Working Remotely – Part 1

So you want to work remotely. Are you a good fit for this type of work? How can you find and land a job working remotely? We’ve had so much interest surrounding this topic, and more and more of our clients are landing and loving remote work. The benefits for both employers and employees are many, and today my goal is to help you accomplish this for yourself.

We’re going to look at why you can benefit from working remotely, how to figure out if this kind of work is for you, the pros and cons, how to find specific jobs, traits employers are looking for, how to be found by these employers, how to set up your career tools to align with these opportunities, how to interview, and more.

Remote work is on the rise. Close to 5 million people are working remotely for at least part of their job, up from 3.9 million four years ago. Remote work has grown over 90% in the last decade! Why? The obvious answer is, of course, technology and the ability to communicate and connect virtually. Employing remote workers is cheaper for employers. Corporations are looking at improving their bottom line.

As Richard Branson of Virgin America says, “We like to give people the freedom to work where they want, whether they’re at their desk or in their kitchen.” This can be a win-win for employers for a number of reasons. One is that remote workers are often more productive and work more hours.

Why people love remote work:

• Less office stress and fewer distractions.
• Asynchronous vs. synchronous communication. ‘Asynch’, for short, is when you send a message without expecting an immediate response. While working remotely you have the advantage of not needing to respond to information right away as you would in an in-person meeting or real-time conversation. This gives both sides more power to respond at a time that works best for them.
• Reduced costs for you as a worker. No, or fewer, commuting costs. Costs surrounding childcare or family care may be reduced. Less need to spend on a work wardrobe.
• More flexibility around family time.
• Being portable with your work. You’re able to move around, work where you need to.
• Flexibility with your schedule. You may be able to adjust your work hours around when your energy is at its peak.
• Remote workers are, on average, close to 30% happier in their jobs because they have more control. Tony Robbins makes the statement “We are happy to the degree that we have control of our lives.”

Does this sound like the work life you crave? Next time we’ll give you tips to help increase your attractiveness as a remote worker, look closely at industries/niches and specific job titles and how to find them, and how to put your plan into action.

Find out more information on our upcoming program to support remote work.