Career Professionals of Canada
Flex Work and Telecommuting
By Lysa Appleton.
Teleworking is on the rise. No longer just an occasional perk associated with a job, it is becoming a viable option for everyday working. A flex work, telecommuting arrangement can benefit both the employer and the employee.
According to Flexjobs.com and Right Management, the average teleworker is middle aged, well-educated, and earns over $65,000 per year.
Here are 5 of the many reasons that this trend is growing:
The war for talent is escalating and sometimes the best talent is not in geographical proximity. Teleworking is a way for a company to hire the best person for the job, not limited by location.
A significant number of employers are using both flex work and teleworking as legitimate options for millennials who are seeking flexible schedules.
Since many jobs are scarce, to preserve family unity, partners/spouses must relocate together and ask their employer if they can work remotely in their current role.
Teleworking lessens traffic, time, and stress spent in commuting, increasing productive work hours and decreasing employer costs for office space and work stations onsite.
Teleworking reduces the carbon footprint of the company and employees.
Teleworking and flex job options can be viable, impactful, meaningful and lucrative, and this trend will likely continue to grow into the future. So how can we help our clients land these roles?
Finding Telecommuting Opportunities
On Popular Job Banks
To identify telecommuting opportunities, include the following keywords when setting up alerts: “telecommuting”“work from home”, “work at home”, telecommuting, telecommute, virtual, remote, “home based” and “home office”. The quotation marks are important because it helps pare down the listings that show both words, but separately.
On Twitter
Follow these hashtags: #workflex #hrtrends #worklifeleaders #telecommuting #telework #vmwork #flextime #worklife, and these users: @WhenWorkWorks @FWInews @flexjobs.
On the Web
Lists of top employers often mention if a company allows telecommuting opportunities. Two sites that may be helpful include:
Canada’s Top Employers Lists: Click on Competitions and Family to access the list for Canada’s 25 Top Family Friendly employers, and click on the firms listed to read if telecommuting is a perk that is offered.
Fortune Magazine’s Top 100 Employers: Click on “Best Perks” and “Telecommuting”.
InnoVisions Canada: A telework and flexible work consulting organization. Access this page for a list of Canadian organizations that allow telecommuting.
Worldwide Work at Home – Canada: List of work-at-home opportunities.
Finally, consider that a position that starts out as office-based may later offer telecommuting perks, especially if a telecommuting program is already in place at the company. This may be a good item for a client to include on their list of items to discuss when an employment contract is being negotiated.
Job Search Tips For Remote Workers
Expand your search beyond common job boards to include websites specifically targeting flexible/virtual work (see list below)
Develop questions for your network on company culture and how work gets done for your target companies
Identify companies who have received the Sloan Award for work place efficiency and flexibility
Have a target list of employers recognized for workplace flexibility (suggested resource with over 400 companies: Killer Work from Home Jobs by Lee Evans)
Identify recruiters who can partner in your search for companies that value flex fit options
Join one of the 600+ groups targeting work-from-home professionals at www.meetup.com
Find LinkedIn groups to join that could support your efforts for creating a Flex Work network. Try searching for Flex Work.
Additional Resources and Information
Websites
These sites are both for Canada and the U.S. and many U.S. companies hire cross border for their Canadian satellites.
Flexjobs
LinkUp Job Search Engine
Toptal
ContractWorld
WORKshift Canada
Telecommuting, Telework and Alternate Officing
WAHM.com
Rat Race Rebellion
Work at Home Mom Revolution
Jobs for Bloggers
Blogging Pro Jobs
Genuine Jobs
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety: Telework/Telecommuting Answer Sheet
10 Ways to Spot Work at Home Scams
Life Meets Work: helps organizations become best-in-class workplaces through flexible work, telecommuting policies and workplace flexibility.
Global Workplace Analytics
Work at Home Jobs Company Directory – a huge list of companies that are known to have work at home positions, including large employers like Accenture, Apple, Amazon, and American Express – and this is just in the As. It is an expansive list!
Clarity Consultants – a lot of IT, training, and courseware development type roles
Books
Telecommuting For Dummies by Minda Zetlin
Telecommuting Success by Michael Dziak
Teleworking & Telecommuting by Jeffery D. Zbar
101 Tips for Telecommuters by Debra Dinnocenzo
The Remote Workers Guide to Excellence by Eryck Dzotsi
The Virtual Office Survival Handbook: What Telecommuters and Entrepreneurs Need to Succeed in Today’s Non-traditional Workplace by Alice Bredin
Out Of Office: How To Work From Home, Telecommute or Workshift Successfully by Simon Salt
Do What You Are by Tieger and Barron
Articles
SimplyHired.com Work From Home Jobs – basic information to help a candidate understand and get started with a search. Tons of additional links with more information and tips.
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Career Professionals of Canada - Working Together For Career Success