Twenty years ago, very little work could be done from home. Telemarketing companies outsourced their call centers by offering jobs that could be managed from home, other companies used their homes as warehouses and headquarters for door-to-door ventures. Then came the digital age and more and more companies are realizing how effective it is to work from home. They save on costs by exploiting the space of their employees, who have the advantage of carrying out the job in the comfort of their own home. If this system sounds appealing to you, find out how to secure a work from home and how to get organized to make it work. Working from home can be a luxury, but without the necessary discipline it can become quite difficult. If you have decided this is the best solution for your life and family, here are some tips on how to find a job and do it successfully.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Finding Work from Home
Step 1. Avoid scams
When you see ads like "Make thousands of dollars straight off the couch", "Do you want to work in your pajamas?" or "Determine when and how much to work from home", you automatically assume it's a scam, right? If a proposal sounds too good to be true, you are probably right. Yet, as the digital and global market grows, more and more companies are looking to hire people to work from home. Learn to distinguish between a reputable job posting and one with a catch.
- When it comes to a scam, too much personal information is usually requested right from the start. Many people today are desperate for work. The hope of getting one makes you vulnerable to scam genes. Do not give out personal information such as date of birth or bank account number until you have actually read through and signed a contract.
- In the case of scams, many times you are asked to invest money up front, pay for a "certification" or work for free for a certain number of hours during a "training" period. Don't pay a penny without first being given a signed guarantee to make sure the money will be returned to you. If it is indeed a scam, the company will either keep the money or exploit you for free and then leave you empty-handed.
Step 2. Find reputable sources to find work
Many online news resources and professional websites compile lists of reliable sources for looking for work from home. These sites can be found through very simple internet searches. Just make sure you avoid sites with services you've never heard of before.
Step 3. Get out of the box
It is possible that many businesses in your area are willing to hire people to work from home, they just don't know it. Jobs that require typing, writing, or proofreading can be great for those looking for a job from home. You may be dealing with medical or legal transcripts.
- Similarly, jobs involving scheduling and appointments, such as a job as a personal assistant, can be done online and by telephone. The pay of a virtual assistant can vary between 15 and 100 euros per hour.
- Do you speak more than one language? Many sites offer multilingual content and are looking for people who can handle it.
- Do you know how to deal with people and are you a travel expert? You could work as a travel agent directly from home. Many agencies hire employees who work from home to answer phone calls and collaborate with customers online.
- Don't just think about traditional jobs, like typing and communicating. Some companies hire people to try out recipes for in-home cooking books and programs. Others are looking for people to create online media such as short videos about fitness, car maintenance or gardening. In a nutshell, think about what you can do on a regular basis at home, then consider the companies that could benefit from such activities.
Step 4. Learn how to sell your product or service
Think about the skills a person working from home must have. As with any other job, emphasize the skills listed in the ad when talking to a potential employer. Then, focus on the features that make a person working from home efficient. Emphasize your organizational skills and the elements of your home that will allow you to be successful. Do you have a dedicated space to work? Do you have a telephone and internet access?
Method 2 of 4: Get organized
Step 1. Create a serious work environment
Choose a part of your home that is well ventilated and has good natural light. Locking yourself up in a basement or closet will start to feel cramped after a few hours and won't encourage you to "go to work" every day.
Think about the furniture in this space too. It is essential to have a desk and a chair. Sure, you won't be working in the office, but you will still be running a business that will generate revenue, so you need to prepare yourself as professionally as possible. If you don't have a separate study or work area, you can do the activity in the living room, as long as you prepare the work area every day and it's not clogged with things you don't need to do your job
Step 2. Being organized is a priority
It's the first step to have a truly productive day. What you need to do is sort, strategically organize documents and information, then maintain this organization. To get started, get rid of everything you don't need at work. You can keep trinkets and photos of your family, but the rest should be placed in another room. You need to create a clean, distraction-free space. Second, determine what information (such as business cards, forms, email lists, payroll records, or data reports) you need to have on hand. Divide documents into various categories and put them in a folder. In this way you will always know where to find every single information. Finally, at the end of the day, quickly review your organizational system. Make sure you store your documents correctly. The next morning you will find everything in order.
Organize your workspace with all the office tools you need (e.g. printer, PC / laptop, stationery). You'll also need a jug of water, a charger, and a great storage system
Step 3. Plan your day
Write to-do lists in order of priority. As the day progresses, the tasks will reduce and perhaps become progressively easier. This will keep motivation high.
In your diary / diary write down everything you need to do, from laundry to an important phone call. Break the time into blocks, trying to do it as precisely as possible. Try using a weekly / monthly planner to see all your schedule at a glance. Alternatively, you can write a number next to each assignment in order of importance. For example, the highest priority will be assigned number one, while the lowest priority will be assigned five. This will help make sure you are managing your time and maintaining high levels of productivity
Step 4. Plan your time
Set office hours and stick to them. Take into account housekeeping, children (if you have any), your personal commitments, then plan your work schedule accordingly. Your business / work from home is your top priority, so make sure you set a specific schedule and put your best effort into this time frame. Better to have a daily organization as regular as possible.
Step 5. Follow a routine
The sooner you get used to it, the better you work and the more productive you will be. Work at times when you have the most energy. Try to start and finish at the same time every day. Once you have established a specific working hours and set a routine, you will be surprised to see that the level of creativity and concentration will increase. In the evening, when the time comes to relax, your mind will be calmer.
Step 6. Don't check social networks
They waste a lot of time at work. Posting, chatting and tagging not only takes time, it also disrupts your workflow. You will find yourself stopping and starting over and over. If you have problems in this regard, you should know that there are various software that block access to these sites. Look for programs like Freedom and Anti-Social.
Method 3 of 4: Think Like a Professional
Step 1. Dress the right way
Working from home has many benefits. You can be tempted to put on your pajamas every day. Hold on. Check your emails in the morning while you drink your coffee, but when the working day begins, you should be dressed appropriately. It's all about how you feel. Think about how you feel in the evening, when you put on your pajamas, relax and unplug. This is not the mindset you need to convey when talking on the phone with clients or superiors. Try to be absolutely professional and the results will reflect that.
Step 2. Behave professionally
You will have to deal with the world of work. You will need to talk to your superiors and communicate with your colleagues. During these interactions, behave with professional decorum. Avoid making inappropriate jokes. Be polite. Be friendly.
Step 3. Don't think about cleaning
If you worked elsewhere, you wouldn't be able to clean up, so avoid it even when working from home. Try not to get distracted by anything, even if it takes some practice to do so. If you have to take care of a certain household chore, prioritize it. If it's pouring outside and you've left all the windows open, you need to go and close them right away, but generally everything else can wait. Watching an episode of your favorite show or taking your suit to the laundry won't grow your bank account.
Method 4 of 4: Leaving Home
Step 1. Leave the house for extended periods
Make a plan to go out when you're not working. Don't spend the whole day (working and off) indoors. Eventually you will get tired of this life. Go out regularly. Go to the restaurant, the cinema, the mall, see a game, a concert or attend any other event that happens outside.
You could also try working elsewhere, like at a family member's home, in a bar with few distractions, in the park
Step 2. Get moving
Join the gym. Exercise is important for good physical and mental health. Sitting for hours on end will eventually cause fatigue, lack of motivation and disinterest.
According to various studies, doing short workouts in the middle of the workday increases productivity. Researchers claim that dopamine is generated while exercising, which remains in circulation after training, giving the muscles a chance to recover. Dopamine improves mood in general
Step 3. Take a break while you work
Sure, you work from home, but you are entitled to a break.
