How I Managed to Switch to a Work From Home Job

Image from Unsplash (creds: Mikey Harris)

Work-from-home culture has become more prevalent in the last two years, as journalists, bookkeepers, administrative assistants and other office workers have relocated to their COVID-free homes for their 9-5.

While working from home seems easier to achieve now than ever before, it still requires preparation and planning for those of us who switched from a secular position, rather than being relocated by our companies. This was especially true for me, but I managed it, and would love to share my method with you!

I Had Work Experience in my Field

When deciding to switch to a WFH job, the first thing you need to decide is which type of job you'd like to apply for. There are many different positions you can hold from the comfort of your home, such as the following:

• Accountant

• Teacher/ Tutor

• Software Engineer

• Consultant

• Customer Service Representative

• Sales Representative

• Web Developer

• Writer and/or Editor (like myself)

These and many other positions allow employees the option of working from home, and if you have experience in the field you've selected, you're more likely to be considered for the job.

Unlike many writers and editors, I didn't attend college, but rather I took internships and unpaid jobs from a variety of magazines and blogs throughout high school to gain the proper work experience required for professional and creative writing.

As I worked for different companies, I was trained by various editors in the writing and editing process. Later, I was promoted from ghostwriter to editor at my current position and received training for my promotion on the job. Overall, taking unpaid work during high school and the three years I worked secularly provided me with the equivalent work experience I needed in place of a college degree.

Nowadays, many companies are less concerned about college education as they are about work experience and work ethic (note that this varies depending on the industry that you're in).

So, as long as you're able to provide proof of your capability and have a good attitude toward work, many companies will consider your application for a work-from-home position (of course, having a college education is always a plus, especially if your field requires more advanced training).

Therefore, I recommend examining which work-from-home jobs you qualify best for, and consider your options for gaining work experience if you don't have it already.

For those of you who wish to work from home as writers and/or editors, I recommend contributing articles to blogs and online magazines and opening your own blog. This type of work experience is generally enough for a position as a ghostwriter/ content writer, which is an ideal entry-level position for someone who doesn't have a college education.

After working for a content writing service for a period of time, you may be able to expand into journalism or another form of credited writing, as you'll be sufficiently qualified according to the standards of many employers.

I Saved Money for Several Months

A factor that turns many away from switching to a WFH job is that such a transition is not always smooth financially. If you're switching professions, there's a risk that you may not find work immediately or that you may begin work at a lower wage than your previous job provided.

The reason why you're deciding to switch to a WFH will factor into how soon you decide to make the transition. If you're anxious to exit a toxic work environment, then you may need to quit before actually finding a work-from-home job. If this is the case, you'll need to be frugal with your money while you continue to search for employment.

However, if you're able to stand your current work environment for a few more months, I highly recommend that you use this time to build up your savings. I personally set the goal to switch to a work-from-home position several months before I quit my job, which allowed me time to save enough money that I could remain financially solvent for about six months without regular work.

It should be noted, though, that my rent was quite cheap at this time and I had very few expenses, so most people will not be able to save as much money. Nevertheless, I recommend trying to save enough for two-three months of rent before quitting, so that you can pay your bills with relative peace of mind while you work through your probationary period.

I also recommend holding off from quitting before you actually secure a job. While some may need to exit their work environment with urgency, others should hold off quitting as long as they're able, as while work from home jobs are easier to come by now than ever before, it's still a competitive job market and work may not be as easily achieved depending on your field.

I Applied EVERYWHERE

When switching to a work-from-home job, it doesn't bode well for you to be picky about which jobs you apply for, as this job market can be slim pickings as it is. Therefore, apply to every position that you qualify for, even if you're not enthralled with the work. I applied to every writing job I could find, and doing so enabled me to try out multiple positions before settling on one that I could stay in long-term.

The main goal for many people when switching to the WFH life is gaining independence in their work-life, and taking the first job that comes along is simply a stepping stone toward that goal.

Eventually, you can become more selective as you gain more experience, but if you're just starting out, taking less prestigious positions will reflect well on you as a worker when building your resume, as it displays a good attitude toward work and will still allow you the independence you seek.

I Did My Research

One of the most important aspects of applying for WFH jobs is conducting the proper research. Unfortunately, there are still many websites that require you to spend money in order to apply for work, which is a factor not generally revealed until after you've created an account.

While these websites may provide legitimate job listings, it's a rather regressive system that may result in you spending more money to apply for jobs than you're earning. Therefore, it's important to research job sites and locate reviews from fellow users.

For those of you who wish to work from home as writers or editors, I personally recommended using Problogger, Indeed or LinkedIn to search for work. I locate all of my freelance jobs and found my current position through these websites, all of which are highly rated and reliable for finding work.

I Didn't Make the Decision Overnight

Deciding to switch to a WFH job from my position as a barista wasn't easy, and it took very careful thought and decisive planning to make it happen. When COVID broke out initially, my job closed for the duration of our three-month lockdown, and I decided to use that time to locate a work-from-home job to keep myself occupied.

While that position only lasted through lockdown, it gave me a glimpse of the reality of a work-from-home job- you have to be self-disciplined, communication between you and your employer may not be as consistent, and you have to find ways to keep yourself active and alert in order to prevent burn out.

In other words, I switched to a WFH position permanently with my eyes open to the reality of an unstable and self-led work environment, and I highly encourage you to do the same. The lack of association with co-workers and the level of accountability for staying structured is not for everyone, so you'll want to weigh the pros and cons of such a lifestyle before making your final decision.

My Advice Overall

Working from home is rewarding in many ways, particularly for those of us who enjoy being in our homes as much as possible. However, it takes careful thought and planning to make such a switch.

You need to consider your mental health, and how being at home all the time will affect any issues you may have with depression, anxiety or anything else you may personally struggle with. I have social anxiety, so I find working from home helps regulate the amount of time I spend around other people and has helped me become more sociable with friends and family, as I spend most days in my own company. However, this will not be the case for everyone.

As well, you need to consider your financial situation and how switching jobs will affect your ability to pay your bills. Finally, it's important that you approach the WFH lifestyle knowing that such a switch will not remove the stress of the workplace entirely from your life. Being accountable for setting a work schedule isn't easy, and finding a work/life balance will also take time.

Overall, weigh the positives with the negatives, and decide what you're willing to sacrifice in order to gain more independence in your life. For myself, this switch was the right move, and I hope these tips will help you to make the right decision for yourself!