One of the most common questions about van life is how to make a living on the road financially feasible. It’s become common to work remotely (particularly now), and there are more choices than ever for working on the road from a van or RV.
Van life and RVing: 20 Remote Jobs To Help Support Your Way
Initially, people started working from home to spend more time at home and spend less time commuting to and from work. Working from home has evolved because people want more work-life balance and flexibility.
Almost any skill can be converted into a remote working opportunity with the proper learning, experience, and determination. There is more than likely some type of remote work suitable for you, regardless of your education, background, or skillset, allowing you to earn money while traveling.
The world is big and I want to have good look at it before it gets dark.
If you have a laptop, a good Wi-Fi connection and motivation, you can work while on the road.
It doesn’t matter if you want to live in a van, take a long international trip, or simply want to enjoy a little freedom and flexibility in your life. Here are 20 remote job possibilities where you can work from anywhere.
Digital Marketer
Marketing online is an umbrella term for a whole range of specializations and jobs covering every facet of the online space, including:
- marketing through social media
- search engine optimization (SEO)
- email campaigning
- content creation
- affiliate marketing programs
- ad design and campaigns
Those with marketing experience might find remote jobs interesting, as many small businesses and bloggers need assistance with social media and other marketing tasks.
Anyone interested in digital marketing but without experience can learn from free online resources and affordable online courses. Strong writing, computer and organizational skills, and attention to detail can go a long way. Then, after you’ve educated yourself, you can reach out to a company or website that interests you and see if they need help. Once you’ve built your portfolio, you’ll begin attracting clients.
Writer / Editor
Writing is an essential skill for nearly every job and business. Even though you might not have a traditional corporate career, you can find a way to apply them to a remote career. Content available online continues to be in demand.
There are plenty of opportunities to write content for websites, articles for publications, copy for websites, social media copy, emails, landing pages, eBooks and other online resources. As long as you can write and communicate well, someone will be glad to hire you. You’ll be a valuable asset if you can learn how to write persuasive copy that sells.
Digital Assistant
Working as a virtual assistant is an excellent way to start working remotely. Since a virtual assistant is a jack of all trades, this may be a good match if you lack specialized skills (like graphic design or web development).
As long as you’re organized, detail-oriented, good at communicating, and have basic computer skills, you could succeed as a virtual assistant. Many businesses and entrepreneurs could use your help. The duties of VAs can vary considerably from job to job but generally include responding to emails, making travel arrangements, scheduling meetings, etc.
Virtual Teacher
If you’re a native English speaker, consider teaching English online. Online teaching is a newer field that is rapidly growing. You might need a Bachelor’s degree to qualify for this job, and you may also have to take the TOEFL exam, but you’ll be able to work from anywhere!
Many schools, including well-known colleges, offer online classes nowadays, so the opportunities are plentiful. If you have expertise in a particular field or are a teacher at home now, consider applying that knowledge to teaching a course online.
Photographer
Nowadays, it is much easier to showcase your work via your website and social media channels if you have photography skills or an interest in learning. If you set up your business correctly, you can work from anywhere in the world – even consider booking event gigs in the destinations you intend to visit during your travels.
Who knows, maybe you will be selling your content to magazines and websites looking for content one day. You can also work with Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) and Visitor’s Bureaus to expand their reach. While you seek out more prominent clients and gigs, you might want to consider selling your photos on stock photo sites to support yourself.
Graphic Designer
A remote job in graphic design is an excellent choice for someone interested in the field and seeking flexibility and independence. Due to the importance of visuals, graphic designers are in high demand. Think of logos, branding, web design, printed materials, event designs-there are numerous specialized niches.
In addition, graphic designers can work from anywhere with a remote design job. Find out if your current job allows you to work remotely. If that doesn’t work or you’re ready for something new, you can also go freelance or find an employer who needs a graphic designer who is willing to hire you remotely.
Website Developer
If you’re a web developer, coder, or project manager, you’re ideally suited to work remotely because you can do the work from any location. If you do some research online, you’ll find many remote job openings for web developers, coders, and programmers.
It is also possible to find project management roles in the web development field if you have experience participating in or overseeing web development projects.
Project Manager
You have the opportunity to take on your project management role remotely if you are a project manager in your current workplace. The challenges of managing a team and a project from a distance are unique. Instead of communicating face-to-face, your group may be scattered all over the country and in different time zones.
Communicating clearly and having a solid project management system is critical. If you search for remote project manager jobs online, you’ll find many opportunities available.
Blogger
While you cannot earn money instantly by blogging, it can be a viable option for starting an online business. You’ll need some significant savings to tide you over until you get your business up and running, or you may want to work another job until you get your business up and running.
If you work hard, you may not see any income for one year or more. To create a successful blog, you have to learn the ropes of social media, SEO, writing for the web, email marketing, managing a website, and more aspects of digital marketing. Owning your own business and working from wherever you want is a great reward.
Accountant or Bookkeeper
As a virtual accountant or bookkeeper, you might be right up your alley if you’re good with numbers. Accounting, CPA, or bookkeeper professionals are in an excellent position to transition into working remotely. Consider taking a job where you can work from home or starting your own business as a freelance accountant/bookkeeper.
Customer Service
Many industries have customer service departments, especially those that are sales-driven. People skills are essential for this type of position. If you enjoy talking to people, resolving issues, answering questions, and making efforts to leave satisfied customers, this would be an excellent job for you.
Fluency in English and any other language will set you apart from the competition. They may even appreciate that you can travel through different time zones, so this is a job you can do from anywhere. Keep an eye out for Amazon’s “Amazon Jobs Day” to hire work-at-home employees.
Traveling Nurse
Traveling as a nurse or healthcare provider is a growing field. Many staffing agencies around the world offer travel jobs to qualified healthcare providers. Some people I’ve met on the road work as traveling nurses and remote pharmacists, and they seem like a good option for remote work. They get to travel without sacrificing their careers and help the communities they travel through.
Data Entry
There are various remote data entry jobs, including medical transcription and coding, performance measurement, and inventory entries. You don’t always need to have experience for this flexible job that you can do anywhere, but some employers want you to have certification or experience.
Yoga Teacher
Now that so many yoga classes are taught online, this is a job that you can basically do from anywhere with the proper planning.
Perhaps you could schedule a few classes in advance with local studios in the towns you’re visiting. Or you could set up shop for a few weeks or months and teach regular classes or sub for other teachers at the local studio. There are also work-trade opportunities on sites like YogaTrade.
Sales Representative
Almost every industry now offers remote sales jobs, an improvement from when it was hard to find sales jobs without a lot of travel. There is a booming outdoor gear industry, so your van could serve as a base to sell outdoor gear in cool mountain towns if you land the right job. Experience and a degree aren’t always required, but you’ll need a computer and a phone.
Pet or House Sitting
It’s not necessary to be a digital nomad to do pet sitting! If you love animals and are comfortable taking care of pets, this can be a fun, flexible job. You should be able to take care of pets well, but other than that, pet sitting is one of the most flexible remote jobs out there. Many pet and house-sitting websites list nearby jobs, so be sure to look at the listings for the towns you’ll be passing through.
Advisor
Almost every industry needs remote consultants since they can consult companies on every aspect of their businesses. If you are a consultant, you have the option of working remotely full-time, part-time, or freelance.
Developing strategies, solving problems, and creating productivity solutions are essential skills. Some industries to consider are healthcare, insurance, tech, sales, banking, etc.
Attorney
Many online services, such as Legal Zoom, allow you to hire legal help over the internet, which may surprise you. Legal careers include contract managers, paralegals, general counsel, administrative assistants, and data entry. Regardless of your experience level, you should reach out directly to law firms to inquire about job opportunities. Find creative ways to assist the firm remotely.
Temporary Work
In addition to the more digital/technical remote career options listed here, moving slowly and finding seasonal or temporary job opportunities in the places you want to travel to is another option. Seasonal work can be found in retail or guiding, or at restaurants, bars, and ski shops looking to hire more people during certain times of the year.
Discuss Options With Your Current Employer
You might be surprised to learn that many employers are willing to work with you on this if you are already employed. If you are already employed, you might consider discussing the opportunity to work remotely in your current role or another position within the company. It’s worth pitching a fair proposal to show them you’ll still be a valuable, reliable employee. Maybe you add a couple of days a week and go from there. There’s no way of knowing unless you try.
I hope this has persuaded you to think about remote work. Whether you are a full-time road warrior or someone who just wants more work-life balance, consider remote employment as an option.
Please leave any questions about remote jobs in the comments below.
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Kirsti Out Wandering aspires to illustrate well-being in mind, body & spirit, giving unconditional love to self and others, and pursuing all of the wild possibilities life serves up while living full-time from a sprinter van.
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