Is remote work right for me?

If you're like most of us, you often look out the window of your office and long for a life that's a little more exciting, less repetitive, and a lot more rewarding. Good news for those who long for such a life: remote jobs are becoming more common, and companies have finally realized the importance of giving their employees the flexible life they crave. But before you decide to work remotely, you should check whether you are suitable for this completely different form of work.

1. TYPE OF ACTIVITY AND SPECIAL FIELD:

This point may seem obvious, but does your work qualify for one? Remote work ? Fortunately, most jobs these days can be completed remotely in some form. With a little creativity, communication skills, and hard work, many tasks can be adapted for remote work. If your work can't easily be done remotely, consider how you can use your experience differently and look for jobs in areas like consulting or content creation that are related to your background.

2. PERSONALITY TYPE:

It is important that you remain realistic in your decision. There are certain characteristics that can make people feel better - or worse - for you Remote work and paying attention to this is crucial for your career. Some features to look out for:

The Art of Self-Motivation - Source: karrierebibel.de

• Independent - Do you rely on the company of others in the office to keep you stimulated? Or do you prefer a quiet environment where you can do things in your own time? Do you rely on strict rules and guidelines, or are you good at managing schedules and anticipating needs yourself?
  
• Self-motivated - Do you find it more satisfying knowing you accomplished a task on your own, or do you enjoy it when your team praises your work?
  
• Highly focused - Are you easily distracted by things that might come with remote work? Is home life too hectic for high productivity? Or is yours Remote work place a zen zone where things can be done easily?
  
• Skilled Communicator - Are you a proactive communicator who can clarify needs, expectations and questions via email, or do you rely on face-to-face communication with body language cues to fully understand things?

3. SKILLS + KNOWLEDGE:

Even if you have the perfect remote work job and your personality fits it perfectly, you still need to consider the professional and personal development aspect. If you're early in your career or have recently transitioned, you may not be ready to commit to full-time remote work yet. If you are in a more junior position and will benefit greatly from the hands-on support of more experienced employees, you should still spend time in an office with them. Of course, that doesn't mean you can't spend time outside of the office, just that you should carefully consider whether it's the right time to completely step away from day-to-day collaboration.

4. THINGS TO AVOID:

Working remotely can have its pitfalls. For many, the biggest challenge is the feeling of being isolated and disconnected from the team. Regular face-to-face meetings, networking events, coworking with others remote workers and video conferencing can help suppress these feelings. Especially when you have your office at home, it can easily happen that the boundaries between work and private life become blurred. Set clear boundaries for yourself and define goals every day to hold yourself accountable for your time so you don't end up with a semi-productive but terribly tedious work day.