Remote Work: Is It Right for You?

By Jenni Allnutt, Federal Jobs Coach/Trainer

According to a 2023 article in FORBES Magazine regarding the state of Remote Work in the U.S, 12.7% of the workforce is now working remotely full-time. Additionally, 28.2% of the workforce is working in a hybrid capacity. FORBES further estimates that by 2025 up to 22% of US workers will be full-time remote, which equates to about 32.6 million people. Remote work is here to stay.

How do you determine whether working remotely is for you? A few questions to ask yourself:

  • “Can I work alone?” Are you someone who is more productive working remotely? Are you an introvert? If so, remote work could be for you.

  • Do you understand the concept of work/life balance as a potential remote worker? Most people think of work/life balance as the desire to avoid a 2–4-hour daily commute/getting home late/picking up children from aftercare etc. But work/life balance also applies to remote workers. If you are working remotely, are you actually giving the employer extra hours each day since you aren’t commuting? Are you working for a company on the West Coast and starting work at noon and ending at 8?

  • Are you a good written communicator? To work successfully remotely, you have to possess excellent written communication skills. How do you communicate with your teams remotely? Are you up to speed on the latest collaborative/communications platforms?

After determining that remote work is a good fit, it’s time to search for opportunities. Here’s a list of the top occupations for remote workers:

Sales

Medical/Health

Accounting/Finance

Education/Training

Business/Development

Account Management

Customer Service

Marketing

IT/Computers

Project Management

Getting up to speed on collaborative tools can also give you an edge in applying for remote work. Here are some platforms to add a working knowledge to your toolbox:

  • Instant Messenger Platforms – Slack, Google Chat, Hip Chat

  • Video Conferencing Platforms – Zoom, Google Meets, Skype, GoTo and Join.me

  • File Sharing and Document Collaborating Sites – Google Drive, Microsoft One Drive, Dropbox

  • Virtual Office Environments – Yammer, Sococo, Microsoft Teams

Free training can be found on LinkedIn Learning (free with a digital library card), Alison.com and more.

 BEWARE OF SCAMS! If it sounds too good to be true, it is, period. Never respond to inquiries requesting personal information such as your bank account number. Look for clues in a company’s email address. If the email is poorly written, if there is no reference to the company name in the email address itself, then it may be a scam. If you are being asked to pay for training, your home office, or other items, that is also a red flag. You can always visit your local American Job Center to have the staff look at a potential remote job announcements with you if you are concerned. You can also visit your local American Job Center to find out if there is available training funding for you.

There are many sites available today directing you to remote work opportunities. Be careful about scams on job search sites as well. A few reputable sites to search for remote work include FlexJobs.com, VirutalVocations.com and WeWorkRemotely.com. FlexJobs.com and VirtualVocations.com are fee based, however, the cost to use them is nominal. WeWorkRemotely.com is a free site. FlexJobs.com also provides a list of companies rated at the top for remote workers. VirtualVocations.com has a list of over 14,000 vetted, legitimate remote work companies.

After identifying remote work opportunities, it’s time to prepare a resume highlighting any experience you have professional or personally with remote work, including hybrid or flex positions. Add information about your skills in navigating collaborative platforms, written communication and any experience in troubleshooting IT issues.

Remote work can afford job seekers excellent flexibility. If full-time remote work isn’t right for you, the good news is that there are additional options. In addition to full-time remote work, you can work a hybrid schedule with time at home and time in the office or a flexible schedule which allows for adaptable hours. Research and discover the best option for you!

Jessica Mills