6 myths that are probably stopping you from working remotely
The biggest misconceptions about remote work — and why they might be the exact thing stopping you from finally getting started. Because you have what it takes, you just need to believe it and start.
One of the biggest things I’ve noticed after helping people land remote jobs for years is this a lot of people are not actually lacking potential or skills or experience. They’re lacking self-believe and a plan.
Some of you assume remote work is only for certain types of people. Like maybe:
People in tech.
Influencers.
People with huge resumes.
People who want to travel full-time.
And because of that, you are all convincing yourselves you’re not qualified before you even try.
I know this because a lot of people who come to me tell me these things, and a few months later they get a remote job.
So, that’s proof that they had what it takes to get a remote job, but they didn’t think they did or they didn’t have a plan to make it happen.
Back when I got my first full-time remote job in 2015, remote work wasn’t nearly as normalized as it is now. Most people did NOT know what remote work was or that it even was a possibility. We didn’t even have a lot of the tools that are available to us now, so I was truly figuring it out as a I went. I was using Skype for professional video calls and my project management tool was often just my notes app… 😂
But, I was doing it, even with limited tools, happily working while traveling… and interviewing candidates through Skype in my pajama pants from my Airbnb in Argentina.
BTW, I worked in Human Resources. That was my first full-time remote job.
So, yeah, there was no glamorous setup involved, no home office, no ergonomic chair, no fancy gadgets. Just my laptop and the right attitude to make money online.
Over the years, I’ve realized that many people are not actually being held back by lack of skills/experience.
They’re being held back by misconceptions.
So let’s talk about some of the biggest myths I still hear constantly — and why they’re simply not true.
Myth #1 — “You Need to Be Active on Social Media”
This one stresses people out SO much. People think they need to become content creators, post every day, dance on TikTok, or build some huge personal brand before they can work remotely.
No, señorita!
If you’re applying for remote jobs in operations, customer support, recruiting, project management, admin work, marketing, design, or tech… nobody cares if you post aesthetic morning routines on Instagram.
Your social media is not your resume (unless you want to work in social media or content creation, of course).
Now, could having a professional online presence help? Sure. But the average remote company is certainly not sitting there asking:
“Hmm… but does she know about the latest TikTok trends?”
They care about whether:
you can communicate clearly
you seem reliable
your resume makes sense for remote work
and that you can do the job
That’s it.
Most remote workers I know are incredibly normal online. Some barely post at all. Not needed.
Myth #2 — “You Need a Special Degree”
A lot of people think remote work is some elite club only available to people with fancy degrees or super technical backgrounds.
Meanwhile, there are remote companies hiring:
customer support reps
executive assistants
HR specialists or recruiters
accountants
sales reps
writers
operations assistants
project managers
account managers
Check out my remote job directory HERE to browse through open positions in legit remote companies.
And many of these roles care far more about your skills than your degree.
Most jobs today are becoming more digital. That means you can become “remote-ready” by learning tools and workflows online.
You do NOT necessarily need:
another 4-year degree
to go back to college
or to completely restart your career
Sometimes you just need:
a better resume made specifically for remote jobs
to learn remote-friendly tools
to learn how to find the legit remote jobs
a strong cover letter
to apply consistently
Myth #3 — “You Need to Spend a Ton of Money to Start”
People really think they need:
a Pinterest-looking office
a standing desk with a walking pad
a giant monitor setup
a brand-new MacBook
and mood lighting from TikTok Shop 😂
Meanwhile, my first remote setup was extremely unglamorous. It was my laptop & me against the world. I’d sit on a couch and I’d go work at coffee shops. I have a nice home office 10 years later, but I still love working in bed, for example.
You truly do not need a perfect setup to start applying.
You need:
decent WiFi for sure
a functioning laptop
and the ability to communicate professionally online
That’s it.
Please do NOT fall into the trap of thinking you need to “prepare perfectly” before applying and have all the new gadgets. Because sometimes people spend months buying equipment instead of actually searching for jobs, and that’s not necessary to start.
And also:
A legitimate remote company will NEVER ask you to pay them upfront to get hired.
That is one of the biggest scam red flags.
Read more about common red flags here.
Myth #4 — “You Need Remote Experience Before Landing Your First Remote Job”
This is probably the myth that stops people the most.
Because they think:
“Well… how am I supposed to get remote experience if nobody gives me a remote job first?”
Exactly. 😂
Most people start with:
entry-level remote jobs
transferable experience
freelance projects
remote internships
or skills they already use in regular jobs
If you’ve ever:
communicated professionally online
organized projects
used digital tools
managed schedules
solved problems independently
worked with customers
or collaborated virtually
…you already have pieces of remote-ready experience.
If this is your main worry, I wrote a full article on how to approach the remote job search if you don’t have experience.
Myth #5 — “Remote Jobs Don’t Pay Well”
Some people still think remote work automatically means:
low salaries
unstable freelance gigs
or barely surviving as a “digital nomad”
Meanwhile, some of the highest-paying jobs I’ve ever seen and I’ve helped people get were remote jobs.
And many Remote-First Companies offer:
healthcare
PTO
equipment stipends
bonuses
flexible schedules
learning budgets
and strong salaries
And the biggest financial advantage of remote work is not just the salary. t’s the flexibility that comes with working remotely and having that flexibility.
Because when you stop wasting hours commuting every week, you suddenly have more time and energy to:
build side income
learn new skills
create content
freelance
or grow something of your own
That completely changes your earning potential long term.
That’s exactly what I did since I started working remotely. That’s why I’ve made money in so many different ways since 2015 (32 to be exact). I break them all down here, including how I got those opportunities and how much I’ve made.
Myth #6 — “Remote Work is For People Who Want to Travel”
This myth makes me laugh because people assume working remotely automatically means becoming one of those influencers:
“Currently answering emails from a hammock in Thailand 🌴✨”
And listen… if that’s your dream, amazing. But remote work does NOT require becoming a full-time traveler.
You can absolutely:
work remotely from home
live in the same city forever
travel occasionally and go back to your home base
simply enjoy having more flexibility and freedom in your daily life
Remote work is not about constantly moving. It’s about having options and being flexible. That’s the real luxury.
Here’s what I learned about the digital nomad lifestyle (which I did for 4 years) and what I prefer doing nowadays.
If there’s one thing I hope you take away from this article, it’s this:
A lot of the things you think are disqualifying you from remote work… probably aren’t. Most people are much closer to being “remote-ready” than they realize.
They just need:
better guidance & strategy (a plan!)
to stop making common mistakes like THESE
clearer understanding of how the remote work world and the remote job search actually works
So if you’re serious about finally making this happen, here are 2 resources I highly recommend starting with (both part of my paid Substack subscription)
Watch: This 1-Hour Video Training
Read: The 3-Month Plan to Get a Remote Job
You do not need to figure this all out alone. Luckily for you, I keep creating resources to help you out with your remote job search… because most people I help are getting remote jobs within 3 months (like these 50+ success stories). And it definitely wasn’t because they had some sort of special skill… but because they stopped making mistakes and are following my step-by-step plans!
💜
Andrea Valeria