The biggest shift towards remote work started during the pandemic in 2020. According to statistics about half of South African and United States businesses adopted the idea of working from home in this era. Now, from home, you can keep up with delivering exceptional writing and designs, collaborate with international teams, and attend conferences. Thanks to technology, remote work is no longer a temporary adjustment, it is now a permanent fixture.
Remote work creates a future for African youth to explore beyond their confines thereby setting them at the global-centred stage. In this article, we will discuss the long-term impact of remote work and how you too can join the future.
How It All Started: The Journey To The Remote Work World
In the 1970s remote work became a concept as technology began to arise. In the 2000s, this approach to work became more viable due to the advancement of technology. Affordable high-speed internet and collaborative tools like Slack and Zoom combined with cloud-based storage revolutionised the work-from-home concept.
In 2010, remote work was a perk available to a few employees in some companies. The biggest catalyst for flexible work arrangements was COVID-19. As people began to observe social distancing, companies began to imbibe and encourage a work-from-home approach. This accounted for about 46% of USA businesses offering full-time remote roles.
Many companies have embraced remote work as the new norm even with the pandemic behind us. Offering their new and old staff a full-time remote or hybrid work opportunity.
Why Remote Work Is The Future
Beyond escaping the early morning traffic hum that can sometimes affect your productivity level, you have more balanced work days. Many benefits await both employers and employees with the remote work approach.
Balanced Work Life
According to Harvard Business Review, work-from-home staff live a more healthy lifestyle. This is because they can plan their life and personal duties around work. A remote lifestyle offers the flexibility to structure your day to be more productive and efficient with your tasks. When you work from home, it is easier to prioritise your well-being as you will experience a drop in your stress level. For instance, your stress level reduces when you don’t have to rush out in the morning or deal with heavy traffic after work hours.
Improved Productivity
Research has successfully debunked the myth that remote work reduces productivity. According to a survey, 32% of remote workers claim they are more productive at home compared to the office. Home offers a quieter environment to function, think, and concentrate, while at the office, there are a few distractions and interruptions that impede creativity. This interruption can be from a quick meeting or an office politics. Employees owning their day get extra motivation, reflecting on their efficiency and approach to work.
Access Global Talent
Remote work systems benefit employers by offering them free access to global talent, thereby getting a perfect fit for their jobs. As a hiring manager, you are not limited by geographical location. You can easily get skilled professionals from other countries and build a diverse team. This also helps talent around the world get opportunities that are not limited to their local environment.
Cost Saving
When companies adopt the work-from-anywhere style, they eliminate extra expenses such as expensive office space and current operational costs. Employees can reduce money spent on office outfits and transportation costs. Remote jobs allow staff to deliver with less financial commitment. Companies can subsidise expenses, and gain more profits.
Environmental Impact
Embracing remote work helps every sector contribute to environmental and sustainability goals. Fewer commuters equals lower carbon emissions. Global Workplace analytics predicted based on research that the gravitational shift to remote work could cut off gas emissions by 54 million tons yearly. This eco-friendly lifestyle helps employers reduce energy-related expenses such as electricity, water and paper waste.
Top 5 Remote Work In High Demand
The virtual workspace is rumored to be tech-savvy but that’s not true. Whether you are a programmer or have zero knowledge about a line of code, there’s a space for you in the future of remote work. Below is a list of remote work that can offer you opportunities.
Engineering
This is one of the most popular remote roles in the world with many opportunities. Full stack developers, software engineers, mobile developers and site reliability experts belong to this category of engineers with an average salary of $120,000 -$150,000.If you have the skills, get your foot into the door to a remote future.
Design
The world operates on a digital landscape, and the need for designers grows. As long as businesses need to stay digital this skill will remain relevant. Design experts are categorised into UI/UX designers, graphic designers, web developers, and creative directors.
Marketing
Marketing is like oxygen to businesses and a great determinant of their survival. Therefore, if you have exceptional skills in communication and persuasion, this might be your perfect ticket to remote space. Copywriters, content writers, social media managers, and digital and email marketers are included in this category. These roles make an average salary of $48k per annum.
Customer Support
Customer support is crucial to building loyalty for different brands. A happy customer equals a scalable and successful business. Today, many companies have adopted this job as a remote role. It is a good role for people with great communication and problem-solving skills. The average annual pay for the customer support role as revealed by Built In is $62,500.
Virtual Assistant
Virtual assistant skills are the most popular remote roles, as c-suite executives and businesses seek workers to make their lives more organised and easy. If you are an experienced personal assistant, this role will help you put your feet in the remote world. Their average annual salary is $46,000 according to Glassdoor.
Tips To Applying For A Remote Work
Register On Remote Work Platforms
As a remote worker, the opportunities are endless. You can decide to be self-employed or remain a freelancer using a trusted platform such as Upwork or Fiverr to offer service to international clients. Aside from that, you can also register on job boards that list remote opportunities like Arc, Flexjobs, and No Desk.
Submit Customised Resume
If you have been applying in the right places without results, you need to pay attention to your resume. Avoid submitting a generic resume. Ensure that your resume is customised for the exact remote job role, you are applying for. Do your research about the company and understand the job description to successfully highlight why you are the perfect candidate in your resume.
Build An Online Presence
Creating a brand online is the easiest way to advertise your services, it helps employers and hiring managers see what you can offer. This is your way of giving your potential employer a good first impression. Updating your social media platform and other professional platforms helps you share your story and your capacity on the skills you offer.
Conclusion
Remote jobs are making waves and opening doors of opportunities to different people across the globe. What started as an alternative quickly became a cornerstone of productivity and efficiency. This new way of work benefits employers and employees. It helps employers to reduce their work running expenses and allows employees to function at their maximum capacity. Acquire the right skills and apply the tips and strategies to land the perfect remote job. Always remember that the future is remote.
