8 Common Questions About Remote Work and How to Answer
For some people, the world of remote work is a mystery. As such, when you mention that you have a remote job (or are actively looking for one), you might get broached with a bunch of questions about remote work and how it actually, well, works.
Below are eight common questions about remote work and how to answer them:
1. “Do you wear your PJs all day?”
By far, this is one of the most popular questions you’ll get asked when people find out that you have a remote job. This question is tricky to answer because, yes, there are some remote workers who do wear their jammies all day—but they really shouldn’t.
You should treat your remote job like a real job (particularly if you have video meetings or times when you have to meet up with clients) and get dressed for work. That said, many remote workers don’t don three-piece suits if they’re going to be in their home office all day long. But the rule of thumb is that you should get dressed, since it can help boost your productivity, ensuring that you’ll be a great remote employee—and prevent you from rolling back into bed.
2. “How do you connect with your coworkers if you don’t see them in person?”
Out of sight isn’t necessarily out of mind when it comes to remote communication. There are a ton of tools that remote team members can utilize when maintaining communications with each other from Slack, Sococo, Skype, Yammer, Google Apps, and the list goes on and on. While there are many ways to communicate, it’s important to stress to someone asking about remote work that the real issue is making a concerted effort to communicate and not just staying silent in your home office.
3. “Are all work-from-home jobs administrative?”
Virtually every industry has some level of flexible work options (such as full-time telecommuting, part-time jobs, freelance or contract work, seasonal jobs, and so on), and it’s up to job seekers to find the ones that work best for them.
4. “How do you avoid job scams when looking for a remote job?”
It’s true: there are a lot of telecommuting job scams. Some are obvious, (i.e., you’re offered the job without an interview, the company asks upfront for personal information, such as your Social Security number, etc.), but others aren’t. Navigating the online waters of remote job postings on your own might yield a few real listings, but your safest bet is to use a reputable job search service, like FlexJobs, which can vet the job listings for you to ensure their legitimacy.
5. “Do you have a schedule?”
Sure, you have a remote job that allows you more flexibility and freedom in your scheduling, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you don’t have a schedule. There are companies that have adopted a Results Only Work Environment (R.O.W.E.) mentality, where your performance level is measured on your output, not on the amount of hours you sit at your desk. But there are remote jobs that do require you to have a schedule or be on call at certain times. Depending on how much flex you need, you should find out during the job interview process the extent of the flexibility you’ll have in the position.
6. “Does your company pay for your expenses, and if so, which ones?”
Sure, working from home is a big cost savings. Without a lengthy commute, office attire to wear, and expensive lunches to purchase, your savings could be in the thousands annually. That doesn’t mean that working from home doesn’t come at a price to you, though.
Some companies will supply equipment for you to use (think computers, printers, etc.) and others might offer a stipend for you to purchase your own. And then there are others that follow the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) mentality and will expect you to use your own equipment, and pay for your own expenses, such as electricity, office expenses such as printer paper and supplies, and heating and cooling during seasonal months.
Still, the amount that you spend will likely be significantly smaller than if you had a traditional office job.
7. “Are companies really hiring for remote workers?”
It’s estimated that 80 percent of U.S. companies are offering flexible work options to their employees. In many cases, those jobs are remote or telecommuting ones, either full- or part-time. So the short answer is yes, companies are hiring for remote workers. You can search through Remote.co’s database of remote companies to see if the company you’re interested in is currently offering any remote work positions.
8. “Can you really make money working from home?”
Ahh, those “Earn $5,000 a week working from home” ads have made many a person jaded about the legitimacy of remote work. You can make money working from home; in fact, your salary should be fairly comparable to a similar on-site job. Sites like Glassdoor.com, PayScale.com, and Salary.com have salary calculators and salary information that can guide you to knowing what the pay should be for the job you’re applying for. And ultimately, if you have a remote job, the fact that you are able to pay your mortgage, have gas in your car, food in your fridge, and clothes on your back should all be signs to any naysayer that, yes, you can really make money working from home—and good money, too, depending on the job you’re applying for!
When you have a remote job (or are in the market for one), you’ll ultimately be asked a lot of questions about working remotely. Offering compelling and honest answers will not only educate people on remote work, but it might also inspire them to find a remote job of their own!
By Jennifer Parris | Categories: Work Remotely
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