How to find remote work you take with you
Four realistic ways to earn from abroad, starting with the job you already have. Plus the scam warning signs every job seeker needs.
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Start with the job you already have
Your current employer is your best lead. They know your work, and you know their systems.
Ask for a written remote arrangement before you ask about another country. Once you work remotely at home and meet every deadline, the conversation about working abroad gets easier.
Then ask directly. Name the country, the dates and your working hours. Your employer will think about payroll, taxes and data security in another country. Get any approval in writing. Your visa application will need proof your employer agrees.
Look for employers who hire remote workers
Many companies now hire remote staff across the US. Fewer allow those staff to live abroad. When you search, look for listings marked remote with no location limit, or ones naming the countries or time zones allowed.
Search the big job sites with a remote filter, and check remote-only job boards. Before you apply, read the location rules in the listing. "Remote, US only" means the employer expects you to live in the States.
Honest employers never ask you to pay to get a job.
Turn 25 years of experience into clients
Freelance and contract work fits many women over 50. You set your hours, and one client leaving doesn't end your income.
Start with what you already know. An office manager becomes a remote operations assistant. A teacher becomes an online tutor or course designer. A nurse becomes a health writer or patient educator. A bookkeeper keeps doing books for small businesses back home.
Tell your network before you leave. Former coworkers, managers and friends send your first clients. Line up two or three steady clients before you apply for a visa. Most nomad visas ask for months of income history.
Build a small US business you run from abroad
Some readers turn a skill into a small online business. Consulting, coaching, writing, design and virtual assistance all work from a laptop.
Register the business in your home state and keep US clients. Talk to a tax professional who works with Americans abroad before you move. You still file a US tax return every year, and self-employment tax applies to your earnings.
Know the scam warning signs
Remote job seekers are a favorite target for scammers. The Federal Trade Commission lists clear warning signs.
A stranger offers you a job you never applied for. Someone asks you to pay for training, a starter kit or a certification. An employer sends a check and asks you to send part of it back, or to buy gift cards. A recruiter asks for your Social Security number or bank details before a real interview.
Honest employers never ask you to pay to get a job. Search the company name with the words scam or complaint, and talk the offer over with someone you trust. Report scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
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