Totaljobs.com > Career Advice > Jobseeking plus > Working from home: quick guide
Working from home: quick guide
If the term "home working" conjures up visions of filling envelopes for a paltry wage, think again. A wide range of jobs can be carried out from home, whether on a temporary or permanent basis.
Many of the varied roles in the IT and Internet sectors, such as design, programming and development, are ideal for home working, as they can be done remotely. Other suitable roles include accountancy, consulting and journalism, which all benefit from a calm environment. Your home needs to be as well-equipped as your office, but a modern PC hooked up by broadband to your company network could allow you to give up commuting forever!
Some forward-thinking companies actively advertise flexible working options to prospective recruits. IBM not only encourage home working, they also supply the equipment for it. But it is not just technology companies that make the most of flexible working. BMW, Shell, Royal Bank of Scotland, Nationwide Building Society and Marks & Spencer also offer the option.
If your company is unwilling to foot the bill, don't write off the concept of working from home completely. Consider if a reduction in your commuting costs could help to pay for the equipment.
The key components you'll need include:
- PC – costs depend on how powerful a computer you need for your work.
- Broadband – now readily available and affordable, with a number of packages.
- Webcam – for “face-to-face” meetings.
- Fax machine
- Printer
- Mobile phone – preferably a Blackberry with email capabilities.
While working all day in your pyjamas may seem like the perfect option, there are a few drawbacks:
- Working from home can be a very isolating experience for some people. How much would you miss a buzzy working environment with lots of noise and chatter around you?
- Spending time away from the office can distance you from those snippets of information you pick up during a week at work, from useful gossip to potential business leads.
- Rather than peace and quiet, you may find you're getting a constant stream of calls from your boss to check you're getting on with things.
- With many distractions it can be hard to be disciplined. Sky TV, your DVD collection and a fully stocked fridge should all be well out of sight of your workstation.
- Young children may not always understand when you have to work or take calls.
Even when you are working from home, try to get into your workplace for one or two days a week. It might be appropriate to arrange catch-up meetings with your boss or peers, just to make sure that you are kept in the loop. Try to attend any major company events whether they are social or formal; you'll keep up-to-date with goings on and remind everyone you're still part of the team.
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