Working from home is the ideal situation for many people. It means you avoid commuting to and from work, you can improve work-life balance and in times of uncertainty like we find ourselves in now, it means you can be safe in your own bubble. Whatever your reasons for working from home are, here is how you can find remote work.
The first step is to find out what’s right for you. Despite the perks of remote work, it’s not actually suited for everyone. It’s important to take time to access what your situation is.
You need to ask yourself are you self-motivated enough to stay on task, will you be lonely or left out, will you be able to get the right balance between work and home life and will you be able to communicate effectively over the phone, video call or emails.
It’s essential to be sure you’re doing it for the right reasons too. Your employer will be able to tell if you are motivated or if you just want to slack.
Secondly, it’s important to access whether or not you’ll be able to stay in touch with your team in the office. Being tech-savvy is crucial to this. You don’t need to be an expert in every form of software, but knowing the basics is necessary.
Set up social media accounts, a blog or website to keep in touch with people in a professional way. Build up your network and remote working opportunities will become more attainable. After all, your employer may be best friends with someone you interact within your network who may put in a good word for you.
Next, it’s important that you have the right skills for the role. Your technical ability will come into play with this, but it’s vital that you have general valuable skills that will show you’re worthy of the job. For example, trustworthiness, autonomy and a love of the job will make you attractive.
Show self-motivation and great communication on your CV and cover letter. Offer some examples of your work or projects you’ve worked on to show your initiative. If you can prove to them that you can in fact deliver, then do!
Finally, versatility is key when it comes to remote working and finding opportunities is no different. There are many ways to find remote work such as through job forums or even social media. Just make sure to do the necessary research on any job opportunities or companies you come across. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
When you’re happy with the job you’re in, you could ask your employer if remote working is an option. If it is not, you could instead ask for more flexible working hours and access the options available to you from this.
Getting the opportunity to try out remote working in this context means that you’ll get to figure out if it is right for you. You can then make any transition to remote working jobs that you desire with ease. You will be able to show future employers that it doesn’t phase you. Becoming a freelancer could also be a viable option for you.
Need help with your CV? Check out our post here!
