1. How can I earn a living working from home? 

Until early 2020, remote working was a somewhat foreign concept, but since then, there’s been an increase in the number and types of jobs you can do remotely - most of them online. So what are they?

You can: 

• Complete online surveys
• Consult in Digital Marketing
• Specialise in Social Media Marketing
• Become a Virtual Assistant 
• Join an Affiliate Marketing Programme 
• Create 3D animations or graphics 
• Document your life as a vlogger 
• Start a podcast 
• Do accounting 
• Teach English as a second language 
• Become a customer support specialist
• Write advertising copy as a copywriter
• Start your own drop store 
• Proofread or edit articles 
• Review products
• Manage short term holiday rentals  

Working remotely also opens up the possibility of becoming a digital nomad. If travelling the world while earning an income excites you, then this Beginner’s Guide to Digital Nomad Jobs will send you on your way!

2. What are the benefits of working from home?

• Less time in traffic means more time for yourself and your family. 

• You will also feel more rested and less stressed at the start of your day because you no longer have to spend time commuting to work.

• Flexible days - More often than not, remote work comes with flexible working hours, so you’ll have time to get to the things that a regular 9-5 doesn’t always allow. 

• You’ll get things done quicker - One of the advantages of working from home is the absence of the usual office distractions.

• You will save a ton on fuel costs! 

• Pursue your dream job - Now that you’re no longer office-bound, a wider range of career options is available to you. 

3. What is the downside of working from home? 

Of course, it’s not all sunshine and roses! Even though the pros outweigh the cons, we can’t look past the fact that there are some downsides to working at home. 

• Distractions at home - You might be working, but your kids and pets certainly aren’t! 

• Lack of human contact - Coffee catchups over Zoom is just not the same as at the office! 

• The risk of your work spilling over to your personal life is much higher. 

• Not knowing when to stop working could lead to burnout. 

4. Does my personality suit a work from home position? 

Are you a good communicator? Can you work independently? Are you self-motivated? These are just some of the typical character traits a remote worker needs to have.   

Take our free Workplace Personality Assessment to find out which of these skills you have. The test, designed by industry experts, will provide you with an extremely accurate report of who you are and why you do things the way you do.

5. How can I find a remote working position? 

Once you’ve decided that you want to work from home full-time, you might wonder where to find a job or company that allows its workers to work from outside the office. Luckily for you, there are plenty of websites that list these types of opportunities. 

LinkedIn Jobs is great if you are looking for a full-time or semi-permanent role. The platform’s job search functionality lets you set filters and alerts to ensure you keep up with the latest job listings that match your interests. 

Upwork is a popular community platform that connects employers with job seekers. It’s used by millions of freelancers to find quick jobs or longer-term contracts and is fantastic for people looking to keep their options open and schedules flexible. 

A more traditional option is Indeed. Just like LinkedIn, this massive job posting board allows you to search for jobs using a “remote” filter. Some other platforms to consider include: 

• We Work Remotely

• FlexJobs

• Remote.co

• Remote OK

• The Muse

Your expertise might even allow you to become a permanent freelancer. Photography, event planning and pet grooming are all great work from home options if you have the right skills. 

6. What skills do I need to work from home? 

While specific jobs require specific skill sets, some skills are transferable from one job to another. We like to call these types of skills workplace skills. So the question is, which workplace skills do you need to work remotely? 

1. Leadership skills

2. Interpersonal skills

3. Effective communication

4. Understanding diversity and inclusivity 

5. Professional soft skills

6. Workplace etiquette

7. Does working from home require technical skills? 

To some extent, yes, you do need technical skills to work from home. The type of skills you would need depends on the job. If you dream of working from home as a dog groomer, then you’d need the technical know-how to groom dogs! (We have a great dog grooming Diploma course, by the way…) 

Accountants need accountancy skills just like a photographer needs to know how to use Adobe Photoshop or a similar photo editing software, but some of the common technical skills all work from homers need. These skills are listed below. 

7 Technical skills you need to work from home

• Computer literacy

• Touch typing

• Presentation skills

• How to host a productive meeting via Zoom 

• Project management expertise

• Time management skills

• Admin support skills

8. How do I adapt to working remotely from home? 

Swopping the office and morning commute for remote working might not be as easy and seamless as you were hoping it to be. For some, transitioning to the new way of working might feel more like an uphill battle than an exciting fresh start. So how do you adapt to working from home? 

1. Set clear boundaries. 

For some, keeping their work and personal life separate is the biggest challenge when it comes to working from home. For office workers, it might be easier to “leave work at the office”, but how do you do that if your office is your home? Here are some practical tips to achieve this: 

• Set up a dedicated at-home office space and stick to it. 

• Switch off instant message and email notifications after 5 pm.

• If you have to talk about work with your family, do it, but then move on. Your family wants to spend time with *the real you*, not with the person you are at work.

2. Get into a routine 

One of the best ways to quickly transition from an office-based job to a home-based job is to establish a routine. Start an end-of-day habit to signal the end of your workday and the start of your personal time. 

3. Prioritise your mental & physical well-being. 

This is more important than ever now that you work from home. It’s easy to fall into the trap of all work, no play - be aware! Take time to meditate, do some yoga, go for a walk, get some exercise! 

4. Don’t keep it in - talk to your coworkers & manager.

If you have any uncertainties about working hours, responsibilities, and coping with work stress, it’s always a great idea to speak to your manager. It’s also important to remember that your coworkers might be going through the same thing, so don’t be afraid to reach out to them. 

5. Stay social. 

You will quickly learn that working from home can be somewhat lonely. You will miss the office banter and seeing your teammates in person, but thanks to software programmes and other tools like Zoom and Slack, keeping in touch with your coworkers won’t be a problem. 

Now that we've answered all your questions, what's keeping you from starting your work from home journey?