Remote design jobs have grown in popularity over the past few years, allowing you to work from home or on the road and still get paid. But with so many remote design jobs available, how do you choose the right one? Here are some factors to consider when choosing a remote design job.
If you want to be your own boss
The ability to work remotely is one of those rare luxuries that design firms don’t always offer. It seems like everyone these days is talking about remote work, but not many companies are actually willing to do it. If you want a remote job—or if you want an opportunity to move into a remote role later on—it pays off (literally) to have your eyes open for opportunities. Here are some tips for finding remote jobs in design
If you need flexible hours
Flexible hours are an important consideration when deciding between remote jobs. When it comes to remote design jobs, most positions offer some degree of flexibility. However, if you need a completely flexible schedule, you may want to avoid these kinds of positions and work for an agency or freelance so that you have complete control over your time.
In addition, consider how much freedom you want in choosing tasks; for example, some designers hate doing technical work and prefer purely conceptual projects; some don’t like writing code at all. While most agencies will give their employees some say in what they do day-to-day, finding a job where you can pick and choose exactly what you do is not realistic in many cases—for either agency or remote designers.
If you like working with small teams
If you like working as part of a small team where you’re comfortable being vocal, make sure remote jobs aren’t isolating. Although it can feel great to work from home and not have anyone breathing down your neck, it can be lonely if no one else is around. To ensure that doesn’t happen, look for jobs where you work directly with designers or developers. If your only interaction is through Slack or email, it may be too difficult for you to become a strong member of your team.
If you like talking with people
Do you you enjoy interacting with people and have an interest in strategy and problem solving, a remote design jobs might be a good fit. This can include work as an industrial designer, information architect, graphic designer or UX/UI designer. In some cases you might be required to relocate.
But if you’re someone who enjoys thinking through problems and coming up with solutions for them—and also doesn’t mind working from home—remote design jobs could be for you. A word of caution: Working from home may not pay as well as working from an office environment; salaries are generally set by what local talent is commanding on that specific market at that time.
If you enjoy meeting new people
Some people want a remote job because they love meeting new people. Graphic designer jobs, for example, often require collaboration with multiple team members from all over, and sometimes these designers can work on different projects at once. If you enjoy collaborative environments and meeting new people all over the world, remote design jobs may be a good fit for you.
If you’re looking for a job with stability
Whether you’re just starting out in your design career and are looking for your first (or second) remote design job, it’s important to focus on roles that have some stability. You may have heard about successful people who had never held a full-time job and were making six figures freelancing—but those stories are very rare. Most remote designers find their first gig with a startup or small business that didn’t want to pay big bucks for an in-house designer.
When you’re new, you’ll likely need something similar in order to build up your portfolio and learn how things work. Once you’ve worked as an in-house designer, developed a stellar portfolio and gotten great reviews from clients, you’ll be in a much better position to move on and chase after exciting opportunities.
If you’re tired of commuting long distances
In addition to increased stress and a decreased quality of life, long commutes can lead to higher rates of obesity. It’s easier than ever for employers to hire remote workers, so don’t hesitate to look for positions where you can telecommute. But even if your commute is short and manageable, it still might make sense for you to look into working remotely in order to gain some much-needed peace and quiet from time-to-time. Chances are your boss would appreciate it too.