Things to Consider When Deciding to Work From Home

Updated on: by Amy Kennedy

Thinking of Work at HomeWritten By: Erica Martin

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So you’re considering working from home.  Maybe the price of gas is getting too expensive, or you’re tired of the daily commute, or you want to spend time with your children.  These are all great reasons to want to work from home, but before you jump into looking for a work from home job, there are a few things you need to consider.  Working from home is great, but it’s not for everyone.  Before  you start working from home, ask yourself these questions:

Am I the type that needs to be around people all the time, not just talk to them online or over the phone?

If the answer to this question is yes, working from home may not be for you.  Though you’ll still have contact with people when you work from home, most of your contact will be through emails, phone calls, and instant message conversations.  Of course, there are work from home opportunities that do allow more contact with people – however those are mostly sales positions that require an investment to get started. If you’re looking for a work from home opportunity that requires little or no investment, except for the time you put in to make the money, most of those work from home jobs have limited face-to-face contact with people.

Do I have the self-discipline to work until I’ve accomplished my goals for the day, without being distracted by other things that I need to do at home? 

If you answer to this question is no, then working from home may not be for you.  Many people like working from home because they don’t have a supervisor looking over their shoulder constantly – however some people need that extra motivation of knowing their supervisor’s right there.  If you’re one of those people who is distracted easily by other things you need to do, or if your kids are too much of a distraction, then working from home may not be an option.

Am I willing to start out with jobs that may not pay as much as I would like to get paid? 

If the answer to this question is no, then working from home may not be for you.   If you’re trying to get a job in an area that you have little or no experience in, you can’t expect to get a job that pays top dollar – that’s true even in the brick and mortar world.  So what do you do if you have little or no experience in the field you’re pursuing, but  need to make a certain amount of  money?  If you’ve got a secure job outside the home, hold onto it for as long as you can, and in the meantime, maybe get a part-time work from home job in the area you want to get started in.  Once you’ve got more experience in that field, and can afford to work from home full-time doing what you want to do, then you can quit your job outside the home.

Do I have a tendency to give up when things aren’t going as well as I’d like them to? 

If the answer to this question is yes, working from home may not be for you.  There’s a lot of demand for work from home jobs, just as there’s a lot of demand for jobs outside the home.  Therefore, it may take some time for you to find a work from home job.  The key is to keep looking for leads.  Miranda has a great website for work at home job leads, and she mentioned several great sources of leads in the blog post Eleven of the Best Places to Find Work at Home Job Leads.  Use those tools to find jobs to apply for.

Can I create a productive workspace in my home?

This question asks you to think about the logistics of your living arrangement. Not everyone has a separate home office or a quiet corner they can dedicate solely to work. It’s important to identify a space where you will be comfortable working and won’t be easily distracted. This could be a spare room, a portion of your bedroom, or even a quiet corner of your living room.

Am I comfortable with technology?

With working from home, most, if not all, of your work will likely be conducted online or through digital means. This might include video conferencing for meetings, using different software for work tasks, and troubleshooting minor tech issues on your own. You need to assess your comfort level with technology. If it’s something you struggle with, you might need to take time to improve your tech skills before deciding to work from home.

Can I handle the isolation that might come from working from home?

Unlike an office setting where you have colleagues around, working from home can sometimes be lonely. While some people find that they thrive in a quiet, solitary environment, others might struggle with the lack of human interaction. Consider your personality type and your need for social interaction throughout the workday. Will you be happy working alone for extended periods, or will you miss the buzz of a busy office?

I hope this post has given you some idea of the qualities that people who work from home need to have.  The good news is, if you are not the type that needs to be around people all the time, you do have the self-discipline to work until you’ve accomplished your goals, you are willing to start with jobs that may not may as much as you’d like to, and you don’t have a tendency to give up easily, t hen working from home may very well be for you.  If that’s the case, I wish you the best of luck on your work from home journey!

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Leisa Good

December 19, 2011 at 9:43 am

Erica,

Excellent advice. Especially the last one. When you’re only making half of your former salary, it is hard to walk around and be positive. However, it does — or it did — motivate me to put together a good action plan.

Again, good read! Great information.