I’ve worked in strict corporate environments, modern flexible startups, and for myself. I’ve spent my days working in traditional cubicles and bustling co-working spaces. As well as on trains, on planes, and on my couch. And while every experience has been valuable, I’d be lying if I said working from home wasn’t my absolute favorite.
I’m 100 percent on the remote work bandwagon, and I can see why 2.9% of the workforce (about 3.9 million people), are working remotely at least on a part-time basis. Percentage wise it, may not seem like much, but I know plenty of people who would love to be part of that 2.9%. Which is why I did some digging and found the top industries, companies, and roles for remote work.
I wanted to learn more about this new remote world we’re living in, so I consulted a report from FlexJobs that shed some major light on the state of telecommuting in the US. Let’s dive in to my findings so you can say goodbye to that frigid office air conditioning and hello to casual Friday 24/7.
Start at Your Current Job
Before you launch into a job search with the intent of finding remote work, speak with your current company about your options. I once worked in a corporate environment that was so strict that we were assigned times we could go to lunch. No one ever imagined they would have allowed an employee to work remotely. But when an employee of many years, who was in good standing, explained he needed to move to a less expensive locale so he could afford to have more children, they allowed him to work remotely.
Every office has different policies and every employee has different life circumstances. So start by being honest with your manager and see if any compromises may be made. Working remotely two days a week might help you cut back on your commute and stress, but still keep your employers feeling comfortable by being able to touch base with you in person. If you aren’t able to find a remote working solution that works for both parties, it may be time to look for a new job. If that’s the case, there are industries, companies, and roles you can keep an eye out for that are more remote friendly than others.
Source: Design Love Fest
Top Industries
I thought I could predict which industries were most accepting of remote work, and some were obvious like the tech field, but others came as a bit of a surprise. The biggest career fields with remote jobs were: medical and health, computer and IT, education and training, customer service, accounting and finance, travel and hospitality, and sales. If you’ve forged a career in an industry not on this list, have no fear! The following industries’s remote opportunities are growing: therapy, virtual administration, client services, state and local government, and tutorial are all rapidly growing career fields for remote work.
Source: Unsplash
Top Companies
If you’re flexible on which industry you’re working in, why not consider a company that is already very encouraging of remote work? According to FlexJobs, these 30 companies are very remote-friendly. Lists like this are extremely helpful because it can help you target your job search to companies you know will be supportive of remote work. This list from Forbes is even more expansive and features big names like CVS Health, HD Supply, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, JPMorgan Chase, American Express, Adobe, Toyota, Nielsen, Wells Fargo, Sales Force, and Dell.
Tech companies seem to reign supreme when it comes to remote work but Williams-Sonoma made the list too, and who could say no to an employee discount there?
Source: The House That Lars Built
Top Roles
Like the top industries, the top roles for remote work surprised me. Some roles were obvious. Writers like me made the list! But I never thought teachers or nurses would make the list, (I guess we really are living in a digital world!). Other top roles for remote work include: accountant, program manager, consultant, engineer, project manager, business development manager, account manager and account executive, developer, customer service representative, sales representative, analyst, editor, medical coder, territory sales manager, internet/social media evaluator, and case manager.
Your Job Search
Of course if none of these companies, industries, or roles appeal to you, you can always search job sites for remote work specifically. Just add “remote” to the location field of your search and some good options should appear. Creative industries and startups are also great places to target your search. Working for yourself is another option and The Everygirl has some great resources for you on working as a freelancer. Or if starting your own business has more of an appeal, check out some of these articles.
Are you a fan of remote work? Or do you prefer going into the office every day?
The post These are the Top Industries, Companies, and Roles for Remote Work appeared first on The Everygirl.