Insights for Remote Professionals

Is a Remote Creative Job Right for You?

Cedric Jackson

August 04, 2021

During the pandemic, there was a sharp rise in remote creative jobs available. But now that things are opening back up, is a remote creative job still the right choice for you?

To know whether you should keep your work-from-anywhere job or look for a job in an office, ask yourself about the following: 

Do you like to work independently?

One of the first things to consider is whether you can effectively work independently.

Can you be productive at home, or do you prefer the pressure in an office setting?

If you are self-motivated and can push yourself to get work done, working remotely can be great for you. 

However, if you need a little push to stay on track, you may want to find an in-person job or a hybrid one.

That said, if having a deadline and knowing your work is judged is enough to motivate you, working remotely can still be a great choice. 

When deciding, remember that work-from-anywhere jobs tend to come with extra distractions as you won’t be in an office environment. 

Do You Have Good Time Management Skills?

The follow-up to this question is whether you have good time management skills.

If you can set yourself mini-deadlines or schedule out your day with ease, you are likely to do well with remote work. 

If you're unsure, give it a try. Find a remote creative job and see how you perform over the course of 6 months.

Can You Separate Work From Your Life?

Anyone who has worked remotely knows that it can become incredibly challenging to find a good work-life balance.

Before deciding to work from home, or continuing to do so, make sure that you can maintain that balance. Otherwise, you'll find yourself working late hours and becoming more stressed.

How Are Your Communication Skills?

While any employee will want you to have good communication skills, this is a must for any remote creative job.

Remote employees have to rely heavily on written communication. The fact that you can’t talk to coworkers or managers in person means that you can’t rely on body language and tone as much. 

The best remote workers will have excellent communication skills, especially written ones.

Having these skills can reduce the issues when asking teammates questions or collaborating. 

Do You Have a Space You Can Work In? 

Don’t forget to consider if you have somewhere that you would be able to work.

One of the benefits of working in an office is that you get a part of the office to work in, even if it is just a cubicle. If you choose to work from anywhere, it's best to create a separate office space.

Most people will do best with a designated office space in their homes. Ideally, you want a desk and table along.

You also want to make sure you have a strong internet connection and a space with minimal distractions. 

Do You Need Social and Work Interactions?

Think about how social you are, specifically whether you are fine working alone.

Working remotely can get lonely, especially if you work from home and live alone. You can go days without seeing anyone else. 

While this is perfectly fine for many people, it is not the case for everyone.

That said, needing human interaction doesn’t automatically mean you should rule out a job where you can work from anywhere. 

You could spend one or two days a week working in a coffee shop or coworking space. Or you can look for a remote job that has an inclusive feel with online social interactions among your team. 

Do You Need (or Just Like) the Flexibility of Remote Work? 

One of the biggest questions to ask yourself is how important the flexibility of working from anywhere is to you. 

Parents, for example, may love the idea of remote work.

It can give them the flexibility they need to fit around their kid’s schedule. Or it can let them be at home with kids who are fairly independent but still can’t be left alone for hours on end. 

People who don’t like settling down may also love work-from-anywhere jobs.

As the name implies, you can do the work from anywhere. You can use this to travel without having to take time off work. Or you can use it to find a steady job you can keep even if you move across the country several times. 

Do You Work Best at Odd Hours?

When considering the flexibility, you should also think about the flexibility in terms of your work hours.

While most people do fine working during traditional workday hours, that is not the case for everyone. Some people are more productive early in the morning or late at night.

If you are at your most productive at odd hours, you want to look for a remote job that doesn’t have set hours. This will let you work at the times you are most productive and efficient. 

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