Are you contemplating whether or not to hire a remote worker or a digital nomad? Wait, aren’t these workforce figures the same?
These two approaches work differently. One loves to mix business with jet-setting while the other works in a more predictable schedule, mostly from the comfort of their homes.
Understanding the distinctiveness of a remote worker from a digital nomad can lead you to the right person who can push for growth and achieve feats you’ve never experienced before.
In this blog post, we’ll delve into the lifestyle and everything in between of a remove worker vs. digital nomad to help you make an informed decision for the company's upcoming recruitment.
No, no, no; remote workers and digital nomads are not the same. They’re related like cousins, but they approach work a bit differently to be called siblings.
A remote worker is a virtual professional who provides administrative services and specialized assistance to clients while working from anywhere.
Thanks to the internet, this remote support can work online as digital marketers, content creators and web developers without being confined in one place. Their working style provides near-freedom, choosing to work on their own schedule and operating from anywhere else.
Digital nomads are just like remote workers, but they take their freedom to a whole new level. What does that mean?
Well, not only can they work remotely, but they can also explore and have a colorful lifestyle while still being able to meet their professional obligations.
In short, these remote professionals can blend work with continuous travel and growth. They are not tied in one place, moving between cities and countries in various hotels and beaches.
Yes. In essence, digital nomads are remote workers. They just choose to always be on the move and journey across the world while carrying out their work duties.
But while these two don’t adhere to the same traditional standards of what an office should be, remote workers and digital nomads are distinctive of each other.
And understanding their unique characteristics is essential, so you would know who is the best person to fill in the open position in your company.
If digital nomads are in a way just like remote workers, why should you care too much of hiring one over the other?
It matters because their style of work, level of flexibility and environment they thrive in are different. These factors can impact your job expectations, communication strategies and work structure.
Here, let’s compare.
Remote workers thrive in independence in the sense that they can operate from wherever—from public parks and libraries to their homes.
They only need a strong internet connection and a working laptop to be able to work.
Digital nomads are not different; they just take independence to a higher degree. They can work from wherever while traveling extensively. For them, location is laced with carefree travels and adventures.
Remote workers are commonly hired by traditional organizations as part of their virtual global workforce. While they’re tasked with virtual assistance and remote administrative services , they may still have to conform to a rigid schedule.
This encourages a consistent environment, making it easier for you to manage projects and communicate with them.
Conversely, the type of work digital nomads take on are those that allow them to work remotely, like video editing or blog writing. They typically handle online-based jobs that can be accomplished without needing to be stuck in one place.
Remote workers thrive in an employee-employer dynamic. Yes, they have enormous freedom to choose when and where to do their work. But when your needs require it, they can commit to a specific schedule.
This is beneficial for you, especially if you demand availability while working in different time zones .A predictable schedule means you can coordinate better.
In contrast, digital nomads embody the entrepreneurial mindset in the sense that they seek their own work. They also flourish in an environment filled with freedom and continuous quests.
With them constantly exploring and moving, digital nomads are challenged with a lack of consistency. As such, their carefree style of work can somehow cause workplace disruption.
It would also be tough to coordinate tasks with them since they often change locations, which can result in delays.
Remote workers have stability. They may work around a flexible arrangement, but they have no problem maintaining a scheduled routine if it suits your needs.
Moreover, remote professionals have a network of support, providing them with resources to boost their performance and productivity.
On the flip side, digital nomads excel in finding their own way. However, they don’t have the same level of support remote workers have.
Their seemingly nomadic lifestyle can sometimes get in the way of building meaningful relationships, which can induce disunity and divide.
Sometimes intertwining work and personal adventures can be at odds with time management.There will be struggles in maintaining both which can cause digital nomads to underperform and eventually burnout.
To help you visualize the difference between a remote worker vs. digital nomad, here’s a scenario:
Mary works as a freelance content writer. She enjoys working on her own time, lounging from diners and cafes in different places.
A couple of weeks ago, Mary was creating her blog posts from the Philippines. The following month, she was submitting her articles from the serene beaches of Thailand. As a digital nomad, she wonders often but never fails to meet her deadlines.
On the other hand, Anne is an administrative assistant who works from the comfort of her cozy home office in California. She loves the ease of having set hours of work and the familiarity of routine.
Totally!
Remote workers can be digital nomads. They can throw in the suitcase, kiss loved one’s goodbye and jet set to wherever the wind takes them.
Remote workers can make the decision to perform their job from anywhere else in the world and not choose to stay in one place. Then again, the smooth transition from remote worker to digital nomad still depends on the job.
Some roles might require specialized equipment or fixed working hours, creating challenges for the virtual employee to hit the road constantly and function from different locations.
Remote workers are virtual employees. These are professionals that work from home or another space rather than a central physical office. They are part of a distributed workforce that functions across multiple locations.
Home working is exactly how it sounds like it does—working from home. The residence becomes the makeshift office.
On the other hand, remote working is a pretty broad term. It refers to operating from anywhere else in the world. From the coffee shop and library to wherever the remote worker is traveling—that space becomes the work location.
Remote worker are independent contractors who offers services to entrepreneurs and business owners without needing to go to a physical central office.
Concurrently, a digital nomad is a category of remote workers who also enjoy flexible working schedules and lifestyles, actively performing from various states in a different time zone.
Both remote workers and digital nomads enjoy massive freedom, working remotely and perfecting virtual support. However, there are major differences in their location, type of work, work environment and lifestyle.
Digital nomads love to work while globetrotting the world, while remote workers advanced in a more stable environment, usually operating from their homes.
But while mobile professionals have greater flexibility, their unpredictability causes difficulty for communication which results to ineffective collaboration, especially in an out-of-sync time zone.
Remote workers bring about stability and consistency. This makes them a better choice for hiring because they’re more reliable to accord business aims. That structured operation ensures smoother workflows and can increase efficiency.
Ultimately, which professional to hire depends on your preference. But if you were to ask us, your burgeoning business is better off with a remote worker.
So, if you need support finding the right remote worker to fill your open position, VAV Remote is your virtual assistant outsourcing expert.
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