Working from home can be a rewarding experience. Flexibility of hours and the workplace are just two of its advantages. Despite these perks, working as an online freelancer proves to be challenging in some aspects. These challenges make it difficult to last long in this career and prevent many others from becoming one.
1. Killing the competition
Getting hired online can be as tough as getting a job on the streets. Don’t get me wrong; there are thousands of jobs offered online. But there are also thousands of freelance workers looking for a job. In turn, this makes competition tight during hiring. Of course, you can’t literally kill your competition since that would be murder. But you need to have an edge so that you get hired over someone else.
2. Finding a trusted employer
Not everyone looking for online workers can be trusted. I’ve heard several stories from colleagues about bad employers. These “bad apples” fail to comply with agreements made with contractors. Usually, it has something to do with payment terms with some of them not paying at all. With others, it has something to do with salary increase and employment status.
3. Finding a dependable internet provider
Employers want online freelancers with fast and reliable internet. It’s necessary for collaboration and communication of team members. Since that depends on the provider, stay-at-home workers often struggle to find one that can give them a good connection. A slow and choppy connection affects productivity and performance of the worker which is a great NO-NO to employers.
4. Staying motivated to work
The lack of personal interaction and routine-like nature of working from home will eventually drag down a person’s motivation to work. Lack of motivation can affect an online worker’s commitment, performance, and productivity.
5. Keeping distractions away
Online workers tend to have more difficulty focusing on their work compared to office employees. That’s because they can’t be fully monitored and usually, there are no rules regarding matters like internet use or breaks. Monitoring is limited to the computer tracking software. Distractions at home include household conflicts, playing children, errands, and emergencies. Freelance workers may also be distracted by games and social networking sites through computers and personal gadgets.
6. Getting a good computer
Online freelancers aren’t always required to get a good computer but having one definitely helps. Your computer can affect your efficiency at performing tasks and finishing projects. A desktop is most ideal but you can also get a laptop for flexibility. Just make sure it’s compatible with your wireless router if you’re using one. Also, it’s recommended that you get a laptop with good reviews on their cooling systems. With a desktop, you can install fans to prevent the overheating of hardware.
7. Job stability
One moment you’re hired and the next day you suddenly find yourself unemployed. An employer can fire you just as quickly as he hired you for a job. Contractual or project-based jobs only offer short-term employment and this further aggravates the instability of online work.
8. Inconsistent salary
The pay depends on the job, hours, and tasks required of you. Different employers also have different salary schemes. Some pay higher and others lower for the same tasks. This inconsistency in salary can be discouraging for online workers.
Have I left something uncovered in this article? Comment and let me know your views.
About the Guest Author:
Rich Martinez is a home-based employee who likes to write articles related to her job and interests such as photography, health, and lifestyle. She currently works at Broadband Expert, a consultation company that helps home owners and businesses find high speed internet in their communities.
Rich Martinez is a home-based employee who likes to write articles related to her job and interests such as photography, health, and lifestyle. She currently works at Broadband Expert, a consultation company that helps home owners and businesses find high speed internet in their communities.
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