Editor’s note: This story originally appeared in FlexJobs.com.
Remote work offers the flexibility and freedom that many in today’s workforce crave.
Whether you want to skip the daily commute, become a digital nomad, or simply prefer working from home, there are a variety of remote work options available for job seekers with different needs and preferences.
But what does working remotely mean? What types of remote work are there and what are the schedules?
In this guide, we’ll cover what remote work means, including answers to frequently asked questions about what remote work is and what it means for job seekers.
What is remote work?
Picture the woman you see all the time in a coffee shop with a laptop, your friend who has a home office that looks like something out of a design magazine, or even one who lives in a van while traveling the country Adventurous friends.
These individuals may work remotely, providing flexibility to suit different lifestyles and work habits.
The definition and significance of remote work
Remote work is a position in which employees perform their duties outside of a traditional office environment. These roles often use digital tools such as video calls, email, and project management software to keep tasks on track and teams connected.
Remote work can be fully remote, partially remote, full-time, part-time, freelance, or temporary. Some remote jobs require a fixed schedule, while others may offer flexible schedules.
Working remotely may also require a combination of two or more of these work arrangements. For example, a temporary, fully remote job with a part-time schedule, or a partially remote job with a full-time, flexible schedule.
What is remote work?
Imagine spending Monday and Friday in the comfort of your home office, then heading into the office on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday for meetings and coffee chats.
Or, think of your old friend who worked out of a van and took their “office” with them wherever they went.
Remote work is a broader concept that encompasses all of these settings, whether it’s completely remote or a mix of in-office and off-site work.
The definition and significance of remote work
Teleworking is the practice of completing job responsibilities from a location other than a central office, such as at home, in a shared office space, or while traveling.
Remote working relies on technology to facilitate communication and increase productivity, including fully remote rolehybrid remote work, or other flexible arrangements, depending on the job and company structure.
Levels of remote work
So what does remote mean for work? There are different tiers of remote work depending on the needs of each employer.
At FlexJobs, we classify remote jobs into one of the following tiers:
- 100% remote work: These positions are fully remote, allowing you to work from home during all business hours, eliminating the need for office hours or travel.
- Hybrid remote work: Some of these roles are remote, requiring either travel or staying in the company office for a period of time. Hybrid teleworkers may spend most of their workday in the office and occasionally working from home; work most of the time from home and occasionally work in the office; or divide their time evenly between working in the office and working remotely.
- Remote working options: These jobs give employees the option to work from home, go to the office, or both. There may be differences between employers, but ultimately, optional remote work provides the option to work remotely part or all of the time.
What types of work can be done remotely?
Remote work covers a wide range of opportunities, from part-time work to full-time employment or freelance work. Whether you want flexibility or a structured schedule, there are remote positions to suit every preference.
Below, we outline the types of remote work, their structural variations, and what to expect in terms of schedules and terms of employment.
6 common types of remote work
Curious about the difference between remote work and remote work Flexible schedule Compared to other schedules or trying to decide between freelancing and temporary remote work? Understanding the various types of remote work is key to finding one that’s right for you.
Here are six common types of remote work and their differences:
- Alternative scheduling of remote jobs: These positions do not follow a traditional 9-to-5 schedule, making them ideal for those who prefer or need non-standard hours. Alternative schedule telework can include jobs that require morning, evening, weekend or night shifts.
- Flexible arrangements for remote work: Employees in these roles can set their own hours, as long as they meet deadlines or complete required tasks. These flexible jobs provide autonomy and adaptability to those who need flexibility during their workday.
- Free to work remotely: Freelancers work as independent contractors on projects for one or more clients. These roles are highly flexible but often do not come with the benefits of full-time employment.
- Full-time remote work: These positions require standard full-time work, usually 40 hours per week, and often come with benefits. Full-time telework can be performed entirely remotely—full telework—or full-time with 100% remote, hybrid telework, or optional telework options.
- Part time remote work: These positions require fewer hours, typically less than 30 hours per week, making them ideal for people who want to balance work with other responsibilities or part-time income.
- Temporary remote work: Temporary remote work, including seasonal work, has a defined end date and is often tied to a specific project or busy period, such as tax season or the holidays. They are ideal for employees looking for a short-term commitment.
Where can you work remotely?
Where you can work remotely depends on the specific job. Location requirements for remote roles often stem from the employer’s legal, tax or licensing considerations.
In addition, employers sometimes require employees to attend on-site training, meetings, or to be near customers.
Remote work generally falls into four broad categories:
- U.S. national employment: These jobs allow you to live and work anywhere in the United States
- International, country-specific jobs: These jobs require you to live and work in a specific country outside the United States
- City or State Jobs: These jobs require you to live in and work in a specific city or state within the United States
- Work anywhere, anytime: These jobs allow you to live and work anywhere in the world.
It’s worth noting that fully remote “work from anywhere” roles are very rare.
FlexJobs data shows that about 95% of remote jobs require employees to work in a specific location, and only about 5% of remote jobs truly provide the freedom to work anytime, anywhere.
Popular remote career categories
Opportunities for remote work can be found in many industries. While FlexJobs offers remote jobs in more than 50 career categories, some of the top, fastest-growing areas for finding remote work include:
- Accounting and Finance
- Computers and IT jobs
- customer service positions
- data entry work
- Education and training work
- Marketing work
- Medical and Health Work
- sales positions
- translation work
- writing job
This list is just a sample, but it highlights areas where you can find some of the most promising remote job opportunities. For a more in-depth look at the best industries for remote work and other developments in the field, check out “Remote Work Statistics and Trends: The Latest Update on Remote Work”.
