Am I Ready to Work Remotely?

The way people work has drastically changed over the last few years. Remote and hybrid jobs have become all the rage! And the team at Of The West hears you and sees you. Many of you want to work remotely. We can’t say we don’t get it because we do, especially being a remote team ourselves, but just as sexy as remote jobs seem, they can also be really hard! Before you commit to only applying for remote jobs, you need to figure out why you want to work remotely, if being a remote employee is feasible for you at your current state, and if you have the right skills and experiences to be a successful remote employee. 

We help you answer all of those questions below! We’ve also provided you with a Remote Employee Checklist at the bottom of this blog that we think will help you decide, “Am I ready to work remotely?”

First: Does your career path align with remote work?

First things first, you’ve got to look at what you want to do and determine if working remotely is even a feasible option! Yes, this new age of working has created a lot of opportunities for remote work, but in the ag + western industry, some jobs just cannot be done remotely. If you want to work as a Herd Manager, then working remotely is not going to be in the cards (unless it’s your own herd of course). But if you have aspirations to be a staff accountant, then your possibilities for remote work are higher. You might sometimes be faced with the question of would you rather work remotely or pursue your specific career. 

Second: Why do you want to work remotely?

This is the million-dollar question we will ask everyone who wants to work remotely – why? Is it because you want to wake up and go to work in your pajamas? Is it because you have put down roots somewhere and don’t have the flexibility to relocate? Or is it because you work better independently? Understanding your why behind wanting to work remotely is huge. And not to be a buzzkill, but if your reasoning for wanting to only work remotely is because you want to wake up and work in your pajamas, then you might need to reevaluate! As we mentioned above, working remotely is hard, and not for everyone, so ensuring you are doing it for the right reasons is crucial to remote success.

Third: Are you fully prepared and set up for remote work?

Some things you need to be prepared for when taking a remote position is that you will be working independently and spending the majority of your days by yourself. This means that you are in charge of your schedule and ensuring your work is being completed. 

You also need to have a solid working environment. We polled a group of our audience who have been working remotely for at least three years and the majority have a designated work area in their home that is crucial for their remote work success. Lastly, is your tech game strong? Reliable internet and solid devices are essential. Now we 100% get working rurally and that rural internet isn’t always reliable but ensuring that the majority of the time you have working internet is key to creating a positive and productive working environment. Also, most remote jobs require meetings via Zoom or other video conferencing programs, so being able to run these seamlessly (good internet and a trusted computer) is critical.

Fourth: Do you have the right skills and experience to work remotely?

There are a few skills remote employees must possess to be successful, and these skills can be learned, so if you don’t feel like you possess them right now, you can develop those! Those key skills are strong communication, impeccable time management, self-motivation, discipline, organization, reliability, and flexibility. These skills are great for any employee but especially important for remote employees. 

Finally, you will want to evaluate your past work experiences to help you determine if you’re ready to work remotely. One thing we discuss often is having a good working foundation. 97.5% of our polled audience said they worked in a traditional work environment before going remote. Why is that such a huge benefit? Because it helps you build a strong working foundation around scheduling, communication, and organization. 

By evaluating your career path, understanding your ‘why’ behind wanting to work remotely, determining if you can create a successful work environment, and deciding if your experience has shaped you to be a good remote employee, you’ll have a better idea of if you’re ready to take on a remote job or not!

Give yourself a remote employee audit below and then head to ofthewest.co and start finding your perfect position – remote or not!

Remote Employee Checklist

• Ask yourself the following questions, and if you can check off the majority of the statements, you are ready to be a rockstar remote employee!

__ I have good reasons for wanting to work remotely

__ My career path aligns with remote work

__ I work well independently and don’t need daily collaboration

__ I am disciplined and able to stay focused on tasks without constant supervision

__ I have a good work foundation

__ I am a great communicator (both written and verbal)

__ I am good at managing myself and my time

__ I have (mostly) reliable internet

__ I have a trusty computer

__ I am familiar with tools and software often used for remote work

__ I am prepared for the potential isolation that comes with working remotely

__ I actively seek out social interactions outside of work to maintain a balance 

__ I can set boundaries and disconnect from work at the end of the day