Young software engineers in Kenya are earning as much as Kshs. 800,000+ working remotely for global firms while living just here in Nairobi.
These are clearly mind-boggling figures!
And, they are just one example of the many ways remote work has become normal locally.
The landscape of what we call work has really changed over the last decade and even more change is looming with new technological innovations and shifting global work cultures.
In this new era, you cannot afford to be left behind!
In this article, tapping into my own experience of serving international clients for more than 5 years, I will break down some of the possible ways for you to be part of this new lucrative global workforce.
Let’s dive in.
Key Takeaways
- It is possible to work remotely for a US company from Kenya, but it may come with challenges like different time zones and potential communication barriers.
- It is important to ensure that you have the legal right to work for a US company from Kenya and that you are compliant with applicable laws and regulations.
- Some new ways of making money online now include social media platforms, the gig economy, and on-demand skills and services.
- Popular remote positions include software developer, digital marketer, customer support specialist, project manager, content writer, and software-based roles.
- Technical skills vary from job to job, but young people are increasingly learning multiple skills which makes them flexible to fit different remote jobs.
- Pursuing different things at the same time can be productive, and it is more of a wholesome approach to a career where one pursues things that make one happy.
A New Era – You Can Work Online and Get Paid
The changes I mentioned above (technological and work culture) are why your parent – who has probably held the same job for 30 years – may struggle to understand why you simply do not want a “full-time” or “permanent” job with their favorite bank.
First, let us address the most common question, can you work remotely for a US company from Kenya?
The answer is yes. It is very possible to work remotely for a US company from Kenya and thousands of young Kenyans are already doing it.
With the advancement of technology, many companies are embracing remote work arrangements, allowing employees to work from anywhere in the world as long as they have access to the necessary tools and resources – like a powerful laptop, stable and fast internet connection, and necessary software.
Potential Challenges in Remote Work
However, it is important to note that working remotely for a US company from Kenya may have some challenges, such as different time zones and potential communication barriers (from language differences).
It is also critical to ensure that you have the legal right to work for a US company from Kenya and that you are compliant and working within the applicable laws and regulations.
If you are interested in a practical way to start working remotely for a US company from Kenya, you may want to read my article on getting Well-paying International Remote Tech Jobs from Kenya.
Another practical step is to find work by browsing job opportunities on remote job boards or websites that specialize in connecting remote workers with US companies.
One more option is to reach out to companies directly with an application for a specific position or a proposal to work with them as a freelance consultant. This is how I came across my first international customer as a freelancer.
What Can You Do to Earn Remotely in Kenya?
Before we list some examples, just know that there are a lot of new ways of making money now than there were 10 years ago.
YouTube for example has on its own created several new jobs from vlogging, cover-musicians, tutorials, video editing, and audio editing, among others. It is no surprise that a kid like Ryan Kaji could make over Kshs. 2.6 billion from his YouTube career.
And, YouTube is just one among many social media platforms that have given birth to new ways to earn without having a regular job. Others include TikTok and Snapchat.
If you want to know that these platforms work, just look at how much influencers make! I gave an example in the article about Earning via TikTok in Kenya.
Surprisingly, these influencers often have teams working with them – all riding on social media.
There is also the gig economy which includes technology for on-demand skills and services.
Think of Uber and its competitors, Glovo, Freelancer, Fiverr, Upwork, and hundreds of similar sites. They have made it such that one can work when they want, on multiple jobs, and sometimes without having to leave the house.
“One can work when they want, on multiple jobs, and sometimes without having to leave the house.”
Looking into the future, it is almost predictable that these kinds of jobs will be the majority.
Platforms like YouTube will keep getting better and will be a source of income for millions of people. Also, companies will rely on global talent regardless of geographical location.
As I said at the start, we already have a large number of Kenyans working for global companies.
You can do the same too.
Here are a few examples of popular remote positions that you can apply for as long as you have the right skills.
- Software Developer – As a software developer, you can work remotely for international companies on developing software applications, websites, and other digital products. You would need strong coding skills and experience in programming languages such as Java, Python, or Ruby.
- Digital Marketer – As a digital marketer, you can work on developing and executing digital marketing strategies, managing social media accounts, and analyzing marketing data. The role requires experience in marketing channels such as email marketing, social media, SEO, and PPC advertising.
- Customer Support Specialist – This role is mostly about providing customer service through email, phone, or chat. It requires excellent communication skills and experience in customer service.
- Project Manager – A PM is the person managing projects, coordinating teams, and ensuring project deliverables are met on time and within budget. Besides a PMP certification, the role needs strong organizational skills, communication skills, and experience in project management software.
- Content Writer – this is an easier and more exciting role as it is about creating engaging and informative content for websites, blogs, and other digital media. As the name suggests, it needs excellent writing skills and experience in content marketing strategies.
- Software-based roles – for example, Salesforce Administrator, Jira Administrator, or HubSpot expert. These roles require you to be skilled in the specific software and therefore help a company use the software to enhance its operations.
These are just a few examples of the many remote positions available for skilled professionals.
Also worth mentioning is that you can Get Paid from Fiverr in Kenya by working for US firms on the platform. This is as long as you have gotten Positive Reviews on your Fiverr Account.
Skills Required to Get a Well-Paying Remote Job
There is no limit to the kind of skills required to get a remote job.
We have seen above that technical skills vary from one job to another so it would be impossible to list all skills here.
However, some common skills that are needed for remote jobs according to Indeed.com include good written communication, the ability to focus, self-motivation, collaboration, time management, and organization.
You should know that now more than ever, young people are learning multiple skills from a young age which makes them fit multiple remote jobs. This is increasingly happening in developing countries like Kenya but is more of a norm in developed countries.
“You should know that now more than ever, young people are learning multiple skills from a young age which makes them fit multiple remote jobs.”
A Kenyan celebrity (Dan Aceda) was once quoted saying how he was surprised to have worked in the U.S. and find out that young adults did hold multiple skills and worked different careers at the same time.
One could be a computer programmer for certain days of the week, a music producer on weekends, a stand-up comedian, and even a videographer.
While it seems like focusing on different things at the same time is counterproductive, it actually develops from learning one thing and perfecting it then moving on to another and to another and eventually compartmentalizing each skill and growing it along the others.
It is more of a wholesome approach to a career where one pursues things that make them happy.
This is one area where the older generation particularly finds it hard to understand millennials with their constant shifting of jobs, taking different careers, and quitting many things in the process.
It is a practice seen by older people as disruptive to careers but a norm for young people as they seek things that make them happy.
Digital Nomads and “Natives”
In one of their stories, DW Documentary featured the story of digital nomads – a crop of people who work online and travel the world.
The surprising thing in the documentary is how easy it is in the current age to take up a job that can allow work to be done anywhere at any time as long as one is armed with a laptop and an internet connection.
Digital nomads are comfortable with their work because they were once digital “natives”. The natives are people who have built their entire careers on the internet and therefore experience no need for regular forms of work.
Kenya exemplifies one of the places where digital work is becoming more of a norm than an exception for young people, especially those with a university education.
For example, the thousands of freelance writers involved in writing gigs from developed countries. There are equally many local computer programmers working for countries as far as Australia and Germany, transcribers, videographers, etc. I wrote about the writers in the article about getting Direct Clients for Your Writing Services.
These careers are also part of the highest earning alternatives and therefore while an older person may not understand what a young person is doing locked in their bedroom with a computer all day, the young person might be racking in serious amounts of money.
Reworking the Work Culture
Outside the digital world, young people are continuously redefining the rules of the workplace.
On Reddit, a certain employer in the U.S. was quoted saying how proud he was that his young employees are able to stand up against things they do not believe in at work and are not afraid to walk out on their bosses.
This particular employer cited how this is part of what is good with the younger generation of employees. They go over and beyond to make work fit their personalities and lifestyle choices, unlike the older generation of employees who build their lives around work.
Young people are generally bolder at work and demand more from themselves. This is often very unwelcome by their older counterparts as it is seen as rude, insubordinate, and career suicide. It is even mind-boggling to them that someone can walk out on a job without anything on the side to support them.
Conclusion
Overall, we are headed for a new future of work and the above-mentioned bits that you are riding on in your career as a young person could be very confusing to your parent who simply wants you to take up a permanent job with their favorite organization.
I have written other articles on making money online in Kenya. Read them below:
Also, if you are looking to transfer money online once you get paid, read this article that I wrote on “Withdrawing Money from PayPal to M-Pesa in Kenya“.
