01 May Is a Remote Job Right for You?
The workforce is drastically changing. Rather than work the traditional 9 to 5 job in an office, 3.9 million American workers now work from a remote location and 70% of people from around the world work at least once a week from home. While there are many benefits to working out of the office, including more flexible hours, money saved on transportation and other costs, and much more, it also has many drawbacks. Isolation, loneliness, and communication challenges should all be addressed.
If you are considering applying for remote jobs, you want to ensure it is the best career move for you. Here are a few questions you should ask yourself to determine if a remote job is right for you.
Are you a self-starter?
Do you struggle to get going every morning? Do you procrastinate big assignments if you have nobody pushing you? When working in remote jobs, you won’t have your manager or supervisor sitting over your shoulder telling you when you must start and what you need to work on. You must have the motivation and the self-discipline to work on your own. A challenge that many remote workers face is distractions at home. Television, social media, even household chores can capture their attention when they should be focused on work. If you need someone to keep you on task, an office may be ideal.
Do you need social interactions?
One of the greatest challenges that employees working in remote jobs face is feeling lonely and isolated. They do not receive much face-to-face communication and everything must be completed virtually. Some individuals thrive in this environment as it helps them stay on task, but others find the loneliness draining and depressing. If you need constant social interaction, a remote job may not be in your best interest. However, keep in mind, there are also ways around this including shared workspaces and enhancing your work/life balance.
Do you have strong communication skills?
Communication is critical in any job, but for remote employees, it is vital. This is because you need to provide detailed and clear information to other individuals every day. When communication is poor, it can delay the completion of assignments and projects as questions must be exchanged back and forth. It can also cost revenue if the information is not provided in a clear manner and tasks are completed incorrectly and must be redone. A few strong communication skills you should consider include:
- Write information in a clear and concise manner
- Be prompt in all of your responses
- Focus on the information that was presented to you
- Make sure the writing is grammatically correct and well-written
Additionally, by possessing excellent communication skills, you will become a much stronger member of your remote team. Your supervisors and managers can rely on you and everyone will be less frustrated as they are waiting for responses and answers to their questions.
No matter if many individuals are choosing to work from home, it doesn’t mean that this option is best for you. While there are numerous remote jobs to apply for, if you will not be happy, keep searching for more in-office opportunities.
