Programmer
As the world moves further online, programming continues to be a much-valued skill. The nature of programming lends itself well to remote working, as you can be sat in a cafe in Bali programming a site for a start-up in New York. If you are already an experienced programmer, you will be in the perfect position to uproot and start establishing a client base. Though it can be daunting, there are increasing opportunities for remote programmers, and moving from a nine to five to freelancing shouldn't be too difficult.
For those who want to learn to program in order to pursue it as a career, you can also do this online while living the digital nomad life. Although it's probably best if you have other sources of income during the period you intend to learn, you can alternatively save up before you set off while you are in full-time employment. A good start might be to learn to code in your free time while in employment.
Copywriter/blogger
It's easier than ever for freelance writers to take their operations with them internationally, with various online payment methods and easy website construction for those who aren't the most technology-savvy linguists around. One of the main things about being a freelance writer and digital nomad is the importance of having an established client base. As such, you may want to start freelancing in your spare time before you consider moving abroad.
Some might find themselves adopting the digital nomad lifestyle after blogging whilst travelling. You can get an income from blogging through advertising and content production for other outlets. However, it will be harder to make a living from this alone, as opposed to broader content creation.
Digital marketing/SEO
Like with programming, if you already have qualifications or experience in the sector, you can get going right off the bat. Smaller companies that don't have dedicated social media or marketing teams may be happy for someone to handle their content remotely, and there are jobs available in this area. As with other freelancers, having some reliable clients is essential, so perhaps finding a company with a reasonable contract length before you start your nomad lifestyle would be helpful.
If you are interested in digital marketing and are keen to acquire the right skill-set, you can also learn whilst on the move, as with programming. However, you may want to pursue an online course that will result in some form of qualification. Again, you should either be earning whilst you learn, or start this process before leaving full-time employment. This will also mean you have the chance to establish yourself and get some clients after you have learnt the necessary skills, but before you start your journey abroad.
Entrepreneur
Whether you have a great idea or have already got your business off the ground, you can probably adopt the digital nomad life if your physical presence in a location isn't required to run it — it will be tough to start jet-setting and working from a laptop if your new business is a restaurant. However, if you are working alone or your employees are already working remotely, you can pack up and head to warmer climes and more enticing scenery.
While a stable internet connection and good wi-fi is a pre-requisite for any digital nomad looking for their next destination, for an entrepreneur it may be all the more crucial. As an entrepreneur, you may have employees to manage, and urgent situations to deal with that can't wait until you next find a cafe with internet fast enough to allow you to send an email. Also, a freelancer can perhaps take a week off if their deadline is in a month, but as an entrepreneur, you will be the closest of the career options mentioned to a nine to five, as there can be less flexibility, particularly at first.
Remote employee
If the pressure of giving up full-time employment and going it alone seems to be too much, why not just ask your employer if you can work remotely? There are increasing opportunities in larger companies to work away from your desk, and, if your employer already has the option to work from home, for example, you might want to start there and see if you can then take your job further afield afterwards. There are also companies that are happy to have remote employees, so if you don't want complete independence and are keen to retain a regular income, it may be worth looking into these types of businesses.
