53 Remote Job Categories with Example Roles You Didn't Know Existed
Before we delve into the details of our 53 remote job categories and their potential roles, let's dispel some common myths about remote work. Whether you're looking for full-time employment with benefits or prefer the flexibility of freelance projects, remote work offers a wide range of opportunities.
I've been navigating the remote work landscape since 2012, and have been fully remote since 2015. This journey has given me valuable insights into finding remote work at various stages of my career.
To provide some perspective, I secured my first remote role at the age of 19, earning $2,000 a month without a college degree. Today, I make six-figures a year in a remote work environment, still without a formal degree.
Over the years, I've explored various remote roles, including freelance writing, marketing, consulting, recruiting, and even creating and selling my own courses.
It's crucial to understand that remote work isn't limited to low-paying jobs or exclusively for highly-skilled professionals. The world of remote work is diverse and expansive, as you'll discover in our exploration of 53 remote job categories and their example roles.
Account Management (Account Executive, Account Coordinator, Client Success Manager)
Accounting & Finance (Financial Analyst, Accountant, Bookkeeper)
Administrative (Administrative Assistant, Executive Assistant, Office Manager)
Advertising & PR (PR Coordinator, Advertising Specialist, Media Planner)
Animals & Wildlife (Wildlife Biologist, Animal Advocate, Veterinary Telehealth Provider)
Art & Creative (Graphic Designer, Illustrator, Art Director)
Bilingual (Bilingual Customer Service Representative, Bilingual Tutor, Bilingual Translator)
Business Development (Business Development Manager, Business Development Representative, Business Development Analyst)
Call Center (Call Center Representative, Call Center Manager, Call Center Quality Analyst)
Communications (Communications Specialist, Communications Coordinator, Communications Director)
Computer & IT (IT Support Specialist, Software Engineer, Data Scientist)
Consulting (Business Consultant, Management Consultant, IT Consultant)
Customer Service (Customer Service Representative, Customer Support Specialist, Customer Success Manager)
Data Entry (Data Entry Clerk, Data Analyst, Database Administrator)
Editing (Editor, Copy Editor, Video Editor)
Education & Training (Online Tutor, E-learning Specialist, Curriculum Developer)
Engineering (Mechanical Engineer, Civil Engineer, Software Engineer)
Entertainment & Media (Social Media Manager, Content Creator, Video Producer)
Environmental & Green (Environmental Scientist, Sustainability Consultant, Conservation Scientist)
Event Planning (Event Coordinator, Event Planner, Wedding Planner)
Computer & IT (IT Support Specialist, Software Engineer, Data Scientist)
Consulting (Business Consultant, Management Consultant, IT Consultant)
Customer Service (Customer Service Representative, Customer Support Specialist, Customer Success Manager)
Data Entry (Data Entry Clerk, Data Analyst, Database Administrator)
Editing (Editor, Copy Editor, Video Editor)
Education & Training (Online Tutor, E-learning Specialist, Curriculum Developer)
Engineering (Mechanical Engineer, Civil Engineer, Software Engineer)
Entertainment & Media (Social Media Manager, Content Creator, Video Producer)
Environmental & Green (Environmental Scientist, Sustainability Consultant, Conservation Scientist)
Event Planning (Event Coordinator, Event Planner, Wedding Planner)
Manufacturing (Manufacturing Engineer, Production Planner, Quality Assurance Specialist)
Marketing (Marketing Coordinator, SEO Specialist, Social Media Manager)
Math & Economics (Economist, Statistician, Data Analyst)
Medical & Health (Medical Coder, Health Coach, Telehealth Nurse)
Mortgage & Real Estate (Real Estate Agent, Mortgage Loan Officer, Property Manager)
News & Journalism (News Writer, Journalist, Editor)
Nonprofit & Philanthropy (Fundraising Coordinator, Program Manager, Volunteer Coordinator)
Operations (Operations Manager, Operations Analyst, Logistics Coordinator)
Product (Product Manager, Product Designer, Product Analyst)
Project Management (Project Manager, Program Manager, Project Coordinator)
Research (Research Analyst, Market Researcher, User Experience Researcher)
Retail (Retail Analyst, E-commerce Specialist, Merchandiser)
Sales (Sales Representative, Account Executive, Sales Manager)
Science (Scientist, Research Scientist, Lab Technician)
Software Development (Software Developer, Full Stack Developer, Front End Developer)
Sports & Fitness (Fitness Coach, Sports Analyst, Athletic Recruiter)
Telemarketing (Telemarketer, Call Center Representative, Customer Service Representative)
Transcription (Transcriptionist, Medical Transcriptionist, Legal Transcriptionist)
Translation (Translator, Localization Specialist, Bilingual Customer Service Representative)
Travel & Hospitality (Travel Agent, Tour Guide, Hospitality Manager)
Web Design (Web Designer, UX/UI Designer, Front End Developer)
Writing (Content Writer, Copywriter, Technical Writer)
Youth & Children (Child Psychologist, Youth Counselor, Online Tutor)
Advice for First-Time Remote Job Seekers
Revamp Your LinkedIn Profile
If you haven't already, create a LinkedIn profile—it's free! Start by uploading a professional photo and crafting a concise three-sentence summary of your job history. Update your bio to reflect your most relevant work experience, including company names, locations, dates, and your daily responsibilities. Use keywords that recruiters might use when searching for candidates with your skills and experience. Highlight both your technical and soft skills in the skills section. Remember, write your bio in the first person. LinkedIn is a powerful tool for expanding your network, even from home.
Update Your Resume
After this is done, you'll want to start updating your resume. The reason why I think LinkedIn is more important is that it allows recruiters like myself and hundreds of thousands of others to find professionals like you that are actively seeking work.
Now that you at least have a profile on the platform, you're more likely to be found and allow recruiters to reach out to you to interview and schedule when to speak to you regarding what they think you'd be a good fit for.
Once you finish updating your resume, upload it to your LinkedIn profile as an attachment.
Review Contact Information
Before we continue, I want to make sure that you remove your home address from your resume, which you uploaded to your LinkedIn profile or any other job board on the internet.
This is because it's sensitive information that you don't want accessible on the internet, although you have to list your resume publicly to allow most opportunities to come to you or you actively create your own outbound job search strategy.
You'll also want to make sure that this information is accurate. I can't count the number of times I've missed out on speaking to a candidate who either provided incorrect details when applying and typed their email incorrectly.
Others type their phone number wrong or listed incorrect or old information on their LinkedIn personal profile or other professional profiles.
Be sure to have a custom LinkedIn URL and make sure that the link is accurate and clickable on your resume. You don't want to put in so much effort into job searching just to get your message lost.
Turn on seeking opportunities feature
Use LinkedIn and turn on the feature that allows recruiters to know that you're currently looking for a job.
LinkedIn charges company recruiters so that they can identify job-seekers like you, which allows them to spend their time reaching out to the right people who are actually actively job-seeking, saving them time, money, and resources for their company.
Be sure to check your LinkedIn each morning to see if people reached out to you. There's a free LinkedIn app for your phone or tablet. Download it!
Reach out to people in your existing network
Before you start a cold job search, be sure to reach out to your previous references asking if you could use them for your job search and if they know anyone hiring for the position you're looking for.
Be sure to add anyone you know or worked with on LinkedIn and leave each other endorsements as you see fit.
Think about communities
There are a lot of interesting niche communities online on Facebook, Reddit, and different areas of the internet, like slack channels dedicated to people who are interested in certain types of topics and work.
If this is relevant to you, do the research and find something relevant to you and see if someone within these networks has a remote opportunity they can introduce you to.
Consider picking up freelance or contract work
One of the quickest ways to find remote work is to pick up freelance or contract work online through job boards or through recruiter agencies.
Because it's not a full-time job and is a short-term project, it's easier for hiring managers and companies to make a decision on hiring someone for that project.
This is a great way to network with new people, get your hands on different types of work, and continue to build your portfolio and skills in between jobs.
This is a great way to test out if you even enjoy freelance work in general or working remotely.
It will help you consider if this is something you want to do to pass the time or maybe you want to return to the job you love outside of the home.
Something to consider when looking for a remote job
Put your focus on learning about and applying to roles similar to the one you’re doing right now, but just virtually.
For example, if you’re a chef/cook, sell your recipes to a company or see if a website is looking for a recipe writer.
If you worked in retail sales, search for a similar remote sales position.
This could even be in the same industry as you; just virtually or software-related.
This will help you land a job sooner because you’re targeting roles within your reach.
Start applying for at least one job each day.
Some of my favorite websites to find remote work are:
Beware of one-click application and mass application
I highly recommend taking some time to figure out what kind of role you're looking for and what type of company.
Then target a selected list of companies when applying for work. Do not get into the habit of one-click applying and mass applications.
Your resume will get lost in the mix.
Instead, personalize your job search and give yourself realistic goals, like applying to three incredible opportunities that you're qualified for versus 20 random opportunities you found online each day.
Portfolio
While your job search is underway, I highly recommend creating a visually stimulating portfolio PDF that showcases your work.
This could be by sharing data analytics, charts, or portfolio pieces if you're a graphic designer, fashion designer, website designer, architect or surgeon.
You can also attach this to your LinkedIn or add it to your website as a supplement when applying for a job.
I highly recommend customizing these when you can.
For example, if I was applying to write for a fashion and culture website, I would highlight my fashion and culture articles in my portfolio.