How to Keep Working from Home?

Question:

I’ve discovered I really like working from home, and I don’t want to go back to my old job. What should I do now, to be prepared for the end of the pandemic?

Answer:

Good for you, thinking ahead!

The good news is that you’ve now done the test, and you know you like working from home. Many people always thought they would, and are now finding out the hard way that they don’t.

However, don’t quit your old job just yet. Many people are making the same discovery you are, and there will be massive competition for those WFH jobs.

Another piece of good news: employers are realizing that far more jobs can be done from home than they previously acknowledged. If you like the work you do, maybe you can take your current job home, long term. This might be a good time to start that conversation with your boss.

Will you need to look for a new job, or perhaps a whole new career? This is a good time to figure that out as well. Check out the resources on FrederickWORKS.com, including two previous Ask the Career Coach blogs, “Work from Home” and “Work from Home, Part 2,” for advice on avoiding scams. New hoaxes are coming online every day.

Think about your transferable skills, those things you do well that you take with you to every job. You can find a list at MyPlan.com, along with many other career-planning tools.

If you’re interested in freelancing, there are many opportunities out there. Some good places to start are Flexjobs.com, Upwork.com, and Fiverr.com. LinkedIn is a good source of WFH jobs too. Click on the Jobs tab at the top; in the “City, state, or zip code” box, click the down arrow and choose “Remote.”

There may be other websites that cater to your industry.

Perhaps it could be time to start your own business. The Maryland Small Business Development Center can help you do that. Check out their website at mdsbdc.org. Keep an open mind; there are many small WFH businesses that you’ve probably never heard of, that might be just the thing for you.

There are many options open to you, and Workforce Services can help. Check out Frederickworks.com for our online resources; when it opens to the public again, there will be many new resources available. Just don’t burn your bridges in the meantime.