7 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Go Remote
Thinking of going remote? We’ve got 7 questions to ask yourself before you turn in the nine-to-five day job for something a little more flexible. It’s our opinion that remote work is the way of the future, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have to be prepared for it. Take a read through the questions below to see if remote working is something that will flow with your personality and lifestyle. If so, then you’ve got an exciting and ambitious future ahead of you.
1. Do you work well independently?
Remote workers have to have strong work ethics and function at their bests even when they’re working solo. While coworking spaces have made it so that remote workers needn’t be isolated all of the time, more often than not, even in a coworking space you’ll be working on your own project that is independent from the other remote workers around you. If you’re working from home, realize that you won’t have anybody swinging by your desk every few hours to make sure you’re on task. Remote workers take on responsibility for themselves and their work, which for most, is one of the most rewarding parts of the process.
2. Are you self-disciplined?
Going hand-in-hand with working independently is being self-disciplined. Because remote workers often have an incredibly flexible schedule, self-discipline becomes vital in ensuring that remote workers are actually getting their work done. If you know that you have a solid eight hours of work ahead of you for the day to meet a deadline, you have to be willing and able to wake up and work instead of heading out for recreational activities for the day. The flip side of this? Because you make your own schedule, you can determine when you want to schedule full work days and when you want to take some time off.
3. Do you have an updated portfolio and resume?
While there are remote positions that are full-time, providing both a salary and benefits, many remote workers are freelance contractors. Freelancers, because they are constantly acquiring new clients (especially when they’ve just begun their freelance careers), need to have an updated resume and professional portfolio for job applications.
4. Are you a good communicator?
Almost every job requires good communication, and remote work is no exception. In fact, remote workers often need to have a stronger sense of communication than their in-office counterparts, as they’ll be working independently. Since freedom and flexibility are allotted to remote workers, hiring managers expect said remote workers to keep them in the loop when it comes to project progress and the like. Phone, video, email, and messaging skills are important ones in the world of remote working.
5. Can your current employer be your first client?
If you’re still contemplating making the jump into remote working, a great place to start is with your current employer. Set aside some time to speak with your current boss about turning your in-office job into a remote job. While some employers may be hesitant at first, many can be convinced after a remote trial period. Even beginning by only working remotely for one or two days a week is a great place to start.
6. Are you capable of being flexible?
Some people thrive on structure, and while remote working can have implemented structure (usually at the remote worker’s doing), many remote jobs require flexibility from employees. Fortunately, for most remote workers, being flexible makes their remote career that much more interesting and engaging. By being flexible, remote workers strengthen their own skills and abilities.
7. Do you have good organization skills?
Last but certainly not least, organization abilities are pertinent for remote workers, as they’re responsible for their own file management and project sorting. Additionally, if you’re working for multiple clients, organization becomes that much more important, as you don’t want to be confusing your assignments or missing deadlines because of an information overload. Remote workers who stay on top of their organizing tend to thrive in their careers, being able to take on heavy workloads and keep track of it.
Originally published on Remote.com
