Adapting to a work from home job

Do’s and don’t’s for your new work from home job

Today’s sponsored post is from Gill Buchanan, co-founder of Pure Resourcing Solutions, professional recruitment specialists in the East of England. More and more people are taking a work from home job and Gill advises on how to get the best from it, both for yourself and your employer:

Working from home is becoming increasingly popular as it can benefit both employers and employees alike. For example, a BT report states that 20% of people who work from home are more productive than their colleagues in the office.

According to the CBI (Confederation of British Industry), nearly two-thirds of British companies now offer teleworking, which is an enormous increase of 46% in five years.

If a work from home job is something that appeals to you, here are a few simple guidelines to make sure it works for you and your employer:

Do’s

1. Prioritise with a to-do list. It is easy in the office to get distracted but even easier at home, with the washing-up, laundry or vacuuming all vying for attention. Organising your time effectively is crucial.

2. Communication needs to be planned, as it’s not possible to speak to colleagues face to face. Make sure your enquiries are focussed and tell people when you are away from your computer with an automated response.

3. Exercise helps keep you focussed and will improve your efficiency. Whether you go out and walk the dog, use an exercise DVD or sign up at a local class, it all helps.

Don’t

1. It’s fun sometimes but don’t make a habit of working in your pyjamas all day. It’s not a good look for the unexpected video call from your boss. Besides, wearing something presentable helps keep you in the right frame of mind.

2. Make sure you interact with others. A work from home job can be isolating so make sure you participate in a bit of repartee by email. Be careful that your messages aren’t misinterpreted, however. You don’t want it to backfire.

3. Don’t slack off. You need to keep self-motivated as your boss won’t be looking over your shoulder. On the other hand, it is also difficult to know that your work is being appreciated so ask for feedback. Good feedback builds trust between yourself and your employer and will help keep you motivated.

4. Don’t work in poor conditions. Make sure you make space for your work at home. Poor posture, for example, can be really bad for your health, so ensure you have a decent chair at the very least.

5. Don’t overwork yourself. It is difficult to escape work when it’s under your nose all the time so you need to be strict about your work-life balance.

With these straightforward guidelines you’ll find that you and your employer are able to take advantage of all the benefits of working from home. Without them, you might find yourself having to contact a recruitment agency instead!