Many workers had already said goodbye to their arduous commutes before the crazy 2020 covid pandemic made working from home the norm for millions of people. Working in an office full-time is no longer required to be a productive team member, thanks to constantly developing technologies like FaceTime, Slack, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, cloud computing, and email messaging. From a home office, many forms of work can be completed just as efficiently, if not more so.
Employers know the advantages of remote work, which is just as tempting to employees. New Harvard Business School research shows that organizations with work-from-anywhere rules can increase employee productivity, lessen turnover, and cut costs. Workers who telecommute can outperform office-based peers in highly sophisticated occupations that don't require a lot of social support or teamwork. A distributed workforce is also better able to maintain operations in the case of a natural or man-made disaster, even if some of the group is offline.
Work from Home and Developing Nations
Working from home, however, is not always the right path. Some nations experience intermittent power or electricity. The lack of energy in many African countries will restrict working hours and eventually impact production. This implies that residents might not have direct access to energy from the government for several hours each day, week, or month. Alternatives like generators, inverters, power banks, and solar-powered gadgets are commonplace. While not free, government-provided electricity is typically less expensive than other options. The major problem is ensuring everyone on the team has continuous access to electricity throughout their shift because there will certainly be a power outage at some time. We see little advancement in-network coverage, expanding access, and limited bandwidth over much of Africa. In many countries, affordability is also dropping. Todays systems and technologies for contact centers are cloud-based. Your workforce needs strong internet connectivity to log in from home, even if you're utilizing an on-premise solution. Businesses invest a significant amount of money to provide the finest internet access in the office and ensure the flawless operation of all platforms and processes. Even if everyone buys internet bandwidth for personal use, home internet connectivity today must be of the caliber as that needed at work.
Starting a profession working from home will be ideal for you if you are self-driven and disciplined. All of these legitimate work-from-home jobs have undergone rigorous testing. Unfortunately, some occupations don't provide health insurance, so if you need health insurance, discover what other independent contractors are doing and how you may get health insurance here. You can pay by PayPal or even direct deposit for most of these methods. When a variety of payment alternatives are offered, it simply depends on the platform and your preferred payment method.
Signs that work from home is for you
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Nowadays, remote work is becoming more and more prevalent, but it also presents a variety of problems that make it not the best choice for everyone. The following indicates that working remotely is a good fit for you and your lifestyle.
1. You are a self-starter:
It all boils down to how you work and complete your daily tasks: are you great at handling problems that others hurl at you and doing projects that have been allotted to you, or are you the kind to take the initiative? In a remote working environment, the difference can be extremely significant. You're probably no longer receiving orders or tasks directly from anyone; instead, you're expected to take the initiative to self-start, whether with simple administrative tasks or by looking into why a project you previously completed isn't working. Some people struggle to organize their work, ideas, and steps and can quickly descend into chaos when there is no overhead to get them going. None of these issues will arise for a self-starter, who will welcome the end of being dictated to. You don't rely on others very much.
2. Regularly moving or traveling:
Traveling more frequently can be exciting because you get to see a lot of the globe and experience new cultures, but it also makes it very challenging to perform a regular 9 to 5 job in an office. Who can maintain regular employment when unsure where they will be or for how long tomorrow? The digital nomad community is expanding daily, and thousands of individuals like you work online while travelling, so remote work may be the perfect alternative for you. You can accomplish nearly anything you would if you were at your usual office at home, so long as you have a laptop and an internet connection. Depending on the nature of your profession, your trips might even act as a source of creative inspiration. In that case being able to work from home is crucial to your success. Always write down your thoughts as soon as possible rather than waiting till you're in the office.
3. Your most effective working hours are sporadic:
Lets face it, not everyone likes getting up early, and not everyone can stick to a 9 to 5 schedule. Everyone has a different peak productivity level, so while some may work at their best in the early to mid-morning and feel revived after an afternoon slump, others are barely recovered by the time they start to get into the groove of things in the late afternoon. Working remotely might be for you if you're a night owl or simply one of those people who are most productive outside regular office hours. You might not have complete schedule freedom depending on the nature of your work and whether you're working alone or with others, but at least you wont have to get up early every day and endure a miserable commute.
Below is a list of some of the easy work-from-home jobs:
1. Online Freelance Writer
An online freelance writer works as a contractor rather than a full-time employee. Freelancers provide their writing services to various clients. Additionally, independent writers can write for multiple clients: write newspaper and magazine pieces, Copywrite or create website material for a customer, or sell their short tales to literary magazines.
2. Proof-reader
Before a text is published or shared, it must be carefully checked for errors. It is the final step in the writing process where you correct any last-minute typos, small spelling and punctuation errors, formatting, and consistency problems. Any writing shared with a crowd must be proofread, whether it be an academic journal, a job application, an online editorial, or a printable flyer. Numerous online platforms that provide proofreading can connect you with clients based on your skills.
3. Virtual Bookkeeping
Virtual bookkeeping, or internet bookkeeping, enables seasoned bookkeepers to conduct basic accounting tasks from a distance. They might not even be in your time zone or your city. Bookkeeping software manages all correspondence and storage of financial documents. Online bookkeeping offers convenience, shared access to your accounting software and financial records via a secure interface, as well as flexibility in terms of time and location
4. Virtual Assistant
A virtual assistant is a remote worker who provides you and your company with part-time administrative support. They can do duties traditionally performed by an executive assistant, such as making phone calls, scheduling appointments, planning travel, or managing emails. Although some are hired as full-time remote employees, they often operate as independent contractors. Companies of diverse sizes and in a variety of industries use virtual assistants.
5. Blogging
Writing, photography, and other forms of self-published web media are referred to as blogging. Blogging originally served as a platform for people to keep diaries in the form of entries, but it has subsequently been incorporated into the websites of numerous businesses. Frequent updates, casual language, and chances for readers to participate and strike up dialogue are all characteristics of blogging.
6. Drop-shipping
With the help of the dropshipping business model, entrepreneurs can launch an online store and sell goods to customers without ever having to keep any inventory. Instead, a dropshipping store buys the product from a third party and has it shipped to the buyer when it sells the product. The best thing about dropshipping is that it gives independent entrepreneurs a lower-risk way to test new product concepts (and product lines) without having to buy and pay for them in advance. A lot more people can work from home thanks to this company strategy.
Related: Common traits of successful entrepreneurs
7. Online Tutoring
Online tutoring is instruction that occurs in real-time through the internet, typically one-on-one. Despite what some technology companies may imply, online tutoring must entail a \"real person.\" The online tutor may be someone the student already knows in person or may come from another country whom the student has never met in person. The only typical prerequisites for online tutoring are a device that can receive or transmit the online lesson and an internet connection with enough bandwidth for both the student and the teacher.
8. Customer Service Representative
Customer service representatives do answering queries and resolving issues. A representative will often open the customers file in the company's computer system when a customer calls about a problem that must be resolved. Representatives utilize this data to resolve issues and may also modify client accounts, such as updating an address record or cancelling an order. Additionally, customer support employees have access to answers to the most frequently asked questions and detailed instructions for handling requests or grievances.
9. Affiliate Marketing
Publishers can profit from affiliate marketing by promoting a good or service produced by another vendor or advertiser. The affiliate partner receives payment for helping the shop or advertiser reach their goal. Usually, a sale is an outcome. However, some programs will pay you for leads, free-trial users, website clicks, or app downloads. If you do it well, this performance-based opportunity can be a lucrative online business concept by bringing in a respectable amount of money.
10. Life Coach
A life coach is a wellness expert who supports people in their efforts to improve their lives and find more fulfilment. Life coaches help their clients improve their daily lives, jobs, and relationships. Life coaches would assist individuals in defining their objectives, locating the roadblocks in their way, and developing plans of action to get through each one. Life coaches offer the assistance required to effect long-lasting change and can even assist individuals through the internet in maximizing their abilities.
11. Social Media Management
Social media management involves analyzing social media audiences. It involves creating a strategy that is specific to them. Producing and disseminating content for social media profiles is part of social media management. Keeping an eye on online discussions is key. This may involve working with influencers, and reporting on social media performance and return on investment is key.
12. Freelance Development
Professional coders that work independently and for a variety of clients construct websites and apps under the umbrella of freelance web development. They are free to determine their rates, pick and choose which clients to work with, and take on as many projects as they like because they are self-employed.
Related: Freelancing - A solution to Africa's unemployment
13. Website and App Tester
You might be qualified for a position testing websites if you have thoughts about what functions well and poorly online. Additionally, user testers may be hired to examine mobile or online applications still under development. Some developers desire a beginners perspective. Therefore, you don't need to be particularly informed about the internet. Based on their demographic characteristics, including age, education level, web literacy, and use of social media, usability testers are asked to do tests. They are then given tasks to complete, such as registering on a website, leaving comments online, or answering questions.
14. Data Entry
A burgeoning work-from-home industry is online data input. Employing freelancers to work on data entry tasks is becoming simpler for businesses thanks to new technology. Operators who enter data may use crowdsourcing tools or remote access to a company's infrastructure. Basic general transcribing is one example of a data entry sector, although most transcription activities demand more experience.
15. Search Evaluator
Internet search results are examined by search engine evaluators, who provide input on their accuracy, relevance, and lack of spam. To accomplish this, the assessor needs to be well-versed in modern society, have access to the internet, and be a skilled communicator. Direct experience is not always necessary, but it is sometimes preferred. This particular work-from-home job offers a better salary but does require some expertise. Although there are some English-only positions, these jobs are frequently for bilingual people. There are several titles for the position of search evaluation, including \"search evaluator,\" \"online assessor,\" \"ad quality rater,\" and \"internet judge.\"
16. Micro Job
A micro job often consists of a brief online assignment for which you are paid a small sum, typically just a few cents or dollars. They are referred to as brief chores at times. These duties can sometimes be completed by clicking a link on a company website after logging in. These tasks are available on sites like Amazon Mechanical Turk. Online service markets are another location to look for jobs. Workers here provide modest services, typically for a flat rate, and customers peruse the marketplace to discover providers of the services they require.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Work from Home Jobs
Benefits:
1. Flexibility And Agility
Workplace flexibility and agility are increased by working from home. Employees may be better suited and more willing to work flexible hours, such as earlier, later in the day, or even on the weekends if they are no longer confined to an office. For instance, if you trade with clients located in a different time zone, this can help you satisfy certain business needs.
2. Increased Productivity
Because there aren't as many interruptions as in an office setting, in contrast, working from home offers a more tranquil setting that may promote more concentrated work. Some workers might also want to work more hours than they were contractually required to to make up for the time they used to spend travelling to and from work.
3. Better Work/Life Balance
Employees can achieve a better work-life balance by working from home. For example, staff who would have had to commute can now utilize that time for themselves, laying the groundwork for a better work-life balance. Additionally, employees can incorporate domestic tasks into their schedules, providing them extra time in the evenings for leisure activities like loading or unloading the dishwasher or cooking lunch.
4. Fewer Expenses
This advantage may have a wide range of implications. For instance, you can save money on fuel and transportation costs when you stop commuting. Telecommuting allows you to cut other expenses like work attire, food, and even childcare. Saving money on daycare expenses can be especially beneficial for parents who work from home.
Drawbacks:
1. Home Distractions
Even though working from home eliminates potential office distractions, if a worker doesn't have a sufficiently quiet dedicated workspace, they risk becoming easily distracted by household noises or other family members.
2. Risk to information security
When employees work from home, information security issues could become more prevalent. With laptops being brought home and the requirement for personnel to access servers remotely, there is an increase in danger. Employers should make sure they take precautions to preserve company data by installing encryption software and remote-wiping applications in the event that mobile devices given by you go missing. Your data is encrypted via virtual private networks, which offer secure online access to a distant computer. This keeps your data and files safe yet available to your personnel.
3. Home office costs
Some remote jobs require specialized tools like headphones, webcams, or software to complete crucial projects and activities. You should prepare to spend some money upfront to organize your home office if you want to set up a desk, chair, and other furnishings. Spend only what is necessary to complete your task to keep prices down.
4. Risk to productivity
Although working from home might boost productivity, it can also present certain difficulties. It could be challenging to concentrate on the activities you're working on when you have the freedom to walk around and take breaks whenever the mood strikes. In the end, this may result in decreased production. Implementing productivity tools like time trackers and task management programs is one method to fight this.
Related: Work from home facts you need to know
There are several alternatives if you're looking for simple jobs you can do from home. Consider your interests, abilities, and skills when choosing one, and choose one that compliments them. You could even create a job if you didn't find one already there. The best thing about online jobs is that you may work more than one gig or job at once and still make a good living from home. You can fit everything into your schedule if you want to run a blog and tutor or run an online store and a YouTube channel.