutely ludicrous today. 

Social media and digital marketing as career options are booming, and since they’re concentrated, well, online, being in an office isn’t necessary. What you need is an understanding of how social media works, and how to use it to increase a brand’s presence, reach, and impact. There’s no time like the present to get into digital marketing; learn the nitty-gritties, and you’re golden.

To start off as a social media/digital marketing expert, you must have workable proof that you know what you’re doing. There are several hands-on digital marketing and social media management courses available online, so that’s a great start. You can work a full-time job as a digital marketing or social media manager to understand the game, and gradually break away to become a freelancer or consultant. The more experience you have, the better your gigs.

Skills Required:

1. Proficiency in SEO and SEM
2. The ability to understand and analyse data 
3. Proficiency in Google Analytics
4. Knowledge of social media
5. The ability to understand trends 
6. Excellent communication skills
7. The ability to convert data into actionable insights

Here’s Kool Kanya’s 2021 Digital Marketing Guide to help you understand this industry better.

3. Graphic Design

Graphic design is one of the most in-demand careers today. With every brand and every influencer competing for your attention, the one thing that can catch your eye is good design. That’s what social media banks on! Graphic designers bring social media alive with vibrant designs and on-brand messaging that can make an impact on the user. It requires ample creativity, design sensibility, and an understanding of social media. 

Unlike digital marketing and content writing, graphic design requires a fair bit of technical education. While there is no compulsion to go to design school, it is beneficial to do so as a school environment can teach you the basics of design in the best possible way. You can start by getting a design, arts, or communications degree and start building your portfolio. Again, the more experience you have, the better your prospects of landing a full-time or freelance gig. 

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Skills Required:

1. Excellent communication skills
2. A good eye for design
3. The ability to communicate visually
4. The ability to bring abstract concepts to life
5. Proficiency in design softwares such as Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, etc.
6. Knowledge of layouts, typography, graphic fundamentals for different mediums
7. Familiarity with CMS platforms 

To read more about how to become a freelance graphic designer in India, read Kool Kanya’s detailed guide here.

4. Virtual Tutoring 

While it’s much easier to move around as a writer, graphic designer, or digital marketer, you don’t have to be a creative geek to be a digital nomad. Though in existence way before the pandemic, virtual tutoring or online teaching has become a necessity today. Several websites such as Khan Academy, Udemy, Coursera, and Skillshare cater to students of all ages and provide them with the latest and best courses to choose from. 

As an online tutor, you can pick a subject of your choice and teach children of your chosen age group. You can either choose to start your own virtual teaching gig (which would require a lot more work in terms of finding students, building your online presence, etc.) or join an online teaching platform. If you choose the latter, you will need a teaching degree.

Skills Required:

1. A teaching diploma (optional)
2. Interest and proficiency in relevant subjects 
3. Extensive knowledge of disciplines and the latest syllabi
4. Technical know-how
5. Basic understanding of MS Office or equivalent softwares
6. A clear idea of your target group
7. The ability to break down and explain concepts

To read more about how to kick start your journey as an online tutor, read Kool Kanya’s detailed guide here.

5. Proofreading And Copy-Editing

Just like content writing, proofreading and copy-editing require little time in a physical workspace. You can edit, correct, and refine a piece of writing from anywhere in the world, as long as you’re meeting deadlines and doing a good job! Simply put, a copy-editor edits articles and other pieces of content and makes them ready to be published. The route to becoming a successful copy-editor is, well, editing! Build your portfolio as a writer to showcase your grasp on the language, which will make a case for you as a proofreader. 

You don’t need a degree in it; just a passion for the written word and the ability to correct mistakes will take you far. You can register yourself as a freelancer on websites such as Fiverr and actively look for gigs. 

Skills Required:

1. Excellent communication skills
2. Proficiency in your preferred language (English is always in demand, but regional languages are up and coming as well)
3. Attention to detail
4. Basic knowledge of CMS such as WordPress
5. Excellent grammar

6. Translation

Translation jobs are not only interesting, but they also pay well. It does require some amount of proficiency, but with a little hard work, you’ve got yourself a lucrative career opportunity. Pick an in-demand foreign language and take a course. Once you know the minimum requirements for a translation job, work towards it. Languages such as German, French, and Japanese are in demand most of the time. 

Skills Required:

1. Excellent communication skills
2. Proficiency in your preferred language
3. A degree in a foreign language of your choice
4. Analytical thinking

Being a digital nomad is something to consider. Not all jobs require daily commute, a desk, and formal work wear. If you’re considering exploring any of the above-mentioned career paths, remember that part of being a digital nomad is having complete control over your finances, your skills, and your career trajectory. You get to be your own boss, which can be thrilling!

Which career path are you most drawn to? Tell us in the comments below!

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