Today's first topic: work at home professions.
I pondered this one for awhile, because really I can't tell you which jobs are best to do from home. There are so many that can be done, I'd be here all day. I can't tell you which work at home professions are right for you, because I can't judge your character from where I sit. So what is left to discuss about this topic?
I've hit on the scams that are out there a few dozen times, so everyone knows how careful they need to be when searching for that perfect home based job. The rules of working at home haven't changed at all, so there's not a lot to talk about there... So I think we're going to go a different route, and discuss work at home professions from a news standpoint.
About two weeks ago, when half of Tennessee was out of gas, a lot of employers were letting their employees work from home to save gas and commuting. Logical, since there was a gas shortage. However, I'm torn between two initial reactions.
One, that was very extreme. So many people freaked out because of rumors, and that is why there was no gas. The stations were getting the same amount, but people were just buying more because they were afraid to run out. If people were buying more, wouldn't that mean they'd have more to get to work? Nonetheless, it is what it is, I suppose.
So for those people who already succeed in their various work at home professions, nothing changed. However, for many employees that had long commutes, they found themselves getting to dip their toes into the work at home world for a change. Many office workers were given permission to work at home for a few days until the gas crisis cleared up a little bit. I bet they loved it, too. Sure, it's hard to get used, but nonetheless, it's nice once you do. No commuting, no interruptions, just you and your home office. I wonder how badly they hated going back to the office. Some people, I'm sure, would rather work in the office with hundreds of other people. That works for them, so no big deal. However, I can guarantee that there were at least a few that thought "Hmm... I wonder if I could do this ALL the time..."
But no one will ever ask. There's some sort of stigma attached to talking to a boss, I guess, that makes people feel like there isn't a point in asking because they're going to get shot down. Surprisingly, many companies are more than willing to have home based employees. It cuts down on their overhead and expenses, and makes for happier, more productive employees. They'd be dumb not to try it.
Work at home professions are just as varied as the people who work in the industry. Just about any office job can be converted to a home based position, as can many other sales and service jobs. If you've seriously thought about working at home, but don't want to leave your current job, take the time to talk to your supervisor. You might be surprised by their interest and agreement to your situation. Especially if you're a valued employee, you might get an answer you didn't expect. But one thing is certain: you never know until you try.