Editor’s Notice: This story initially appeared on FlexJobs.com.
There are a lot of explanation why you could be exploring your versatile profession choices. Maybe your neighbor works remotely and also you envy their morning espresso on the porch as you head out in your each day commute.
Possibly your own home life has modified, and also you’re now juggling caregiving. Or, maybe you understand that your life doesn’t need to be a selection between your profession and your total wellness.
Regardless of the motive, should you’re right here to find the fundamentals of a versatile job and how one can launch a search to seek out one which’s an ideal match for you, we’ve received some ideas that can assist you.
Reasonably than bounce at any job offered as versatile, take the time to pinpoint exactly what you want when it comes to flexibility, work-life steadiness, and profession progress.
1. Perceive What a Versatile Job Is
In the event you’ve been contemplating a brand new job, you might need seen the time period “versatile” utilized to varied schedules. Subsequently, you could be questioning what precisely a versatile job entails, and that is a necessary query to know the reply to.
As a result of “versatile” is an all-encompassing time period that may imply various things to completely different folks, some versatile jobs could also be a superb match for you whereas others received’t be. In a nutshell, a versatile job is a working association that may help you discover a steadiness between your profession and your private life.
Nonetheless, some key options can determine a place as a versatile possibility. These embrace jobs with schedules which can be versatile or exterior of typical enterprise hours, the power to work not less than a number of the time remotely, or freelancing.
2. Uncover Your Good Versatile Work Model
Earlier than beginning your search to discover a versatile job, it’s important to find out the kind of flex that may work greatest for you. Since you’ll want to incorporate flexibility into your search, realizing what you want earlier than you begin trying will save time and provide help to goal your search. Think about the professionals and cons of every of the next versatile work schedules.
- Half-time: Jobs that don’t require you to work full-time are inviting should you’re on the stage in your life the place you aren’t looking for full-time employment. However past filling that apparent want, part-time roles additionally give you the power to achieve some further earnings or launch a brand new profession whereas sustaining the safety of your full-time place.
- Versatile schedule: For a lot of distant employees, versatile schedules provide the last word freedom. Reasonably than having to work conventional workplace hours, you might have extra freedom to construct your schedule round your private commitments, which might imply something from working early earlier than you drop the children off in school to working three lengthy days and two shorter days. The choices are almost countless.
- Various schedule: Whether or not you’re balancing caregiving duties, two jobs, or are merely extra productive exterior of conventional workplace hours, an alternate schedule could be a dream come true in your profession. The principle difference between flexible and alternative schedules is that your employer usually units particular hours so that you can work with an alternate schedule, similar to night, night time, and weekend shifts, for instance.
- Freelance: Whereas not particularly a schedule kind, freelancing is entrepreneurship. As a freelancer, you’ll construct a enterprise providing providers to purchasers and different companies. Whilst you can usually dictate your schedule, you’ll additionally should be conscious that you’re liable for each facet of the enterprise, from advertising and marketing to taxes.
- Distant: Working remotely implies that you get to skip the commute — not less than some days. Whether or not you work at home full-time or just a few days every week, you’ll have the liberty to arrange your workspace, follow yoga at your desk, and produce your canine to work day-after-day. For a lot of, that is the last word dream job — working from dwelling and regaining a while and freedom whereas nonetheless working for a corporation you consider in.
Don’t low cost your potential to discover a versatile job if one single type of flexibility doesn’t suit your wants. Though some jobs are targeted on one kind of flexibility, you will discover jobs that supply multiple versatile association. Widespread mixtures we see often posted embrace freelance jobs with versatile schedules, distant jobs with versatile schedules, and distant, part-time jobs.
3. Get Versatile Job Search-Prepared
Earlier than making the leap into your versatile job search, be sure you put together your self. You’ll wish to start the identical manner you put together for any job search.
Your first step is commonly revamping and overhauling your cowl letter and resume to be simply tailor-made for each job utility. Additionally, you will wish to clear up all of your social media pages and give attention to constant private branding all through your whole messaging.
It’s additionally an awesome concept to begin prepping for future interviews by acquiring skilled apparel, establishing a house workplace if you’re going distant, and gathering relevant suggestions.
Past the usual issues, should you’re seeking to transfer to your first versatile function, there are just a few extra methods to set your self up for achievement. Employers wish to see that you just’re not merely following a pattern however that you just’ve mastered the talents wanted for achievement in a versatile work association.
As an example, spherical up any distant work expertise you might have, similar to on-line programs you took or the few days you labored from dwelling while you have been sick.
With none formal expertise, you may think about freelancing or volunteering so as to add weight to your resume. You may as well spotlight that you just’re a self-starter and don’t require micromanaging when crafting your resume bullet factors.
4. Leverage Your Community
Whereas networking is an enormous a part of discovering any job, it’s usually much more vital throughout a seek for a versatile job while you normally don’t have the benefit of face-to-face interactions.
When employers can put extra context to your identify and private model, they’ll start to affiliate you as a potential resolution to their wants.
Let your mates, household, {and professional} contacts know you might be open to new alternatives. You by no means know when somebody might need a lead for you. Moreover, think about becoming a member of skilled organizations or teams associated to your trade. It will provide help to meet new folks and construct beneficial connections.
Social media is one other glorious solution to unfold the information about your job search. Use hashtags on LinkedIn to seek out related postings, and make sure that you’re absolutely using LinkedIn teams and the facility of your profile. Observe firms on Twitter that you just’re enthusiastic about.
You’ll uncover that they’re more and more using social media networks to announce openings and supply candidates.
Lastly, don’t overlook the worth of face-to-face networking, even should you’re looking for a versatile work alternative. Attend trade occasions or meetups in your space. You by no means know who you’ll meet or what alternatives may come up.
5. Be Diligent About Avoiding Job Scams
Whereas versatile work has many benefits, one of many best disadvantages is the number of scams that job seekers encounter. With many interactions occurring remotely, it’s simpler than ever so that you can grow to be a sufferer should you’re not diligent. Top-of-the-line methods to keep away from a rip-off is to make use of a distinct segment job board.
With a whole crew devoted to vetting job postings, you possibly can really feel assured making use of to the listings you see there.
Past job boards, you should use greatest on-line practices by going on to the corporate web site to use, slightly than submitting any info by an advert or hyperlink that you just come throughout.
You’ll be capable of confirm that the posting is reliable and apply by a safe server as a substitute of submitting your resume or utility by way of e mail.
Validate the e-mail deal with of any contact you obtain — particularly if it’s sudden — and be conscious to not give out private info earlier than any job has been provided. If one thing doesn’t really feel proper or feels too good to be true, by no means enable your self to be pressured right into a hurried determination.
6. Don’t Neglect Smaller Corporations
Bigger firms get a variety of press protection for his or her work perks. However usually, smaller firms are simply as beneficiant, if no more, with their versatile work choices. And though it’s not marketed, that doesn’t imply they’re not open to permitting you to work a extra versatile possibility.
In the event you uncover an organization you’re enthusiastic about due to their work or their firm tradition, think about asking if a versatile work association can be an possibility (even when solely on a trial foundation).
7. Think about Your Present Employer
Tying in with the tip above, have you ever completely explored whether or not or not your present employer would entertain versatile work choices? Going again to the second step, should you’ve genuinely analyzed what kind of flex you want, you may uncover which you can keep your job and meet your commitments with some easy tweaks.
Define the advantages to your employer and ask for a gathering together with your supervisor or HR. Simply because it’s by no means been carried out doesn’t imply it could actually’t be carried out. Whereas this isn’t at all times an possibility, should you genuinely love your job, it’s value having the dialog.
8. Discover a Full Profession Change
Whereas there are a variety of versatile work choices, not each profession can help all of them. In the event you’ve pinpointed your excellent flex and decided that your present profession received’t help it, it’s time to seek out your new route.
Start by itemizing transferable expertise after which dive into profession exploration. In the event you’re struggling to reframe your expertise into values that will profit a special trade, think about discovering a profession coach who can help you.
Incorporate Flex Into Your Search
When trying to find a versatile job, use key phrases particular to the kind of flexibility you might be on the lookout for. One other nice possibility is to seek for jobs by specializing in firms which have a repute for providing flexibility. Discovering a versatile job is very like trying to find an everyday job. With the best instruments, targeted efforts, and a optimistic perspective, you will discover and land a versatile job that’s the good match for you.
