10 Tips for How to Keep Your Remote Job
If you're working in a remote job for quite some time now, you may be enjoying the benefits it brings compared to working in an actual office. Once you’ve managed to settle in, it’s time to think long-term and keep your remote job as long as you can. Having steady work isn’t only beneficial financially but also helps your career progress at a much faster rate. Here are 10 tips to help you keep your remote job:
1. Do the job to the best of your ability
As cliche as it may sound, doing the job to the best of your ability, is the important tip for you to keep whatever job you have. By being consistent with your daily tasks, you become a valuable and indispensable part of the company. You will also be safe from any form of retrenchment if the company decides to trim down the workforce.
Doing the best you can is easier than done but it is achievable. You may not be the smartest or the most skilled in the organization, but if you stay focused and engaged every single day then you achieve whatever goals set by your employer. Your job should not also be a hindrance for you to do your best. Whether you’re working as a data entry specialist, a graphic designer, or a remote nurse, just to name a few, always aim to achieve excellence every single day.
To help with your tasks and eventually increase productivity, be organized and don’t take on too many things at the same time. You’ll burn out sooner or later and you won’t be able to finish anything. Additionally, work together with your colleagues so that tasks will be accomplished faster and more efficiently.
2. Be punctual
Even if you’re working remotely, it doesn’t give you the freedom to work at any schedule. Whatever schedule is given to you by your supervisor, diligently follow that schedule and be punctual at all times. By being punctual you are showing commitment to the company that hired you and also helps you build strong relationships with your colleagues.
Nobody likes working with someone who’s always tardy. This is especially true when you’re working with someone and they’re still taking their time to punch in or eat breakfast when there are so many tasks to work on at the start of the day. Nothing gets you dismissed faster than always being late for the job.
If you’ve oftentimes struggled with tardiness, there are easy remedies to address that issue. Avoid sleeping late and set an alarm at least two hours before going to work. You won’t have to travel anymore since you’re working from home but it’s better to be prepared physically and mentally before starting any of your tasks for the day.
3. Get along with coworkers
If you consistently act as a “lone wolf” even if you’re more productive than your colleagues, then you’ll be having trouble keeping your job for a long time. Building professional relationships is important in any type of workplace as it helps people work more efficiently with each other. There is no need to create a personal bond with your colleagues but it’s also essential that you engage in regular work-related conversations with them.
One way to get along with coworkers is to offer them a helping hand especially if you’re not too busy with your tasks. You can assist them if they are experiencing troubles and you can also offer suggestions on how they can improve productivity for their work. Do the same thing for your immediate supervisors especially when meetings come up. Just make sure to do research ahead of time when it comes to making suggestions as they may be instances where your suggestions are already included in the company’s best practices.
When colleagues decline your offer, don’t take it personally and move on with your work. You may be given an opportunity the next time around. What’s most important is that you properly initiate or respond to a conversation.
4. Be flexible
Being flexible doesn’t just mean having the ability to work in different work schedules but also being effective in whatever tasks your boss assigns to you. If you have worked for multiple jobs before, then you know that the things listed in job descriptions only comprise a small portion of the actual work.
There are times that your supervisor may ask you to cover for your colleague during their absence. Even if you aren’t very familiar with your colleague’s work but still decide to take it on, you will be given recognition afterward which can help to fast track your career. Just make sure you won’t be taking on tasks from other departments as they are involved with different types of work. You will only irk the employees in that department and cause unnecessary friction.
As previously mentioned, being flexible also pertains to working in different work shifts every now and then as well as working overtime if necessary. Do this often as long as it doesn’t affect your long-term physical and mental health.
5. Update your skills
With technology moving at a rapid pace these days, it’s highly important to update your skills and competencies. It won’t just help you keep your job but also make you a more valuable asset to the company. Additionally, the company you are working for may adopt some new processes from time to time so make sure you have the necessary skills to quickly adapt to these processes.
Online learning platforms such as LinkedIn Learning, Coursera, and Udemy can help you build up your skills for keeping a job at affordable costs. These platforms also offer free learning courses from time to time so make sure to check them out regularly. In contrast, if your company is providing free courses for employees then don’t hesitate to sign up.
While working remotely, be constantly updated with the collaboration software your company is using. Whether it be video conferencing or productivity platforms, make sure you are familiar with the ins and outs for collaboration with colleagues to be more efficient and effective. You may be doing fine with your actual tasks but if you’re having trouble keeping with company-specific software then it makes you no different from employees with poor productivity.
6. Consistently beat deadlines
You won’t be able to keep your job if you’re always catching up on backlogs days after the deadline date has already passed. The importance of beating deadlines is paramount for every company and you should do your best to finish all your work within the given time frame. Being a top performer isn’t always about giving the best output but it also pertains to regularly finishing tasks on time.
If you work with a team, the tasks of each member should be clearly defined to avoid confusion and redundancy. Constant communication and teamwork also need to be practiced so that the work will be completed at the fastest time possible. In contrast, if you’re working alone on a project there are only two things that you should do to avoid working past your deadlines: staying focused at all times and seeking assistance from your supervisor if necessary.
Since you’re working from home, you’ll be likely faced with numerous distractions such as your smartphones, tablets, and other electronics. The other members of the household may also be distracting you every now and then. Avoid all of these distractions during work shift and make time for them once you’ve logged off from work.
7. Always follow company policies
Being a mercenary in the workplace is all fun and games until you get a dismissal letter from your boss. That is why company policies are in place so that each and every member of the organization follow the same set of rules. You may be annoyed of your boss constantly reminding everyone of company policies but these reminders are for the best for everyone so that professionalism and productivity are always observed.
Some of the most common policies observed in every organization include logging in/out within the given work schedule, treating coworkers with respect, and finishing tasks on time, among others. Companies have the freedom to formulate their own policies in which they deem necessary for the overall benefit of every stakeholder. In your case, request a copy of your company’s policies and take time to review so that you won’t be reprimanded for breaking rules you weren't even aware of in the first place.
If there are some policies that you feel are detrimental to the overall well-being of your fellow remote workers, don’t be afraid to speak up with your boss. Just make sure to retain a professional conversation and avoid lashing out at your superior if things don’t go your way.
8. Ask for feedback
The importance of feedback cannot be overstated for any type of organization. Oftentimes, people are too focused on finishing their jobs on time in that quality can be compromised. Additionally, they can also be completely focused on one task in that they neglect their other duties. This is where feedback comes in so that necessary improvements can be made.
Employee engagement through giving feedback doesn’t only help struggling employees but also employees vying for higher positions in the company. Even supervisors and company executives need feedback from time to time. In your case, be proactive in asking for feedback so that you can make some changes to your work at the soonest time possible. Even though there isn’t a clear promotion in sight, your boss will appreciate the commitment.
When asking for feedback in a remote work setup, you can either send a formal email or suggest to your boss to conduct an online meeting. Meetings conducted via video conferencing platforms are more preferred since details about your progress can easily be explained through video chats compared to email.
9. Be active during online meetings
Even with companies moving to remote work setups, meetings are still done regularly. Video conferences have replaced the traditional face-to-face meetings and may just look to be the norm as more companies move a majority of their workforce remotely. So, if your company or department conduct regular meetings make sure that you play an active role and get yourself heard during these meetings.
Being active doesn’t mean being talkative just for the sake of it. Substance is still the most important factor when it comes to making yourself heard. Give out suggestions with regard to company processes and engage your colleagues so that meetings will be productive once they are adjourned. As previously mentioned, do some research beforehand so that you won’t be wasting time making suggestions. Some of your suggestions may already be being practiced by the company or decided to put it on hold temporarily.
As with all online meetings, don’t forget to show courtesy and avoid talking if you don’t have other important things to say. Always be mindful of your words and be reminded you can easily be given a stern warning if you start unnecessary conversations during online meetings.
10. Have a positive attitude
No matter how bad things get at work, try to retain a positive attitude as it is an integral part of employee motivation. There will be days that you will struggle and be involved with conflicts with colleagues. It’s highly essential to stay positive so that you can still focus on your job and finish all of your tasks on time.
But if things get too stressful, take a break. You can relax in your bed for a few minutes since you’re most likely working from home. You can also walk around your house or in your neighborhood to help you regain focus. Remember, a bad day at work is never translated to having a bad life.
Final thoughts
Even landing a remote job can be tough these days. That is why if you’ve managed to get over browsing multiple job boards and get hired, it’s paramount that you do your best to keep the job and not bounce from one company to another. The 10 tips listed above should help you keep your current job for the long haul.
