Top 10 remote jobs for graduates: being able to work remotely is one of the most sought-after perks for new graduates today. Remote work has been rigorously tested in many professions and proven to work during the global pandemic. Because of this, many graduates are now actively looking to make remote work their default.
It is an understandable desire, as being able to work from home, or indeed anywhere, opens up many possibilities for travel and exploration of different ways of living, outside the established 9-5 paradigm. A study from Owl Labs shows that remote workers are 22% happier than on-site workers.
We have taken a look at some of the top remote jobs for graduates and narrowed them down to ten of the very best.
1. Software Developer / Programmer
If you studied software development or programming then we have some good news. Graduates in this sector have never been in higher demand. The upsurge in remote working has opened up opportunities worldwide for software developers so you could end up working for clients all across the globe from the comfort of your living room. Expertise in this particular area is also very highly valued so expect to be able to earn a decent amount of money if you can prove that you have the necessary skills.
2. Digital Marketing
Some people would say that social media management comes under the banner of digital marketing but it is so much wider than that. Marketing graduates who have studied Search Engine Optimisation, and who know their way around advertising platforms like Google Adwords and Facebook Ads will be in demand. So too will people with skills in WordPress, its plugins and analytics software. Digital marketing tends to pay quite well, depending on your specialisation so develop your particular niche and you will do well.
3. Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) Tutor
There are many opportunities for graduates with an aptitude for languages to find work teaching English as a foreign language to children and young people in other countries. This is facilitated through video chats and can be done fully remotely. There are many online recruitment companies who seek native English speakers for these roles, often to work with children in China and other East Asian countries. The best candidates for these roles are cheerful and upbeat and can communicate well despite initial language barriers.
4. Content Writer / Copywriter
Writing website content for the internet doesn’t have to mean years of experience, there are plenty of businesses looking for entry level positions suitable for new graduates. The fact that you live in the UK and are a native English language speaker is a factor that will stand you in good stead on many of the job boards and freelancer websites, with many employers specifying this as a requirement to even apply.
5. Web Developer
The people who bring the internet to life, web developers are in great demand and this has been one sector that has been largely remote for a number of years now. Many graduates have either come out of University with a degree that helps them to develop websites or they have been interested enough to learn for themselves through online courses and experimentation in their free time. Either way, it is easily possible to find remote jobs for graduates in this sector whether through freelancing or employment with a website design company.
6. Social Media Management
If you believe that your social media skills are a cut above the rest, you may have the makings of an excellent social media manager for a brand. This is often a job filled by those with a youthful perspective and innate understanding of the latest internet trends. Marketing graduates sometimes take on these roles to get some experience under their belts and a great many of these posts are work from home or fully-remote.
7. Virtual Assistant
A Virtual Assistant or VA tends to take on the role that a Personal Assistant would have, if they had been located in the same office as their boss. This may include setting up diary engagements, answering calls and dealing with correspondence.
Thanks to the wonders of modern technology, you don’t even have to be in the same country to be able to use a geographic number that corresponds to where the business is based. VA jobs tend to work best when you are in the same time zone, though this is not always a requirement, as asynchronous working is beginning to become more popular.
8. Graphic Designer
Best suited to recent art graduates, graphic designer roles can be a little harder to come by due to the sheer number of people interested in this area. People with talent will shine through and be able to make their mark. The best bet is to aim for a salaried post as some of the freelance websites can be very cut-throat in this sector and in order to get started, some graphic designers will sell themselves very short of what their talent is worth.
Having said that, if you manage to find a suitable post, companies hiring in this sector tend to be very understanding of remote work and the desire to work with your own well-calibrated computer equipment.
9. IT Support
Many companies these days employ remote IT support that can be reached on an “on demand” basis, i.e. only charging for the support that is given, rather than having dedicated teams on standby on-site. Working remotely in this sector shouldn’t be all that different to being based in a physical IT department in terms of what can be achieved. You won’t be able to go and manually fix a printer jam for someone but most computer problems can be solved by remotely connecting to the affected device and working your IT magic.
Learn more about IT Graduate Jobs on our dedicated page.
10. Sales and Marketing
Jobs described as “sales and marketing” tend to be telesales but often instead of being in a crowded and cramped call centre you are doing it from home. Don’t underestimate how much more pleasant this makes the job, as it can be much easier to concentrate without all the other people around. It can still be hard when people on the other end of the call are abrasive but at least you are able to work remotely, if that is one of your major criteria.
Check out our page on Graduate Marketing Jobs and Graduate Sales Jobs for more information.
Next Steps
Now that you have had a look at some of the remote jobs for graduates that are available, it is time to think about the next steps required to find your ideal role. Try our specialised student and graduate jobs board, brush up on some top CV writing tips, and increase your chances of success by learning how to write a high-quality cover letter. You are also welcome to contact us if you have any queries that are not answered on our website or sign up for the free Developing a Student email newsletter with the form below.
