You've got a vision for your future. Maybe it's working from the comfort of your own home office. Or working from a bustling coworking space. Or perhaps working from a beachy bar overlooking the sea.
Noticing a common thread? The vision you have for your career is a little less about the work and a little more about the where.
The Work from Anywhere (#WFA) movement started years ago, with the first digital nomads who proved they could travel the world and still earn a steady paycheck. COVID was a bump in the road for the WFA crowd, as lockdowns and closed borders stranded some in one location and kept many others stuck at home.
It wasn't all bad, though. The bright side of the pandemic was that it delivered necessary proof that remote work was viable and — in many cases — preferred. In fact, even as offices have reopened and traditional workplaces return to "normal," most job seekers still place the ability to WFA near the top of their list.
Working from anywhere isn't just a vision of a far-off future. It can be your reality sooner than you might think. Here, we've compiled some tips on where and how to find an amazing WFA job, a virtual office of remote coworkers, and an epic list of companies hiring remotely.
Where to Find WFA Jobs
Times change. Just a couple years ago, workers were adamant about staying home due to concerns over COVID-19 exposure. Now, more employees want to be home (or elsewhere), but their motivations have changed.
More than ever, workers are less inclined to look for an in-office job...simply because their preferences have changed. And in fact, the way we find jobs has changed, too. If you're on the job hunt, take a look at the companies listed below, but if you're just dipping a toe in the water and want to see a comprehensive view of what's out there, start with these resources:
FlexJobs
FlexKobs is the top remote-first employment site with probably the longest history — they've been supporting the WFA lifestyle since 2007. Every listing on FlexJobs is either remote-first, remote-friendly, or hybrid. Plus, they offer career coaching and support.
LinkedIn is the gold standard in professional networking, and their job search is extremely robust. Each job listing is marked with a job type, whether it's remote, hybrid, or in-person, so you can easily find what you're looking for. LinkedIn also has an easy application option, where you can apply for a job using your existing LinkedIn profile in just minutes.
Indeed
Indeed is a leader in job listings, and it's easier than ever to find WFA options. All you need to do is type "Remote" in the "Where?" box, and the engine will deliver all remote options that meet your job search criteria.
Glassdoor
Glassdoor is very similar to Indeed in the way you search for WFA jobs. Just type "Remote" in the location bar, and Glassdoor will curate your results. Glassdoor is also a valuable tool for finding in-depth information on salaries, roles, and companies.
Best Remote Companies to Work For
One of the most fascinating outcomes of the pandemic is the shift to permanent remote work. Numerous companies have adjusted their policies to provide remote-first, hybrid, or flexible work options. In our epic list, we've provided companies that have changed their policies and offer permanent WFA options.
HubSpot
HubSpot offers revolutionary inbound marketing software, including a best-in-class CRM. In the wake of 2020, HubSpot announced that employees would have the option to work where and how they want. Now, job seekers select their option (@office, @flex, or @home) before they apply. Just this year, HubSpot has also said they're going "location agnostic" and allowing employees to work from wherever they want.
Salesforce
Salesforce president Brent Hyder made a bold statement during the COVID-19 pandemic: "The 9-to-5 workday is dead." He also said, "An immersive workspace is no longer limited to a desk in our Towers." Soon after, Salesforce announced it would offer permanent remote and WFA positions.
Slack
Instant messaging platform Slack has paved the way for the WFA crowd to find a lasting career with them. The company describes itself as "remote-friendly" and offers flexible roles with opportunities to WFA.
Quora
Online forum Quora announced in 2020 that it would be a remote-first company. While office locations are listed for most open roles, the company encourages any interested party to apply, regardless of where they're located.
Just like Quora, Reddit has made the same jump to remote-first and WFA job roles. You'll find many remote-only job openings but other location-based positions that would give you an opportunity to work from abroad on a fixed-term contract.
Dropbox
Cloud-based storage platform Dropbox announced in late 2020 that it would go permanently "virtual-first" so all employees could decide where and how they wanted to work. They do offer options at their existing office locations, but those are mostly used now for special meetings and collaborative projects. They've also promoted a non-linear workday, so employees can work when they want or virtually commute from any time zone.
Target
Don't worry, the red shirts and khakis aren't going anywhere. But Target corporate has made a big change post-pandemic, closing much of its in-person office space and going primarily remote.
Shopify
Shopify's careers page says it front and center: "Work from Anywhere!" In fact, they've also recently instituted the Destination90 program, which encourages all employees to work abroad for 90 days every year.
Adobe
Software company Adobe announced late last year that it was going "digital-first." While the company focuses more on hybrid work, there are still remote-only options available. And their new app, Adobe Life, connects both virtual and in-person workers based on location to grow culture, traditionally and remotely.
Meta
Facebook's parent company is expanding its remote offerings, announcing in 2021 that any job that could be conducted remotely is eligible, but only if an employee makes a request. They also granted employees the ability to work abroad for 20 business days in 2021. In 2022, they announced plans to slowly expand their borders to allow employees to "relocate" to remote positions from a number of different countries.
The search engine giant isn't one to fall behind the trends, so of course, it offers many remote or WFA positions. You can search Google careers and look for listings that are marked "Remote eligible." These roles can be worked from anywhere.
Spotify
Music streaming platform Spotify makes no bones about it on their careers page: "Work isn't somewhere you go," it says, "it's something you do." The company has gone truly remote-first in the wake of the pandemic. Now, before you search job listings, you select your preferred work method, whether occasionally in-person or fully remote.
Blackbaud
Nonprofit software company Blackbaud recently announced it was going remote-first and that most roles would come with the ability to WFA. Blackbaud has also placed a great emphasis on building culture among its remote employees.
3M
Yep, the maker of Post-Its has also chosen to go remote-first whenever it's possible. They've instituted a new "Work Your Way" program that offers employees the opportunity to create their own schedule, whether it's time in the office, working from home, or working from anywhere else.
Most Popular Remote Work Roles
Of course, your industry and the role you want play a big part in how easy (or difficult) it is to find a job that lets you WFA. According to FlexJobs, there are three major industries that offer the greatest remote work opportunities:
- IT
- Healthcare
- Education
And within those industries, there are certain remote-friendly roles that are more likely to be available for those hoping to WFA:
- Teacher
- Writer
- Project manager
- Web developer
- Accountant
- Customer service representative
How to Get a WFA Job
One final tip: Make sure you include any remote work experience on your resume and on LinkedIn. Be sure to highlight remote work as a special skill — many employers want to know a job candidate has excelled in a remote role in the past, as it demonstrates productivity, autonomy, and time management.
