Is a Remote Job for You?

There are countless benefits to having a remote job. The most obvious benefit being you get to work from wherever you want, live wherever you want, and travel as often as you like. Working from the comfort of your home or your favorite coffee shop is a luxury. You could even work from the beach! As long as you have a decent WiFi connection, you’re free to roam about the globe and plop down your laptop wherever you’d like.

Being a remote employee sounds like the dream, and for a lot of people, it is the dream! Working remotely allows a lot of freedom and flexibility, but like most things in life, there are pros and cons. Remote work doesn’t suit everyone. Some personalities are happier and more productive in an office with their team close by to keep them accountable and to bounce off. Not everyone thrives in a location independent work environment.

Have you been curious about starting a remote career but aren’t sure if working remotely would be a good fit for you? These questions will help you determine if you’d thrive as a remote employee…

Are you a self-starter?

Are you independent and self-motivated? Are you able to take action and stay on task even when you don’t have a boss looking over your shoulder? This is one of the most important attributes that employers are looking for when hiring a remote worker.

Are you easily distracted?

The ability to focus on your work without distraction can be a challenge even in an office job. Facebook is typically just one tab away, there are snacks to be eaten, people to chat with, YouTube videos to watch. The distractions are endless. The thing is, when you aren’t in an office with your team or your boss, you don’t have the accountability of someone watching you to keep you on task and focused. You think, “oh, I’ll just watch one more Instagram story” and next thing you know 30 minutes have passed and you’re coming out of a social media trance, unsure of what exactly transpired. “How has half an hour just vanished?  Did I just time-travel?!” (You can tell I’ve found myself in the Instagram vortex once or twice). It’s so important to be self-disciplined enough to hold yourself accountable and stay in the zone so you can complete your work.

Are you a good communicator?

Clear and open communication is key for all healthy working relationships. When you’re not sharing a physical space with your team, it’s even more important to make sure that everyone is on the same page and in the loop with each other and what everyone is working on. Thankfully, we have Slack and Zoom and many other wonderful tools that help us connect with our remote teams these days. It’s important to utilize them daily to be in touch with your team. Being able to clearly and concisely explain or relay information in emails and phone calls is a key factor that makes up a great remote employee.

Are you tech-savvy?

Working remotely means you spend a big portion of your time working from your laptop and using software and programs that require some level of technical savviness. If you’re technically challenged, a remote job might not be the best fit for you. But you don’t have to be a tech-wizard to thrive as a remote employee; you’re always a click away from a quick Google search or a YouTube tutorial that will likely explain exactly how to solve the issue you’re facing. If you’re a quick learner and are willing to adapt to using new software and tech, you should be golden.

Do you enjoy spending time on your own?

This question might seem strange, but working remotely can at times feel isolating. You don’t get the same comradery and connection that is found amongst a lot of in-office teams. There’s no gossiping with Sally at the watercooler. Just you and your laptop working away in solidarity. This can be a beautiful thing for some people but for certain personalities, this can feel a bit lonely and uninspiring. Working from coffee shops, or even better, a co-working space can help with this, but if you don’t have access to a co-working space or a welcoming coffee shop, working from home day in and day out can start to feel dull, especially for extroverts.