Working from home can be challenging. And it is definitely not a spoon for everyone's mouth. A particular set of qualities is a must to succeed in this area. That doesn't mean you cannot find or work remotely if you miss any of those. It actually means that you should and would develop them in the process of finding a job and after when you start working it.
Are you eager to work online?
Let's see what these traits are in the list below:
1. Self-discipline
This is one of the most important qualities you can develop while you begin looking for a well-paid home-based job. It will serve you in several aspects:
— You will be able to keep up with deadlines - in case you are hired by a company and participate in a freelance project, often they are tied with strict deadlines. These must be followed as the project's success depends entirely on the participants' ability to keep pace. If you want to grow as a freelancer, you would be concerned with the overall project development and your part in running it smoothly.
— You will be able to maintain a good work-life balance that will allow you to work enough to make a good income and have the necessary days off to relax and recharge for a better lifestyle. If you don't discipline yourself, you might find out you procrastinate by spending time on useless activities. On the contrary - if you are overly disciplined, you might find it hard to stop working and stop taking on more and more projects and clients. This could quickly turn you into a workaholic.
2. Self-initiativeness
In a work-from-home position, it's crucial to understand that you will provide your work online. In many cases, this would be even all of the time. And there will be no one else with you to talk to, just you and your computer. Positively, you could contact support when you encounter an issue and ask for help. Based on my observation, it was a rare occasion when you get the assistance you need shortly.
Sometimes you would need to wait for days, weeks, or even months for a support agent to finally get things sorted out. In the meantime, the issue would still exist. To avoid this from happening to you, you can try your best to resolve things yourself. This includes searching for information online. Check conversations with people who already experienced your problem, try different methods to fix it, or do anything that would help.
This is especially valid when the issue is on your side. Whenever you encounter any technical error, it is in your best interest to check if it is something local with your device, settings, etc. If you fail to confirm this information, you can contact the support team of the relevant company. However, in this case, the resolution will be delayed, and you will lose both your and their time. Be initiative, and be a skilled problem-solver.
3. Time management
One of the main differences between working from home and office jobs is the time distribution. It will all depend on the type of remote position you are participating in, but they share some similarities. When nobody is watching what you do when you work, there must be another way of tracking your progress. This often happens through payment per hour, per task, or per project.
Let's say you have a target to follow daily, a certain amount of work you need to commit to, and follow a deadline. If you are slower than that - too bad for you. In this case, the money you receive will still be the same, but you will work more. That reflects a lower salary per month.
If you, however, learn how to be productive and do more with less effort, your wage will be significantly higher. It is a matter of practice. As you grow in the field, you will learn to recognize which information you receive carries greater significance and what to ignore. You will also learn to concentrate and maintain your attention for longer and when to take a break.
A technique you can use to improve your productivity is time blocking. I have recently been introduced to this method and am still a beginner, but it proves very effective.
The basics are that you set a specific timeframe for each type of task you have. Instead of doing various assignments simultaneously and multi-tasking, you improve your concentration by devoting yourself to one thing at a time.
4. Patience
Patience is a superb quality to attain in life, and not only for freelancing. I mention it as a separate point because it is a core skill that helps you grow and stay motivated. No job can make you an expert in it overnight. Working from home requires adjusting your schedule and your routines. If you don't live alone, you should develop a healthy strategy of spending time with your family and being productive at work.
To Lose Patience is to Lose the Battle.
This quality will help you go through periods of less work available or too much work stressing you out. It can also serve you when you need to wait for a problem to be solved, and this doesn't depend on you. Be persistent, and be patient because, in the end, things will happen exactly as they should for the best.
5. Welcoming change
In the online world, things are changing much quicker than offline. New tools arise, new websites, new job opportunities, new projects, changes to existing projects, rebranding - it is almost chaotic. What would serve you best in such an environment is your ability to embrace change and realize that all those adjustments are made for the better. And they are precisely what prevents you from getting bored.
Imagine having the same routines, the same rules, and tasks daily. After some time, you will start feeling exhausted because there wouldn't be anything new to give you excitement. The world nowadays is much more dynamic than it used to be. People are doing more things online, more tasks are performed, and ultimately one just needs to adjust to this modern lifestyle
6. Great English level
For communicating clearly with managers/clients/customers and being efficient in your position English is a must. Many options exist for improving your level (if it is unsatisfactory), including offline courses, online courses, apps, private classes, etc.
Moreover, written communication is often the case (chat, email, comments), and you should strive to improve it. Invest in yourself, and you will see better results in your job. Learning English might be a time-consuming goal, but it's worth it to communicate clearly in the world's most popular language.
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As it is valid for any other job, working online has its specifics, which take time to master. You may discover you possess some of these qualities. There may be some that will require more effort on your side. The one thing I know for sure is this: If you set up a goal to find a home-based job and are consistent in your efforts, you will achieve it sooner or later.
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