One of the great things about working from home is that you can use the skills you already have to find a variety of perfect remote jobs that fit your schedule.
That means it’s something flexible that you control and run your work hours up or down, whether you’re a traditional employee working at home 9-5, or anywhere in between, working from home is something many of us do. Did it never want to go back.
There are countless types of work at home jobs and one of the keys to success is finding the right job for what you need and want. A lot of this has to do with pay, responsibilities, flexibility and structure – but it’s also about being able to spend your time doing something you’re good at. We all want it, right?
But what if you don’t think you’re ready in the skills department for any kind of work at home job? That’s what we’re jumping into today — identifying and developing the skills you need to work from home.
Know you are not alone
First, remote employees aren’t born… they’re made by developing skills, self-discipline, self-motivation, and time management. And that’s good news! This means that all these things do not really depend on skill and some kind of innate talent or ability.
If you think your skills are too low to qualify for a work at home job, just know you’re not alone. The biggest difference between those who start from zero and become something, and those who start from zero and don’t, is that successful people decide to keep going anyway.
Necessary skills can be learned
Skills, unlike talent, are absolutely something you can learn. Whether your goal is to convert more calls into actual sales or you want to type easier and faster… those are skills, and you can learn how to achieve them.
Remember, your ability to master some skills won’t come overnight. You might pick up a thing or two here or there, but unless you spend a lot of time taking classes or learning “on the job” at work, there’s not much chance of picking up things like managing multiple phone lines, quickly learning new software, Handling upset customers, or troubleshooting cranky computer systems.
But, wherever you feel your remote work skills are lacking, you can absolutely start practicing today And preparing for the day when you apply those skills to your new, awesome work-at-home job.
You will need general work-at-home skills
While there is no end-all list of skills you need to work from home, there are several skills that are important for many home jobs. This will make a good starting point for WFM job seekers, and as you learn about the job opportunities out there that most appeal to you, you’ll also start to get a feel for any additional skills you may need:
- Microsoft Office. You may already be familiar enough with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint to survive on your own, but if you really don’t know what you’re doing with them and other Microsoft Office software (or other software programs), you can really benefit from taking a basic course. benefited Many local libraries offer these for free, community colleges offer coursework, or you can learn online through sites like GCFLearnFree.org.
- Google products. The same goes for Google Suite. If you know how to navigate Google Drive, Gmail, and more, you’ll be much better off Not only are these products commonly used in the remote world, but they can be easily shared between clients and contractors and allow you to access important files and emails anytime and from any device.
- Basic English and Grammar Rules. You don’t need to be a grammar whiz, but having a grasp of basic grammar and spelling will take you a long way. If you can speak and write professionally, you can make a good impression and it will make your work life a little easier. The Grammar Girl podcast is a great place to start picking up tips and principles, especially if it’s easy for you to internalize just by listening to that kind of thing.
- Basic computer troubleshooting skills. When you work from home, any problems with WiFi, networking, software or hardware will become a big problem. You need to have a working computer and internet connection to be able to do your job, and some basic skills to solve common technical problems that arise will save you a ton of headaches, lost productivity, and trouble for your supervisors and/or clients. . Hard technical skills can be a very important trait. Udemy has a nice-looking basic course here.
- Improved typing speed. Typing speed is absolutely critical when you work from home. And it’s a skill you can easily master on your own. Repetition is the key to success. Sites like TypingTest.com and Typing.com will help you improve your speed and accuracy
- Being your own support agent. It basically boils down to being able to find the answers to the questions you have. If you think it’s your job to find the solution yourself instead of waiting for someone else to rescue you, you’ll start to find the information you need. This is something that is taught more by experience than actual coursework. The next time you need to go to someone for an answer to a question, ask that person where they got the answer from… and then when another question comes up for you, try looking around before bringing someone else into the equation.
- Effective communication. Effective communication, especially when you’re working remotely, is an absolutely essential skill. It’s something you can learn in training but then have to start practicing if you have any hope of getting good at it. The good news is that this is a skill that will pay off in every part of your life, for the rest of your life.
And if you’re moving into an independent contractor role or you’re starting your own business, you’ll also benefit from having some of these skills:
- Basic accounting. You’ll be responsible for tracking your income and business expenses as well as making quarterly payments to the IRS (and possibly your state). It doesn’t have to be complicated, but it needs to be done.
- Basic Marketing. If you’re going into business for yourself, you need to know how to help people who need your services find out about you. Your best bet is to look online for a marketing course designed specifically for your business. The fundamentals of marketing remain relatively unchanged, but the application of those fundamentals can vary from industry to industry and from business model to business model.
- Basic graphic design. If you’re marketing your own business, putting together your own visuals, or even DIYing your website from scratch, a very basic understanding of graphic design principles can be very helpful.
- Planning and setting goals. This is something that can be learned fairly well by searching things like “goal setting” or “how to set goals” on the internet or Pinterest, but if you want to dive deeper, I recommend the 12 Week Year book. It walks you through the process of setting goals, breaking them down into manageable pieces, and then creating a plan to execute on them.
There are also some great skills you can learn to help your job search:
- What color is your parachute? – How can your unique skills, talents and interests help your job search? Learn how to dig deep within yourself to find the perfect career path.
- Determine your work-life balance. How many hours do you want to work per day, per week and per month? How does the ability to adapt to a changing environment generally manage? Will your work schedule interfere with other aspects of your life and how will you manage those changes?
- What kind of remote location are you looking for? Make a list of specific criteria you want in a job.
- How do you create your remote work environment? Do you have a dedicated space in your home that is quiet if you need to concentrate on listening or taking phone calls? Do you have a strong internet connection? Do you share your space with other family members who are working remotely? Do you have children, grandchildren or neighbors who may disturb your work? These things are great to consider when searching for a job.
- What time zone do you want to work in? It may seem silly at first thought, but if you prefer to wake up late or wake up and work early, you could potentially work from home in a different time zone. Or, if you have little ones sleeping at home and want to work during their downtime, you may want to consider a different time zone to suit your schedule.
So tell me: which skills do you tackle first?
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