You have just started working remotely or are looking for remote work opportunities – perhaps largely due to the COVID-19 situation – and you have no idea where to start. The good news is that you will find a plethora of great resources on the internet to help you during the transition period. The bad news is that it really is all about survival. What do I mean by that? Well, it’s not as easy as simply working from your bed or sofa every day and thinking the rest is history.
Let me start by saying remote work is about dedication and growth. If it isn’t abundantly clear, from the start, that you are serious about what you do, then you will lose any chance at gaining anyone’s trust. If, somehow, you manage to convince your employer/client that you are a hard-working individual, then don’t think you’re out of the woods yet. You also have to prove that you are willing to grow. That you are willing to learn new skills. There are a myriad of opportunities on remote work platforms, such as Upwork, but you don’t even stand a chance if you don’t provide evidence of a portfolio that outlines your various skills. For those who switched to remote work with an existing employer, bear in mind that it isn’t the time for slacking off. It’s the time to show them that working remotely increases productivity.
There are a couple of things that employers expect from you when working remotely. Firstly, they look at accountability and transparency. You have to show that you’re dedicated to what it is you do and you do it with maximum transparency. If there are no clear outcomes from your job, then you should either find some or you will probably be expected to use some kind of time-tracking software. It is therefore vital to discuss this with your employer as soon as possible so that everyone is aligned from the start. Secondly, that remote work serves some purpose other than keeping you employed. Sure, you can be a great employee. You can be the Superman of employees, but if there are no clear benefits for the employer/client, then you might as well clear your virtual desk. This means that you should always be proactive and always provide the outcomes as evidence of you being productive.
Yes, it all sounds rather complex. It can be. However, once you get accustomed to the new way of doing things, it is apparent that it is still much better to work remotely.
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