Imagine being able to work in a way that blends seamlessly into your lifestyle. Consider a world where you can take your work wherever you go instead of being tied down to one place every day of your life.
This kind of flexibility in the workplace hasn’t always been readily available. In the past, if you were a person who refused to be in a single location between 9-5 you weren’t fit for the working world.
Nowadays, with technology reaching monumental heights and the corporate understanding of work-life balance evolving, it’s become more likely for employees to work remotely.
Though, there’s a story behind such a shift in workplace culture. This fact should come as no surprise since it used to be expected that employees arrive at the office no matter what. Whether rain or shine, sick or healthy, or you were experiencing a family emergency, employees were expected to clock in and clock out. And they were supposed to be thankful they could even earn a paycheque.
However, in 2019, the world is a drastically different place. Read further as we explore the nature of remote work and how it’s become prevalent in today’s society:
What Does it Mean to Be Working Remotely?
To dispel any misconceptions, remote work from home isn’t the only form of this style of employment.
Really, working remotely is centered around the idea of professionals being afforded the option of doing their job outside of the confines of a traditional office.
Yes, performing your day-to-day duties and tasks at your own home is undoubtedly a viable option for remote workers. However, you can work remotely from a Starbucks, a library, in the Leaning Tower of Pisa (provided there’s WiFi), and really anywhere else in the world.
The concept of such a working style is based on the principle that to be successful, professionals don’t have to perform their functions in one specific place.
Look, anybody who’s experienced rush hour traffic traveling to and from the office doesn’t need to be sold too much on the notion of skipping the daily commute. Nor do they need much convincing about the benefits of not being glued to a desk in an office.
Although it’s becoming more of a norm, some individuals are still hesitant to take the leap. If that sounds like you, leave your trepidation at the doorstep. Remote work will only grow more prevalent, and you may as well reap its benefits ASAP.
Employers are becoming increasingly more comfortable with letting go and allowing their teams to execute their projects no matter their work location.
The modern approach to work offers the freedom of designing your days in a way that perfectly balances your personal and professional responsibilities. This allows you to live life in perfect harmony and capitalize on opportunities to travel or spend more time with your family.
Where Can You Work Remotely?
It’s fair to wonder exactly how you can work remotely.
Keep in mind that remote work has many forms. While some people hold positions for big corporations and can work most days remotely, they’re still expected to arrive at the office for crucial in-person meetings.
This kind of remote work is more traditional. Provided you’re approaching it this way, the chances are you’re spending most days at home or in a café until duty calls at the office.
Conversely, there’s a modern method of working remotely that’s becoming more commonplace. Instead of limiting yourself to a home office or the coffee shop down the street, it’s possible to complete your assignments in a coworking space.
These locations are known for being conducive to achieving your maximum productivity potential. Furthermore, they offer a strong sense of community and are regularly equipped with state-of-the-art technology. In the majority of coworking spaces, there’s high-functioning network connectivity and a wealth of opportunities to network with like-minded professionals from a broad range of professions and industries.
There’s a melting pot of professionals that fills these spaces, whether they’re full-time employees, career freelancers, or entrepreneurs.
If you’re an entrepreneur, for instance, it’s also possible to rent out an office space for you and your team.
What makes these spaces so great is that it’s a perfect marriage between the freedom of remote work and the structure of office space. Meaning, there are professional amenities and network opportunities not available at home, but without the constraints of having to be there.
Furthermore, remote employees have options in the manner of coworking space from which they might choose. If you’re interested in finding somewhere, there will be local spots located throughout your home city.
Though if you’re a seasoned remote worker who regularly travels for work (or you lead a nomadic lifestyle in general), there are coworking collective memberships. These groups have locations all across the world and ensure members have access to their services in an array of different cities and countries.
It’s not uncommon for remote workers to seek out world travel once they’ve shed the shackles of the 9-5 office lifestyle. Doing so offers perspective and networking opportunities that will be extraordinarily beneficial to your career.
What Jobs Can You Perform Remotely?
We would surmise that the five careers that tend to offer the most remote work opportunities are as follows:
- Accountant
- Engineer
- Tutor
- Writer
- Consultant
Naturally, freelancing and tech gigs are synonymous with remote work, as well. But it’s becoming more prevalent in other industries, such as healthcare and law, due to the monumental shift in technology.
With the internet at your disposal, the vital information is at your fingertips. A lot of the time, it’s as simple as starting your own business, depending on your profession. If that’s not an option, go to Google and type in “remote jobs near me.” You’d be amazed at the results.
Still, the above two methods won’t always get results, in which case, appeal to your own professional network to see what’s out there, initially.
Interestingly, LinkedIn doesn’t have an impressive reputation when it comes to finding remote work. This failure is because the platform is so successful, saturated, and cluttered with traditional job opportunities. Both Monster and Indeed are very much the same.
If you’re looking for something particular and niche in the realm of remote work, you require a more specialized platform. The items on our list give you just that.
What Kind of Companies Offer Remote Work?
Another integral aspect of finding remote work is understanding the process and knowing which companies offer such work. This knowledge will be acquired through experience—but it’s still worth understanding the various moving parts of remote work as an entity.
As a remote worker, you need to know the difference between a distributed company versus a partially distributed company.
A fully distributed company is an organization that lacks in a traditional office space, where every employee works remotely. While some colleagues might share a workspace if it’s convenient, the entirety of the staff usually works from different locations.
With fully distributed companies, the onboarding and training systems are finely tuned and pinpoint effective. When these companies commonly start, they’re already using a fully distributed model and are experts in that avenue.
Whereas, partially distributed companies have one or more remote worker but still have an office. They’re seen as remote work-friendly. Unfortunately, these organizations can run into a litany of problems with their remote workers. Primarily, it’s because they’re transitioning from being a centralized workforce to a remote one.
There is good news on this front. More partially distributed companies than ever have successfully implemented a remote work initiative. During the interview process with a partially distributed company, you should ask about their onboarding process. If it’s clear that remote onboarding is a priority for the organization, it’ll most likely be an optimal fit.
The biggest takeaway from this is when you do find a remote work opportunity, perform your due diligence. Ensure the company has the infrastructural framework in place for you to succeed as a remote worker.
What Are the Advantages of Working Remotely?
Below, is a comprehensive explanation of the most significant benefits of working remotely:
You’ll Produce at a Higher Rate:
- With more flexibility comes an influx of productivity
- Generally, remote employees are keener on going above and beyond to complete assignments when compared to employees at an office
- Studies indicate that 65% of the full-time workforce share the opinion that they get more work done if they could perform their duties on a remote basis
- 2/3rds of surveyed managers saw a jump in productivity when employees could work remotely
You’ll Save a Ton of Money
- Both companies and employees save with remote work—making it mutually beneficial
- Fully distributed companies can exist without the overhead of rent and office space, saving $22,000 per remote worker every year
- Employees save due to an array of factors:
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You’ll Be Enthusiastic About Your Work
- In one survey, 75% of remote employees said they’d quit their job for a remote position with another company
- Generally, employees more invested and engaged in their work when their job is remote
undefined - Another survey shows that remote workers feel more valued, and happier, in their role than non-remote workers
You’ll Learn How to Become a Self-Starter
- Working at home means there’s often no boss looking over your shoulder, but the deadlines and expectations still exist
- Developing the skills to be motivated when left to your own devices will help you if you ever want to start your own business
- You’ll also have the freedom to figure out a working model that’s specifically catered to your best attributes
What Misconceptions do People Have About Remote Workers?
First and foremost, many people seem to think that remote workers struggle with communication.
In 2019, this just isn’t the case at all. Yes, as a remote worker, you won’t be around at the office to talk about the latest Marvel movie or who won between the Cowboys and Packers. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t be directly plugged into what’s going on with the business through video calls.
Sure, emails could work too—but a video call is a convenient way to clear up any confusion that could be caused by the written word. Also, it helps the two parties connect on a more personal level.
Another misconception about remote workers is that they don’t do any work. As we’ve already discussed, that statistics are in, and remote workers – in most cases – perform better than their office dwelling counterparts. Mainly, this fact exists because remote workers are self-starters by nature who are at their best with a flexible schedule.
Why Should You Work Remotely?
As the world changes, the traditional office space is becoming less relevant. More and more people will be able to work remotely in a way that completely fits their lifestyle and enhances their quality of life.
So, why not get started today by checking out our job listings here:
