Work out of your home office: Top 5 WFH jobs in 2021

Even a year ago, weekday morning routines for most of us involved getting ready for work, packing lunch, and commuting to work in peak hour traffic. While the concept of ‘Work from home’ existed in the periphery, it was mostly viewed as an option that was suitable for less serious career tracks where growth aspirations were limited.

COVID-19 changed all that. Suddenly, the whole world had to work remotely - right from top CEOs and CTOs to the underlings in the organizations. Online video meetings and collaborating over Google docs became the new normal. And just like that, the concept of WFH became mainstream. From technology giants such as Facebook, Google, and Amazon to smaller organizations across the globe, allowed almost all employees to work from home.

Companies and employees are waking up to the benefits of working from home. A recent survey by co-working space provider Awfis revealed that working professionals in India are saving Rs 5,520 per month and 1.47 hours of travel time each day on average. The same survey also found that 74% of the respondents were willing to work remotely. Also, trends such as the gig economy have already been playing a role in legitimizing WFH even pre-COVID. Reports suggest that the gig economy is likely to globally generate~$455 bn in volume by 2023.

Given this, we can certainly expect an uptick in WFH roles. It is, however, critical that professionals understand the long-term implications, take adequate measures to keep in touch with industry evolution, and most importantly, upskill and reskill themselves regularly in line with industry requirements. Here is a list of some of the most popular WFH jobs that we are likely to see in 2021.

Web Developer
Web development lends itself very well to remote working since it mainly requires a good laptop/desktop computer and a stable internet connection. Of course, web developers need the requisite skills and proficiency in the right tools such as CSS, HTML, as well as programming languages including Ruby and JavaScript to develop visually appealing websites and apps.


Software Engineer
Software engineering, which entails the development of computer systems or software is another well paid work from home job. Given the growing importance of technology, software engineering plays a key role in building the right technology tools to run businesses more effectively. Again, the role requires certain specialized skills such as an in-depth knowledge of coding and computer programming.

System Administrator
Each company requires system administrators who are responsible for monitoring the installation, acquisition, upgrades, and maintenance of their computer systems. A system administrator is also required to guide organizations when it comes to selecting the right computer systems and ensuring their efficient operation. The job can easily be performed remotely as long as one has access to the right technologies. This job generally comes with high remuneration and works well for a freelance model.

Digital Marketing Specialist
With the proliferation of the internet and omnipresent internet connectivity, more companies feel the need to use the internet as an important marketing channel. As a result, the demand for digital marketing specialists is through the roof. A digital marketer is responsible for planning and implementation of an organization’s digital marketing strategies designed to align with the organization’s business goals. In terms of skillset, digital marketers are expected to have a good understanding of social media and mobile campaigns, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), and Customer Relationship Management (CRM).

Social Media Manager
Just like digital marketers, the role of social media manager too is the product of the Internet age and growing popularity of social media platforms. Businesses realize the need to have a credible presence on social media and require specialized support to achieve this. The very nature of this job is cut out for remote working since it involves tasks such as writing blogs, creating social media content, coordinating with marketing efforts, developing online communities, and noting feedback. To excel in this field, staying updated on industry and market trends is absolutely necessary.

The post-COVID era is poised to open up a world of new opportunities, several of them suitable for remote work. However, to succeed in this new scenario, there is a greater onus on employees to stay relevant, prove their worth, and ensure that they are ahead of the curve when it comes to learning and upskilling.

(The author, Krishna Kumar, is founder & CEO of Simplilearn)