Key Things to Consider Before Accepting a Remote Job

At first glance, working remotely seems extremely appealing – after all, you don’t have to commute to work or follow a dress code – but in addition to these benefits, there are also drawbacks to remote work.

Whether you are looking for your first remote job or your fifteenth, it’s important that you carefully review the position, weigh the pros and cons of remote working, and ask the right questions before you accept a new position.

Pros of Remote Work

Let’s start with the positives. Remote work presents a wide variety of benefits:

Greater flexibility. Remote jobs are great for those who need or desire more flexibility in their work schedule. All the time you save by not being stuck in traffic can make it possible for you to get to your favorite workout class or run errands throughout the week. When you’re able to maintain a healthy work-life balance, you’re more successful, happier, and healthier.

Lower monthly bills. Those who work remotely often enjoy lower monthly bills on gas, transportation, parking fees (if applicable), business attire, childcare expenses, and take-out food and beverages.

Increased productivity. When you work from home, you typically don’t have the same distractions that you’d have at the office, which means you’ll be more productive when you are working.

Customized workspace. Let’s face it. Working in the office is not always the most comfortable. When you work remotely, you’re able to customize your workspace exactly how you’d like it to be. In your home office, you can keep your space as cold or warm as you’d like, decorate your desk how you please, and sit in a chair that is actually comfortable.

Cons of Remote Work

It is not just the advantages of remote work that you need to consider before you accept a remote job. You also need to review the disadvantages of working remotely, which can include the following:

Lack of interaction. Remote work, by nature, is independent work. While you may be required to check in with teammates here and there, you won’t be interacting with coworkers as often as you would if you were working in the office. If you’re someone who craves this face-to-face interaction, a remote job may not be ideal for you.

Increased dependence on technology. Telecommuting is reliant on technology to succeed. If your internet is down one day or your computer stops working, you may not be able to work for several hours, or you may have to go into your company’s office to have IT either fix or provide you with new equipment.

Find Remote Jobs in Your Field - Join Today!

Sign in with Google

Sign in with LinkedIn

Sign in with Apple

Or, use your email address:

Next

Greater personal responsibility. When you work remotely, you don’t typically have someone checking in on you or your deadlines as much as you would if you worked in an office. As such, you have to be responsible for completing your tasks and managing deadlines.

As you can see, there are both perks and drawbacks to remote work. Every person is different, so you have to weigh the pros and cons of remote working personally to find out if it’s right for you.

Finding the Right Remote Job

If you’ve decided that you want to work remotely, it’s time to start your search. While you might think that all remote jobs are created equal, the truth is that they’re not. Don’t forget to ask the following questions during your interview to gather important information that will help you determine if the remote job is right for you:

• What does the average day look like for someone in this position?
• What are your expectations for a daily schedule?
• What communication methods do you use to keep employees connected and enable collaboration?
• What technological requirements are required for this job? Do you provide this equipment?
• What challenges have you experienced with remote employees before, and how have you overcome them?

Getting the answers to these questions will give you insight into a company’s management style, expectations, and experience working with remote employees. Moreover, you’ll find out whether your work style and personal expectations for a remote position align with the posting before you sign an offer of acceptance.

Ready to take the next step? Find the iHire community that’s right for you to start searching for remote jobs in your industry.