The world is transforming, especially the way we work, and remote work is taking charge to drive the revolution. Most of the professionals dream of having a career unbound by geographical locations and free from the rigid 9-5 structure. Many professionals are now embracing the freedom to work from anywhere – home, cafes, and even tropical hideaways.
According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2023, global digital jobs will witness a 25% rise by 2030. Also, there are around 218 jobs out of 5,400 that can be performed remotely from anywhere. When it comes to types of jobs that fall into the category of remote work, most of them are from technology, marketing, writing, customer support, and education.
However, it is essential to understand the basics. Remote work and freelancing are different things. Remote work can be full-time or part-time with a single contractor, but you can do it from any corner of the world. However, freelancing is where you work on a project-to-project basis with multiple clients, with your own working hours, and you desire to choose the project you work on.
So, a remote worker is an employee of the company, but a freelancer is self-employed. Now, once you have understood the distinction, you can easily apply for freelancing and remote jobs as per your requirements.
How to Get Started with Finding Freelance and Remote Work Job?
Numerous platforms exist that help freelancers and professionals find part-time gigs and jobs. These sites connect professionals with employers who require various employees with the flexibility to work remotely and meet the expectations of their desired roles.
Freelance jobs for beginners are on a project basis. Once the goal of the project or the timeline is complete, the professional will have to look for another project. Remote jobs are suitable for professionals looking for full-time engagement with an organization. So, firstly decide on what type of job you are looking for, as it will help in refining your search on the platforms.
Here are the platforms that professionals can choose to find remote work jobs:
Hyqoo is a revolutionizing platform that makes tech talent hiring for remote work simpler, easier, and more efficient. Its robust feature, AI matchmaking, helps companies find the relevant talent that matches their skills. The network of the pre-vetted professionals goes beyond one country, the network includes 14 million professionals from 40 different countries. Professionals can get an opportunity to work with Fortune 500 and Global 1000 companies.
Through one single and centralized platform, professionals can interact with potential clients and give skill assessments and interviews. It provides access to a wide range of technical learning courses and elite certifications for free. Along with the resources, the platform offers personalized coaching to boost professional development.
However, to improve the chances of matching with listed job ads, it is essential to create an optimal job profile. This involves gathering credentials, highlighting the achievements with frequently used keywords by hiring managers in the industry, and recording a video to boost engagement.
When it comes to providing a multitude of remote work options, then FlexJobs is the go-to platform. There are over 100,000+ job listings across 50+ categories. Every listing is hand-screened for legitimacy, so there are reduced chances of scams and fake remote jobs. It also provides robust career support by giving expert-curated resources and career coaching services to all remote work job seekers and digital nomads.
Along with a user-friendly interface, the FlexJobs platform boasts some unique features, like advanced job search options, exclusive company research, and skills tests. It is a low-cost subscription platform that provides jobs with flexible schedules, part-time hours, the best freelance jobs, and remote or at-home jobs.
Himalayas is a pioneering platform that redefines and enhances the job-seeking experience with its simplified hiring process. It eliminates third-party vendors and job seekers can communicate directly with hiring managers and founders.
The best part is that it supports AI features, like a resume builder and cover letter generator, to help professionals create an ideal and optimized resume and other resources to present their best selves in front of hiring managers.
Also, it provides an AI interview practice feature where professionals can record their answers either through audio or text. The AI will analyze it and provide personalized scoring, feedback, and improvement suggestions.
Just Remote provides an intuitive and easy-to-navigate search page that allows remote work job seekers to find job listings as per the contract duration, full-time or contract-based. It has a partnership with a company that offers resume-writing services to create an impressive resume that attracts the hiring manager’s attention.
Just Remote features a powerful tool called UniqueSearch, where professionals can find jobs that are not advertised anywhere. Around 70% of the job listings never make it to the job board. With this feature, professionals have the best opportunity to find a remote work job that is ideal for them. However, this feature comes at a low-cost subscription rate, like $6/month, to get access to jobs that most even don’t know.
Here’s a comparison between the best platforms for remote work:
Platform | Unique Point | Pros | Cons |
Hyqoo | AI-driven tech platform specializing in tech and remote work | AI-powered talent matching, Fortune 500 brands, access to building network | Limited job opportunities, only related to IT and engineering |
FlexJobs | Provides job listings across 50 different categories | Covers a wide range of industries, no scams or low-quality jobs | Requires a paid subscription to access some jobs |
Himalayas | Support AI tools, like resume builder and cover letter generator | Provides access to global companies, job listings includes company culture and remote work policies, simple and easy-to-use interface | Smaller job pool as compared to others limited non-tech job opportunities |
Just Remote | Features jobs that are not commonly advertised | Covers non-tech and tech jobs, advanced search and filtering options, verified job opportunities | Monthly subscription required to get access to exclusive job opportunities |
Here are some platforms that freelancers can use to find freelance and remote work opportunities:
UpWork is one of the most versatile freelance platforms, catering to beginners and seasoned freelancers alike. When it comes to various job categories, UpWork offers a broad range, including content writing, graphic design, software development, marketing, and customer support.
This category-wise diversity makes it a very good option for freelancers from different backgrounds searching for the best freelance jobs. You can expect anything from short-term projects to long-term commitments and even full-time contract work.
Freelancers can use this platform in two ways:
The platform has a strong review system, which helps freelancers build their credibility in the long run. UpWork’s secure payment system ensures freelancers are paid for their work, and it is essential to remember that it charges 10% on the earnings as a service charges.
Freelancer is one of the largest accessible portals for a wide variety of freelancing jobs. There are around 10,000 active job ads at all times, and around 50 million freelancers are a part of the community.
Freelancers can submit proposals, through which they can negotiate their rates and finally reach agreements with clients on the job terms. Writers, programmers, consultants, and many other working professionals eagerly visiting the site are hopeful of flexible working conditions.
Unlike conventional freelance sites, like UpWork and Freelance.com, Fiverr permits freelancers to design ‘gigs’- particular services offered at specified prices. This gig strategy makes them decide their pricing and service on their own and draw clients who know what they want.
Portfolios are essential to increase the chances of getting the projects. Freelancers upload samples from their previous work, thus giving potential clients a strong idea of their abilities and style. This works wonderfully for any work requiring creativity, such as UI/UX design, software development, or data science.
Despite the platform offering the best freelancer jobs, freelancers have to pay 20% of their earnings as a service charge. Also, depending on the selling level, it might take 14 days to withdraw the payment.
Toptal is reputed to be an exclusive network connecting experienced freelancers with premium clients. Toptal generally connects highly skilled professionals in tech, finance, and consulting. A strict screening procedure ensures that Toptal takes in only the top 3% of applicants. This exclusivity gives Toptal a premium distinction that premium clients, like Airbnb and Motorola, seek to tap into the best talent.
Freelancers have to go through several tiers in their application process: language and personality tests, skill reviews, and live project evaluations. This guarantees that the freelancers provided on Toptal are the best in their fields. This maintains client trust in receiving quality work while granting premium job offers to freelancers. If you are an experienced professional with trust in your skills and looking for high-impact and high-paying projects, Toptal is the place for you.
Here’s a comparison between the best platforms to get freelance jobs for beginners and experienced professionals:
Platform | Unique Point | Pros | Cons |
UpWork | In-demand talent platform and competitive bidding system to win projects at win projects at various budget levels | Payment protection, credible clients, budget-based projects | High service fees, lengthy selection project, competitive platform |
Freelancer.com | Access to a large number of freelancing and project categories | Progress tracker, live chat, 24/7 customer support | Complex interface, high chances of spam |
Fiverr | Easy to enter, suitable for finding the best freelancer jobs for beginners | Diverse categories, free registrations, online courses for upskilling | High commission charge (20% for orders upto $500), long payment process |
Toptal | Rigorous selection process, but collabs with premium clients | Leading companies and experienced talents, free invoicing and payments | Extensive screening process, long-term projects |
Freelancing and remote work are all about freedom; they can be very independent and offer a chance to work with companies all around the world. Alongside these, finding the right opportunities can take a lot of time and effort, especially in the early days. Knowing the right in-demand freelance skills, knowing where to look, and how to represent yourself effectively are very important stepping stones.
Remote JavaScript developers, UI/UX designers, and full-stack developers are in high demand by organizations worldwide as they are embracing the benefits offered by remote work. Besides that, necessary skills such as React, Angular, HTML, CSS, and WordPress have to be embedded in the respective profiles to be able to create a solid impression against all applications.
The correct strategy will get you to make high-paid contracts for either remote or entry-level work. Take your picks and start exploring today; it may just be the beginning of your freelance dream!
Hyqoo, Upwork, and Fiverr are excellent sites for beginners as they have various job categories and user-friendly interfaces, and payments are also secured.
Display your completed projects, such as personal or volunteer work. Behance and Github can be used to showcase your skills and creativity.
Web development, digital marketing, software engineering, and content writing are in high demand. Once mastered, they can take your freelance career far.
Keep your profile polished, customize your resume, communicate clearly in interviews, and build your online presence.