Pursuing A New Remote Job & Juggling It Internationally
The fantasy of working remotely is no longer lurking in your dreams at night, it’s our new reality. It’s the moment we have all been waiting for, and it’s only taken the entire world to shut down to get there. So, the optimist in me says that’s at least one great thing that came along with Covid-19!
During the pandemic, I had the incredible opportunity to live and work remotely in the beautiful beachside town of Sayulita, Mexico. In this article I’m going to to guide you through some steps of how to break into the remote work world, the hardships I overcame working and traveling in Sayulita, Mexico, and how to dive into the community while enjoying your time there.
How To Find Remote Jobs
Breaking into the remote job world can be either easy or quite difficult, depending on the remote jobs you’re interested in. There are thousands of roles from Sales Representatives, Marketing Managers, Social Media Content Creators, Administrators, Copywriters, just to name a few. If you are looking for something to easily break into, Sales and Marketing are your best bets. I had no prior experience in the world of sales and walked into a start-up tech company as a Sales Representative.
One of the things I ran into while searching for my remote position was finding a company that was flexible with hours. Depending on the company, some will be relaxed and allow a few hours outside of their dedicated time zone, but some might not. So, it will take a little dedication and patience on your end to find the right fit.
If you are looking for something a bit more aligned with your schedule, then you can investigate freelancing. Freelancing can be a lot more unreliable but gives you the amazing flexibility to get up and go wherever your heart desires. Which for me in the end is worth any struggle I have come across along the way. I won’t beat around the bush; freelancing is a tough world to crack into. It is a highly competitive market, (mainly due to the nature of the social world we live in right now). But, on the bright side, there are many people willing to give the newbies a chance. Don’t be so quick to cut the cord, your persistence and follow-through will eventually pay off!
Here are a few websites you can start looking at that have full access to remote jobs:
-
Remote.co
The Most Reliable Places To Work Remote In Sayulita
Most places in Mexico have a bad rep in terms of internet reliability. Rolling blackouts, slow internet services, overcrowded cafes are just a few of the issues you may face. Overall Sayulita has a is a 7/10 score in the reliability department. It has a bit of these issues, but nothing compared to neighboring towns, and is worth dealing with because of the amazing energy this place has! The town is a small but has mighty energy. This is why over the past few years it has brought in an immense number of tourists and digital nomads to the area. You won’t walk into a café that has access to internet without the entire place being filled with MacBooks. Here is a breakdown of the best places for you to get some dependable work done without stressing over Wi-Fi dropouts.
-
Find an Airbnb with Reliable Internet
This will be extremely simple most people will review the internet on the app directly or you can reach out to the host directly. I have stayed at some places with frustrating internet and it’s the last thing you need while enjoying your temporary home.
-
Selina Café & Co-Working Space
Selina is a hostel in town that has both an internet café and a co-working space, both being extremely trustworthy. I never had an issue with getting work done here. Ranges from MXN 150-250 per day.
-
Sayulita Co-work
This coworking space is smack in the middle of town for your convenience and runs a 100-megabit fiber for some of the best high-speed internet in town. Prices range from MXN 250-400 a day, MXN 1,250 to 1,850 a week, or MXN 3,500 to 4,000 a month for a hot desk or a dedicated desk.
-
Tabachines Co-work Patio
Located on the outskirts of town, this little patio runs 5G internet throughout their entire establishment. Tabachines is more on the quiet side, so your meetings will go smoothly without the outside noise of the town square. They have a built-in restaurant, so you’ll never have to leave.
-
Anchor Café
I wanted to throw this one in because it has a great atmosphere to work in and the food and drinks are incredible. The Internet can be spotty sometimes, but for the most part, it will do the job. It is quite small and definitely a popular spot for work from homers, so get in sooner rather than later.
Hardships I Overcame In Sayulita
Moving to a new place can be terrifying. I got the classic, “Why are you moving to Mexico it is so dangerous” talk from almost everyone I knew. So, naturally, for the first week or two, I didn’t go out past sundown and stayed cooped up in my room like a paranoid weirdo! Sayulita was one of the first places I ever moved to entirely on my own. I almost gave up a few weeks in, because I was listening to that little voice in my head and all the pressures I heard from friends and family! Don’t do it. I will reassure you, now Sayulita is extremely safe. After five months living there, I would walk around town into the wee hours of the morning all the time. However, I am always on high alert, that being anywhere in the world.
It can be difficult to find friends in small towns. You have to muster up the confidence to throw your best outfit on, go outside and just start yapping at strangers. The locals and travelers of Sayulita are extremely welcoming people, and the moment I changed my attitude about it all, I had 3 new friends within a couple of days.
How to Dive Into The Community
The surf and yoga communities are huge in Sayulita, and you’ll meet some amazing people through those outlets. As well as, just having a cocktail at your nearest watering hole and striking up a conversation with the person next to you. There is no shame in your game, I did not meet one person who was not friendly. Another amazing outlet is walking into the local hostels. A ton of young people, who are mostly solo travelers that are all in the same position you are!
Overall, Sayulita is an amazing destination to work remotely. Between the number of solo travelers, comfortable co-working joints, and the to die for destination, it is worth it to throw away the stress for a bit and work remotely in Mexico.
