Some people have had some notions about working from home. Although the industry has existed for some time, many people still need clarification and help understanding it. Since the pandemic, working from home has become a new trend, but what is it really about? Can you work from home like you would in an office?
It’s important to discuss these misconceptions and clarify any confusion. Let’s examine these common beliefs to better understand what it’s really like to work from home.
#1: IT IS HARD TO BE PRODUCTIVE
It is indeed hard to be productive at home with all the possible distractions, such as just getting out of bed, the TV, and kids. But isn’t distraction everywhere? You can get distracted wherever you go, at home, or even in your office. Working from home does not mean you will be less productive; it will give you the freedom to have a comfortable place to think and be creative whenever you feel trapped or lose focus with work.
One of the perks of working from home is setting up a comfortable and relaxed workplace. And this can be anywhere, from the kitchen table to the table you have outside your yard or maybe at the nearby coffee shop. And you don’t have to be stuck in one location; you can move around and get that perfect spot to get creative.
#2: WORK FROM HOME JOBS ARE LIMITED TO TECH-SAVVIES
Some believe working from home is exclusively for someone with high technical skills or knowledge. Most assume that working from home is limited to bloggers/vloggers, social media experts, programmers, or IT specialists. Our previous article, Easy Online Jobs That Can Be Flexible And Fun, explains that many work-from-home jobs do not require someone to be highly technical.
Here is a list of home-based job tasks that do not require you to be highly technically skilled.
- Appointment setting
- Audio or video transcription
- Bookkeeping
- Calendar management
- Contact management
- Customer service
- Data entry
- Document filing
- Editing and proofreading
- Email management
- Employee management
- Event coordination
- Graphic design
- Hotel and flight booking
- Human resources
- Online teaching
- Real estate
- Recruitment
- Reports creation
- Research
These home-based jobs only require that you know how to use a computer, access an internet connection, and use the software. Occasionally, you will need specific skills, but most would already have the required skill set. And with proper training, you can do these tasks if you need to learn how to.
#3: THERE IS NO CAREER GROWTH OR STABILITY
People assume that there is no long-term career or growth in working from home- that work-from-home employees are just temps for jobs that cannot be filled with employees at the office. However, this is further from the truth.
Working from home offers career growth. Most WFH employers are seeking long-term employees who will be committed to staying and growing with the business. Most businesses or companies that hire home-based workers are start-ups that need people to help them grow. This means you will be there with them as the business grows and the perfect person to take on critical roles with the company.
#4: IT MEANS ISOLATION AND LACK OF TEAM COLLABORATION
Many people think working from home will lead to isolation and affect effective team collaboration, but that’s not true. With the advanced technology and virtual communication tools that we have now, it has never been this easy to stay connected and collaborate seamlessly with your team.
Utilizing video calls, messaging apps, and project management tools with real-time document sharing and editing features has made working from home simpler for teams to talk and share ideas, ensuring everyone is on the same page. This promotes friendship, unity, and productivity, which helps with isolation even when the team members are far apart.
#5: EMPLOYERS CAN NOT MONITOR EMPLOYEES’ WORK EFFECTIVELY
Some argue that with work-from-home, employers won’t be able to monitor their employees properly, and they think it will lead to productivity and accountability issues. But again, with today’s advanced technology and tools, that won’t be a problem.
We now have time-tracking software, project management platforms, and regular check-ins. These tools help employers monitor and evaluate their employees’ performance. They also contribute to transparent communication and ensure employees meet their objectives and deadlines. Thanks to these, it is now convenient for employees to maintain connectivity and accountability for a better work-from-home journey.
We hope that this clears doubts or misconceptions you may have about working from home. If what we’ve shared inspires you, we are here to help you start your work-from-home career.