A few months back, I was introduced to the world of Remote Jobs and after spending some time on Google, I must say I was intrigued by the whole idea. Remote jobs give you the stability of a Regular job along with the independence of a Freelancer.
What is a Remote Job?
Remote jobs are like regular jobs, but instead of going to the office, it is done within the comforts of your home or even a coffee shop or a park or any place you can think of working from. The interviews will most likely be done over a video chat service like Skype or Google Hangouts etc. or sometimes in person depending on the company and its location. If selected, then all the paperwork, background checks and contract finalizing will be done electronically; just like a normal hiring process. A decent hardware(laptops/Desktops) and a good internet connection is all you need to get started with a Remote Job.
Why are companies preferring Remote Jobs?
The reason is very simple, the cost factor. Imagine you have a company of around 500 employees. To accommodate them you’ve to have a building with interiors, a very high bandwidth internet connection, hardware, pantry, travel support like Cabs etc. and when you add up all these; it consumes a large chunk of companies’ finance. So companies are slowly and steadily moving towards the trend of Remote Jobs. I know few companies which are totally based on the Remote model and where each employee of the company is a Remote Worker.
The second most important factor is the ability to hire resources across geographical boundaries. In a conventional approach if the company is situated in say, United States; and you are in India and have been selected to work there, there are lots of overheads like applying for VISA, getting the VISA, travel arrangements, relocation etc. and the list goes on; and because of these things an individual who is actually eligible for the job doesn’t get it. Talent is beyond geographical boundaries and remote jobs help to make it a reality.
Where can You apply for Remote Jobs?
- StackOverflow Jobs – It has an awesome list of Remote Jobs from all around the world.
- Linkedin Jobs – Linked in again has quite a good number of Remote Jobs.
- Indeed Jobs – This again has a good list of Remote Jobs.
- Crossover for Work – They help companies hire talent for them. To qualify you to have to clear few written exams and then clear a F2F interview, over a Video chat. The pay is good and transparent and all jobs are remote.
- Remote.co, We work remotely, Remoteok.io, WorkingNomads – These are some of the sites which specifically list only Remote Jobs.
These are few services that I know of, surely there are more other services like these. Google and if you find a good one, do let me know(by commenting on this post) so that I can add it here to the list.
Is Remote Job suitable for You?
- If you’re tired of a mundane lifestyle and want to take a break from the 9 to 5 routine then Remote Jobs are best for you.
- If you have a hobby or passion for traveling, Painting, cooking etc., you can take up a remote job and as well as pursue your passion without thinking of the finances.
- If you want to study, a remote job gives you the greatest flexibility to balance work and study.
- If you have small kids at home, then having a remote job will enable you to take care of them more and will also allow you to spend more time with them.
These are some of the scenarios I could think of, where Remote Job can be beneficial for an Individual.
Challenges of a Remote Job
- Your employability will depend heavily on your Communication skills. Since you won’t be present physically, it’s of utmost importance that you should possess good communication skills, so that you can explain, negotiate, argue, discuss etc. sitting behind a computer, which let me tell you is not an easy task.
- It will be highly likely that the Timezones in which you would be working is different from yours. So you’ve to balance out your timings properly.
- The continuous presence of Electricity as well as Internet connectivity during the working hours is a must, otherwise, it will hamper your work.
- Working in a conventional office allows you to work distract free, socialize with colleagues, helps to maintain a strict timetable etc. but when you’re working from home, these things are very hard to come by.
Long story short, if you’re interested in trying something new and are looking for a change, then you should definitely try a Remote Job. But if you prefer working from an office desk within a designated time slot and you are not comfortable with a change, then I suppose Remote Jobs are not for you.
Have you ever taken up a Remote Job or planning to do so. Do share your experiences in the comment section.