How Outlier Helped Turn Enzo D.B.’s Digital Nomad Dream into a Reality
From sleeping on friends' sofas in the Netherlands to promoting nightclubs in Barcelona to working remotely from Thailand, Enzo D.B.'s life trajectory has been anything but conventional. Luckily, the Dutch digital nomad has found his ideal work situation with Outlier, where he both completes tasks and recruits other contributors from around the world.
"When I got the message through Upwork asking if I wanted to work on projects to train AI models, I thought, 'Did you look at my profile? I don’t have direct experience in this,'" Enzo recalls with a laugh. Despite his initial doubts, the opportunity seemed too good to pass up, especially at the offered rate, which was nearly triple what he had been earning in previous remote Dutch customer service roles.
Like many first-time Outlier contributors, Enzo was skeptical. "In my mind, this was too good to be true," he says. But he gave it a shot and found that the opportunity was real. After passing his assessments, he began working on projects and quickly excelled. His performance didn't go unnoticed. Before long, Enzo received a message saying he had been selected to become a reviewer.
"I thought they must have made a mistake," he says, though he rose to the occasion and succeeded in the role.
The progression didn't stop there. Soon after becoming a reviewer, Enzo began to help find other Dutch people to contribute on the platform, leveraging his experience in promotion, sales, and recruitment.
"It was like a match made in heaven," he explains. "Because I'm a digital nomad, I know people — Dutch people like me who want to work remotely and are highly motivated."
When recruiting for Outlier, Enzo emphasizes that formal qualifications don't necessarily predict success.
"Whether an applicant has a certain degree or not doesn’t determine if they’ll pass the assessment," he explains. "The most important thing is that you work to deliver high quality on a consistent basis.”
His experience with Outlier has sparked a broader interest in technology. Since starting, Enzo has been studying for a cybersecurity certification from Google and plans to study data analytics next. "It actually increased my interest in IT and technology," he says.
For Enzo, who spent years bouncing between temporary housing arrangements and unfulfilling jobs, Outlier represents more than just a paycheck — it's a platform that rewards merit regardless of background. The flexibility of the work has been life-changing for him.
"Sometimes I work 10 hours, but sometimes I'm in that mood where I just work 20 hours a week," he says. "Being a digital nomad is amazing. Being able to surf on that wave when everything is going well and put in those hours is also great."
Now enjoying the stability of a Thai digital nomad visa and the flexibility of remote work, Enzo has found a professional identity that aligns with his wandering spirit.
