Breaking In As a New Telecommuter

Telecommuting, teleworking, working from home. No matter what you call it, this flexible work option is gaining momentum. And it should. Just recently, a survey mentioned on Telcoa.Org, indicated that the top preferred job benefit for job seekers is telecommuting--even over health insurance! It seems like getting a telecommuting position is the way to go.

There are many large companies that have formal telecommuting programs. Yet, how easy is it for a new employee to telecommute? Apparently, to participate in these programs, you must work onsite first, and then, based on your performance, you might be approved for telecommuting.

Teleworker Barbara Chaderton offers some insight into how tough entering a new company as a telecommuter can actually be. An experienced RPG programmer, Chaderton chose to leave her secure, onsite job to care for her aging mother at home.

Says Chaderton, “I usually interact with recruiters, not directly with employers. The recruiters either say, ‘I’ll need to speak with the employer’, and I never hear from them again; or, they stop dead in their tracks and end the phone call immediately.”

In spite of hesitation many employers have, there are still some professions that seem to offer better chances of this work arrangement than others. Following are some of the more flexible occupations or fields. Hopefully, you will fit into one of them.

Sales High-end sales often require account executives to be in the field a lot. Why rent office space for people who are never there? Sales representatives can work from their homes and cars, only popping in for occasional training sessions or meetings

Writing—Freelances writers have almost always worked where ever they wanted. However, lately newspapers and educational companies are recognizing that their reporters and technical writers perform better in a quiet, unrushed environment, such as their homes.

Web Design-- Perhaps no other person is more “connected” to the Internet than a web designer. With a computer and the right software, there’s no reason for such a person not to work from home. And, more companies are realizing that an office environment can be stifling for such a creative person. This also applies to other creative people, such as graphic artists, illustrators, and photographers.

Coding and Transcription-- As I research telecommuter-friendly companies I am amazed at the number of coding and transcription companies that allow new employees to work from home. This is possible mainly because of special software employees can download, giving them easy access to information necessary to do their jobs. Also, many employers themselves are operating virtually, working from their homes, directing their crews through e-mail and other online methods.

IT-Technical-- There are variations of IT jobs, some offering more flexibility for telecommuting than others. However, many companies now operate completely online, and their staff, such as help desk technicians, programmers, or analysts, work strictly from their homes, too.

Telecommunications-- Telemarketing and customer service jobs are gaining momentum in the telecommuting arena. This is due, in large part, because of special software that allows employers to remotely monitor workers’ performance as well as keep track of the length of time they spend on calls.

Now, after reading about some of the most telecommuting-friendly fields, you might be wondering why I didn’t mention medical billing, craft assembly, envelope stuffing, e-mail processing and some other positions that seem to be so widely advertised. Here’s why: Those “jobs” are scams.

I promise that if you send your resume to any one of these types of companies, you will receive a request to send them money for “training”, for materials, or “to show that you are serious” about the job.

Nonetheless, what does all of this tell us about telecommuting? It says that things are getting better every day. They really are! It says the chances of telecommuting as a new employee are getting higher. It says that telecommuting jobs are coming soon—to a profession near you.