The world is going digital. Statistics predict that by 2028, 73% of all teams will have remote workers. With ‘virtual workspaces’ becoming a thing, the rate of burnouts and fatigue associated with onsite jobs will reduce. If you’re looking to transition from an onsite to remote lifestyle — or just planning to start a new career in the digital world, you’ll find the 5 best remote job websites to help you get settled in this post.
How can I start working remotely?
Remote work sounds exciting. You can start working from the comfort of your home, and no longer have to beat traffic to get to the office. This lifestyle also gives you room to multitask and focus on side projects. But it’s not always a walk in the park.
Below are some tips to help you navigate remote working easily:
Determine if remote work fits you
Do some self-reflection to see if the remote career path you choose aligns with your personality and current lifestyle. If you’re an introvert who finds it difficult to relate with people physically, this lifestyle could be a win for you. But for extroverts, it can take a toll on your mental health as there’s less physical collaboration with teammates.
Again, Introverts might find it hard to handle too many video calls and virtual meetings. On the other hand, extroverts may feel confident and eager to jump in front of their home office webcams. It’s important that you learn to adjust to your new reality in order to stay happy and productive during the course of your new career.
Weigh the pros and cons of remote work
Remote working means you can avoid early morning traffic. But that also means you will lose the motivation to start the day early. You could procrastinate until whenever you’re ready to complete tasks.
In other cases, you could get distracted by all the moving parts in your house. For example, screaming children, TV sounds and other noises, chores, and more. If you discover that the remote lifestyle is going to clash with your priorities and cause you more stress, you may want to stick to onsite jobs or switch to a hybrid work model.
Find a remote job website that suits your needs
Freelance websites like Fiverr and Upwork can help you kick-start your career with the necessary tools. You will get access to features like seller protection and portfolio creation, as well as the freedom to personalize your services and choose your own rates.
You should target such websites if you don’t want to start job searching empty-handed. Other websites like Indeed.com only act as job search engines, and may not be the best option for you as a beginner.
Overview of the 5 best remote job websites
Our picks of the 5 best websites to help you work remotely
We’ve compiled a list of the five best remote job websites to find full-time and part-time jobs in any industry you have interest in.
1. Upwork
Upwork is a popular marketplace where you can sell your skills as an independent contractor. The marketplace model is a generic one that allows anybody to advertise any category of work. Whether you’re a graphic designer or content writer, you can find a role that fits you.
Upwork operates on a bidding system where you have to convince job sellers to hire you. Most jobs on the marketplace will cost you Connects. Connects are special points you’ll need to spend on every proposal you send to a job seller or client. They also let you boost your proposals to the top of the list for better visibility.
After your first time registration, Upwork gives you 40 free Connects, but you can always buy more when you run out. Each Connect costs $0.15, but you can’t buy a single Connect. You’d have to buy them in bundles of 10, 20, 40, 60, and 80.
One notable advantage of selling your skills on Upwork is the flexibility. You can apply for any job available, and there are no limits to how high or low you set your rates. However, it is a hugely competitive platform with more freelancers than there are jobs.
Upwork has over 5 million freelancers registered on the platform. If you plan to get seen quickly or get your first client immediately after registration, you’ll have a tough time doing that.
Pros
- Popular platform with a good reputation and user-friendly interface.
- Escrow payment protection that reduces the risks of getting scammed.
- Multi-skill support. Anyone can sell or buy.
Cons
- Highly competitive. Not the best option for amateurs.
- Poor customer support.
- Limited Connects.
>> See Also: 10 Best Skills to Learn for Remote Jobs in 2022 <<
2. Fiverr
Fiverr is much similar to Upwork. But the major difference is this — the clients find you, and not the other way around. There’s no pressure to write a convincing proposal. All you need to focus on is on creating an appealing gig to attract buyers. But it can be a long wait if you don’t optimize your gigs to be search discoverable.
Like Google’s algorithm, Fiverr offers more visibility to your gigs when you use a good SEO strategy. These practices include adding personalized videos and images, using keywords in your gig description, titles, and image or video names.
Fiverr also places less emphasis on high-demand skills, which is a strategy Upwork uses to compensate for its competitive system. You define what skills you want to showcase, as well as give buyers a clear description of what they stand to gain from choosing your gig. It hardly matters if it’s a skill buyers are dying to find as you can personalize it to stand out.
However, Fiverr is not the best option for you if you want to cash out quickly. The platform is designed to offer project-based services to buyers. You might need to price your gigs low to attract clients during your first few weeks. That said, you should only depend on it as a hustle.
Pros
- No bidding for jobs.
- Great customer support 24/7.
- User-friendly interface.
Cons
- Tougher to sell on since buyers have to find you.
- Fiverr charges 20% commission on every payment you receive.
- Strict no-contact policy with buyers. You’re prohibited from reaching out to clients outside the platform
3. Dribbble
Dribbble is perfect for designers seeking to connect with other creatives. Registering and applying for jobs on the platform is easy. You don’t need to buy points or pay for a subscription plan to start applying for work.
But what stands out most about Dribbble is the sense of community. When you’re not searching for jobs, you can also find inspiration for your projects. The platform has a ‘Discover’ tab where you can view the works of other designers around the globe.
You can also upload your works as Shots and have others leave feedback as comments on them. Dribbble only lets you upload one shot at a time, unless you upgrade to a Pro or Pro Business plan. Even worse — you can’t sell your shots unless you subscribe for a plan.
With a Pro or Pro Business plan, you will enjoy premium features like uploading multiple shots at once, receiving daily freelance projects in your email, and using the Hire Me Button on your shots.
Pros
- Community of designers to get support, inspiration, and grow your skills.
- Simple and vibrant interface.
- Free access to design resources to help you learn and upskill.
Cons
- Free plan limitations. You can’t sell your shots unless you get a Dribbble Pro plan.
- You can only upload project snippets, instead of an entire project.
4. We Work Remotely
We Work Remotely helps you find the best remote startup positions for you around the world. You’ll have access to a directory listing the hottest technology jobs from full-stack programming to graphic designing, and even Cloud software engineering.
How the website works is simple. First, you scroll through the job listings. Once you find a role that suits you, click on it to find more information and apply. Unlike other platforms, We work remotely doesn’t require you to create an account before you can apply for jobs. The site also adds new jobs frequently so there’s always something to apply for.
Besides showing you job openings, We Work remotely has a collection of resources that can be beneficial to your career. You’ll find free guides to help you understand remote working better. There’s also a Slack community where you can meet other techies as yourself. Additionally, there’s an alert feature that lets you receive job openings directly to your email. This feature will save you from constantly stalking or refreshing the website to find jobs.
Pro
- No registration or subscription plan required.
- Receive live job alerts in your email inbox.
- Access to resources about remote working & Slack community.
- Vast, and frequently updated, list of job openings.
Cons
- Not for freelancers outside the technology field.
- Unfriendly user interface.
- It’s only a job listing platform. Doesn’t have provision for creating portfolios or receiving payments.
>> See Also: 5 Tech Startup Ideas Upcoming Entrepreneurs Should Consider <<
5. Indeed
Indeed is another reputable job listing website where employers can advertise roles and freelancers can apply for free. Unlike We Work Remotely, the jobs posted on Indeed don’t revolve around technology. You can find jobs in other categories, such as construction, food, banking, transportation, and more.
Looking is free on the Indeed website. You can search for and view job descriptions. However, you’ll need to create an account to start applying for the jobs. After creating your account and updating your profile, you may upload your resume so potential clients can view it. Indeed also has a resume builder that helps you create a CV from scratch if you don’t already have one.
If you find more than one job that you’re interested in, you can save the job to your profile and come back to it later. You’ll also be able to view jobs you’ve applied for, and interviews you’re scheduled to have under the ‘My Jobs’ tab.
You should use Indeed if you need a broader job listing website than We Work Remotely. But if you want protection from scammers and a platform that enables you with resources to grow as a remote worker, then it’s not for you. The website is majorly an employment search engine, and not an established marketplace like Upwork and Fiverr.
Pros
- Varieties of job listings.
- Create a resume from scratch with the Resume Builder.
- Store existing resumes on the site for quick job applications.
- Daily job alerts delivered to your email inbox.
Cons
- Lots of duplicated & fake listings.
- User interface is outdated & bland.
- Doesn’t offer other resources outside job searching.
We’ve shown you our top five best remote job websites. However, this list is not an exhaustive compilation of remote or freelance websites worldwide. If you have your eyes set on a company, that’s another good place to start.
Most company websites dedicate a page to hiring or showcasing open positions you can apply for. You can check-in regularly to find the job of your dreams. In the meantime, you can hang around networking platforms like LinkedIn and Meetup, or join community forums within Reddit and Slack.