The pandemic might be long gone, but we’ve all learned some life-changing lessons along the way. For starters, according to a 2022 study by the BLS, at least 60% of companies plan to keep remote work in place for the foreseeable future.
That’s likely to mean more remote job opportunities for those who can’t bear a daily work commute or simply prefer remote work. Working from home isn’t always easy, and it’s not suited to every kind of job either, but it’s fast becoming the new normal in a wide range of industries.
Are you interested in saying goodbye to the hassle of working in-house for good? Keep reading to find out about the types of remote jobs that might suit your portfolio of skills.
What Are the Benefits of Remote Work?
Remote work has huge benefits for both employers and employees.
When they don’t need to accommodate dozens of workers in-house, business owners save on rent as well as office consumables.
There’s also less chance of a mass flu outbreak when workers are separate from one another. This can prevent the usual annual upswing in sick leave at certain times of the year.
Finally, remote work means employees can work free from distractions, and this makes for a more productive workforce.
For employees, remote work has a ton of benefits, including:
- Freedom to work irregular hours
- A better work-life balance
- Avoiding expensive, time-consuming commutes
- Freedom from distractions
There are also a few cons involved in working remotely. For starters, you’ll need to carry the cost of increased electricity bills and may need to invest in some office equipment to do your job successfully.
For those who enjoy the social aspect of work, or who crave supervision with difficult tasks, remote work can seem overwhelming and lonely.
If that’s you, look up company reviews when searching for jobs and read what the employees have to say about their work environment. Many companies have mastered the art of maintaining a community spirit and supporting their workers from afar.
Identify Your Strengths
Not every type of job lends itself to remote work. For instance, if you’re a skilled industrial machine operator, you’ll need an in-house position with the relevant equipment.
That said, there is a great diversity of jobs that are highly suited to working from home. As a potential remote worker, your task is to find the one that’s best suited to you.
Remember, you don’t need to stick to what you’ve always done. In this age of innovation, there are many possibilities you might not have considered. That means, you can still enjoy the perks of remote work, even if you’re an experienced industrial worker.
It all begins with taking an honest look at yourself and your capabilities.
What Skills Do You Have?
Make a list of all the things you can do. Include all the things you’ve learned in your previous jobs.
Your combined skills might be just what a modern-day employer is looking for. It’s also important to consider how you fared in each of these skill sets.
Did you enjoy the work? Were there aspects you simply never mastered? Can you brush up on your skills in any area?
If you’ve worked as a telephone operator before, but you hated every minute, it doesn’t make sense to put yourself through that torture again.
Remember to list all the software you’ve mastered along the way, too. This information will prove invaluable when you start your search for remote work.
What Are Your Passions?
Unemployment is never pleasant, but you can take the sting out of it if you look at this time as an opportunity to branch out into something new.
It’s often said you’ll never work a day in your life if you’re doing what you love. Now’s the time to take that expression to heart.
Look at your list and highlight the job aspects you enjoyed the most. At this point, you should also make a list of any hobbies or interests that you enjoy.
For instance, if you love fishing, and you have data entry skills, you’ll enjoy yourself more if you’re doing data entry work for a related business.
Which Types of Jobs Need Your Skills?
In a rapidly changing world, new work opportunities spring up all the time. There’s a chance your perfect job exists, but you haven’t heard about it yet.
With the huge growth of the internet of late, there are many new jobs available today that didn’t exist five years ago. These include:
- Community manager
- Social media manager
- Content manager
- Virtual reality consultant
- User experience manager
The best way to find jobs that suit your skill set is with an online search. Scan remote job worksites to find jobs that require the skills you already have.
When you see some you like, write down these job titles to help you further your search.
Other Skills You Need For Remote Work
Apart from qualifications and experience, remote employers need their workers to meet a strict set of criteria. To succeed at remote work, you need:
Discipline
It’s easy to slack off when you don’t have a supervisor breathing down your neck. Employers who hire remote workers need people they can trust to get the job done.
If you struggle with discipline or procrastination, it’s best to apply for a position where your earnings depend on performance or one that uses time-tracking software to help keep you on track.
Dedication
You need a certain amount of stick-to-it-ness to thrive as a remote employee. A passion for what you do helps keep you focused, and shows employers you’re committed to the long haul.
Teachability and Tech Savvyness
Almost all remote jobs have a tech component. After all, most remote jobs would be impossible without email and the internet.
Basic tech abilities might get your foot in the door, but you’re likely in for a steep learning curve when it comes to mastering your employer’s company software and collaboration tools.
Types of Remote Jobs
Not every remote job involves working at home full time. These are the different degrees of remote work available nowadays:
Fully Remote
These jobs mean you never have to go into an office again. Your home becomes your office, and you can perform your tasks from anywhere in the world.
That doesn’t mean a life of indoor confinement and isolation. A remote sales job might involve customer visits, trade shows,  and even exciting road trips to meet new clients.
Remote, But Local
Although you might work remotely in these positions, your employer has location requirements. They might want you to pop into the office occasionally or have legal requirements regarding who they hire.
Other location-specific jobs might require workers in other areas to help the business expand its market.
Hybrid work
Hybrid jobs have a set requirement for visits to the office. Usually, you’ll need to work in-house two to three times a week.
Where to Search for Remote Jobs
Most job boards have plenty of remote jobs available nowadays. You can start your search on well-known ones like Indeed, Glassdoor, and LinkedIn. Other websites that center around remote work include:
- Jobspresso
- FlexJobs
- Remote.co
- NoDesk
- AngelList
Remember, to refine your search according to the type of remote job you want, i.e., hybrid or 100% remote.
Refining Your Skills
During your search for jobs, you might come across some promising positions where you fall short of the requirements. Fortunately, we also live in an era where online learning is not only common but it’s accepted everywhere and is sometimes offered for free.
For instance, if you’re interested in a remote editing job but only have writing skills, you can undergo editing or proofreading training online. For the most part, these online schools offer excellent tutorials, lectures, notes, and student support.
Some top online schools include:
- ALISON
- Udemy
- Coursera
- edX
- LinkedIn Learning
Many universities and colleges also offer remote courses nowadays, including the University of Florida, Purdue University, and Utah State University. Harvard University and MIT even offer free online courses in some subjects.
Acing Your Remote Work Interview
When you work remotely, you needn’t dress to impress every day, but you still need to create a good impression during your interview.
In some cases, you might need to visit your employer’s office to interview for a remote position, especially if you’re applying for hybrid or locally-based remote work. In most cases, your prospective employer will interview you online.
This is likely to involve a video conferencing tool like Zoom. Wear a business casual outfit and make sure your hair is neat, it’s vital to make a good impression.
Make sure you’re positioned against a professional-looking background or use a filter that removes the background.
Most apps have this functionality, but it pays to check the one you’re using before your interview starts. If you can’t remove the background, it’s best to position yourself against a clean, blank wall.
Be sure to test your technology to make sure everything’s working properly before your interview starts.
Apart from inquiring about your skills, experience, and life goals, your interviewer will likely ask some questions specifically aimed at remote work. These may include:
- Whether you have a reliable internet connection
- Your hours available to work
- Your available technology
- Any previous remote working experience
It’s most important to appear calm and confident during your interview. After all, your new job might involve many online meetings.
You should focus on convincing your interviewer that you’re not only capable of doing the work, but that you’re confident in your ability to work remotely.
Some employers might skip the interview process. For instance, if you’re applying for a job as a freelance writer, you might skip straight ahead to a skills test.
Setting Up a Remote Workspace
A quiet place where you can work undisturbed is vital for successful remote work. You’ll only get away with lounging around on the sofa in your PJs for so long.
You don’t need a dedicated office, but you must set aside a no-go zone in your home where you’re free from distractions. A desk in your bedroom, a corner of the dining room table, or a space in the living room will do fine.
Remember, you’ll focus better on your job-seeking tasks too if you’ve got an area dedicated to work-related activities.
You’ll need a few basics to get started with remote work, including:
- A laptop or desktop computer
- A mobile phone
- A work surface
- An internet connection
- A diary
- AÂ filing system and storage
- Stationery
- External speakers
- An external hard drive
- A comfortable chair
Most people find an external screen, keyboard, and mouse help prevent backache and stiffness when they’re working for long hours. A printer is a nice-to-have, but not essential in modern times.
Live Smarter
With so many types of remote jobs and freelance work available today, it makes sense to keep your options open, whether you’re unemployed or looking for something new.
Working remotely saves you time and money and allows you to spend more time with your family.
When you set your work hours, you needn’t miss out on your children’s sports activities or school events. You can simply catch up on any missed time when everyone’s gone to bed.
Plus, when you can work from anywhere, it’s easy to slip away for a mid-week break when you need a change of scenery.
Are you interested in more ways to maximize your time? Browse our blog for useful tips on how to navigate the intricacies of life at work and home.
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