How Remote Work Can Help You Return to the Workforce

For one reason or another, many of us will have to leave the workplace for awhile. Whether you take time off for school, take a hiatus when your children are young, or are coming out of retirement, stepping away from work is sometimes necessary. And re-entering the workforce isn’t always easy. If you’re ready to rejoin the working world, remote jobs can be very beneficial, both for a period of transition and a full-time career. Here’s how a flexible, work-from-home job can help you get where you want to be.

Ease the transition back into to working

Whatever your reasons were for taking a work break, it isn’t always easy to shift your focus to a full-time job after your attention has been elsewhere for so long. Working a remote job can help you make that transition back to being a full-time employee. Unlike immediately returning to the nine-to-five world of the office, you can set your own schedule. Working from home also allows for an easier work-life balance if personal responsibilities like studying or childcare are still a big factor of your daily life.

Add to your resume

While most employers understand that some people need to take breaks from the workforce, they’ll still appreciate seeing experience on your resume. Working remote jobs will allow you to add something to your resume after your break, which will look great when you start landing job interviews.

Find the freedom to hunt for a full-time job

If you’ve ever interviewed in person for jobs while working full-time, you know how difficult and exhausting it can be. But with a flexible remote job, you won’t have to worry. You can leave home for your interview, then return and pick up where you left off without having to ask anyone’s permission or worry about your boss finding out.

Improve your time management skills

Time management skills are invaluable, regardless of your career of choice. But if you’ve taken a break from work for awhile, it’s especially challenging to figure out how long tasks take you to complete and how to balance your new work with your old responsibilities. Working remote jobs can help you master your time management quickly and efficiently.

Figure out exactly what you want to do

Sometimes we’re forced to re-enter the workforce before we know exactly what we’d like to pursue. This is why flexible jobs are so fantastic — you can choose from a variety of fields and see what you do well and what you enjoy. If you perform some tasks better than others, or if you genuinely like the work, you’ll have a better idea of what kind of full-time job you’d like to apply for. You might even decide that working from home works for you and choose to stick with flexible jobs and a flexible schedule. Working remotely on a long-term basis isn’t for everyone, but some people love it so much, they can’t imagine going back to the office.

How to get started

Ready to start working a remote job? Here are some tips to prepare:

• Assess your situation. Think about your current needs, where you’d like to end up, and figure out the hours and days you will be available.
• Make a list of your skills and abilities. This isn’t meant to be a professional resume, just a handy reminder for you as you’re applying to jobs.
• Make sure you have the proper tools and equipment necessary to work. Every job is different, but in many cases, all you’ll need is a computer or laptop and a reliable internet connection.
• Update your resume and LinkedIn profile. Make sure your professional profile is as complete and up-to-date as possible. For some types of work, it’s a good idea to put together a portfolio of samples of your recent work, too.

Appen was recently named #1 Company to Watch for Remote Jobs in 2019. Take a look at our current job openings and see if you can find your next opportunity.   — If you enjoyed reading our article about How Remote Work Can Help You Return to the Workforce, visit appen.com/careers to see our available opportunities.