Gen Z Career Paths: Escape the 9-5
Introduction
As Mark Twain famously said, “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” For the tech-savvy Gen Z, everything is available at their fingertips, and the regular grind of a 9-5 job may be too boring. After all, when everything is accessible via a mobile phone, why should you be tethered to a computer? The COVID pandemic transformed work culture, making it possible for digital nomads to work from anywhere. In this blog, let’s explore the Gen Z career paths that support the digital nomad lifestyle.
Becoming a Digital Nomad – The Reality
Globalisation and digitisation have led to digital nomadism, allowing anyone to travel and work from anywhere using their laptop. Around 35 million people globally recognise themselves as digital nomads. This allows for better work-life balance, and this trend is reshaping the global economy.
Gen Z has grown up with smartphones, is immersed in social media, and possesses inherent digital skills. They are comfortable with digital collaboration and communication using tools like Zoom and Slack. The latest project management tools like Zoho, Monday, Trello, and more streamline workflows to increase productivity. Using these technologies requires digital literacy, which is why at least 90% of digital nomads have a college degree.
While the digital nomad lifestyle is alluring, it requires stable and reliable internet service, which may sometimes restrict where you can live. Exclusive bases are being built in Bali and Bulgaria to attract remote workers, and digital nomad visas are becoming more mainstream.
7 Career Paths for Creative Minds
Freelancing platforms, online job boards, and curated job sites are some of the best places to find remote work. Cold emailing specific companies about their vacancies and positions can also help you land a stable job that allows you to work from anywhere. There is a strong community of digital nomads with digital conferences and personal meetups. Here are some jobs with career growth suitable for those who don’t want to sit inside a cubicle.
#1 SEO Specialist
Companies looking to establish an online presence need SEO specialists to boost their search engine rankings. Being research-oriented and having the ability to use digital tools like Google Analytics, keyword planner, and keyword ranking programs are crucial for this role. You can earn an average of $21.63 per hour working remotely.
#2 Social Media and Community Manager
Social media is something the Gen Z uses regularly. If you are popular among friends for your social media content, you can become a social media strategy manager. This job requires you to use the latest technology and marketing techniques and keep up with the latest media trends. You can earn anywhere from $23 to $46 per hour, depending on your skills. Working remotely as a social media manager for leading international brands is possible.
#3 Web Developer
No business can exist today without a website. Website design and building skills are now essential, and you should be an expert in mobile-friendly website design. Developing optimised code with a visually appealing look for all viewing platforms is crucial for this role. The average earnings is $28 to $55 for a web developer.
#4 Graphic Designer
If you are a creative person with a degree in art and knowledge about colour theory, you can become a graphic designer and elevate digital marketing and branding campaigns. You can work on a contract basis with a company or as a freelance graphic designer on a project basis. You can grow to become a cover artist for some of the leading brands and work for some of the leading design agencies. The common average earnings for a graphic designer is $20 to $37 per hour.
#5 Video Producer
As the consumption of video content is increasing at a rapid rate, video producers and editors can enjoy working on top-class projects. You can build your own team with remote workers and take care of the entire video production process. You can work with clients to understand their vision and travel to exotic locations to create mesmerising videos. With creativity for script writing, filmmaking, editing, and post-production, you can become one of the sought-after content creators. Based on the project, video producers are generally paid $19 to $30 per hour.
#6 Travel Blogger
So many travel bloggers are living their dreams and making a living by posting content about their travels and exciting adventures. The truth is, you don’t have to spend an exorbitant amount of money to become a travel blogger. You need writing skills, photography, and video editing success to be successful. With so many hosting platforms and cloud-based storage systems, you can travel the world and make money out of it. There are travel bloggers who make as much as $57 per hour.
#7 Business Consultant
If you have experience and expertise in helping businesses optimise their processes and improve performance, you can become a business consultant. You can enable organisations to stay organised and update their advertising strategies. Consultants can make marketing, operational performance, customer analytics, and more recommendations depending on your specialty. Creating coaching courses and selling them to make a passive income is also possible. You can make $31 to $62 in this job.
Conclusion
The world has become your office, thanks to the increasing number of remote working opportunities. Many low-cost countries such as Thailand, Portugal, Costa Rica, Spain, and others have become top destinations for digital nomads because of the availability of infrastructure, natural beauty, and welcoming environment. India is also now home to a number of remote workers who enjoy working from some remote places. The Gen Z career paths are rewarding, flexible, and exciting, allowing you to explore the world while still earning a stable income.
Interested in becoming a digital nomad? Explore some of the best remote working options through the Mindler platform and get in touch with experts for guidance.
