Q & A: Telecommuting: How to Plan a Telecommuting Job
Earlier today, we looked at a few ways to find telecommuting jobs. But in order to pitch telecommuting to an employer (which we'll cover later today), it's important to determine whether the position you want can be completed by way of a telecommute. That takes a bit of planning. Here are a few things to consider when planning - and before pitching - a telecommuting job:
Telecommuting tools. If you're reading The Daily Machete at home, then you at least have the most basic of telecommuting tools: a computer and Internet access. If you don't have at least those two things, you won't be able to telecommute. You may also need a fax machine, postal meter, instant messaging (IM) capability, and, most likely, a telephone headset. These tools provide you with a virtual presence in the home office.
Meetings. When it comes to meetings, telecommuters have some good news and some bad news. The good news is that if technology progresses at its current pace, then it'll be easy for telecommuters to attend meetings at home. The bad news is that most organizations aren't at that point yet. Yes, you may well be able to get by with a web cam if the employer is tech-savvy. And yes, you may be able to take a meeting by having your employer put you on the speaker phone. Usually, though, most telecommuters will have to make occasional trips into the home office for meetings. But that doesn't mean you can't pitch the webcam and/or speaker phone idea.
What can't be done over transom. There are some positions that can be done totally by telecommuting (like software engineers). There are others that absolutely can not be done by a telecommuter (like pipe fitters). For the rest of us, however, there are elements of our jobs that could quite easily be done over the transom and some elements where telecommuting is not only cumbersome, but downright impossible. It's a good idea to know what can't be done from home before you pitch telecommuting to an employer - because you can bet they will bring it up.
Outsourcing. Take a look at your list of things that can not be done through telecommuting. These items, presumably, would have to be done by someone in the office, itself - a non-telecommuter. How many of these duties can you outsource to other employees? How many can you outsource using third party sources like AskSunday.com? By outsourcing the "non-telecommute-able" tasks, you'll become a much more efficient worker and can concentrate on your core strengths. You may, however, need to make trade-offs with other employees so that you take on a few of their items that can be done remotely and they take a few of yours that can't.
LATER TODAY: Telecommuting: How to Pitch Telecommuting to Employers
If you have a job search or on-the-job question, feel free to email it to editor at wildjobsafari dot com
Telecommuting tools. If you're reading The Daily Machete at home, then you at least have the most basic of telecommuting tools: a computer and Internet access. If you don't have at least those two things, you won't be able to telecommute. You may also need a fax machine, postal meter, instant messaging (IM) capability, and, most likely, a telephone headset. These tools provide you with a virtual presence in the home office. Meetings. When it comes to meetings, telecommuters have some good news and some bad news. The good news is that if technology progresses at its current pace, then it'll be easy for telecommuters to attend meetings at home. The bad news is that most organizations aren't at that point yet. Yes, you may well be able to get by with a web cam if the employer is tech-savvy. And yes, you may be able to take a meeting by having your employer put you on the speaker phone. Usually, though, most telecommuters will have to make occasional trips into the home office for meetings. But that doesn't mean you can't pitch the webcam and/or speaker phone idea. What can't be done over transom. There are some positions that can be done totally by telecommuting (like software engineers). There are others that absolutely can not be done by a telecommuter (like pipe fitters). For the rest of us, however, there are elements of our jobs that could quite easily be done over the transom and some elements where telecommuting is not only cumbersome, but downright impossible. It's a good idea to know what can't be done from home before you pitch telecommuting to an employer - because you can bet they will bring it up. Outsourcing. Take a look at your list of things that can not be done through telecommuting. These items, presumably, would have to be done by someone in the office, itself - a non-telecommuter. How many of these duties can you outsource to other employees? How many can you outsource using third party sources like AskSunday.com? By outsourcing the "non-telecommute-able" tasks, you'll become a much more efficient worker and can concentrate on your core strengths. You may, however, need to make trade-offs with other employees so that you take on a few of their items that can be done remotely and they take a few of yours that can't. LATER TODAY: Telecommuting: How to Pitch Telecommuting to Employers
If you have a job search or on-the-job question, feel free to email it to editor at wildjobsafari dot com
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