Many people dream of working from home, especially on days when the morning commute is brutal or their little ones are sick. The thought of having flexible schedules, short commutes, and of course, comfortable work attire all seem like a dream come true, but before you make the jump, here are some important things to consider to determine if working from home is a good fit for you and your family.
- Start with some honest self-evaluation – Some attributes that are important to be successful at any job are imperative when working from home. It is not for everyone, so don’t be discouraged if it is not a good fit for you.
- Self-motivation – Flexible work schedules are great, but if you are not self-motivated you may find it difficult to get your work done independently. Some people find that they are more efficient if they have a boss or co-workers around keeping them focused on their work.
- Good communication skills - Since you will be working from home it is possible that most of your communication will be done by phone or email. Clear and concise communications become even more important when you are not speaking to someone face to face.
- Social needs – If you are the type of person who needs social interaction, you might find the isolation of working from home to be difficult.
- Organized - Organization skills are important when balancing your stay at home work with your family activities.
- Computer skills – Depending upon the job you will be doing at home, you will most likely need computer know-how. Without an IT department you will be required to handle the technical issues that come up.
- Set up a work area. This is a very important step to help you stay focused and organized. I can speak from experience when I tell you that it is not easy to drag papers from room to room while juggling a laptop. If you don’t have the luxury of setting up an entire home office, try to carve out a space in an extra bedroom, guest room, or even a closet to serve as a dedicated work area.
- Support from your family – If you have a family and children, it is a good idea to include them in your decisions regarding working from home. It is likely that this type of arrangement will affect them, at least indirectly, so garnering support from your family may make the transition easier.
Now that you have decided to work from home, here are some options of home based businesses that you may want to research. Be careful of scams. In general, if a company needs money from you up front you should be suspicious:
- Online tutoring
- Virtual call centers
- Writing or editing from home
- Medical transcription
- Accounting and bookkeeping
- Home party or online businesses – Avon, Mary Kay, Jamberry, Pampered Chef, Younique, etc.
