Coronavirus: Best Practices for Work From Home

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Welcome to the Robert Clegg blog. The work-from-home job force just got a big push from the current global coronavirus pandemic, but even before COVID-19 became a factor, increasing numbers of people have been saying goodbye to their onerous commute to work. Thanks to ever-evolving technologies like Skype, Facetime, Slack, Zoom, Google Hangouts, authenticator apps, and cloud computing—not to mention texting and email—it's no longer necessary to be in an office full-time to be a productive member of the team. In fact, many kinds of work can be done just as effectively, if not more so, from a home office.

Whether you’re working remotely one day per week (or more) or full-time—by choice or because of a health scare or weather event—it’s important to ensure that you are set up to be productive. This includes having a designated workspace with the right technology; ways of dealing with kids, pets, and other potential disruptions; and a schedule that allows for the social contact and stimulation that ordinarily comes from being in a workplace with others.

Know the ground rules

 Does your employer require a nine-to-five schedule, or is there flexibility? Are you allowed to work on public Wi-Fi? Which tech tools might you need, such as Zoom for video conferencing, Slack or Microsoft Teams for group chats, or Trello for project management?

Set up a functional workspace

 robert cleggNot everyone has a designated home office, but it's critical to have a private, quiet space for your work. If you can, separate your work area from your personal spaces and use it just for work, not for other activities.

Use phone apps

 If your job involves making long-distance and/or international calls, Google Hangouts, WhatsApp and Skype all let you call over the Internet across the globe on the cheap. And if you and the person you're calling are on the same service, the call will be free.

 Plan extra social interactions

 Some folks love the thought of working in solitude, but even the most introverted among us can start feeling a little claustrophobic after a few weeks at home, alone, staring at the same project for long hours. It can get lonely. Be ready for that, and try to schedule some connect-with-the-outside-world time, like a lunch date (even if you take it at 3 PM), a video chat with a friend, or an exercise class.

The Top Types of Work-From-Home Jobs

Here are some of the most common work-from-home options. Some are more on the unskilled/entry-level side, while others require specialized training and expertise. 

Virtual assistants

Think of a virtual assistant as an off-site secretary. Virtual assistants work from home, often communicating with the boss via chat, Facetime, Slack, or another real-time service. They can do most of what a traditional administrative assistant does—responding to emails, creating business documents, calling clients, scheduling appointments, handling social media, bookkeeping and data entry—but at a lower cost. Key talents for this sort of job include good communication skills and some office experience.

Translators

International companies need translators all the time. They may translate files and documents, or transcribe and translate conversations and conference calls. People who speak uncommon languages are even more in demand, and these home-based jobs are plentiful.

Call center/customer service representatives

Many companies, large and small, outsource their customer service work to home-based agents. Since some English-speaking customers may have trouble communicating with agents who speak English as a second language, or have heavy accents, a growing number of firms are seeking more call-center workers in the U.S. Most of these types of jobs entail inbound calls, helping people with orders or account information, but some also require outbound calling. The typical qualifications needed for this type of job are good communication and people skills, with most employers requiring a background check. 

Data entry and transcription

Although they can be two different types of jobs, data entry and transcription jobs usually require the same skills and qualifications. Data entry involves entering facts and figures into a software program or spreadsheet. It could involve entering payroll data, catalog or inventory items, or working with a customer relationship management system. Transcription work involves creating documents from audio files. Here are Robert Clegg's important business tips that will help you make your startup a success. 

Teacher/tutor

With the growth of online education, there is a growing demand for online instructors. While many online teaching jobs require teaching credentials, jobs for online tutors do not (although an educational background is often desired). Tutors for advanced subjects, such as calculus and physics, can earn a higher hourly rate. There are also opportunities to simply do standardized test scoring at home. Scoring jobs may require a teaching background or a college degree, at a minimum.

The Bottom Line

Working from home can be exciting, empowering and even profitable, provided you are realistic about the pros and cons. Whether you are a freelancer, a company part-timer, or a full-time employee who just doesn't hit the office on certain days, it's a way to escape the daily grind. But there are added responsibilities that come with freedom, not to mention planning, foresight, self-discipline, and focus.


Robert Clegg is a consultant, entrepreneur, and business founder specializing in raising funding and building tech business. Learn more about Robert Clegg here. Alternatively, you can follow Robert Clegg on Twitter for more business tips every entrepreneur should know.

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