Here’s how to find your first digital nomad job
Finding your first digital nomad job doesn’t have to be stressful!
Is it even possible to find your first digital nomad job without getting stressed? Absolutely.
I know this because I’ve become a successful digital nomad, and I’m here to share my top tips and tricks with you.
When I decided to leave my teaching position several years ago, I had a vague plan, some savings and a lot of hope. In fact, I had a rough idea of how I would replace my income. So, naturally, I was stressed to the max.
Before long, I was making more than I was teaching (with much less stress), travelling the world, and living a life that I personally found fulfilling. And, guess what? Years later, I still am.
Sometimes I work at home or at a local cafe, while other times I work across the world in some of my favourite cities.
Truthfully, finding the perfect remote job can be difficult. From finding a job you’re qualified for, and that you enjoy, to figuring out how to work from home efficiently or while travelling, it’s not always easy.
It can be stressful trying to figure it all out, especially on your own.
So I wanted to share these tips to help you find your first digital job without getting too overwhelmed and feeling like this life isn’t for you. Because maybe it is!
Get organized and make an action plan.
List out every skill you have from past jobs, hobbies, etc. This can be anything from social media or writing to designing or photography.
Start looking into good digital nomad jobs for beginners and decide on one that you have the skills for, there’s a demand for, and can pay what you want.
Decide if you want to freelance or find a remote job with a company. I prefer freelancing as there are more opportunities and flexibility but the guaranteed income and benefits of working for a remote company is also very appealing.
If you choose to freelance, check out the tips below. If you prefer to work remotely for a company, you can look for these positions on job boards like JustRemote or Linkedin. Here are some of my favourite websites for finding work.
Position your skills and set your rates.
Now, it’s time to decide what service(s) you’ll offer with your skills and at what rate. A good starting point is to figure out how much money you’ll need to make, how much time your services will take you (I always give myself some leeway), and how much you’ll need to charge for each service to make the salary you want.
Remember, you don’t need to be an expert. You just need to know more, or be in a better position to do the task, than the person you are supporting
Create your portfolio.
If you’re freelancing, you need a portfolio to showcase your work. You can create this on paid website builders like Squarespace (my favourite), Wix, or WordPress. You can also use a free portfolio builder like Contently. While you are new, you offer your services to a friend to start your portfolio or create spec pieces.
Start looking for clients.
Now it’s time to find clients. Again, this is if you go the freelance route instead of working remotely for a company. The best ways to find clients is by using websites like these and signing up for newsletters.
Becoming a digital nomad can be scary, exciting, and just about everything in between. I hope these tips have inspired you to start your journey as a digital nomad!
Nomad’s Top Picks
Here are our favourite books, podcasts, and products just for nomads.
The Pyjama Myth: The Freelance Writer’s Survival Guide
by Sian Meades-Williams
A perfect beginner's guide and bible for freelancers. It offers just as much insight for someone new to all this as someone who has been in this game for a while.
Animalz Content Marketing Podcast
Whether you work in content or will need to market yourself as a freelancer, there is so much insight to be gleaned from the Animalz podcast, and their website.
As someone who has been struggling with their luggage recently, I know the hardships of finding exactly the right bag to travel with depending on the length of the trip.
We are big fans of the Nomatic because you can customize your case to suit your style of travel (it converts from a duffel to a backpack), they are exceptionally well made and come with a guarantee.
There are also pockets designed specifically for shoes, liquids, and tech.
For more interesting articles just for digital nomads and freelancers, check out our website Nomad Finance and Freedom.
Until next time, happy nomading.