But rather than try and overhaul everything at once, consider where you can make the most effortless changes and begin there.

8 Ways to Stay Healthy at Work

For some people, staying healthy at work might mean swapping their afternoon coffee for a glass of water. For others, it might be investing in a standing desk or taking a conference call while going for a walk. And for others still, it might be eating healthy snacks or packing a nutritious lunch from home. No matter what, there are small changes that everyone can make to stay healthy at work.

1. Take a Break From Sitting

It’s easy to get stuck in a sedentary lifestyle, especially if your job is computer-based, but it’s essential to ensure that you get up and move around regularly.

Setting a timer to remind yourself every 30-40 minutes to stand up and stretch or take a quick walk down the hall and back will do wonders for your health and focus.

2. Prioritize Healthy Meals and Snacks

It can be tempting to indulge in unhealthy snacks, but it’s important to ensure you eat healthy meals and snacks throughout the day. Vending machines and fast food can be easy but damaging.

Planning and preparing healthy meals can help you stay on track. Consider starting out with some prepackaged nuts or veggies to make it easier to get in the habit of having whole foods during the day.

3. Connect With Others

Focusing on growing your career makes it easy to feel isolated from the rest of the world. Take time to connect with friends and family in person or online. Talking to others can help you feel more connected and less alone.

And if there is an existing health group at your work, joining can be a great way to stay motivated with healthy living habits while building a stronger professional network. If your workplace lacks such a group, consider talking to your employer about creating one.

4. Exercise Daily

We’ve all heard that exercise is vital for overall health and can help improve your mood and energy levels. But you don’t have to invest in a costly gym membership or sign up for a triathlon. Small changes can make a big impact, and exercising at work is more manageable than you’ve probably imagined.

At your desk, do a few stretches, or consider investing in an under-desk treadmill. If that’s not an option, schedule a walk at lunch and on breaks. The steps can add up quickly.

5. Stay Hydrated

It’s incredible how quickly you can dehydrate without even noticing the signals. Ensure that you’re drinking enough water throughout the day—consider keeping a water bottle near your desk so you can take sips regularly.

6. Build in Routine Breaks

Whether it’s for lunch or your days off each week, make breaks a part of your work routine. They give your mind a chance to rest and your body the opportunity to do something different than the repetitive motions your role calls for.

And don’t forget about longer breaks so that you can fully recharge. As a culture, Americans are notoriously horrible at taking vacations. However, a complete break from work is a very healthy decision. Not only can you de-stress, but you can also enjoy a bit of time to relax and refocus.

7. Focus on Sufficient Sleep

It can be tempting to burn the candle at both ends while balancing your career with personal commitments, but it’s essential to ensure you’re getting enough sleep. Sufficient rest can help you boost your immune system. As a bonus, you’ll be more productive during the day.

8. Don’t Neglect Your Mental Wellness

While focusing on your physical health is vital, don’t stop there. Take the extra steps to ensure that you’re maintaining your mental health as well.

Keep tabs on your stress levels; if you’re consistently feeling high anxiety levels, it’s time to take action. Perhaps you can take time throughout the day to practice some deep breathing activities or do some yoga on your lunch break.

And if you’re finding it difficult to cope with work-related stressors, don’t hesitate to seek help from a mental health professional who can offer support and guidance.

How Flexible Work Options Support Health

Another way to stay healthy at work is to take advantage of flexible work policies if they are available. Flexible work policies can take many forms, but all aim to give employees more control over their time. This could mean working from home one or two days per week, starting and ending the work day early or late, or taking longer breaks.

When employees have more control over their time, they can better manage their work-life blend, which is beneficial for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Consider just a few of the health perks that flexible workers enjoy:

• Reduced stress
• Avoiding office germs
• Getting more sleep
• Shorter (and fewer) illnesses
• Increased happiness
• More opportunities for fitness
• More energy

Thrive With a Healthier Work-Life Balance

Both employers and employees experience the benefits of flexible work policies. By having more time and less stress, employees can get more sleep, have more time to enjoy life, and can be healthier at work and at home. All of these benefits create a happier and more productive team.

The post 8 Ways to Stay Healthy at Work appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Regardless of why, if you’re about to join the work-from-home crowd, there are a few things that will help prevent crashing and burning from the stress.

Setting Remote Work Guidelines

Your key to success is creating boundaries and routines for yourself. Sure, you could work in your jammies most days, forgoing a shower and healthy nutrition. But it wouldn’t be long before your productivity, along with your mental and physical health, suffered. Instead, try implementing some of the following tips.

Create a Schedule

Just like you would at the office, train your mind to get into work mode. Even when working a flexible schedule, you need to ensure that you’re creating intentional work boundaries on your day. For some positions, your employer will set those, even if you’re working remotely.

For others, that means sitting down with your calendar and mapping out how you’re going to get your 40 hours in. Otherwise, life will tempt you throughout the week to choose something more fun. “It’s just an hour or two, I can make it up” is a common refrain new flex workers tell themselves—until they find themselves needing to put in a missing 10 hours on a Saturday to meet their work commitments.

Take Your Breaks

Part of keeping a schedule is ensuring that you’re managing your entire day well, including lunch and casual breaks. Just because you’re at home doesn’t mean you’re not entitled to 15-minute breaks every few hours.

Studies have repeatedly shown that breaks are good for productivity and mental health. Bonus points if your break gets you some outside time as well. Along with breaks, create solid boundaries between work and home hours, just as you would if you had to leave the office to commute home.

Create a To-Do List

Even more so than in an office, having a well-planned list of tasks for the day is essential for your productivity. One of the most significant challenges you’ll face at work, regardless of where you work, is staying focused. At the office, your coworkers tend to be the biggest distractions. At home, it’s laundry, dishes, the neighbors, your dog…the list goes on.

Rather than have your attention sucked away, create your to-do list at night before shutting down. That way, when you start work in the morning, you have a solid plan for your morning. You’re much more likely to stay on track when you know what the first step is.

Plan Your Distractions

When creating your schedule, be realistic about when you need to turn your focus away from work. If you’re in a home office with small children around, it’s unrealistic to think that they’ll be content for eight hours until you flip the “Closed” sign on your office door—even if you have in-home childcare. What about your dog that needs to go outside? Or that laundry that could be going while you’re working?

Rather than take an all-or-nothing approach, plan out your schedule to balance your personal commitments as well. If you have school-aged children, that might mean scheduling free time when everyone gets home. You’ll be able to connect, hear about their day, and get them settled for your last hour or two of work.

Utilize Website Blockers

Without fear of a manager or coworker walking by, it’s easier to get sucked into the internet black hole. Figure out what your challenge is. For some of us, that means blocking out social media. For others, it might be current events. Still, others might get pulled in by that delicious-looking dessert recipe.

Since you can’t block the entire internet working from home, your best option is to limit access to sites that pose the most significant threat to your productivity.

Get Dressed

One of the best things you can do is put on real clothes for your mental health and productivity. Sure, an occasional day in your jammies could be pretty relaxing. However, getting yourself “office-ready” helps ensure that you get your brain transitioned over to work mode.

It also ensures any impromptu Zoom meetings don’t result in embarrassment if your camera is turned on accidentally.

Interact With Other People

Do you occasionally feel like a bear coming out of isolation? It’s probably time to join the outside world a bit. For most roles, working from home doesn’t mean you can only work in your home. It’s easy to become isolated working remotely, so be intentional in seeking out people.

Schedule work out of the house regularly—perhaps in a coffee shop or coworking space. If the weather allows it, maybe you can take your laptop to the city park or even the balcony of your apartment building.

If you do have to work at home due to security or technology requirements, such as transcription equipment, make sure that you’re getting out of the house outside of work hours.

Boost Your Productivity for Success

Working from home can be incredibly beneficial for your work-life balance. Creating a thriving work environment means being intentional with your boundaries. Hold yourself accountable for fully showing up for work and shutting down for home time. Doing so ensures that your mental health and your productivity will thrive.

The post How to Work From Home: 7 Tips appeared first on Job-Hunt.

It’s important to feel enthusiastic and energized about your current job and your long-term career. Research shows that when you feel happy and energized about your work you are more likely to be productive, creative, and successful. And beyond success on the job, a satisfying work-life has a huge impact on your well-being—improving your attitude, your energy level, and even your health.

Many people—even those who love their remote jobs—find it’s not easy to stay fully engaged when they are by themselves. Maybe they feel isolated, or bored, or they miss the energy that comes from hanging out with the rest of the team.

If you’re not feeling motivated about today’s tasks or your long-term career path, there are countless little things you can do to generate more enthusiasm. But where to begin, or how to keep going?

Whether I’m working with clients or trying to generate more oomph in my own work life, I often refer to an easy little tool I call “The Engagement Triangle.”

As I wrote in my new book, Find Your Happy at Work, you’re more likely to engage and feel happier when you’re aware of three things: your sense of purpose, the people associated with your work, and the best ways to approach your tasks.

The three points of the Triangle—purpose, people, and performance—are keys to your happiness and success on the job. My executive coaching clients often like to “do the Triangle” by asking themselves questions related to each of these three keys.

Engagement Triangle Basics

Purpose

It’s easier to love your job when you’re working for something bigger than just your paycheck.

• Your reason for pursuing this career path is about more than money. Chances are you take pride in your work because of its impact on other people. And your personal career mission may encompass the values that guide your broader life, like kindness and integrity.
• Your work has greater meaning when you understand and support the vision and standards of your organization, your immediate team, or other professional colleagues.
• Although you may not actually know your customers, your pride in providing others with an excellent product or service can make every day feel worthwhile.
• Even a tedious job can feel rewarding if you have a good reason for working so hard, like supporting your family or preparing for the future.

People

Your job can feel more satisfying because of your colleagues, customers, and other people you encounter through work.

• Human beings evolved to need community and enjoy collective activity. When you feel connected with others, your outlook on life is more positive.
• Having friends at work can make you happier and more effective in interacting with everyone. Creating friendships when you work remotely requires you to be proactive. It means you often have to be the one to reach out and focus on your colleagues’ concerns and interests.
• Studies say teams accomplish more when coworkers show each other respect, gratitude, trust, and integrity. You can model these values by showing concern for your teammates.
• If you’re working far away from your colleagues, find other ways to spend time with people. For me, that can mean walking dogs with a friend and, at the same time, chatting about our career challenges.

Performance

You’re more likely to love your job if you invest effort in your tasks, build expertise and interest in your work, and exercise some autonomy.

• Time passes quickly when you have challenging tasks and opportunities to create something. Look for ways to use your strengths, move toward your goals, and innovate as you pursue your projects.
• When work feels dull, you can stimulate fresh energy by learning something new. The sense of achievement that comes from acquiring a different skill or deeper knowledge can spark an upward spiral.
• Workers who decide how to get a job done are happier and more productive than those who always wait for directions. If you’re feeling over-managed, focus on the decisions that you can control, and make repetitive tasks more interesting by finding ways to improve the process.
• You can find considerable satisfaction by consistently doing your job well and meeting your obligations. You’ll enjoy it even more if you keep finding ways to improve your work.

Use the Triangle to Generate Energy and Enthusiasm

Try motivating yourself by considering questions related to each of the three points. A starting point might be to begin every workday by quickly writing answers to these questions:

1. Purpose: What core value will I keep in mind during my work today?
2. People: To whom will I reach out in the course of the day?
3. Performance: What project might bring me an opportunity to learn something new?

About the author…

Beverly E. Jones works with leaders to spark new engagement and productivity in their teams, and she helps coaching clients to grow and thrive in their careers. Her work as an executive coach often focuses on enhancing performance, managing time and energy, improving communication, or navigating transitions. Bev’s new book, Find Your Happy at Work, is a roadmap to helping you find more joy, meaning, and success at work at the same time you motivate your team. Her book on building career resilience, Think Like an Entrepreneur, Act Like a CEO, is available around the world, from Africa to India and Europe, and in languages including Simple Chinese, Arabic, and Vietnamese. Visit her website, Clearways Consulting, or connect with Beverly on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.

The post 3 Keys to Staying Motivated When You Work Alone appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Achieving work-life balance may seem like an impossible dream, with many feeling that work will always require more of their time and attention than they’d like. But it is possible to find an equation that results in work-life balance for you.

What Is Work-Life Balance? Definition & Meaning

Work-life balance means you’re able to equally prioritize the demands and desires of your personal and professional lives. But “equal” doesn’t mean you’re spending the same number of hours on each every day or week. When you have work-life balance, you’re able to give each side your attention regularly without feeling that one is taking up too much of your time over the other.

8 Tips to Improve Work-Life Balance

1. Go For What Works 

Many people think that the “right” definition of work-life balance means spending equal amounts of your time and energy on each. However, for most people, it’s impossible to find enough hours in the day to split equally between the two.

Instead of trying to balance both sides of the scale, find a work-life balance that lets you feel satisfied and productive every day. If that means working extra hours three days a week, so you have more personal time for hobbies and families four days a week, go for it. As long as it’s a schedule that works for you and gives you the balance you desire, it’s the right one for you.

2. Prioritize You and Your Health

No matter how much work you want to accomplish or how much time you want to spend on passion pursuits, if you’re not prioritizing yourself and your health, you won’t have any work-life balance.

Include “you” time in your work-life balance calculations to help you maintain your physical and mental health. That could be time every day to meditate or exercise, making sure you eat healthily, or checking in with the doctor every few months. 

3. Make Time to Unwind

When you work in an office, you might spend your commute working or listening to a work-related podcast. Likewise, if you work at home, you might use what would have been your morning commute to dive in and start the day right after coffee.

While it’s true that working during your commute (or “commute”) can help you get a head start or finish up some tasks, consider using that time to disconnect from work instead. Using it as a transition between work and home can help you find the work-life balance you need.

For example, instead of listening to a work-related book, why not read a juicy novel or intriguing memoir? Instead of getting an early jump on your day, use that time for a walk with the dogs or a slow cup of coffee. 

Jumping right from work to home (and back again) can make it feel like you never get a break. But building a buffer between the two that helps you relax and unwind from the day (or prepare for it) can help you feel more energized and less stressed.

4. Maintain Boundaries 

In addition to transitioning between work and home, make sure you’re setting and maintaining healthy boundaries between the two.

No matter where you work, in today’s connected world, it’s easy for work to get a hold of you whenever something comes up. Likewise, it’s easy to check in on work when we’re feeling bored or, worse, because we feel guilty about not working.

But letting work creep in when you’re off the clock can lead to you feeling unbalanced. Setting boundaries and sticking to them will help you find work-life balance. 

Let work know that you’re not available after five p.m. unless it’s an emergency (and define what an emergency is). Then, if someone contacts you, make sure that you don’t respond until the next day (or following Monday) unless it truly is an emergency.

5. Take Breaks

Work-life balance can also come from taking breaks throughout the day. It gives your brain a chance to relax and recharge while also helping you feel like you aren’t working all day long!

Instead of working through lunch, take it to the park or eat with coworkers. If you have to eat at your desk, don’t work. Read a book, check social media, or have a chat with a friend.

Likewise, make sure you take breaks throughout the workday—once every 60 minutes is a good goal. A walk to the watercooler to refill your glass or a trip around the block counts. Even “micro-breaks” where you stand up and stretch at your desk for a minute can do wonders for you, your brain, and your work-life balance.

6. Set Priorities

Your professional and personal lives probably have a zillion tasks to do every day. And while they may all feel like urgent priorities, the reality is that they probably aren’t.

To improve your work-life balance, take some time at the end of every day (or the beginning) and figure out which tasks are critical and which ones can wait. You might be surprised at how much isn’t as urgent as you thought it was.

As you create your task list, though, make sure work isn’t taking up all the priority spots. Give your personal tasks some priority too, and you may find you’re achieving more work-life balance than ever.

7. Get Flexible 

If you have a flexible job, you’re in luck! One great way to help improve your work-life balance is to flex your schedule.

Figure out when you perform at your peak, then arrange your schedule accordingly. This can help you accomplish more in less time, leaving room for the other things you want and need to do.

And if you don’t have a flexible job, talk to your boss about flexing your schedule. Focus on how much more you’ll be able to get done and how that will benefit the company.

8. Ask for Help

If you still feel like you can’t achieve the work-life balance you need, ask for help. Talking to your boss is a great place to start. But if that isn’t possible (or doesn’t work out), ask your friends and family for help.

Redistributing the duties and responsibilities at home can go a long way toward helping you find work-life balance. 

Equilibrium Is Possible

Improving work-life balance won’t happen overnight, or even in a few weeks. But taking some slow and steady steps can help you rethink your work and personal responsibilities, resulting in a formula that improves your work-life balance.

The post 8 Tips to Improve Work-Life Balance appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Turns out you’re in good company. According to Global Workplace Analytics, 82% of U.S. employees want to work remotely at least once a week. 

Enter the world of hybrid work—also known as the best of both worlds.

What Exactly Is a Hybrid Work Schedule?

Realistically, there isn’t an exact definition of a hybrid work model. As this article on Hive states, everyone’s hybrid setup is different. For some, that means an employee works remotely a few days a week and in the office the other days.

Other employers may allow some employees to work remotely while other team members work in the office full-time. Often, you’ll find there is a combination of those two hybrid models. A lot is dependent on location and job duties.

Why Job Seekers Are Pursuing Hybrid Work Models

There are a variety of personal benefits an employee may be pursuing with a partially remote role. Hybrid scheduling can solve a lot of dilemmas if you are balancing other obligations. 

Being a caregiver to small children or an elderly parent can be a challenge with an inflexible, 9-to-5 schedule.

For others, it’s about lowering anxiety by not joining in the ironically labeled rush hour every day. Cutting down on time spent commuting can offer a much-needed calm to your week. 

Speaking of commuting, working at home part of the time also lightens the environmental impact. Unsurprisingly, the EPA lists transportation as the leading source of greenhouse gas emissions. 

Perhaps you’ve finally realized the dream of moving out to a rural location. The commute into the city isn’t impossible, but it sure would be nice if it weren’t every day.

Whether your reason is personal, environmental, or both, there are important considerations to ponder before jumping into the first hybrid role you see.

Questions to Ask Yourself When Considering a Hybrid Role

Analyze how you’ll work from home effectively. While the image of sitting on your couch in your jammies all day might be appealing, the reality might lead to back pain and a lack of motivation. 

Make a list of your ideal schedule and work location. List out any personal obligations or desires. Are you in charge of school drop-off, or do you love your Monday morning spin class? Write those down. 

Where are you going to be conducting your work? You aren’t necessarily tied to your home office. Maybe your goal is to avoid the three o’clock traffic jam, but your house seems too isolating.

The coffee shop down the street or some other coworking spaces might be a great solution. You’ll still find a reprieve from the daily hustle and bustle and be able to get out a bit.

Questions to Ask Employers When Considering a Hybrid Role

Once you’ve got your list of what an ideal hybrid role means for you, here are some questions to help you find it.

Approach the interview with some straightforward questions for the interviewer. This shows you’ve considered the big picture around making a move to a hybrid role. 

Your first question should seek clarity around how the employer defines their remote work schedule. 

Are all employees working from home part of the week, or is part of the workforce working in the office full-time? Do employees choose which days they’re commuting into the office? How are hours determined on days at home? 

Remote Office Space Expectations

Are the benefits provided to in-office employees given to hybrid workers as well? While you might be thinking that donuts in the conference room can be easily given up, a computer and a desk are essential. 

Traditionally provided at the office, is the employer also providing technology at home? Who pays for the internet service? Will Zoom meetings require you to get a larger bandwidth? What about software that may be needed to keep you secure?

Beyond software, companies in finance or customer service may require the remote worker to have a quiet work environment separate from the rest of the household. Is that a reality for you currently?

Regarding Team Communication

Casual conversation in the office builds rapport and team dynamics. How intentional is the employer in creating the opportunity for casual conversation for remote team members? 

What is the communication schedule, and how are team projects handled? Does the company routinely use online tools and project management software that you’re not familiar with?

Setting Yourself Up for Success

For many, the ability to split their time between a fully remote and an in-person role is the ideal setup. Understanding your needs and the requirements of prospective roles will help you find success in your remote job search.

The post What Is a Hybrid Work Model? appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Prime candidates for a lifestyle-friendly career include parents who want to work from home while raising children, baby boomers who still need to work but want to run their own show, and people who hate to waste hours every week commuting to and from their jobs.

Really, professionals of all ages determined to escape the restraints of the conventional workplace in exchange for greater control over their personal life and career trajectory choose lifestyle-friendly careers.

“Out-of-the-Box” Solutions

Not surprisingly, the majority of work from home is developed outside the confines of corporate America. But that doesn’t mean that working from home is all fluff and no substance.

Most people who work from home apply their professional skills, passions, and knowledge towards “serious” pursuits including entrepreneurial ventures, not-for-profit, consulting, writing, or teaching, just to name a few — all of which will be covered in this Job-Hunt Guide.

Growing Alternatives

Thanks to advances in technology, the prevalence of home office equipment and opportunities generated by a 24/7 global economy, opportunities for working at home are increasing daily.

Consider the array of career options for writers. In the “old days” a person with strong writing skills could earn an income in a staff position with a company, as a teacher, or if really lucky, get a contract to publish a book.

Today that same writer could leverage the power of the new technology to write a blog, sell a line of informational products online, or self-publish their own novels, all the while working from their home.

Of course, you don’t need to rely on advanced technology to pursue lifestyle-friendly work.   Here are three examples clients of mine who have created lifestyle careers the “old-fashioned” way.

1. 1. Mom looking for a better work-life balance:

      Jill is a mom who wanted more time with her daughter than the demands of her corporate career allowed.

      A music major in college, she decided to apply her love of music and her interest in working with children into three income streams:

      • Overseeing a music program for preschool students
      • Tteaching piano part-time at an elementary school
      • Offering private piano lessons to a handful of students in her neighborhood.

      Today, she enjoys fulfilling work, a healthy income, and more time to spend with her daughter.

   2. From wage slave to thriving entrepreneur:

      Cara, a married woman in her thirties, had grown bored with her corporate career and believed that she could enjoy a much more fulfilling life as an entrepreneur.

      After completing an assessment, we determined that Cara was most interested in combining her love of teaching and talent for public speaking (perfected while involved with Toastmasters) into a business as a speaking coach.

      Following two years of planning, Cara quit her job and now generates income by delivering public speaking workshops to corporations, coaching private clients, and writing about public speaking on the web.

      She works hard, but is relishing the thrill of being her own boss and the freedom of  having more time for personal pursuits including extended vacations to India and other exotic locales.

   3. From executive to activist:

For some people, a lifestyle career is less about working fewer hours and more about doing work that matters.

As Sarah, an advertising executive who went on to write grants for her local school district, told me during our first session, “I just don’t care anymore whether I help to sell another box of cereal. Education is what I really care about.”

Yes, she now earns less money that she did working 60+ hours a week. But she gets up every morning with a smile on her face and is home when her children need help with homework.

Sounds wonderful, but is it practical?

Clearly, not everyone is at a point in their lives when they can afford to quit their jobs and strike out on their own. The allure of a full benefits package and the peace of mind afforded by a steady paycheck can be hard to resist. But even if you can’t work from home today, it is never too early to begin to explore your options and plan ahead for the future. You can start with these side hustles.

To Learn More About Work From Home:

• Work From Home: Making Life Easier
• Work From Home: Child-Centric Business
• Work From Home: Social Media Consultant
• Work From Home: Caregiving
• Work From Home: Sales Jobs
• Guide to Freelancing/Contracting
• How to Work from Home Effectively

More About Turning a Passion into Income:

• Uncover Your Passion to Discover Your Career
• How to Turn Your Hobby into Income
• How to Turn Your Love of Travel into Income
• How to Turn Love of Pets into Income

More About Flexible Job Options:

• Guide to Freelancing, Gigs, and Contracting
• Guide to the Temporary Work Option

About the author…

Nancy Collamer, M.S., is a semi-retirement coach, speaker, and author of Second-Act Careers: 50+ Ways to Profit From Your Passions During Semi-Retirement. You can now download her free workbook called 25 Ways to Help You Identify Your Ideal Second Act on her website at MyLifestyleCareer.com (and you’ll also receive her free bi-monthly newsletter).
More about this author…

The post Lifestyle-Friendly Careers appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Fortunately, I had a copy in my Dropbox app (more below).

I went to a desktop computer, accessed Dropbox, and downloaded that file.

Everyone looked at me like I had superpowers then because many people had not seen anyone use the Dropbox app.

Today, with the growing concern about avoiding exposure to the Coronovirus (COVID-19), working from home (a.k.a. “remote work” and “telecommuting”) is becoming more popular with both employers and employees.

But, working outside of an office may be very challenging without the right tools to use.

Working From Home Is Increasingly Popular

World at Work reports 43% of U.S. businesses will allow remote work within the next year. Another report, from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, states older workers (ages 40-65) are more likely to work from home.

As you can see in this chart, working from home is growing in popularity.

The percentage of people working from home has increased 159% in the last 12 years.

This increase in remote workers requires the right tools to meet or to exceed productivity and connectivity expectations from employers.

9 Tools for Work-from-Home / Remote Workers

The best tools for the modern remote worker can destroy the ceiling on limitations. As a remote worker, you will be responsible for ensuring your work products, communications with your distributed team, stakeholders, and clients are as seamless as possible.

These tools are essential, not just a luxury, to bring value to your work and the virtual workplace.

Working remote tools are mobile-friendly and cloud-based yet easily accessible to you, your team, and your clients.

Below are 9 apps for both laptop and mobile phones, Mac and Windows, that I find helpful.

To Stay Organized and Up-to-Date

  Slack  

Slack is a chat room or workspace for team members to communicate on a project continuously. The project management app Trello can be used with Slack to include remote clients.

This article explains how both apps work together on projects, when multiple people are collaborating and sharing ideas, can exchange files and links in real-time. Remote workers can also converge on concepts, work products, or casual conversations using video.

  Zoom/Skype/FaceTime/Google Duo  

Working away from the human, face-to-face touch of team members can be very lonely. For a remote worker, seeing someone’s face is the best connection you can have to conduct business without a personal touch.

All four apps are useful to distributed teams for face-to-face communication for real-time conversations. Only Zoom offers FREE audio and video recording for a one-on-one discussion. Zoom also provides 40 minutes FREE for multi-users.

  Dropbox  

Where will you store the volume of work you are doing as a distributed worker? A virtual file cabinet!

I’ve been a Dropbox user since 2010 and have files safely stored and secured since. It’s similar to a file cabinet, but it’s portable.

If you or your team needs a cloud solution for file storage, they offer a free version or, for a small cost, a version multi-user business account. Both are excellent ways to maintain private files and to keep them accessible to clients.

It syncs to all mobile devices. The mobile app offers additional password security, primarily when files exist on your mobile device.

  Evernote  

If Dropbox is like a file cabinet, then Evernote is a portable note pad or notebook.

For years I used the free version, but a year ago, I caught the yearly $40 special and bought the subscription. With its scanner, you can store multi-page documentation in a digital format.

The search for terms makes it easy to save passwords, credit cards, or documents, and it’s as secure as Dropbox’s settings for security. You can even send your remote work team notes from your Evernote.

  WhatsApp (messaging across the world)  

Remember those expensive phone call and text message from your mobile phone plan? Yeah, me too.

The solution to an international distributed team is the WhatsApp that allows you to text, video message, or share links to anyone. The big draw for this app is the money it saves on international text messaging, voice, and video calling.

  Signing Documents  

Receiving digital documents are annoying if you need to print, physically sign, and scan to send the signed document back. DocuSign is my personal choice for a mobile app to help you sign documents, business or personal, on the go.

DocuSign is easy to implement when receiving a PDF file or Word document, signing it, and sending it back. Or import documents from cloud services such as Google Drive, Evernote, or Dropbox to sign and save to the portal of your choice.

To Communicate Securely

  Virtual Private Network (VPN)  

Your company or client may provide some security software making your work products more secure. But, anytime you work away from home on another WiFi network, for additional security, you need to use a VPN.

I have a subscription to IP Vanish, making my IP address invisible on any WiFi network safe from predators who want to attack you via your Internet use.

Norton LifeLock has a suite to include VPN and a security suite to use its software on all of your mobile devices. Your device can reach the network and encrypts your IP to protect against cyber predators, and conceals your personal information.

  WiFi Map  

Even when on vacation, a client or coworker may need a signature, confirmation, or a video call from you.

WiFi Map helps you find the nearest available WiFi network. Although the strength of WiFi signals are not created equally, at least the app will provide options.

I was once at a Starbucks near a wireless mobile store where the mobile WiFi signal was so powerful, it was much faster to connect using it rather than the Starbucks one. Both showed up on the map, but, in my case, it did not matter which had the stronger signal.

  Password Manager  

Add another layer of security by using LastPass free version. It allows you to store passwords through all of your devices.

Since safety and personal information for all apps are essential, strong passwords are a crucial part of maintaining security. If you have more than one device, this is a helpful app to use.

You may consider their low price of $3 per month for the premium, but read this article to understand the difference between free and premium versions.

More: How to Work From Home: 7 Tips

The Bottom Line:

These tools will provide a powerful distributed work experience for remote workers when time is invested. They are not just productivity tools, but also communication necessities needed across all mobile devices. Most of the useful mobile tools are budget-friendly and, usually, adaptable to the remote work experience you desire

Are you looking for a remote, work-from-home, or flexible job? Whether you’re a recruiter, case manager, freelance writer, or you’re still finding the right job for you, our partner site FlexJobs can help you find great remote, work-from-home opportunities.

More About Work From Home Jobs:

• How to Work Effectively From Home
• How to Keep Your Skills Sharp While Working From Home
• Why Smart Professionals Are Considering Freelancing

About the author…

Mark Anthony Dyson a career-advice writer and consultant who loves helping people discover their ideal career. His award-winning blog and podcast, “The Voice of Job Seekers,” has provided job-search advice since 2011. Follow and connect with Mark on Twitter (@MarkADyson) and LinkedIn. To read more of Mark’s articles and listen to his podcasts, visit his website: TheVoiceofJobSeekers.com.

The post Increase Your Work-From-Home Efficiency: 9 Handy Tools for Remote Workers appeared first on Job-Hunt.

The Coronavirus pandemic made it a necessity as a way to protect health and family.

Working from home is becoming more widespread.

With the Coronavirus closing down many employers, technology is helping us continue to earn a living, making it easier for us to generate a good income by working “remotely” from our homes.

While most employers have not had the option to stay open, given the requirements of “social distancing” created by the response to COVID19, many office workers have been able to retain their jobs (and their income) by working remotely from home.

Work From Home / Remote Benefits

Working from home, remotely, has many benefits for the employee:

• Avoid wasting time, energy, and money in long commutes to an employer’s location
• Avoid the expense of paying for childcare.
• Stay busy and engaged while continuing to generate income after retirement.
• Allow employers who do not have work space for employees to still have work done by those working remotely.
• Generate income while staying home, taking care of children or other family members.
• Earn money while attending school.
• Test out a new career with “side hustle” work-from-home projects to build skills and experience (and references).
• Generating additional income while also working one or two (or more) “real” jobs with other employers.

For some, the primary reason (and benefit) is simply a need for independence from a “boss” and a strong desire to do the work they want, where and when they choose to do it.

For employers, the benefit is usually lower expenses since office space is usually expensive.

2 Main Types of Work-From-Home Jobs

Not surprisingly today, we enjoy many different ways to work from home, from working “remotely” for an employer to running our own businesses.

  1. Employee working “remotely” for an employer (“telecommuting”).  

Many employers allow their employees to work from home at least part of the time — a few days a week, part of a day, or every day. If working from home interests you, ask other employees to learn if it is done by any part of the organization. (Check out this list of 25 companies hiring for work from home jobs).

If you are interviewing for a job and want to work from home, ask about how many employees work from home, how many days a week (or a month) they work from home, and how they stay in touch with their manager and co-workers.

Obviously, telecommuting does not work for every job, and working in isolation from the manager and co-workers has a few hazards. Without frequent contact, the feeling of “connectedness” among employees may fade, sometimes resulting in lower job satisfaction and job performance.

Recent research has shown that connecting face-to-face via an online service like Zoom, Skype, FaceTime, Google Meet, Google Hangouts, and many other services and apps improves the situation for all parties. Ask which form(s) of communication are used or may be used in the future.

  2. Self-employed as a freelancer, consultant, or contractor.  

As a freelancer, essentially you are running your own home-based business. Work from home businesses vary widely.

The work may be a service business, like consulting or coding. The work may also be a manufacturing type of business. The manufacturing can be done at home like baking, carpentry, or sewing.

Some people invent products which they pay someone else to manufacture marketing those products from their home. And, others sell products which others have designed and manufactured (like Avon or Mary Kay cosmetics).

You can also rent space and work out of an office for your business. In some locations, “coworking” or “shared workspaces” are available, used by many independent workers. A desk, office, or other work space is available for rent by month, week, day, or (sometimes) hour, depending on your needs and their rules.

If many different people will pay you to do legitimate work, you can (and probably should) set up an official entity as an “LLC” (Limited Liability Corporation”) or incorporate your business (as an “Inc.”). The requirements for each type of business varies widely by location, so check your local government’s rules.

Your goal may be simply to avoid dependence on a single employer, or you may be looking to supplement the income you receive from your job. By 2028, half of us in the USA will be “freelancers,” according to an NPR/Marist poll. This may also be called “contracting, “location independent,” “remote work,” or “gigs.”

The way consultants work for their clients varies, but usually one of these methods dominates:

• Consultants may work for one client at a time, sequentially.
  
  This consultant works a few weeks (or months) for one client. Then a few weeks (or months) full-time for a different client, and so on. The downside of this is the gap between clients (and income). Continuing to market your services while working is usually a necessity for this type of consulting. With social media, this may work well for your potential clients, or more personal marketing (meetings, emails, etc.) may be required.
• Consultants may work for multiple clients at the same time. This consultant focuses for a few minutes, hours, or days on the work needed by several different clients. This requires the ability to jump quickly and easily from client project to client project.If you do exactly the same thing for each client (like managing an email list), then time management may be relatively simple. If you do different things for different clients (like setting up a blog for one client and managing the web content for a different client), work can be more complicated.

The options are too numerous to list. These businesses can range from being a marketer, a driver, a baker, a carpenter, a cook, a web developer, a writer, an accountant or bookkeeper, an attorney, a graphic designer, a hairdresser, a teacher, or an administrative assistant to MANY other options.

Before You Start, Check Out the Competition

When you have an idea of what you want to do (hopefully, something you enjoy doing), look around to see who else is doing it — if anyone. Identify your market (local, regional, world-wide), and then research your competition in that market.

Who seems to be most visible and successful? How do they market their services — a website, a blog, LinkedIn, TV, or ?

If no one is doing what you have in mind, it could represent a great opportunity or a bad idea. Research to find out what is going on, and why. Maybe you have discovered a gold mine. Or, maybe not.

Launching Your Business

The smartest thing to do when you begin to run your own business is to speak with a local accountant, a local business attorney, and a local insurance agent.

You need to protect your assets (bank account, home, car, etc.) by staying compliant with the existing laws for your location. These local professionals should know the “rules of the road” for running a business where you live, and you need to comply with those rules.

You may want to do this on a part-time basis until you feel comfortable depending on it for your full-time job.

Start your career as a freelancer by reaching out to members of your network, looking for potential clients who have problems you can solve.

LinkedIn can be an excellent launching pad. Find potential allies as well as potential clients through your LinkedIn connections, and raise the visibility of your business with the contents of your Profile, your posts, and your other activities.

3 Important Requirements for Freelancers!

Nothing is perfect, naturally, even working from home. Legal requirements are usually associated with running a business.

Also, be prepared for these issues:

  1. Carefully Track Your Activities and Expenses  

Whether or not you are paid on a project basis or by the hour, keep good records of what you are working on, when, and how long. Even when you don’t charge by the hour, you need to understand how much time you spend on each client/project so you understand if you are earning enough money — which work pays the best?

Don’t forget to also track your business expenses like car mileage, parking fees, tolls, public transportation, and other relevant expenses, associated with your work.

Often having a bank account for your business (for the business revenue and business expenses) and a credit card you use only for business expenses (like paying membership fees for professional organizations, lunch with clients or colleagues, purchasing supplies and equipment for your business) is the best approach.

  2. Carefully Track Your Revenue  

A major issue for those who work from home is that, unless you have a “permanent job” with an employer who does the tax withholding and pays for other benefits like medical insurance, you need to pay 100% of your own taxes.

No one you work for as a consultant or independent contractor will do tax “withholding” when they pay you for your work. The good news is that nothing is deducted from what you are paid. The bad news is that you are responsible for both the employer’s share of your SSI taxes as well as your own.

This means that you pay both the employer’s taxes on your salary (because you are your own employer) and also the employee’s taxes as the recipient of the income.

  3. Get the Required Permits or Licenses  

Depending on what you want to do and where you live, you may need a license. This is obvious for people who drive cars for a living, but less obvious if you are a cook or a bookkeeper.

Google your location and what you want to do plus the word “regulation” to see what you find.

The Bottom Line

The Internet has made it possible for more and more of us to work from home which will, hopefully, be “a good thing” for all of us. You may work from home telecommuting for a single employer. Or, you may set up your own business, working independently from home. Even when the Coronavirus pandemic situation has passed, working from home will still be popular, probably more popular as we will hopefully have more experience doing it successfully.

Are you looking for a remote, work-from-home, or flexible job? Visit our partner site FlexJobs to find verified jobs in many different categories, including transcription jobs from home, human services jobs, healthcare administration jobs, and more.

To Learn More About Work From Home:

• • Work From Home: Making Life Easier
  • Work From Home: Child-Centric Business
  • Work From Home: Social Media Consultant
  • Work From Home: Caregiving
  • Work From Home: Sales Jobs
  • Guide to Freelancing/Contracting
  • How to Work From Home: 7 Tips
  • How to Work from Home Effectively
  • 10 Legitimate Reasons to Call Out of Work

More About Flexible Job Options:

• Guide to Freelancing, Gigs, and Contracting
• Guide to the Temporary Work Option

About the author…

Nancy Collamer, M.S., is a semi-retirement coach, speaker, and author of Second-Act Careers: 50+ Ways to Profit From Your Passions During Semi-Retirement. You can now download her free workbook called 25 Ways to Help You Identify Your Ideal Second Act on her website at MyLifestyleCareer.com (and you’ll also receive her free bi-monthly newsletter).
More about this author…

The post Guide to Work From Home / Remote Jobs appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Of course, we have seen a dramatic increase as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic as large employers like Google, Apple, Twitter, Facebook, American Express, Nationwide Insurance, and many others move work out of corporate offices, at least temporarily.

Analysis of the latest U.S. Census data by FlexJobs and Global Workplace Analytics finds that the number of people working from home, also called working remotely or telecommuting, increased 159% between 2005 and 2017.

Below find a list of the top fields that have seen an increase of more than 50% in remote jobs posted since March 1, 2020.

Even more interesting are the details about who, when, where, and what people are doing in the remote work space.

In this overview, you will learn about who is working remotely, the most common types of remote jobs, and the top companies that hire remote workers. We will end by discussing how you can work from home, too.

Who Is Working From Home?

First, let’s look at who is working remotely.

The 159% increase in remote workers since 2005 measures employees who work from home at least half-time, which is about 4.7 million people in the U.S., up from 3.9 million in 2015.

This does not even include the number of employees working remotely less than half-time, people with a remote side hustle, freelancers who work from home, or solo business owners. The truth is that the number of people who work remotely is much larger than 3.9 million.

Assumption: It’s often thought that remote workers are mostly young people with digital nomad jobs working for start-up companies, and usually making less money than in an office job. But the truth is far from that.

Reality: The average remote worker is 46 years or older, has at least a bachelor’s degree, and earns a higher median salary than an in-office worker, according to the 2017 State of Telecommuting in the U.S. report which is also based on U.S. Census data.

Remote work is more common among employees over 35 years of age and most common among baby boomers.

And as further proof of remote work’s growth, the report found that in more than half of the top U.S. metro areas telecommuting exceeds public transportation as the commute option of choice. It has grown far faster than any other commute mode.

  The Most Common Work From Home Fields  

In some cases, the types of jobs that allow people to work from home are what you might expect, but there are some surprising fields offering remote work as well.

These top career fields for remote work have increased more than 50% since March 1, 2020:

1. Computer and IT
2. Customer Service
3. Accounting and Finance
4. Project Management
5. Marketing
6. Sales
7. Mortgage and Real Estate

And these are only seven out of 55 career fields reporting remote job listings, so there are definitely many opportunities outside of these top fields.

  The Most Common Work From Home Job Titles  

What specific types of jobs can be done from home? There’s a huge variety of jobs you can do remotely, but these are some of the most common job titles offering remote work options:

1. Accountant
2. Engineer
3. Teacher / Faculty / Tutor / Instructor
4. Writer
5. Consultant
6. Program Manager
7. Project Manager
8. Customer Service Representative
9. Business Development Manager
10. Account Manager / Account Executive
11. Recruiter
12. Sales Representative
13. Web Developer
14. Medical Coder
15. Territory Sales Manager
16. Nurse
17. Data Analyst
18. Editor
19. Case Manager
20. UX/UI Designer

Here’s a list of popular job searches.

These include both employee and freelance roles, and offer full-time jobs or part-time remote jobs and other flexible work options.

When looking for remote work, one important thing to keep in mind is that scams are unfortunately prevalent in the work-from-home job space. Job-Hunt’s list of five major types of online job scams is a good place to learn more so you can steer clear and find legitimate opportunities.

  Employers Hiring People to Work From Home  

As you might expect by now, the types of companies that hire people to work remotely are just as varied as the jobs that can be done this way. FlexJobs compiles a continually updated list of top companies hiring for work from home jobs out of over 54,000 companies.

The list includes companies from 18 different industries headquartered in 10 different countries worldwide. These jobs may be “100% remote work,” partial remote work,” or “option for remote work.”

Here are the top 20:

1. Appen
2. Lionbridge
3. VIPKID
4. Liveops
5. Working Solutions
6. Kelly Services
7. EF – Education First
8. SYKES
9. Concentrix
10. Williams-Sonoma
11. UnitedHealth Group
12. LanguageLine Solutions
13. TTEC
14. TranscribeMe
15. Humana
16. Cactus Communications
17. Transcom
18. BroadPath Healthcare Solutions
19. Dell
20. Aetna

Other well-known organizations on the Top 100 list include Amazon, Hilton, SAP, ADP, U.S. Department of Commerce, Cisco, Salesforce, CVS Health, American Express, and Johnson & Johnson. Rounding out the top 100 are many other companies large and small.

Can You Work from Home?

If you’re reading this article, you’re probably wondering whether you could work from home (if you’re not already working that way).

  Does Your Current Job Qualify?  

For anyone who wonders whether his or her current job can be done from home, evaluate your situation by answering these questions:

• Does anyone else on my team, in my department, or even at the company work from home regularly?
• Does my manager seem open to flexible work options like remote work?
• Are there any company or HR policies related to remote or flexible work? Is there a formal request process or does it seem more casual?
• What would this actually look like for me? How often would I like to work from home?
• How would I work from home? What about creating a home office space, managing the people I live with, and communicating with my team? What do I already have that would make it successful, and what do I need?

Hopefully, you could do your current job from home. But, if you might need a change…

  How to Find a Work-From-Home Remote Job  

If you’re looking for a new job that lets you work remotely, here’s how to start your search:

• Research the types of jobs you are qualified for and would enjoy to see if they often offer remote work options. Sites like FlexJobs.com and Remote.co are a good place to start your research for both jobs and companies that commonly let people work from home
• Revise your resume to include any previous remote work experience you might have (occasionally or often, paid or unpaid, school or work). Also include your best skills for remote work (written and verbal communication, time and task management, working independently, being a good self-manager, and having a growth mindset).
• Start talking to friends, family, and professional acquaintances about remote work. You’ll be surprised how many people you know are already working this way. Ask them how they started working remotely and what tips or advice they have for your search.

If you are considering working from home, do some research, find out companies’ policies, and develop a plan to land the right remote job for you. You can also explore other ways to earn money at home.

The Bottom Line

Remote work has made the transition from a nice perk to a standard way of working. Working from home is becoming increasingly popular with no signs that the popularity will decline in the near future. Considering the options available — working as a “remote” or “telecommuting” employee, as an independent contractor with clients, or as a business owner running a business –the growth in working from home is much more likely to grow as time passes.

Are you looking for a remote, work-from-home, or flexible job? Visit our partner site FlexJobs to find verified jobs in many different categories, including communications jobs, remote bookkeeping jobs, social media jobs, commission jobs, web jobs, designer jobs, physics jobs, agriculture jobs, HTML jobs, and more.

More About Work From Home Jobs:

• FlexJobs: Top 100 Companies for Remote Jobs
• How to Work From Home: 7 Tips
• How to Work Effectively From Home
• Why Smart Professionals Are Considering Freelancing

About the author…

Brie Weiler Reynolds is the Senior Career Specialist and Career Coach at FlexJobs.com. FlexJobs is the award-winning site for telecommuting and flexible jobs, listing thousands of pre-screened, legitimate, and professional-level work-from-home, flexible schedule, part-time, and freelance jobs. Brie and her colleagues provide career coaching and resume reviews through the FlexJobs Career Coaching program. Find Brie on LinkedIn and follow @briewreynolds on Twitter.
More about this author…

The post Top Work From Home, Remote and Online Jobs appeared first on Job-Hunt.

However, joining a new employer and new environment without our boss and colleagues present is a new experience for most of us.

Be aware. As COVID-19 has changed many things in our lives, the way companies operate and communicate work and expectations has also changed. And, we do not always know what we are doing when we try to adapt to those changes.

Remote work varies for different professions and for different employers. The pandemic has changed the world for us, sometimes dramatically.

Before You Start Your New Job

Hopefully, you have continued some research on the company to get more specific information about its remote-work culture.

Maybe your new employer has provided a list of things you should have to be well-prepared for your first day of work. If not, I have suggestions for things you should know and do before your start date:

  1. Understand the logistics expectation.  

In the past, you would have had a dedicated home phone line for your work when working from home. Today, you will likely need to have much more for your home office.

The equipment, phone line, Internet connection, and other accessories may be provided by the employer or you may be expected to provide these yourself.

  2. Check your home’s Internet connection and support.  

You likely already have a connection to the Internet with Wi-Fi connecting the TV, computer, and other devices in your residence. However, you may need to increase the speed, upgrade your Internet connection plan, or connect your computer directly to the Internet. You may also need a separate IP address dedicated to your workspace in your home.

Your employer may or may not cover added costs.

  3. Understand how to use video.  

You were introduced to the company’s chosen video platform when you interviewed for the job. Less is more applies to video appearance and especially your background. Sure, you can use the platform’s virtual background, but it’s easier to use an organic background. By creating your background, you control what people see.

Marc Miller, the founder of Career Pivot, says, “Watch what’s behind you and the Zoom backgrounds. And I tell people not to use them because I want the focus on you. What’s behind you, brands you.”

  4. Know what communication tools (other than video) you need.  

Onboard communication should provide the tools you need to participate in any department or company-related engagement. Ask for the software specifications to match your computer’s capabilities and clarify who will facilitate the process.

You will also need to be clear about the security software you will need to use and whether the company supplies it and is responsible for installing it. Your team might use some of the mainstream apps, and you will need to familiarize yourself with them.

Success Strategies in the First 30 to 90 Days

The first few days and weeks in a job introduce you to your manager and co-workers. Succeed by paying careful attention to your interactions with them.

  1. Establish your brand early.  

When you are new to the company, you need excellent communications to establish a solid reputation with your boss and other employees and team members. Although you primarily determine how you communicate it, you will need to, as Miller says, “…decide how you want to be perceived, and that’s your personal brand.”

  2. Optimize the way you learn best.  

Not everyone can sit in a classroom, read all day, and learn the job basics. Neither can everyone watch, relax, listen, and comprehend information from a video recording.

Find out how the data is being delivered, and choose the method that best fits your learning abilities.

  3. Learn the map(s) to success.  

How have your coworkers succeeded at learning and adjusting to the team, company, and work environment? They all have likely worked together for some time. No one has the same learning style, but know what techniques are useful for you.

Whenever possible, ask your boss and new colleagues about their work experiences, especially with this employer. What were their big successes? What are the potential problems you might be facing?

  4. Right questions are the best tools for quality co-worker connections.  

One of the few barometers your co-workers have is your questions to them. They can gauge the quality of your understanding by the questions you ask.

Try to ask questions to more than one person to help you understand the culture and the team’s MO (modus operandi). Questions such as, “What are the current challenges the team is facing right now?” and “What are the current priorities?” are useful gauges to team communication, get up to speed, and learn how and where you can contribute.

  5. Network frequently outside your department.  

Although you will not attend inter-departmental meetings in person, make the best of virtual meetings. Look for opportunities to collaborate, inquire, and engage. Getting a broader vision of the company may bring future career-advancement opportunities.

Understanding how other departments work helps you understand how the organization works, especially if your work complements others within the organization. There may be an opportunity to solve existing problems and that can serve as a feather in your cap. You also get a sense of your department’s brand throughout the company and opportunities to contribute can come directly from those conversations.

  6. Connect with your boss often.  

Good bosses respond when employees are transparent, open to correction, and clearly understand where you are. What’s great about using video is they can also read your body language and use it as intel to address concerns. As a new person, you’ll benefit the most if you’re easy to correct and reset. It’s up to you to make it easy for your boss to do. You may feel it’s your responsibility to succeed, but a good boss will set you up for success.

  7. Add value quickly.  

The right questions can add value quickly, but solutions are why they hired you. If you can make your solutions a collaboration with your team, you can win early and often.

Making your suggestions about solutions and how to solve past problems will make you a part of the team quickly. Fresh eyes and ears often bring an unseen perspective and invite more partnerships and opportunities to shine.

  8. Don’t forget professional development.  

What are the skills the company or department does not train you for that you will need for the future? You are responsible for the future of your career and preparing for the next steps. If a promotion does not happen with this company, you may decide to go elsewhere.

Strategize for your next potential career move constantly, including when you start a new job. If we have learned from all economic downturns, we should know there are no announcements to warn of the next downturn.

It Is OK to Cry, “UNCLE!”

Not every job will fit before the 90 days are up, and this inevitably builds anxiety. Perhaps the job is a good fit, or perhaps it is not.

However, there’s nothing wrong with powering through until you find something else. If your performance is not meeting expectations, then you do not have much time. Try to be at peace no matter the outcome. You will find another remote position, and you can learn from the one that got away.

The Bottom Line

For many people, working from home will be a career highlight and a powerful experience. People who succeed put a lot of thought into making it productive for the sake of their livelihood. Undoubtedly, successful transition to your new job will likely not be seamless. A new employer, new co-workers and boss, new expectations, and likely new technology will take a period of adjustment. You will need to be present and responsive throughout every part of onboarding and the months ahead. The results should allow you to increase your production, value, and positively impact your new company.

Are you looking for a remote, work-from-home, or flexible job? Visit our partner site FlexJobs to find verified jobs in many different categories, including journalism jobs, remote banking jobs, voice over jobs, and more.

More About Work From Home Jobs:

• How to Work Effectively From Home
• Increase Your Work-From-Home Efficiency: 9 Handy Tools for Remote Workers
• How to Keep Your Skills Sharp While Working From Home
• Why Smart Professionals Are Considering Freelancing

About the author…

Mark Anthony Dyson a career-advice writer and consultant who loves helping people discover their ideal career. His award-winning blog and podcast, “The Voice of Job Seekers,” has provided job-search advice since 2011. Follow and connect with Mark on Twitter (@MarkADyson) and LinkedIn. To read more of Mark’s articles and listen to his podcasts, visit his website: TheVoiceofJobSeekers.com.

The post Successfully Launch Your New Remote Job: The First 90 Days appeared first on Job-Hunt.