Is working remotely the best option for you?

Since the Coronavirus Pandemic, working remotely has become an increasingly popular option for people around the world. The ability to tailor working hours to suit your lifestyle and potentially enjoy a better work/life balance means that more and more people are searching for roles that allow them to work from wherever they are.

While there is, undoubtedly, a whole range of benefits to be enjoyed by those working in remote roles, there are also things that should be considered before making the switch from your familiar office environment.

1. How easy will it be to access support if you need it?

We all need help every so often, so it’s important to know how to access help if you need it.

When you work remotely, it can sometimes feel that you are alone in your problems; separate from those who work in the office. Make sure that you know what resources are available to you and how to access them. In some cases, companies may offer in-office days for additional support. If this is the case, you will need to know that you can access the office if you want or need to.

2. Will you have the same opportunities for training and progression as others?

Working remotely means that you can theoretically work from anywhere in the world, but this doesn’t mean that you aren’t going to want to progress in the future.

While office-based staff members will regularly be offered training and opportunities to apply for promotion, it’s possible that remote staff could be somewhat forgotten. Before accepting a remote role, find out what the opportunities are and how you would apply for them.

3. Do you need any specialist equipment?

Many remote roles will simply require you to have access to a computer and a good internet connection.

If you require access to specialised equipment or specific computer programmes in order to access a companies networks, you will need to know who is responsible for providing this. If a prospective employer is expecting you to provide all of your own equipment and software, then this isn’t necessarily the best remote role for you.

4. What will your working hours be?

Working remotely means that you could potentially work for a company anywhere in the world.

While this can mean that you have the ability to work in a wider range of roles with greater flexibility, it can also cause issues with time zones.

Before accepting a role, especially an international one, it’s important to understand what your working hours are likely to be.

Some companies will expect you to log onto a central system at a specific time, while others are happy for you to work around family commitments as long as the work is completed on time and to the correct standard.

Here at PDR we work with clients in various industries and sectors providing both remote and office based