Your Skills Are More Valuable Than You Think

Did you know that you don’t have to start from scratch to land a remote job? The skills you already have might be your ticket to working from anywhere!

One of the common questions people ask me when considering remote work is, “What can I do remotely with my skills?” or “I am currently a [insert a job title]. What can I do remotely?” My answer to this is simply: Start with what you already know. One of the beauties of remote work is that it doesn’t require you to reinvent yourself from scratch. Instead, it gives you the opportunity to build on your current skills, adapt them to digital work environments (because that’s the heart of what remote is), and grow into new opportunities over time.

I left a managerial tech role to become a Virtual Assistant eleven years ago. I was able to immediately apply skills from that job and my previous experiences, even though they weren’t all tech-related. These skills helped me move forward in my new role. That doesn’t mean my tech skills became irrelevant; they were just applied in a different way.

I feel like many people underestimate the value of the skills they already have. Whether you have experience in administration, HR, marketing, customer service, finance, or any other field, there’s a remote opportunity that can leverage your expertise. Think about what you already do well, what people often ask you for help with, and what tasks you enjoy doing. These are usually great indicators of where to start in your remote work journey.

Here a few example to help you brainstorm…

If you excel at administrative tasks or are naturally organised, both in your own work and when supporting others, a Virtual Assistant role could be a great fit for you. Back in 2014, I chose to become a VA because I genuinely enjoyed helping, supporting, and organising, especially for small business owners. Even in supervisory or leadership roles now, I remain the same kind of person who is just naturally inclined to help.

Do you have experience in or a passion for customer service or client-facing roles in any industry? If so, exploring remote roles in Customer Success, Customer Support, or Customer Experience in remote-centric industries could be a great opportunity. Personally, I love client and user support roles, especially in remote settings. I believe many businesses could better serve their clients, and whenever I’m in such a role, I go all in to ensure customers are satisfied with the support they receive. If you share this passion, you’ll thrive in a remote client care role because when you treat clients well, your work will speak for you and you’re set to thrive.

If you have experience in teaching or training, online education and course creation have been booming industries, especially since the pandemic. I may be a little biased because I enjoy working in this space, but the opportunities are undeniable. In recent years, many teachers and trainers in developed economies have been learning skills like User Experience (UX), Learning Experience (LX), and Instructional Design to transition into remote education-focused roles. Here in Africa, some teachers realised the possibilities of online education during the pandemic and never looked back.

These are just a few examples of how you can transition from one role to another without necessarily starting from scratch but starting from your experience.

Keep Learning & Growing

It’s important to understand that remote work is dynamic. No two clients or companies operate the same way or use the exact same tools. You might even find yourself working with multiple teams, each using different platforms for communication, for example. This makes continuous learning essential. As you gain experience, you’ll identify gaps in your skills and areas for improvement. Investing in upskilling, whether through online courses, mentorship, coaching, or hands-on practice, will help you stay competitive and unlock new opportunities.

Some key skills that are valuable in remote work include:

• Project Management Tools: Trello, Asana, Monday, ClickUp, or Notion are common tools that a lot of remote-focused teams are using to manage and track the flow of tasks within their teams.
• Communication Tools: Slack, Zoom, Google Meet & Microsoft Teams are tools that you need to be familiar with if you are joining the remote work space. Understanding how these tools also integrate with applications like Google Calendar is a valuable skill to also learn.
• Tech Skills: Basic knowledge of automation, AI, website management, and cloud storage solutions are also essential. This is because they have become part of everyday job functions and we cannot ignore how they are contributing the efficiency of teams and businesses in general.

While technical skills get your foot in the door, soft skills help you thrive in a remote work environment. Since you’re not physically present with your team or clients, how you communicate and collaborate matters a lot. Some essential soft skills include time management, proactive communication, adaptability and self motivation.

Who is hiring for remote roles?

Many businesses have fully embraced remote teams, with some industries being more open to remote hiring than others. Though return-to-office (RTO) mandates have been making headlines, many companies remain committed to remote work because it makes financial and cultural sense for them. Understanding where the opportunities lie can help you align your skills with the right roles.

Industries with strong remote hiring trends include:

• Tech Startups: Developers, product managers, designers, user support, and digital marketers
• E-commerce: Customer support, virtual assistants, digital marketers, and copywriters
• Online Education: Course creators, tutors, event managers, programme manager, copywriters, and instructional designers
• Consulting & Coaching: Business strategists, virtual assistants, online business managers, and career coaches
• Content Creation: Writers, video editors, graphic designers, social media managers, and SEO specialists
• Local SME Businesses: Virtual assistants, bookkeepers, graphic designers and digital marketers

Why tech should be your BFF

Regardless of your role, technology is no longer optional. It’s now a necessity. Every job now has a digital component, and the better you are at using tech as a tool, the more efficient and effective you will be in your role.

For example a Virtual Assistant who knows automation tools like Zapier can save time and add more value. If you’re a marketer who understands AI-driven analytics, you have the potential to create more effective campaigns. A customer support agent who understands how chatbots and CRM systems work can handle client requests more efficiently.

So instead of fearing technology, see it as a tool to help you work smarter, not harder. You don’t need to be an expert in coding or data science. However, having a tech-friendly mindset will give you an edge. If you read my previous post, this will probably sound like repetition but I honestly believe this deserves to be emphasised on a few more times.

Next steps?

Remote work is full of opportunities, but success starts with recognising what you already bring to the table. Build on your existing skills, keep learning, refine your soft skills, and embrace technology. The more adaptable and proactive you are, the more doors will open for you in the world of remote work.

Are you ready to take the next step? Here’s a little assignment for you: Start by mapping out your current skills. Once you’re done, explore remote opportunities that align with them!