Remote work is a legitimate way to make money, and it's not just for freelancers; with COVID-19, more and more employers are seeing the benefits and are hiring remote employees. With a flexible and remote job, you can make an excellent living from your van no matter where you're located, all you need is a computer and an internet connection to earn a living.
This post is primarily around remote employment jobs and the pros and cons of being an employee. You can view a selection of jobs here: Van Life Income Remote Jobs Board. If you want more flexibility, check out my other articles on freelancing and contracting options, such as Upwork.
My experience
I’ve primarily operated as a freelancer, however there have been times where I’ve been more of a contractor and I’ve even been an employee with remote flexibility. In terms of operations, contracting is very similar to having a job, except you don’t have any of the employment benefits such as pension contributions, healthcare and holidays and you are responsible for your own taxes.
However, usually you usually have a higher rate of pay to compensate.
One thing I loved about being an employee with a remote job was that 100% of the money that came into my bank account was mine; no need to think about saving for tax, paying insurance etc – that was all covered by the employer. As someone who’s always been self-employed, those perks were novelty!
One of the main downsides to employment is having to commit to schedules and things that need done at specific times you don’t control (this sometimes happens with freelancing too, and more often when contracting). Even if there is flexibility and you’re only part-time, you’ll may feel a degree of responsibility to ‘be there’ and ‘pull your weight’, ending up doing more than you should and being a little more stressed than you should!
Who is best suited for a remote job?
If you’ve always been employed and are nervous about going freelance or jumping the ‘pay for time’ ship and investing in a business venture, then the security of a remote job (employment) might be a good stepping stone.
Similar to a freelancer, candidates for a remote job must be capable of self-discipline and working on their own without a boss breathing down their neck. If these qualities are within your capabilities, you can make a very good living with some security and a bit of flexibility that might just work for van life.
Furthermore, you could start a remote job months before hitting the road or you can even work towards creating your own. (see Tip at the bottom of this post!)
Some of the pros of a remote job
Beyond the obvious of being able to work anywhere there's an internet connection, what are some of the advantages of remote working?
In the beginning, remote jobs tend to pay better than freelancing gigs
Remote employment is a great way to get started with remote work because in the early days, the pay typically works out higher than if you were freelancing. Some employers may pay you more if your workload is heavier, however most jobs will pay a salary.
You can begin to gauge how long certain things take to do and start figuring out if freelance is something you’d consider and what you might charge.
A remote job usually offers income security than freelancing
As a freelancer, you don't know if you will make money from one day to the next. Remote employment is different because, well, it's employment. You have an employer, and that means you'll have some form of job security.
You may even find other benefits are included such as healthcare, share options or pension contributions.
A regular income allows you to plan more effectively
If you know what your income is going to be, no matter how small, it allows you to plan accordingly. Unlike freelance work, a remote job usually comes with defined benefits and pay. This can greatly reduce stress of unknowns in terms of your income and expenditure.
Some con’s of a remote job
Whilst a steady income may be appealing, there are some cons to seeking income from employment.
There’s a lot of competition for almost every job
It’s an employer’s market. You’re going to need some in-demand skills, a good resume and probably multiple interviews to even get a job. If you’re thinking of any sort of move into remote work, consider what skills might be required and how you could up-skill through online courses and certifications.
Lack of flexibility
Some jobs may be very flexible, but others will require you to work a set schedule. If you work for a big company, chances are you're going to have to adhere to their rules. You may find yourself at the mercy of the office clock, and be expected to work when they want you to. As you travel, you may find this restrictive and start resenting your job.
Employee monitoring & ‘always on’ internet
Your employer may want to monitor your working hours and time remotely. This isn’t unusual, however it might not be suitable for vanlife as many monitoring tools require an always-on internet connection. That ain't always possible in those remote, scenic locations!
Intranets and firewalls
Some employers require you to connect to their intranet, for which there will likely be firewalls and security. This might not be suitable for mobile connections or connecting from other states and/or countries.
You still need discipline
Similar to a freelancer or contractor, you'll still need plenty of discipline to be a good remote employee. If you are the type of person who puts off working or gets distracted by Youtube, a remote job isn't for you.
What type of skills do you need for remote jobs?
If a remote job sounds like the right path for you, you're going to need some type of marketable skill that you can use to get a job in the first place.
You can be a programmer, customer service representative, or another one of a million different possibilities. The list of remote jobs is longer than your arm and growing. How you decide to position yourself is something that you'll have to research based on your own interests and skills.
For each job type there are a massive number of online courses available to enhance your skills, many of which are free. This is something you could invest in prior to job hunting.
Tip: Know your worth & create your remote job!
Furthermore, you may be able to transition your current job or an existing job into a remote, flexible position, especially if you have the opportunity to show your employee your worth first.
For example, I had a friend who worked full time as a programmer and fell in love with van life several years ago. Over a period of just 2 months he managed to reduce his hours by 50% AND have complete flexibility to work remotely whilst retaining almost 100% of his income!
How did he do this?
Simple; he showed his worth and they did not want to lose him. Over that time he started working remotely from home (this is back in 2009, long before Covid), then he got a van and started working locally-remotely.
After 2 months of demonstrating productivity, he was off to Europe, with the comfort of part-time, full-pay employment that he knew he could reduce further if required.
Conclusion
The number of remote jobs has increased dramatically since the coronavirus pandemic. Even Facebook now lets a significant number of their employees work remotely, however there is a difference between working remotely from home and working remotely from a van whereby you could be on the other side of the country – or in a completely different country. Bear this in mind when seeking remote work/employment.
