“Frequently Asked
Questions”
“Frequently Asked Questions”
-- ANSWERS
How do I find a
telecommuting job?
The short
answer to this question is: very carefully! It’s important to consider a
variety of issues, such as the appropriateness of telework for your
interests and skills; keys to identifying legitimate jobs; best ways to
create and submit your resume; and what’s needed on your part to make
telecommuting successful. For details on these issues and more, visit the
jobs page on our website:
Looking for a Telecommuting Job?
For a full
range of information and resources for current and aspiring telecommuters,
go to our homepage:
www.jobstelecommuting.com
I’m looking
for a telecommuting job—how do I tell if it’s a scam?
This is a
legitimate concern as there are a lot of people out there who are
“unethical” to say the least. Follow some basic guidelines: if you have any
suspicions or doubts, leave the site; if it sounds too good to be true,
leave the site; if there’s a big initial fee for products/services of
questionable value, leave the site. There are many reputable sites and
opportunities, so don’t take unnecessary risks. For additional information
see our:
Telecommuting Scam Alert
What
about all these sites I find and emails I get about stuffing envelopes?
Be
extremely careful with these schemes, as many of them are scams. Even the
United States Postal Service recognizes this and has published a short
document with guidelines and warnings:
http://www.usps.com/websites/depart/inspect/workhome.htm
How can I
learn more about finding a telecommuting job?
We’ve
gathered the critical information you’ll need to know about finding a
telecommuting job on our site:
Looking for a Telecommuting Job?
In
addition to the information we provide, do your own research. Check out
sites that offer jobs (we’ve included some on our Jobs page), talk to other
people who are currently telecommuting and ask how they got started, and
learn all you can about successful telework.
For an
in-depth look at finding a telecommuting job, order the book:
WORK AT
HOME: The Telework Job Seekers Handbook
How do I know
if telecommuting is for me, I’ve never done it before?
Not
everyone is suited to telework. However, by learning more about the success
factors, most people can leverage their strengths and minimize their
weaknesses for effective telecommuting.
Begin by
understanding the skills, attitudes, circumstances, and conditions that
enhance telecommuting success. We’ve compiled such a list in our:
Once you
know more about what’s expected and needed to be a successful telecommuter,
determine how you are likely to fare as a telecommuter. Start by reading
the article:
"Are
you a candidate for telecommuting?"
Then
compare your capabilities and circumstances by assessing through one of our
assessment tools. For a quick look at how you stack up against successful
telework requirements, check out our FREE:
For a more
in-depth look at your strengths and weaknesses, along with training and
development suggestions targeted to your specific needs, order our:
Telecommuter Assessment Profile
Learn more
about what you’ll need, what you must do, and the tools, resources and
support you’ll require to succeed as a telecommuter. Check out a wealth of
information and resources in our:
Telecommuting Resource Center
Is
telecommuting a growing or fading trend?
Telecommuting is definitely a growing trend. Due to the expansion of
cost-effective broadband access, the squeeze on travel costs, the
globalization of business, and the desire of increased work-life balance,
telework is both a popular and effective solution for an increasing number
of individuals and organizations. Learn more via the following links:
How do I
convince my boss to let me telecommute?
Persuading
your boss or your organization to implement or expand telecommuting
initiatives is very much a function of the nature of your job and the
business. Your job must be “telecommutable,” e.g., one that lends itself to
the realities of dispersed work. Additionally, it’s important to have the
appropriate level of organizational and technical support. Above all, you
must make a strong case for the benefits not only to you, but also to the
organization, your customers, and others impacted by your job. At the same
time, you’ll need to present a plan that minimizes any negative impact on
your performance, your team, and your ability to respond to business needs.
Learn more about developing a proposal and presenting a plan for
telecommuting by reading our FREE guide:
Check out these
articles to learn more about presenting a telecommuting proposal:
CBS MarketWatch: "Sell Your Boss on Telecommuting"
BusinessWeek Online: Make the Case for Telecommuting
My children
don’t understand that I’m working when I’m home.
They’re constantly interrupting. What can I do?
Family
demands must be balanced with your work, and distractions during your work
time must be managed carefully. Envision the types of interruptions from
your family that you’d consider reasonable when working in a traditional
office away from home. As much as possible, try to have the same
expectations for interruptions at home.
To achieve
the level of understanding and commitment from your family that’s necessary
to your success as a telecommuter, you’ll need to clarify and discuss your
needs and expectation, set clear “interruption rules,” and establish
procedures for when and how to get your attention. (A child storming into
your home office while you’re on the phone with a key client or your boss is
a situation you’ll want to avoid!) It’s important to provide not only clear
expectations, but to also offer the reasons your concentration and
appropriate work environment are necessary. Usually, being clear and asking
for your family’s help in this proactive way will get the result you need.
For more
information about managing family situation and striking an appropriate
balance between your work and family needs, check out our booklet:
Tips for Teleworking while Managing Family
Issues
You’ll find more detail in our mini-book:
Working Well with Your Family
For a more
in-depth discussion on family issues, including action steps and “how to”
guidelines for handling family situations while working at home, order our
book:
101 Tips for Telecommuters
I really feel
disconnected from everyone else on my team. What should I do?
Maintaining positive relationships and active communication with members of
your team is essential to both your effectiveness and satisfaction as a
telecommuter. Without a conscious commitment to stay connected, it’s easy
to begin feeling detached and isolated. Additionally, there can be issues
and conflicts regarding the nature and flow of work between remote and
on-site team members that generates controversy. This can create obstacles
to communication and team effectiveness can begin to erode. Take
responsibility for keeping in touch. Use all the technology resources at
your disposal—telephone, e-mail, voice mail, IM, cell phone, fax,
teleconferencing, web meeting—to communicate often. Beyond the necessary
business communication, be sure to take time to develop and strengthen team
relationships through informal dialog. In other words, continue to take an
interest in people on a personal level as you would if you interacted more
frequently on a face-to-face basis.
For more
information about dealing with isolation and detachment from other team
members, check out our booklet:
Tips for Teleworking Effectively with Your Remote Team
You’ll find more detail in our mini-book:
Working
Well with Your Team
What should
I do when I’m not getting along with a team member?
Because
any breakdown in team relationships can become counterproductive very
quickly, it’s important to address these issues directly and quickly. While
a face-to-face meeting might not be possible, scheduled a voice-to-voice
discussion to discuss the problem and explore solutions. Avoid trying to
deal with relationship problems via voice mail or e-mail. Hearing and
responding to concerns, listening carefully, and working together to find
acceptable solutions requires at least a voice-to-voice interaction.
For more
information about handling conflict within teams that are geographically
dispersed, check out our booklet:
Tips for Teleworking Effectively with Your Remote Team
For more details on effectively managing team issues, order our mini-book:
Working
Well with Your Team
Another resource that’s
helpful to teams is our learning guide:
Guide to Building Virtual Teams
The people
in my organization who can’t telecommute seem to really resent those of us
who do. How can we get them to understand that we also work hard and often
need their help, but don’t want to feel like we’re asking for something
unreasonable?
Direct and
honest dialog about issues, concerns, and possible solutions is essential to
addressing issues involving remote and on-site associates. Even if
co-workers are not immediate team members but are part of the internal team
that is critical to your success, effective relationships must be maintained
or productivity will eventually suffer. Learn more about the nature of
resentment in these situations by reading the article:
Tele-Resentment
Additionally, you’ll find other helpful resources on out site. For more
information about handling conflict within teams that include geographically
dispersed associates, check out our booklet:
Tips for Teleworking Effectively with Your Remote Team
For more details on effectively managing
team issues among teleworkers and their work associates, order our
mini-book:
Working
Well with Your Team
An
excellent resource for developing team relationships is our learning guide:
Guide to Building Virtual Teams
How do I
establish goals and objectives with my boss?
Setting
clear, measurable, and visible goals is essential to the success of any
enterprise. It’s particularly critical for those who telework. If your
organization doesn’t have an established and objective process for setting
goals, be sure to take responsibility for articulating your own goals and
getting your boss to agree to those goals. In some cases, the initiative
may need to come from you. Either way, be sure to address issues such as:
specific goals; tracking methods; reporting mechanisms; review dates; and
the relationship between goal attainment and compensation.
For
assistance with clarifying your goals, check out our booklet:
How to Bring Focus to Your Life and Your Work
What’s the
best way to set up my home office?
A home
office that’s not well designed, well organized, and well equipped is a
sure-fire way to doom your success as a telecommuter. You must consider not
only ergonomic and safety issues, but you must also consider the type of
work you do, the nature of your work flow, your particular work style, and
the limitations of your home office space.
There are
some work-at-home arrangements that are less than desirable and should be
avoided if possible. For example, setting up your workspace in a room
that’s shared by others in your family (examples: the family room, kitchen,
dining room) can lead to family conflicts and ineffective work methods. A
dedicated space—even a smaller area—is preferable to utilizing an area
that’s not appropriate for undertaking focused work. Additionally,
workspace that’s unpleasant or uncomfortable (examples: a stuffy attic, a
drafty basement, a poorly lit spare room without windows) will not inspire
you to new heights of focus and productivity!
For
guidelines on working effectively from home and establishing an appropriate
work environment with your residence, check out our booklet:
Tips for Teleworking Productively in Your Home Office
For more
details on effectively managing home office issues, order our mini-book:
Working
Well in Your Home Office
What
equipment and technology tools will I need to telecommute?
When it
comes to tools and technology, just the combination and amount that’s right
for you and your job is what you’ll need. Your organization may provide a
list of recommended (and sometimes funded) equipment. On the other hand,
you may be on your own to figure out what you need. It’s easy to get
carried away (and overextended financially) by purchasing technology
resources that surpass your real needs, while shortchanging yourself on
technology tools can be a ticket to shortchanging yourself on success.
If others
in your organization—particularly those in similar jobs—already telecommute,
check with them about what’s needed and what works well. If your
organization provides any guidelines, checklists, or assistance with
equipment acquisition (check with Human Resources of the Telework
Coordinator), be sure to avail yourself of these resources.
For a
basic list of tools to get started in just about any telecommuting
situation, consulting our checklist, which lists the necessary:
Telecommuting Tools
For more
information about acquiring and using technology for effective telework,
check out our booklet:
Tips for Telecommuting Wisely with Technology
For more
details on effectively managing technology issues and challenges, order our
mini-book:
Mini-book:
Working Well with Tools and Technology
