Almost everyone now knows that people are using computers to
make a living working from home, however fewer people really know the basics
and how to be properly organised to begin and exactly what is involved. It is
NOT staying home all day in your pyjamas and spending much of the day watching
the telly and playing on Facebook.
There are different ways to work from home, you may actually
not be self-employed at all but have all the benefits of a regular salary, a contract,
pension rights etc, but just be allowed by your employer to work from home. Maybe
you run your own business from home as a freelance accountant, copywriter etc
or you make and sell things on line.
Many companies recruit people to work from home and the
opportunities are increasing regularly. It is not only beneficial to the
workers but also to the company, who do not have the same overheads as they
would have for a building full of staff and all the things they have to pay for
them as employees such as pensions. However, this does mean that self-employed
people often have to take care of these benefits for themselves, unless they
are willing to work until they drop and work even when they are sick. It is a
very good idea to look at income protection polices for the self-employed.
The Internet has really changed the world of work and how
and where people work. Quite a few people remain highly suspicious of anything
to do with working from home and refuse to view it as a proper job, which is
hard if you are trying to do it and these people are your family and friends.
There are scams yes but it is also quite possible to make a successful living
working from home or as a self-employed person wherever you work from. Many
things that earn money can now be done from home or your own office as long as
you have the technology required, usually a computer, maybe Skype and mobile
Internet such as Smartphones and tablets to stay in touch with people you are
working for. Just a few examples of self-employed careers include telesales,
writing, admin work, being a PA, marketing and web design but there are many more.
Lots of self-employed opportunities require little or no set up costs and ideas
for a business can come from your hobbies, interests or skills. Even if you
would really quite like to just listen to music or play games all day, it may
be surprising how many opportunities there are advertised for writers with a
knowledge of music, the movies, Internet games etc. Write about your skills or interests
and get paid.
However, before becoming self-employed, your mindset and preparation
needs to be just the same as if you were looking for a traditional job. Know
your skills, be able to present your experience, be confident about it and have
a good CV ready for any applications you make on freelance job boards such as
those listed here:
Working for yourself is not an easy option but it can be a
lifeline for those who are older, sick or disabled and have had pension plans
not perform as expected or had disability benefits stopped as part of welfare
reform and told by the government that they must look for work, when not fit
enough to hold down a demanding job outside the home. There are attitudes that
someone considering working for themselves need, you will not make a go of it
if you are one of those who does not see it as a real job and is just giving it
a go out of desperation, you need a lot of self-belief, motivation and skills
such as discipline in things like time management.
I won’t pretend that IT skills are not a big help, I still
know older people who do not use a computer and insist they have no intention
of doing so, but even selling things on sites such as Ebay and Etsy require an
ability to use the site software. Yes, you can just go to the local flea market
and get a stall but the advantage of the web for any business at all is the
reach that your business can have.
Remember too that your computer and other equipment are only
an aid to your business when they are working and if not then not only can you
lose a lot of money but it can cost you a lot in repair bills. Put into your
business plan and projected expenses such things as insurance policies and or
emergency funds and if you cannot do the repair jobs yourself, then get to know
reliable people who can from recommendations. As you earn money remember too
that the tax man wants his share, either find yourself a well recommended accountant
or software that will help you do your taxes yourself.
Get and stay organised and focused. One of the most
important skills when working for yourself are those of time management. The
housework and shopping still needs to be done, you need to eat, your laundry
needs doing and letters and bills need to be attended to. One of the advantages
of working for yourself is that work is available online all the time, but this
does not mean that you work 24/7. Being so busy that you are swamped with work
and get nothing else done either is NOT productive. If you were working at a
regular job, you would not be there round the clock seven days a week, so when
working for yourself, know when to stop and keep a work/life balance … and be
confident that you can do well.
Valerie Hedges
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