One Step Closer: Master One Essential Remote Work Skill
You don’t have to start over in a new career to become location-independent. Take one small step today by learning a high-demand remote skill that can make your work more mobile.
If you’re working toward location independence, chances are you’ve already started thinking about how to earn money remotely. In a recent post, we talked about how to land remote jobs and contract work—even if you’re starting from scratch.
The good news is that you don’t have to start over in an entirely new career as a coder to work remotely. A recent analysis of job postings on LinkedIn, Upwork, and Glassdoor found that companies hiring employees and freelancers/contractors for remote roles aren’t just looking for specific technical skills.
That means the path to remote work might be closer than you think.
Nearly 50% of remote job listings in the report above specifically mentioned teamwork and collaboration as a requirement. Knowing how to work across time zones and communicate effectively isn’t just a nice-to-have but a core competency for thriving in remote work.
If you’re not yet familiar with project management tools like Trello, Asana, and Notion, now’s the time to learn.
Another skill in high demand? Data analysis, which appeared in 18.57% of remote job listings and is particularly valuable in fields like marketing, finance, and operations. Even if you don’t consider yourself a “numbers person,” learning how to work with tools like Excel, Google Analytics, or SQL can give you an edge.
If working with numbers doesn’t sound appealing, sales skills are also highly sought after, with 13.52% of remote job postings listing sales as a key qualification. Learning to understand customer psychology, building relationships, and effectively communicating value can be helpful here. Whether you’re pitching a product, negotiating a contract, or even just networking to sell your own services, sales skills are a bonus.
And then there’s customer service, which accounts for 13.24% of remote job postings. As more companies move their operations online, they need skilled professionals who can handle customer inquiries, solve problems, and manage support tools like Zendesk and Intercom. If you enjoy helping people and want a role that can be done from anywhere, this is a great area to explore.
No, You Don’t Have to Be a Coder to Be a Digital Nomad
There’s a stereotype that remote work is just for software developers working from a beach in Bali. But I’ve met accountants, therapists, nurses, teachers, insurance specialists, and more who’ve transitioned out of desk jockeying to fully remote careers.
Recommended reading: The North American Dream is Broken. Let's Try This Instead.
Many have built their own product-based businesses, others have established themselves as consultants, and some have pivoted into writing, coaching, or digital services. Your path to location independence doesn’t have to mean changing careers; it might just mean making what you do more mobile.
This Week’s Step: Invest 30 Minutes in Choosing a High-Demand Remote Skill to Learn
You don’t need to pursue a degree to start mastering a new skill. There are plenty of free resources out there. Try these as a starting point:
Coursera – Free courses from top universities
Google Skillshop – Learn Google Ads, Analytics, and more
HubSpot Academy – Marketing, sales, and customer service training
Codecademy – Beginner-friendly coding lessons
LinkedIn Learning – Free trials with courses on communication, business writing, and leadership
Set aside 30 minutes today to explore one course. Pick something that excites you, even if you’re not sure how it fits into your future yet.
Commit whatever chunk of time you can to learning this new skill. What matters most is that you prioritize this time and stick to it as part of your regular routine. Don’t let it get bumped out and put off. Worst case scenario, you end up with a useful transferable skill you’re not sure how you’ll use yet.
Remember, you don’t have to make a drastic leap overnight. Just take one step closer. You’ve got this.
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