REMOTE WORK GET STARTED GUIDE 

WHAT TO THINK ABOUT BEFORE WORKING FROM HOME

 

So you’re interested in working from home. Many people desire this career path for a number of reasons: more desirable lifestyle, less stress, money savings on commuting expenses, etc. All of these, and more, are good enough reasons to pursue a work from home job. 

But what do you need to know before embarking on this career path that could help you avoid potential pitfalls? And how do you know if working remotely is a good fit for you? 

The purpose of this guide is to get you thinking about some areas of remote work that often aren’t thought of so that you can be better informed. 

This get started guide presents a list of areas you may want to consider before moving forward in the work from home process. 

1- What’s your ‘why’? 

Why do you desire to work from home? It’s important to list the reasons you want to work from home so that you have clarity about what your goals are when securing a remote job. Knowing what you want will help you avoid what you do not want. For example, if you desire to work from home because you want to save money on commuting, then you’d know to avoid applying to homebased sales jobs that require you to drive to clients/businesses or homebased ride share jobs. 

2- Career Areas 

Establish what type of job(s) you’re interested in doing remotely. Keep in mind, your chances of getting hired for a career greatly depends on your education and experience. Most folks have work experience in multiple areas. For example: you’ve worked as an administrative assistant, substitute teacher, and retail customer service. You could go for an online administrative role, online tutor, or an online customer service rep with those experiences. You may also desire to transition to a new career field. This is fine and quite common, but those desired positions will need to be no experience friendly – yes, even if you have years of work experience in other areas. 

3- Pay and Benefits 

Your pay and benefits also greatly depends on your education and experience. You’ll want to consider those factors when establishing the pay you’re seeking. A great resource for knowing how much a particular career field pays is www.bls.gov Another useful resource is www.Glassdoor.com – you can check the company’s profile and find the pay for specific positions and benefits reported by employees. 

4- Work From Home Environment 

All work from home jobs require a conducive work environment. It’s best to have a dedicated area that can be closed off and has a desk and chair where you can comfortably work. You’ll need to have a quiet work space free from all noise and distractions. It’s important everyone in your household is also aware of their noise level during your work hours. 

You’ll also need a care plan for dependents such as young children and anyone you care for. You will not be able to run back and forth to check on your dependents during work hours. In this regard, it’s no different than if you had to physically leave your home to work. 

5-Home Office Equipment 

Every online job requires equipment. Most folks already have a desktop or laptop. But, you’ll need to check the 

requirements of the job to know if your current technology will meet the company’s requirements – usually this info is included on the job lead. Also, some companies will provide the necessary equipment for the role. 

And to add, I don’t recommend purchasing anything before signing on to work with a company. I do, however, 

recommend saving or having a budget set aside to get any needed equipment. It’s best to have the money set aside and not need it, then to need the money, but not have it. 

For a list of equipment to consider, you can check HERE.

6- Apply to Jobs 

Once you’ve sorted through the above steps, it’s time to start searching for online jobs. You’ll want to create a schedule and have a strategy for how you apply to increase your chances for getting hired. If you’re not sure what steps to take next or if you’re looking for a little more guidance, I have digital courses that help you succeed in your remote work journey. You can check them out HERE