Why connect with the VirtualVocations’ Blog?
Ready? Set? GO!!!
You are determined that you want to work at home and are willing to make the necessary arrangements to do so
explored your reasons for choosing to explore a WAH career path
identified your skills that are most advantageous to being successful in a WAH career
acknowledged your commitment and discipline to realize your goal of being a WAH professional
NOW … you need to have a plan! You have probably heard the expression: “Those who fail to plan, plan to fail.” Well, obviously you do NOT want to fail in your WAH endeavors, so you need to plan your work and then work your plan. This plan of course will need to be tailored to the specifics of your WAH job, but certain aspects are common to all:
Set up your workspace, office, or studio – make sure you have all the necessary furniture, equipment, and supplies to facilitate efficiency
Establish a schedule – maintain a fairly regular schedule, but also build in some flexibility to allow for the inevitable interruptions and distractions inherent in working at home
Maintain a professional attitude – yes, you are working at home, but you can still benefit from adjusting your mindset to affirm that although you are in a home office, it is your office nonetheless and you are a professional freelancer , telecommuter, or independent contractor
Compose a professional resume (or have one written for you) – a professional resume is a necessary and vital tool in your WAH business
Purchase and distribute business cards – try some simple, inexpensive cards which you can find at places like Vistaprint and Marketsplash
Join social networking sites – two-fold purpose: market yourself and your skills, but also network with other WAH professionals
Set up an online profile, blog, or other online presence – an additional means to market yourself and your skills, as well as network
This is just a general set of guidelines, but should help you get started on the journey to being a successful WAH professional. Ready? Set? GO!!!
Are you working ergonomically at your desk? Take this quick quiz!
Are you currently sitting up straight?
Is your seat adjusted to the right height so your eyes are level with your computer screen?
Are your knees slightly lower than your hip joints?
Are your wrists resting on the desk while you type?
Are your feet sitting flat on the floor and not tucked under your chair or crossed?
AND….
When was the last time you took a break from staring at your computer screen?
(Hint: If it’s been longer than 60 minutes, get up and stretch and go rest your eyes)
Happy Working!
I love this time of year when it is just starting to cool off (at least in AZ finally) 
and it is starting to feel like the holidays are approaching. Of course, all the Christmas decor put up in the stores helps as well…
Anyway, VirtualVocations thought it would be fun to find out what your favorite part of the season is! Let us know by replying through the link below in our forum, and you will be automatically included in our drawing for a $50 Target Gift Card! Use it just in time for Christmas, the winner will be selected December 10, 2009 and notified via their email associated with their VirtualVocations’ account. No purchase necessary.
Let us know what you love about the holiday season!
The answer is a resounding YES! With working from home becoming more and more accepted, people are having an even harder time than in the past, separating their work from their home life. Family relationships can quickly be put on the back burner with work taking precedence, especially when it is waiting for you from some back corner in your home. Gone are the nine to five days when you left your job and went home, not thinking about work until the next morning when you were back at the office. With telecommuting, your home is your office, making it difficult to separate the two. How can we take back our personal lives and relationships in a world where increasing technological advances seem to monopolize our time and energy?
Working from home definitely has it’s benefits, and I wouldn’t give it up for anything, however, it does require a balancing act that is many times difficult to manage. Creating a work schedule will help utilize your time effectively and increase your productivity, afterwards rewarding yourself and cultivating your personal relationships with some type of activity away from your desk. Don’t forget to take care of yourself and set aside some time for sleep, recreation and exercise. Adding all of three of these into your telecommuting lifestyle will increase the quality of your relationships and maximize the benefits of working from home.
One of the perks of working as an employee in many cases are the paid continuing educational courses (CEU’s) you are offered to keep your skills current and competitive in the job market. However, once you leave the traditional employee role behind and work as a freelancer, all continuing education becomes your responsibility. In today’s technology driven world, skills that rely heavily on technology such as computer programming, graphic design, online marketing and others, require that you make sure you are aware of the newest advances and how they fit into your specific career. However, with the use of computers and different software so frequent, it is best in any career to learn what new tools and resources are available to save time, and ultimately provide more efficiency for the company you are contracted with.
There are many opportunities in today’s market to renew your skills or learn new ones relating to your career. With the advent of technology, you can now take many online continuing education courses in a variety of fields. Another option would be to contact your local Chamber of Commerce for information on businesses in your area that provide CEU courses. As a freelancer, you are most likely not required to keep up your skills through formal CEU courses, however, it is a good idea to take them if possible to keep yourself on the same level as would be co-workers should you ever have to return to work.
Another option is to refresh your skills through classes taken at your local community college. Many colleges offer a variety of refreshment courses for those that have already attained their degrees or certifications.
Being a website dedicated to working from home, we wanted to provide a listing of some of the online resources we have found that provide continuing education courses and refreshment classes via the Internet exclusively. Browse the list below for additional information on coursework for various fields and careers.
I like to work while I’m on the road. In fact, as I write this, my family and I are on our way to go camping in Northern Arizona for a couple of days. I put on some music, my husband drives and I sit back with my laptop and churn out a few new posts for the site. With all the advances in technology, it has become fairly easy to work while traveling (as long as you’re not the one driving of course)!
My essentials for working while on the road are:
With all the necessary tools, working while on the road can actually help take the stress off of you and help you to enjoy your trip to its fullest.
This past week, FederalComputerWeek.com posted an article by Matthew Weigelt noting the overall increase in telework employees in government agencies over the past year. Agencies such as the Department of Defense and the U.S. Patent and Trade Office currently have the largest number of employees telecommuting from their homes for at least a few days a week. John Berry, OPM director continues to work towards the development of new telework policies for government agencies.
Having a difficult time finding enough time to be a stay-at-home parent along with working from home? Scheduling is the way to go! Read my article on scheduling your work so you have enough time for your family. Read Full Article Here
New Telecommute Jobs
