I need a remote job.

A little over a year ago, I started creating content on TikTok. Just a year back, I had come across the remote jobs buzz.

You know, the job that allows you to work at the comfort of your bed. The job that allows you to respond to emails as you snack up some delicious croissant from CJs or Artcaffe.

Since being able to create content on TikTok, I also got a chance to educate the masses on what it entails to work a remote job.

Through that, I get the occasional message, email or on WhatsApp.

“Elvis, give me a remote job!”

“Bro, I have a degree in Economics and Statistics, man, give me a remote job”

Well, not to sound rude or presumptuous, your degree or diploma will not land you a remote job.

Now, hear me out, the game is rigged. The education system has been flawed.

However, your brain and cognitive abilities have not been hijacked.

Come in the skills era.

When creating content on TikTok, I will occasionally blurb ‘skills, skills, skills, my friend, skills’ The remote work sector needs you to have crafts or abilities.

Universities are these humongous institutions riddled with internal politics and fights over who is to be the vice chancellor and who has to pack up and go home.

I mean, comrades will even go on strike to make sure that their VC remains in office. The same comrades will graduate, then, the reality dawns on them. There are no jobs.

Where is their favorite and charming VC?

A remote job will require discipline and skills. A cyber security specialist will not work a remote job because they have a diploma or degree in computer science. They will do so, because they know their craft so well that companies are willing to pay handsomely.

You will not wake up in the morning and go surf the internet looking for a remote job with no skills. That’s just like searching for a needle in a haystack.

Here is the charm, not many of us are learning skills. Take this to your advantage and start investing in skills.

Here are some skills to learn that will land you a remote job:

1. Data Analysis.
2. Data Science.
3. Cyber Security.
4. Software Engineering.
5. Graphic design.
6. Web development.
7. Artificial Intelligence.
8. Machine Learning.
9. Augmented Reality.
10. Video Editing.
11. Animation.
12. Mobile Application Development.
13. Search Engine Optimization.
14. Cloud Computing.
15. Programming.

The list goes on and on.

I bet you are wondering why I have not actually mentioned transcription, data entry among others. These are just some duplicitous ways to make youths think that they can make money online with ease.

The effects of this are evident.

‘Connect me with a legit writing job’

‘Do you have someone who has transcription jobs?’

The catch.

Learning a skill is not like learning A, B, C, D.

A skill needs discipline. A skill needs you to be consistent enough. There is no way Dennis from FreeCodeCamp is going to teach you how to build APIs if you are so engaged looking for writing jobs.

I also do not recommend that you go to institutions to learn skills. Take the self-paced approach of learning skills. Visit online learning platforms such as Udemy, SkillShare, Coursera, edX, Udacity. Among others.

I mean, hell, even pay for courses. It doesn’t hurt at all.

Epilogue.

You are not going to get a remote job with your papers. Forget about them. Save them for when you are applying to get a Visa and leave the country.

A title deed in Kenya is more valuable than a university degree. Here is the lesson:

Impart yourself with a skill. There are many skills that you can learn. My specialty, however, is tech skills like the ones I have mentioned above.

Parting shot: ‘Do not leave school thinking that you can change the world. Stay there. Network, Share, Learn Skills and most important stay healthy’

I would love to get your input, so please leave a comment. Your input is highly appreciated. Get a copy of my eBook on digital skills.