Working from home. For many it’s the ultimate dream. No commutes, no dress code, no cubicle, no coworkers with whistling, toe-tapping, or pen chewing quirks to drive you mad. The list of pros is long and well-established, and as someone who has been working from home for over a year now, I can tell you personally that it’s pretty freakin’ awesome!
However, I think that all of these exciting pros can sometimes distract people from considering a few of the realities that also come along with the benefits. I won’t say they are cons, per se, but they are factors that require some consideration.
First off, you need to be able to work independently and have a strong sense of self-motivation. You have to be the type of person who can work hard and keep the same level of productivity you would if your boss was beside you instead of across the city, country, or even world. Your house holds many distractions, and you have to be able to shut them out during working hours and achieve the same level of productivity as you would in the actual office.
That being said, I think you also need to have the ability to go from “work mode” to “relax mode.” Even if your home doubles as your office, when you are done for the day, it’s important to actually be done. Since you may not actually walk out the door when you quit for the day, it can be hard to make yourself wind down and get away from your work. You may want to finish up one more assignment, reply to one more e-mail, or make one more phone call, but I think it’s important to keep a balance in your life and not become obsessed over your work. Working from home doesn’t mean essentially being “on call” 24/7.
The final—and I think probably most important—factor to consider is whether you are the type of person who can spend your working days alone. As a writer, I thrive on it. When I get on a roll with writing and am having one of those moments where sentences are coming together easily, it is frustrating to have that momentum ground to a halt by distractions from others. On the other side of the coin, if I am having one of those days where it’s a fight for every word, it’s equally dismaying to try to get the ball rolling when distracted by the actions and activities of those around me.
I don’t think I’m anti-social by any means, but I’m definitely a person who does my best work when I’m alone. However, there is absolutely such a thing as too much alone time; therefore, I think it’s incredibly important to have a busy, people-filled life outside of your work. If you are going to spend your days in solitude, I think you need to have some sort of hobby or activity that involves a lot of people to fill up your downtime.
Social interaction is vitally important, and you don’t want to end up feeling cut off from the world. When I’m not working, I’m at the barn, riding and training horses with a big group of awesome people who I love being involved with. And when I’m not doing that, I’m spending much-needed time with my friends, boyfriend, and family. Without these opportunities to hang out with plenty of people, I’m pretty sure working from home would transform from being an amazing opportunity that I’m incredibly thankful for to an unbearable prison sentence that I attempt to endure.
Hopefully I’ve given you a better understanding of what it takes to successfully work from home. If you feel it’s a good fit for your career goals and lifestyle, here are some career options that tend to offer the opportunity to work from home.
Writing/Editing
Obviously, I can tell you from personal experience that writing and editing jobs are a perfect fit for working from home. As mentioned above, since writing is an activity that often requires plenty of concentration and comes most easily when you aren’t distracted out of your groove, it’s a great option for a career from home. Being a copywriter, copyeditor, freelance journalist, and author are just some of the possibilities. So whether you want to become a freelancer, an entrepreneur, or secure a position within an existing business, a writing position is a legitimate at-home career.
Graphic Design/Desktop Publishing
A position in the field of graphic design or desktop publishing is another great possibility for careers from home. As with writing, the design field requires uninterrupted creativity and concentration, and working independently from home can allow you the freedom to work through the creative process without distraction. In the design and publishing field, you could find yourself responsible for creating anything from logos and business cards to vehicle decals and signage. It is also another field that can offer opportunities within businesses and organizations, or provide entrepreneurial and freelancing avenues.
Administration
Administration-based positions, from administrative assisting to accounting are viable options for legitimate jobs from home. Companies often contract out for positions like bookkeepers, data entry clerks, and even paralegals. And, with today’s telecommunication technology, it’s simple to communicate through video conferencing, access internal information through networks, and e-mail assignments and projects.
Information Technology
IT jobs center around computer technology, and the computers in question don’t necessarily need to be within an office—they can just as easily be within a home. In fact, when I need technical assistance, our tech geniuses connect to my computer remotely and work their magic to get everything running as it should (while I stare in awe as my mouse comes alive without me touching it and begins working seemingly by itself). Whether your IT interest relates to networking, programming, support, security, or administration, there are many options for at-home-friendly jobs in this vast field.
Medical Transcription
When most people think of health care careers, they tend to think of doctors, nurses, and surgeons working directly with patients. However, the health industry also requires plenty of employees who tend to work more “behind-the-scenes” to help ensure health care facilities operate accurately and efficiently. There are plenty of administrative careers in health care, and some of them can even be done from home. A prime example is medical transcription, which involves taking the voice recordings or hand-written notes and files of medical professionals and transcribing them into digital form. From physical exam reports to progress notes to patient histories, you can help ensure patient files are organized, accurate, and complete.
These are just a few examples of the types of at-home careers that exist. More and more employers are starting to realize the benefits of “telecommuting.” For example, a North Carolina state audit found that in NC alone, the state could save over $23 million through increased productivity, lowered employee turnover, and reduced office space costs simply by allowing just five percent of employees to telecommute. So do more research, tune up your resume (or even a telecommuting proposal for your current employer), and get ready to enjoy working in your underwear. Just kidding (maybe…)!
