Digital Nomads: How To Balance Career Growth And Security In Remote Work

The digital nomad lifestyle, once a niche pursuit, has grown into a global movement, offering professionals unparalleled freedom to work from virtually anywhere. According to research, more than 17 million Americans have identified as digital nomads, an increase of a whooping 131% from 2019. The professions vary from writers, editors and marketers to healthcare workers, consultants, and educators. 

For women venturing into or navigating the digital nomad lifestyle, building financial stability and job security is a vital but often challenging endeavor. I’ve been a digital nomad off-and-on for more than a decade, and what I can say is, it’s definitely not for the weak. According to reports, digital nomads deal with inconsistent pay, late invoice processing, international banking fees, and disconnect from workplace networking that can negatively impact advancement.

While it’s awesome to be able to take virtual meetings, write articles, and assign work for global communities of media creatives from a Caribbean beachside cafe, there are significant nuisances like homesickness, brown–outs, lack of top-tier wifi access, and constantly preparing for budget cuts that impact freelance and digital nomad professionals often before other traditional workers.

I’ve been impacted by cuts due to having clients who are receiving federal funds, who rely on federally funded vendors and clients themselves, or who lean heavily on advertising dollars that target minority audiences. That has led to brief periods of slow or lost income or even having to invest in a home base, pause traveling (ugh!), or settle for a 9-to-5 gig. 

Building job security as a digital nomad requires a combination of strategic planning, adaptability, and a proactive approach to career growth. Here are some tips to help you secure your livelihood and sustain fulfillment while enjoying the freedom of digital nomad life:

I once made the mistake of relying on one loyal client to pay my bills, and while that ride went well for several years, I was not prepared when they decided not to renew my contract due to budget cuts. I learned the hard way that having more than one way to make money as a digital nomad and diversifying the services I offer was vital for my survival. 

“Your income is closely connected to your mindset of what’s possible and, of course, the effort you put in,” writes Samira Holma, a digital nomad who has traveled and worked in marketing consulting for several years. “Income can be divided into active and passive income. Within each category, there is a wide range of options. You can earn active income by being employed by a business, offering consulting services, selling products, collaborating with brands as an influencer, etc. Passive income is usually achieved through investments, affiliate marketing, or by selling online products, such as e-books and courses, etc.” 

Even if you’re in a field where it’s not exactly ideal to have multiple employers or clients, you always want to be on the lookout for other opportunities to complement your income, ways to make commissions, or strategies to remain on the radar of other industry leaders, business owners, and brands who you might want to work with or for in the future.

Just like traditional professionals, experts recommend that digital nomads stick to a budget and have an emergency fund for more than just a rainy day such changes in visa requirements, travel expenses, or a sudden loss of income due to a client or employer deciding not to move forward with a contract.

You’ll also still need to invest in health insurance, a good tax professional or CPA who understands the nuances of earning a living while working in another state, city, or country, and save for retirement via something like a Roth IRA. If you’re working remotely for a company, be sure you’re maxing out your 401K and that you’re looking into insurance options that will cover you if you ever have to take a pause from working. 

“You have to be okay with a little unpredictability … Every single month doesn’t look the same, because you’re often in different areas, with different currencies, and there are different expenses, so budgeting is a challenge,” Daniella Pashuk, a longtime digital nomad who has traveled and worked in 20 countries, told CNBC. “I’ve definitely had times where I’ve spent completely different extremes from one month to the next, you know, from 600 euros to 3,000 euros depending on where I am. Keeping your finances in order is really important because you have to fund the lifestyle that you really want.”

Flexibility requires you to adapt to changing markets and client needs. You have to get comfortable exploring new opportunities and pivoting your career as necessary to meet evolving demands. This also applies to networking in order to not only stay connected to communities, but to find ways to create a great professional reputation and continue growing in your career. Going to events wherever you are, being strategic about virtual connections and using LinkedIn are all ways to help your career advance even while traveling. 

I’ve found new clients via my professional website, after posting on LinkedIn and Instagram, and by actively engaging in virtual coffee chats. I’ve also met great friends and acquaintances who know about my skills and talents at beachside meetups, local bars, and in hotel lobbies. I diversified as well, offering freelance services to women-led brands and entrepreneurs whose funding comes from diverse sources and who look at revenue generation in innovative ways.

Kamylle Mourao, a digital nomad who has worked at Deel, a global human resources and payroll company, speaks to this.

“Most of these opportunities happen if you’re actively looking for ways to meaningfully connect with people,” she shared. “If you’re scared to approach me but you do it anyway, I’m thinking, wow, I want to talk to you.”

By following these tips, digital nomads can enjoy both professional growth and a stable career.