Before March 2020, working from home was still very much a luxury. The phrase ‘hybrid’ would have been met with utter confusion, and Zoom was something you did on your camera to get a better picture. Now, commuting to the office seems far more strange than sitting at your home desk (or bed)!
While there are certainly pros and cons to working from home and the office, there’s no denying that flexible working has opened up the workplace to many more people. A recent LinkedIn study found that greater workplace flexibility could open up the workplace to 1.3 million more people in the UK with disabilities, caring responsibilities, and those in rural locations.
That said, work-from-home jobs can still be difficult to find. Here are five tips from us on finding a work-from-home job that suits you, particularly if you are returning to work after a career break:
Be open to new opportunities and experiences.
Many companies have thrown themselves into a new way of working, and as a result, there are many different experiences, paid and voluntary, that you can throw yourself into, too. Our advice would be to start building your experience by finding roles, within reason, that you can take on during your career break or alongside a current part-time job. Examples could be volunteering for a charity or non-profit organisation for an evening every week to build up your portfolio if the work-from-home job you desire doesn’t fit your previous experience, or if you simply want to build up an existing portfolio. If you start a part-time work-from-home job and get on with the team, the chances are they can find a full-time role for you, and you can continue working from home for a company you love.
Network, network and network AGAIN!
This point follows from the previous one: being open to new opportunities and experiences is a great way to make valuable connections! If you work a few hours a week on a paid or voluntary basis and perform well, there’s a high chance the company will want to work with you more – or know someone they can pass on a glowing reference. Reach out to friends, family, past colleagues, and lecturers, either in person or on LinkedIn, and vary your approach, expressing that you want to work from home. It may sound like a waste of time, but you will be shocked at how often people find jobs this way, particularly when location isn’t a limiting factor!
Be open to networking outside of your existing circles.
If you limit yourself to local friends and family, you’ll have less luck finding a work-from-home job. You also have far more freedom than just keeping it local, considering you could work from anywhere! There is a reason why we refer to sites as ‘social networks’ because they enable us to do precisely that! There are many great platforms to find experiences and part-time roles (including our job board, Investing in Women. You can check out our current roles here). LinkedIn is the number one platform for job hunters and recruiters. Read our advice on creating a LinkedIn profile recruiters will love here, but there are also great Facebook Groups, including ours (Work It Like A Mum), which are a treasure trove of career advice and work-from-home job opportunities.
Learn how to prepare for a virtual job interview.
If you’re applying for a work-from-home job, you must get used to the video interview format. While you may have traditional job interviews mastered, the video interview throws in some new challenges. Be sure to do all you can to prevent tech malfunctions, and learn to communicate effectively through your laptop. Read our blog post for some insightful tips on acing your video job interviews.
Convert your current role into a work-from-home job.
Since the pandemic, the Government has stated that all employees have the right to request flexible work. While your employer does not have to grant your request, they must deal with it in a ‘reasonable manner’, meaning your employer will have to give you a justifiable reason if your request is denied. It’s worth doing this if you enjoy your current job before you start looking for work-from-home opportunities elsewhere. Watch our chat with Employment Lawyer Tom Stenner-Evans from Thrive Law, who offers excellent advice on how to make a great, flexible working request that is more likely to be accepted.
Blog Summary:
Explore Internal Opportunities: Don’t overlook the potential for career growth within your current organisation. Internal moves can offer valuable new experiences and growth without starting over elsewhere.
Utilise Specialised Job Boards and Recruitment Agencies: Niche job boards, such as Investing in Women, and reputable recruitment agencies can be invaluable resources, offering access to targeted job opportunities and professional guidance throughout the job search process.
Maximise Your LinkedIn Presence: Ensure your profile is optimised to attract recruiters and hiring managers. A strong LinkedIn presence can lead to amazing job opportunities falling right into your inbox!
Tap into the Hidden Job Market: Remember that a significant portion of jobs are never advertised publicly. Leverage your personal and professional networks, including social media groups and offline connections, to uncover these hidden opportunities.
We hope you have found our advice on finding a great work-from-home job helpful. We strongly believe that flexible working is the way forward. Remember, just because you’ve had children or have commitments or needs, and a 5-day commute is no longer feasible, it does not mean you don’t deserve to utilise your skills and achieve great things! Read our article – 10 Part-Time Jobs You Can Do From Home for more career inspiration.
No experience – no problem. Check out our blog post on how to get a job with no work experience here.