Remote jobs has redefined the corporate world by allowing individuals to work from anywhere in the world as long as they have an internet connection. 

Many companies worldwide are increasingly offering their employees the flexibility to work remotely. According to Forbes, in 2024, about 68 pc of US employers offered some form of workplace flexibility, with only a third requiring their workers to operate full-time from the office. 

In Kenya, many individuals are increasingly ditching the traditional 9-5 jobs in favour of working for companies offering remote options, which often pay better wages and have flexible work schedules. 

Lorraine Otieno, who holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from USIU, is one of the many millennials and Gen Zs who have embraced this shift. 

In a recent YouTube interview with content creator Susan Wanjiku, she shared her journey into remote work, offering useful nuggets of advice to individuals who may be willing to venture into the same path. 

Discovering remote work

Lorraine’s first interaction with remote work was after her graduation when she enrolled for a master’s in Human Resource Management. This is the period she started looking for a job. 

Despite already having a degree in accounting, she knocked on doors from company to company, but the result was no different: No job.  

“I got frustrated to the extent that my mother began fearing for my mental health,” she recalls. 

In 2024, the World Bank estimated Kenya’s employment rate to be 5.7 pc, a factor that was attributed to a tough economic environment and a slowdown in business activity. 

After a year and a half of gruelling job searching, Lorraine landed a job at Mabati Rolling Mills as a graduate trainee in the HR department. She steadily climbed the corporate ladder, but soon realized the traditional office setup wasn’t for her.

“I consider myself a Type A personality, so I am always on the lookout for opportunities to expand my horizon,” she said. 

The influence of TikTok

In 2021, Lorraine was scrolling on TikTok when one day she came across a video of someone who was sharing how they were working for a US-based company while in Mexico. 

“I found the video very interesting, especially the concept that someone can work for a US-based company while living in another country,” she said. 

The video listed companies hiring for remote roles like people care and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) specialists. 

Leveraging her HR background, Lorraine applied for one of the roles. After a rigorous five-phase interview process, she was hired with a net monthly salary of $3,000 (approximately Sh380,000), a jump from her previous gross salary of Sh160,000.

While the job didn’t offer traditional benefits like medical cover, the pay and flexibility were life-changing. 

Remote work challenges

Though the pay was lucrative, Lorraine soon discovered that remote work also came with its own set of challenges. Despite working from home, she surprisingly found herself spending little time with her family, especially her son. 

“At first, it was just about the money, but after some time, I felt like my priorities had shifted. I had a son, and sometimes I would even go for two days without seeing him even though I was working from home, with my office being in a different room,” she disclosed in the interview.  

With time, she decided that enough was enough and quit her job to seek new opportunities. Ever willing to try something new, she decided to delve into content creation, sharing her knowledge about remote work. 

The response was overwhelming, and she soon realized that a great number of her followers and viewers were interested in working for remote companies but had no idea how to go about it. 

This led to the creation of her company, Beyond the Savannah, which educates individuals about remote work, connects them with relevant opportunities, and guides them through the application process.

“There are always companies looking to hire African workers because they are more cost-effective than local employees in countries like the U.S. My goal is to help Africans earn more while having greater control over their time and work schedules,” Lorraine explained.

Set of skills

Lorraine shares that to increase one’s chances of getting hired as a remote worker, one must have a certain set of skills. Soft skills, such as effective communication and presentation, are crucial.

“You’ll often find yourself in meetings with senior officials, like CEOs and VPs, and being able to articulate your ideas clearly, whether in writing, orally, or through presentations, is key.”

Data analytics skills are also in high demand, regardless of the role, as companies increasingly rely on data-driven decision-making. Lorraine emphasizes that one must also be able to leverage AI tools to maximize their productivity. 

She also cites upskilling as one of the most important ways to be up to date with industry trends in remote work. 

“To increase your chance of keeping your job and getting hired by other companies, you need to have relevant certifications in your industry. You need to stay updated with constant changes, which means upskilling through short courses,” she says. 

The good thing is that digital skills can easily be gained by enrolling in online courses on platforms like Udemy, Coursera and LinkedIn Learning. 

Finding the right employer

When choosing employers, Forbes suggests that prospective remote workers would be better off working for a small company or startup, as they have a greater chance of providing full remote work flexibility than larger companies. 

Some of the sectors that are increasingly hiring remote workers include IT and Technology, Customer Service, Marketing, and Accounting/Finance.