How to Build a Remote-Ready Resume & Portfolio for Van Life
Updated October 2025
Living van life gives you freedom, adventure, and flexibility — but to sustain it, you need a remote job that fits your lifestyle. The key? A résumé and portfolio that clearly show potential employers or clients you’re capable, organized, and ready to work from anywhere. This guide will help you craft materials that land you remote work in any field, while giving you practical tips to make it easier as a vanlifer.
1. Embrace the Remote-Work Mindset
Remote work requires certain traits to thrive:
Self-motivation: Stay on track without a manager looking over your shoulder.
Adaptability: Handle schedule changes, technology hiccups, and new tools quickly.
Communication: Keep your team informed and projects on track, even across time zones.
Helpful Tip: Set a consistent daily schedule, even while traveling. Planning focused work blocks and downtime keeps you productive and sane on the road.
2. Build a Resume That Works Anywhere
Focus on showcasing your skills and experience in a clear, professional way:
Professional summary: Two or three sentences showing who you are, what you do, and your remote work experience.
Skills section: Include tools you use (Zoom, Slack, Asana, Google Workspace) and soft skills like time management and communication.
Experience: Highlight accomplishments and projects that demonstrate initiative, problem-solving, and collaboration from a distance.
Helpful Tip: Use a clean, easy-to-read format. Recruiters scanning resumes quickly will appreciate bullet points, clear headings, and concise descriptions.
3. Create a Mobile-Friendly Portfolio
Your portfolio is your digital showcase — it doesn’t need to be fancy, just accessible:
Mobile and desktop friendly: Many employers review portfolios on tablets or phones.
Show your work: Include case studies, writing samples, designs, or projects.
Include contact info: Make it easy for potential employers to reach you.
Helpful Tip: Keep file sizes small and images optimized. This ensures your portfolio loads quickly, even if you’re on limited bandwidth while traveling.
4. Polish Your Online Presence
Consistency across all online platforms matters:
LinkedIn and social media: Keep profiles updated and professional.
Digital tools: Canva, Grammarly, Trello, Notion, and other productivity apps can help you stay organized.
Accessibility: Test your resume and portfolio on both mobile and desktop before applying.
Helpful Tip: Back up your portfolio and resume in the cloud. You never know when you’ll need quick access while on the road.
Wrap-Up
Landing a remote job while living van life is achievable with a professional, organized, and mobile-ready résumé and portfolio. Following these tips will make the process smoother, especially for life on the road.
💡 Next Step: Take the guesswork out of finding remote work with my Van Life Economy notebook, which includes:
📒 More than 30 income ideas for vanlifers
💼 The Ultimate Jobs Spreadsheet with over 55 employers and remote work websites
🌐 Clickable links to tools, opportunities, and resources
Get your copy here: Van Life Economy Notebook — it’s designed to help vanlifers land remote work quickly and confidently.
