Many people dream of quitting their jobs for a telecommuting position. However, one solution that’s often overlooked is the option to negotiate telecommuting privileges at your current place of employment.
You may already have an advantage. Employers know that ‘working from home’ is a big perk, and that there are countless numbers of people willing to do so. At the same time, they have to do what’s best for the company — and often that means that telecommuting positions are offered to existing employees who have proven track records. That could be you!
However, remember that some jobs are better suited to telecommuting than others. Ask yourself:
- Am I self-disciplined and able to work with minimal or no supervision?
Unlike the office, when you’re at home there’s no one to make sure you get your work done. You are still accountable for turning in quality work, on time — but when you’re at home, it’s your responsibility to motivate yourself. Consider also whether or not you WANT to work by yourself — many people love and would miss the social interaction that takes place in an office setting. - Have I established trust with my boss and my coworkers?
Before you even approach your employer with a proposal to work from home, you’ll need to have proven yourself as someone who’s reliable and who doesn’t require extensive support from coworkers. For example, an employee who’s constantly asking questions or who frequently needs help is not likely to be viewed with favor if he or she asks to telecommute. - How would my direct boss and my coworkers feel about my working from home?
Some corporate cultures simply don’t support the concept of telecommuting. If most of the people you work with hold a negative attitude towards telecommuters, then reconsider. It’s not uncommon to find people who believe telecommuters are “taking a vacation at the company’s expense” — and coworkers may also develop feelings of jealousy if they believe you’re getting special treatment”. - Does my job require a lot of face-to-face meetings with coworkers or clients?
Jobs that require frequent or extensive consultation with others can be tough sells for telecommuting… particularly if consultation is difficult to do over the phone or the Internet. - What kind of resources do I need from the office?
Jobs that require nothing more than a computer and a phone, for instance, are prime candidates for telecommuting. Jobs less suited are those that require resources you can only get in an office — for example, filing cabinets filled with important papers, specialized equipment, or a wide variety of supplies that would be impractical to set up in a home office.
Can your job be done from home? If you believe it can, then your next step is to create a well researched and prepared telecommuting proposal. A great site to help you with this is http://www.telecommutingproposal.com/.
Keep in mind, too, that you don’t necessarily have to go for an ‘all-or-nothing’ deal. Even if your employer isn’t amenable to allowing you to work from home all day, every day, you may still be able to negotiate several days each week — which you might be able to increase once you’ve proven that you’re still effective while working from home! A major factor to getting a telecommuting position is flexibility – so be open to negotiation!
Angela is the editor of Online Business Basics, a practical, down-to-earth guide to building an Internet business on a beginner’s budget. If you enjoyed this article, you’ll love the book! Visit http://www.onlinebusinessbasics.com or request a series of 10 free reports to get you started.
