Working remotely requires mobile professionals not to buy into the myths, and instead promote the reality and potential that remote work arrangements can provide. Discover the myths of remote work and how to prevent them from becoming reality.
1. Get Up When You Want
Myth: You will still be bound by the hours of operation of your work place, so thinking that you don't have to start working until noon is a very bad idea to have and an even worse practice to get into.
Fact: You rely on onsite co-workers to be available when you need them, so it's important that you are considerate of their needs. Even when traveling you must still let your office be aware of when and where you can be reached, with applicable time differences taken into account.
2. Work When You Want
Myth: Working when you want is part of the appeal of remote work. The reality is that you may be restricted to working within a specified set of hours each day. For example, some companies only have their computer system available and running for a set period each day. The system is not available beyond that time.
Fact: The hours you work should be put into any Remote Work Agreement to avoid problems
and misunderstanding.
3. Work in Your PJ's
Myth: You can work in your pj's every day or even work naked! Dress rules no longer apply.
Fact: People who get dressed properly each morning tend to have higher productivity and feel better about themselves. Some people set up a routine for themselves where they get up and proceed just as though they were going to the office.
When traveling, you may wish to wear more casual attire until you reach your destination, then
change into your suit or other appropriate attire.
4. All Play and No Work
Myth: You can spend all day playing the latest computer games or work on perfecting your golf
scores. You don't have to account to anyone for your time.
Fact: You will get found out and you could risk losing your job - not just the remote work arrangement. Save game playing for non-work time. When traveling by air or rail, play should be a last priority and only if completing any work is not possible. Think of the impression you leave with others who may see you.
5. Social Phone Calls All Day
Myth: You can spend all day talking with friends and family. You don't have to worry about co-workers trying to reach you.
Fact: Tying up your phone with personal calls may cause you to miss important work related calls. This is very true when traveling as you may not have Internet access and cannot check e-mail as often. If you use your cell phone often and for non-work related matters you will be responsible for the charges incurred.
6. Visit with Family & Friends
Myth: Spending time visiting eases isolation and is great while traveling.
Fact: Whether you are working from your home office or traveling to other locations, you should not use company time for visiting. Doing so violates the trust placed in you and shows no respect for the company that you work for.
7. Never See the Office Again
Myth: You will never have to return to the office site again, for any reason.
Fact: For some this just may be one of the biggest reasons to work remotely. You can avoid all the distractions, stay out of the politics and rumor mills. This is not realistic.
If one reason that has motivated your desire to work remotely is to get away from people in the
office, please don't broadcast that! It is in your best interest to keep quiet and just enjoy
privately that you won't have to be there.
8. Royal Treatment
Myth: You are owed and entitled to all the luxuries that hotels offer while traveling, on the company dime of course.
Fact: If you believe this, you are mistaken. You are not there for your personal pleasure and the bills are being paid by your company. Use common sense when traveling and don't go overboard with room service or other expensive activities unless you are prepared to pay for them yourself and use them on your own time.
9. Gadgets Galore
Myth: You need all the latest and greatest gadgets known to work remotely.
Fact: Use only the mobile gear that allows you to accomplish your job and that is absolutely required to do so.
Your company has a budget to follow and providing mobile workers with all the latest and greatest mobile gear can have significant impact on their bottom line.
Remember part of the appeal remote work offers company is saving money - eating the budget with mobile gear defeats that purpose.
10. Out of Sight = Out of Mind
Myth: You will be forgotten about and never receive another promotion or raise again.
Fact: Just because you are not in the office everyday does not mean you have fallen off the promotion track. With well trained managers and proper evaluation procedures in place, remote workers should have no fear of losing out on promotions because of their work environment.
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Article Written By,
Catherine Roseberry, Author
Your Guide to Mobile Office Technology
Showing posts with label remote position. Show all posts
Showing posts with label remote position. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Telecommute OR Run My Own Business?
WHAT IS TELECOMMUTING?
Telecommuters work for one or more companies that offer telecommuting jobs. The most common jobs are outbound and inbound phone calls. These are usually sales or customer service calls. There are also quite a few data entry positions available. Competition for telecommuting jobs is fierce. It may take a little while to find your first job, but once you get a foot in the door, and have some experience in the industry to add to your resume it will get easier to get other positions.
Telecommuters know how many hours per week they are going to work and as well as what time they work. For example, a telecommuter may work from 7 to 11 am Monday through Friday. The big advantage of working as a telecommuter is that you get a paycheck each week, or every other week that you can count on. You know exactly how much money you will have coming in and can budget accordingly.
Even though it is referred to as a telecommuting job, telecommuters are usually independent contractors who are responsible for their own taxes, and don’t enjoy any of the benefits like insurance, paid vacation and a 401K plan that traditional employees receive.
The disadvantages are that you can only work as many hours as the company has work for you, and the company decides how much to pay you. This obviously limits you in the amount of money you can earn as a telecommuter. Yes, you can sign up with several telecommuting companies to get more hours, but in the end, the day only has 24 hours and you are limited in how much you can work in a given week.
WHAT IS OWNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS
Owning your own business gives you a lot of flexibility. You decide what your online business is going to be about. The only limiting factor is whether or not it is profitable. You also make your own hours and decide how much you want to earn.
If you have a service based business, like working as a Virtual Assistant, you can set an hourly rate, if you sell your own product, you can add to your product to raise the price, or step up your marketing efforts to make more sales. As an affiliate marketer, you can create more sites, and drive more traffic to your existing sites. You can also tweak how you present content ads and affiliate products on your site. Both of these practices will result in more affiliate sales and thus more income for you.
The downsides of owning your own business are that it takes some time to get things started and that it takes a fair amount of discipline to keep going. There is no boss setting deadlines or making your schedule. You are the one that decides what needs to be done and then takes care of it, or finds someone else to outsource it to.
Getting the business started takes a lot of time and effort without much payoff to begin with. It can be discouraging at times. But with some determination and a willingness to learn, you can create a nice income working from home, and keep growing it, preferably by working less.
SO WHICH OPTION IS RIGHT FOR ME?
Now that you have a basic understanding of the two and how telecommuting is different from running your own business, it is up to you to decide which one you would like to pursue. If making money right away and being able to count on a paycheck each week are important to you, give telecommuting a try.
On the other hand if you are a self-motivated individual, enjoy the freedom to decide when and how much you will work in any given week and don't mind the ups and downs in cash flow that come with owning your own business, go for it. Take your pick and give it a try. The most important thing is that you get started with something to allow you to stay home and enjoy your time with your loving family.
_______________________________________________
Article written by Nell Taliercio of Telecommuting Moms
Telecommuters work for one or more companies that offer telecommuting jobs. The most common jobs are outbound and inbound phone calls. These are usually sales or customer service calls. There are also quite a few data entry positions available. Competition for telecommuting jobs is fierce. It may take a little while to find your first job, but once you get a foot in the door, and have some experience in the industry to add to your resume it will get easier to get other positions.
Telecommuters know how many hours per week they are going to work and as well as what time they work. For example, a telecommuter may work from 7 to 11 am Monday through Friday. The big advantage of working as a telecommuter is that you get a paycheck each week, or every other week that you can count on. You know exactly how much money you will have coming in and can budget accordingly.
Even though it is referred to as a telecommuting job, telecommuters are usually independent contractors who are responsible for their own taxes, and don’t enjoy any of the benefits like insurance, paid vacation and a 401K plan that traditional employees receive.
The disadvantages are that you can only work as many hours as the company has work for you, and the company decides how much to pay you. This obviously limits you in the amount of money you can earn as a telecommuter. Yes, you can sign up with several telecommuting companies to get more hours, but in the end, the day only has 24 hours and you are limited in how much you can work in a given week.
WHAT IS OWNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS
Owning your own business gives you a lot of flexibility. You decide what your online business is going to be about. The only limiting factor is whether or not it is profitable. You also make your own hours and decide how much you want to earn.
If you have a service based business, like working as a Virtual Assistant, you can set an hourly rate, if you sell your own product, you can add to your product to raise the price, or step up your marketing efforts to make more sales. As an affiliate marketer, you can create more sites, and drive more traffic to your existing sites. You can also tweak how you present content ads and affiliate products on your site. Both of these practices will result in more affiliate sales and thus more income for you.
The downsides of owning your own business are that it takes some time to get things started and that it takes a fair amount of discipline to keep going. There is no boss setting deadlines or making your schedule. You are the one that decides what needs to be done and then takes care of it, or finds someone else to outsource it to.
Getting the business started takes a lot of time and effort without much payoff to begin with. It can be discouraging at times. But with some determination and a willingness to learn, you can create a nice income working from home, and keep growing it, preferably by working less.
SO WHICH OPTION IS RIGHT FOR ME?
Now that you have a basic understanding of the two and how telecommuting is different from running your own business, it is up to you to decide which one you would like to pursue. If making money right away and being able to count on a paycheck each week are important to you, give telecommuting a try.
On the other hand if you are a self-motivated individual, enjoy the freedom to decide when and how much you will work in any given week and don't mind the ups and downs in cash flow that come with owning your own business, go for it. Take your pick and give it a try. The most important thing is that you get started with something to allow you to stay home and enjoy your time with your loving family.
_______________________________________________
Article written by Nell Taliercio of Telecommuting Moms
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