HOW WE STARTED TO WORK FROM HOME
As our Turkish followers know, we are working from home since 2011. Especially with the Covid-19 pandemic, working from home has become the new normal for many. Some people got used to it quickly and transformed or built their work stations at their homes but some people are still trying to adjust to it. I want to share my experiences about finding work-from-home online jobs and smart apps that I use for a better working from home experience.
First of all we need to clarify the differences between working from home and working remotely;
When we say working from home, we mean working as self-employed for another entity -in most cases- completely online and location independent. According to me Freelancing is one of the best ways to make money online. But working remotely is a somewhat different concept which is happening right now in the new-normal, many of our friends are working for their current jobs remotely from their homes due to Covid-19 restrictions. Of course there was a remote working concept before the pandemic but new normal accelerated the process and remote working practises have increased by %44 only in the US.
When we say working from home, we mean working as self-employed for another entity -in most cases- completely online and location independent. According to me Freelancing is one of the best ways to make money online. But working remotely is a somewhat different concept which is happening right now in the new-normal, many of our friends are working for their current jobs remotely from their homes due to Covid-19 restrictions. Of course there was a remote working concept before the pandemic but new normal accelerated the process and remote working practises have increased by %44 only in the US.
In our case, we have been working as digital nomads for almost a decade. We had only one long-term contract (3 consecutive years) for a data entry job in this time span. Other than that, all my contracts was relatively for shorter terms such as a year or 6 months. It may seem insecure in many aspects but the freedom it provides is worth it. In this post, we want to tell you a little bit about how to start working from home and pros and cons of working from home.
When you make the decision to work from home;
- List what skills for working from home you have. Don't think about whether they are big or small, significant or insignificant. An online certificate, a foreign language that you know only at the beginner level, your location, your availability to travel, your hobbies and even your volunteering experiences could provide you a head start for a new job.
- To find your first remote job takes time, don't give up.
- Apply to online jobs without assuming too much from the start. You can't be sure what they really need.
- Sometimes working from home is harder than going to an office. Try to improve your self-discipline.
When you find a few suitable work from home job postings, it's time to eliminate;
- If they ask for an upfront payment, run Forrest run! :D (I am not talking about paid job posting websites.)
- If it seems like a dream job in terms of salary, working hours etc., double check the company, it may be a fraud.
- Don't give out your personal information via informal platforms such as Facebook or Instagram.
- Instead, apply via qualified freelance jobs websites such as UpWork or Appen.
- If it's possible use the company's official LinkedIn account.
ThE BENEFITS OF WORKING FROM HOME
When you find THE job and it is time to apply;
- They may ask you to take several tests before hiring you. Even if it seems like a waste of time, take those tests. It is the easiest way for online work from home companies to get to know you.
- Build yourself a proper work from home station using ergonomic chairs, a nice working desk and a well illuminated area. I still couldn't build such a workstation since we're mostly traveling but I think new normal dictates me to have one. :)
- Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today. You're the CFO, the CEO, the manager, and the office-boy of this company. All of the tasks will resume two times harder if you delay.
THE CHALLENGES OF WORKING FROM HOME
- One of the biggest challenges of working from home is your family. In my case, I couldn't convince my parents that I'm "actually" working. According to my late mom, if you're not wearing a suit and a tie and going to an office, it is not considered working. They always asked me to do all kinds of tasks such as grocery shopping, taking them to town hall etc. Take your precautions against it.
- Since you won't even commute to your job, you'll have to deal physical inactivity. Desk exercises and relevant smart apps may help you. Desk yoga can be a saviour for your neck, believe us.
- Working from home does not mean you won't pay taxes. If you fulfil the requirements of a taxpayer in your country -or your location- you have to contact the tax administration or a local accountant.
- Since you won't have office buddies and colleagues to have lunch with or grab a coffee together, you may even forget to drink water. Don't forget to have an adequate and balanced nutrition to stay healthy.
I use Drink Water app to stay hydrated.
Best work from home companies
To find a work from home job is hard at first because you need to build online resumes for big companies and sometimes getting an answer can take a little time. However, after a certain period of time, you'll get the result of your efforts and will have the opportunity to choose between online remote jobs that are reaching out to you.
We tried
We tried
- Appen
- UpWork
- Clickworker
- Crossover
- Freelancer.com
- Fiverr
How To Receive money online
The sweetest part of the working, online or on-site, is getting paid. There are different ways for receiving an online money transfer. In some cases, the website you're working with dictates you to use a specific digital payment company. For example, if you're working for Appen, you have to use Payoneer.
According to our experiences, Transferwise is the best for international money transfer and if you're within the E.U. area, TransferGo is a valid option for online money transfer.
Please see our other post about the best ways to make international money transfer.
According to our experiences, Transferwise is the best for international money transfer and if you're within the E.U. area, TransferGo is a valid option for online money transfer.
Please see our other post about the best ways to make international money transfer.