Working styles are diversifying, such as side jobs and telework, but more and more engineers want to be freed from the crowded trains commuting and become “nomad workers” who can work while traveling.
Nomad means nomad in English. In recent years, people who work anywhere and at any time, rather than working in a fixed office, have come to be called nomads.
As long as you have a computer and Wi-Fi, you can work anywhere you like, such as in a park, a cafe, a library, or a co-working space. there are many
Therefore, here we will explain in detail what a nomad is, the advantages and disadvantages of working as a nomad for engineers, and the necessary skills.
What is Nomad?
A nomad is a way of working that is not bound by time or place, and people who work for nomads are sometimes called nomad workers. As long as you have an internet connection, you can work anywhere you like, with just a computer, rather than in a fixed office or desk.
However, there are not many jobs that allow this type of work. This is limited to certain occupations, such as designers, writers, and engineers, who can bring their laptops to cafes to work, or work while on the move, such as on a train or airplane.
It should be noted that nomads and freelancers, which are often confused, are not the same thing. A freelance is a form of contract that does not belong to a specific company but is a person who works under an individual contract for each project.
On the other hand, a nomad is a way of working where you work in various places, and it may be a full-time employee employed by a company. In other words, even if you are a freelancer, you are a nomad worker if you work wherever you like.
What are the Advantages of engineers working as nomads?
You can work anytime, anywhere if you have a computer, power supply, and Wi-Fi environment. Recently, there are many places where people can do nomad work, such as airplanes and bullet trains, as well as public spaces.
The number of nomads is expected to continue to increase, but here are three benefits of working as a nomad for engineers.
Increased productivity
Nomad work allows you to work without being bound by time, so you can work at times that are easy for you to concentrate, such as early in the morning or late at night, and you can expect improved productivity.
Also, when humans are in an environment where there are limits on what they can do or time limits, they will naturally start doing things with high priority. Therefore, working in a coworking space or cafe will lead to increased work efficiency.
Since my concentration has dropped, I can take a walk, do gymnastics, drink tea, etc. I can work at my own pace, so it is easy to maintain motivation, and as a result, productivity increases. It’s a big advantage.
less stress in relationships
When you work as a nomad, you don’t have to go to work. For those who are not good at talking to people and find it stressful, or for those who find socializing to be a hassle, it is easier to work because there is no stress or worries about human relationships that are unique to a company.
You can choose the place and the clothes you want, so you can concentrate on your work by yourself while drinking tea or listening to music. Nonetheless, it is important to be flexible in your work so that you can communicate with them at any time by making it easy to get in touch with them via email, chat, or phone.
Disadvantages of working as an engineer as a nomad
Working for a nomad as an engineer has both advantages and disadvantages. Here are two disadvantages of choosing Nomad as a way of working.
Concerned about security
When working in cafes, parks, coworking spaces, etc., you have to think about security measures. Computers and USBs can be misplaced or stolen, so be careful.
If important client documents are misplaced or stolen, there is a possibility that it will become a credibility problem and you will not be asked to work. When you leave the place where you are working, do not leave your computer, USB, documents, etc. unattended.
Also, free Wi-Fi has the risk of information leakage. There is a risk that your tablet or computer may be infected with a virus, so be sure to install security software and use Wi-Fi whose operator you know.
Location fee, communication fee, and electricity fee are required
The advantage of nomad work is that you can work anywhere, but if you work at a cafe or coworking space, you will have to pay for food and drinks, and space.
Also, recently, Wi-Fi has spread widely, so there are many places where the environment is in place, but there are places where there is no internet environment. If you have a contract for a mobile Wi-Fi router, you will not have to worry about these problems, but you will have to pay for the contract and communication costs.
prone to loneliness
As I mentioned earlier, nomad work does not require going to the office, so there is less stress in relationships. However, on the other hand, many people feel lonely because there is no real communication.
When you work in a company, you are working in a team, and most of the time there is always someone sitting next to you, so you will never feel lonely. In nomad work, you will always be working alone at a computer, so you may end the day without talking to anyone, which makes it easier to feel lonely.
Therefore, it is essential to find ways to relieve loneliness by contacting and communicating, joining a community, and meeting people regularly.
What Skills are needed to work as a nomad?
Not every engineer can work as a nomad. For an engineer to work as a nomad, I will explain the three skills that are required at a minimum.
can self-manage
Nomad workers are required to have strict self-management skills because they are free to work. You have to manage everything yourself, including work schedules and prioritization decisions. If you shorten your working hours or become lazy during working hours, you may be unable to meet the deadline, so be careful.
Also, if you are unwell, it will directly affect your work, so it is important not only to manage your schedule but also to manage your physical condition.
Extensive knowledge as a web engineer
Nomad workers are required not only to be able to develop but also to have a wide range of knowledge and skills so that they can solve problems on their own. For example, in addition to programming and database knowledge, server and network knowledge may also be required.
When a problem occurs, you can do nomad work with peace of mind by being able to solve it without relying on people to some extent.
Have a track record of working independently
For engineers to work as nomads, the following points are important.
– Ability to complete assigned tasks
・Progress can be visualized through solid communication
・Accurate man-hour estimates for tasks
If you can’t make an accurate man-hour estimate, you can’t get the job done. If you can’t get an estimate right away, try to communicate constructively by telling them why and when you’ll be able to submit an estimate.
Skilled engineers are suitable for nomads
With the development of IT, working styles have diversified, and more and more people are becoming nomad workers who can work when and where they want. However, working as a nomad is limited to some occupations such as designers, writers, and engineers.
The benefits of working as a nomad for engineers include improved productivity because they can work at times when it is easy to concentrate, higher work costs, and less stress in human relationships. On the other hand, there are also disadvantages such as security concerns, location fees, communication costs, and electricity costs, and it is easy to feel lonely because you always work alone.
Not every engineer can work as a nomad. Since you have a lot of free time, self-management skills are required, and you also need a wealth of knowledge as a web engineer.
With the improvement of IT technology and the progress of the information society, the way of working called nomad is spreading. Many people aspire to be nomad workers, but some people prefer to work in an office. Let’s find the best way of working for you, including nomads as an option, and find a way of working that suits you.
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