Why recruit digital nomads, the new generation of permanent teleworkers?

Future of work
August 26, 2022
Published by
Fanny

Digital nomads, so called since the year 2000, represent a category of the active population. They can be salaried or not and have in common that they are free of any office. They take advantage of the digital era to enjoy a total freedom of movement. They are often represented by images of workers traveling around the world, thanks to the internet. They carry out professional missions for companies, 100% online.

Travelling while working: who are the digital nomads?

Developed by the deployment of NTIC (New Information and Communication Technologies), this trend is becoming more and more successful. And not only among young workers, but also among professionals traveling with their families. The movement is growing, spreading to different segments of the working population and giving birth to a new category of consumers.

To become a digital nomad, it is often enough to have access to two things to carry your work everywhere: an internet connection and a computer. There are therefore jobs that are more suitable than others. In this context, find below a list of ten jobs (M/F) that can be practiced in a nomadic way:

  • Web Developer
  • App Developer
  • Webdesigner
  • Motion designer
  • Graphic designer
  • Web editor, Copywriter (SEO or freelance)
  • Content creator
  • Community manager
  • Marketing and advertising expert
  • Photographer

These professionals often have a close link with the digital and web world. However, more and more sectors and professions are becoming digital and can now be practiced from any location, provided they have an internet connection. It is therefore not surprising to find a Chartered Accountant working in the same way as these digital nomads of the first hour.

Faced with the growth of this practice, the tourism and hotel industries have been investing. After the terrible shock of the health crisis, these sectors are adapting and responding to this new demand. The Canary Islands, for example, are among the favorite destinations for digital nomads. An aggressive low-cost policy and all-inclusive weekly packages are being promoted: accommodation, work and leisure equipment, often turnkey. Airbnb, the Californian giant, has noticed an increase in the number of reservations on the platform "for remote work and short-term relocations".

The independent or freelance workers represent another category of workers, characterized by a separate legal status. They work at a distance in two ways. They are often geographically far away from companies' premises, but also statutorily far away from the typical salaried worker. The success of this status since 2020 only supports the societal aspiration to greater freedom, in the workplace, but also beyond.

The motivations of digital nomads

The routine of digital nomads is very simple: there really is no such thing. They don't have a fixed place of work and move around a lot.

After several interviews, we realized that these, often young, active people are keen to combine their personal aspirations with a professional life in line with the digital professions. This flexible way of working gives them a freedom that they value more and more. Why limit yourself to living in a capital city with an expensive rent? When you can now choose the part of the world where you want to work?

The choice of companies, clients and missions also plays a role. The field of possibilities that opens up challenges this population and this is what some of them are looking for. Moreover, often wishing to leave the big cities, they say they want to meet new people, get inspired by foreign cultures, reconnect with nature and finally save money.

Working with digital nomads: what companies can gain

As we observe the increase in the number of digital nomads, leaders cannot ignore the call for freedom provided by digital and the great cultural diversity possible. The question is: why and how to attract these talents? Companies do not want to miss the digital nomad train. They do not want to drive talent away, but rather to retain it. Some companies even allow 100%remote working, and thus allow and encourage employees to work from wherever they want.

Several advantages for companies stand out. First of all, they can attract locals eager for freedom, but also international professionals. Recruiting companies can expand their talent pool as far as possible. To do this, they must be prepared to work in a wider geographical area, but also potentially with different statuses.

How to recruit these nomads? How to integrate them? These questions need to be answered before taking the plunge. It is a choice that can strategically position companies to attract the best candidates. It is necessary to keep in mind that the company's culture may be challenged. An adaptation will undoubtedly be necessary, so as not to see its values blown to the four winds.

Other issues, of a managerial nature, may arise. The challenge is to find a rhythm to synchronize teams that live in different time zones, sometimes completely opposite. Solutions exist: communication or collaborative work management tools , for example.

Framing these policies allows companies to be innovative, to push their creativity, their limits and to gain in attractiveness!

How to recruit these nomads?

Legal and technical adjustments may be necessary for companies wishing to recruit digital nomads. It is also important to ensure proper IT security.

On the salary side, if the nomad stays abroad for more than six months a year, he may be considered as a tax resident of his adopted country, which has consequences on his income and its taxation.

When recruiting digital nomads, you want to have access to a geographically wider, even global, pool of talent? Digital is your friend for recruiting them:

  • Publish job offers on specialized job boards: Jobspresso, Working Nomads, Jobgether, Remotive or Remote ok
  • Also post offers on social networks, such as LinkedIn, but also on dedicated Facebook groups
  • Think of your network to relay offers and recommend talents
  • Use video conferencing tools to conduct interviews and assess candidates' interpersonal skills: Teams, Skype, Zoom or Google Meet
  • To ensure that the work can be done despite a potential time difference, you can use a collaborative work solution, such as Notion
  • Prepare for remote onboarding and spread the company culture with presentations, practical guides and regular updates via online communication tools: Slack, Teams or Workplace from Facebook

To go further, discover how Swapcard maintains its corporate culture while recruiting its employees 100% remote, worldwide!