Remote working: 10 of the best work from home jobs

Discover ten of the best work from home jobs as we dive into flexible career options for remote working.

With many companies sticking to remote work flexibility post-pandemic, remote working has never seemed more achievable. What was once a rare luxury, is now commonplace in many industries. But what options are there when it comes to working from home jobs?

In spite of the current economic instability, there are still many in-demand jobs out there that let you work from home, or wherever you want to make your office for the day. Here’s our pick of ten of the best career options for remote working.

 Language teacher

If you’re lucky enough to already be fluent in a foreign language, teaching it to others is an easy way to connect with people and work flexibly. Lessons can easily take place over video calls, and you can send learning materials using email.

Italki is a good platform to share your skills with others, letting you offer foreign language classes to students from the comfort of your own home, whether you want to provide formal lessons or just casual conversation. 

If you’re interested in teaching English to foreign students, you can also take FutureLearn’s courses for teaching TEFL.

Personal tutor

With the jobs market contracting, but higher education numbers remaining steady, the number of overqualified workers is higher than ever. If you feel like you’d like to put your academic knowledge to good use – and avoid the rush hour for good measure – online tutoring could be a great way to work.

Websites like Tutorful offer £20-30 an hour to tutors, while sites like Gumtree are also perfect for advertising your services, whether you want to teach school kids or university students. 

If you’d like to learn more about best practices for teaching adults online, The Open University has a great microcredential exploring the topic.

Screenwriter

Online video content is now a staple in many of our daily lives, with more streaming platforms to choose from than ever before. Screenwriters need never leave their home office, and there’s now huge demand for good writers to match the global clamour for video content. 

Even better – you can start to remotely build up a portfolio of writing work without ever having to set foot on set. The BBC even has a useful directory of opportunities for new writers. 

To start to hone your craft, enrol on UEA’s Introduction to Screenwriting short course.

Photography and videography

Knowing your way around a camera is an in-demand skill, especially as more and more content migrates online. Employers are increasingly looking for photographers and videographers to document their business and keep customers up to date via social media. Meanwhile, stock images providers like Shutterstock are always looking for high-quality images.

Once you have a camera, and some basic video or photo editing software, you’re halfway there. To take it to the next level, The Open University’s popular ‘Digital Photography’ microcredential is an expert guide to creating a professional portfolio.

Social media manager

If you’re known as the resident meme-maker or social-sharer in your group of friends, have you thought about bossing social media for a living? 

One of the advantages of working with social media is that as long as you have access to a phone and a laptop, you’re ready for work. Social media managers and executives all start with a passion for creating online content, and their roles let them work remotely from anywhere in the world.

To get started, the University of Leeds and the Institute of Coding have a course to help you learn how to create a successful social media campaign. Or you can discover how to use social media for business, with Accenture’s Digital Skills short course.

Computer programmer

When you work with computers, your office is wherever your laptop is. Development is one of the best jobs for remote working, while also offering potential to earn an incredibly high salary.

The University of Leeds and the Institute of Coding have a perfect series of courses designed to give you introductory development and coding skills. You can learn the basics of computer programming or learn to code for the web – training that could set you on the path to a successful remote programming career.

Podcaster

Podcasting is one of the fastest-growing areas of entertainment in terms of listenership – and ad revenue. 

For anyone with the gift of the gab – or an obscure passion you’re keen to share – it could be an easier way to start a media career from home than the more competitive and image-focused world of YouTube and vlogging.

Our Podcast Creation and Distribution course from The Open University is designed to give you the basic skills you need to begin your own podcast – from recording to publication and more.

Copywriting

Copywriting is a truly remote job – all you need, after all, is a laptop and a love of language. Even in offices, copywriters are often ‘hot desking’ – moving from place to place to write depending on who they’re working with – so working completely remotely is the next logical step.

Services like Copify are always looking for writers to contribute blogs, SEO, and product descriptions. Once you have some basic experience, you can think about applying to be an in-house writer for a company with an internal marketing team – depending on the company, these roles often allow you to work from home. 

You can also browse our range of writing courses, designed to help you perfect your penmanship. Gain vital business skills to establish yourself as a professional freelancer with our Survive & Thrive as a Creative Freelancer course. 

Your current job 

Surprisingly, the best job for remote working might even be the one you currently have. Although home working has been broadly embraced by many employers, some are still reluctant to fully adopt digital technologies and the full potential of remote working. 

Knowing the latest digital trends – and understanding the future of work – could help you persuade your employer of how remote working could benefit your business, and give staff the skills that will help them thrive in the future.

The Institute of Coding and the University of Leeds have designed a course on Current Workplace Digital Trends that will let you learn why digital, remote working is the way to go.

Work your passion

With the rise of digital marketplaces – and the peer-to-peer economy – there’s no reason why your home passion couldn’t be turned into a remote job.

For example, if you’re a foodie, starting a home baking business could be a great way to work remotely – especially with home delivery in high demand. 

All you need is the right equipment, great ingredients, and a love of colourful cakes. Check out our Become a Successful Baker ExpertTrack from BBC Good Food to build key baking skills. 

And if you’re handy, selling your homemade products on Etsy could also be a viable remote career. From gift cards, to clothes, and accessories, Etsy is the go-to for anything cute and crafty. Check out their beginners’ guide for more information. Our How to Sell Art Online article offers an in-depth look at various ways to profit from handmade goods.

Final thoughts

Whether you’re choosing a podcast theme or brainstorming ideas for handmade goods to sell – we hope this list of best jobs for remote working has helped inspire you to get started. 

For even more ways on how to make money remotely, explore our blog on the best ways you can earn money from home, or discover the full range of the digital Skills Toolkit, designed by FutureLearn in partnership with the Department for Education to upskill you for the jobs of tomorrow.