Telecommuting tips and updates

Hello my readers. It’s been a while since I have posted anything due to my freelancing efforts as a translator. I wish to share some telecommuting tips and update previously written posts, as some of the circumstances mentioned have since been improved.  

Skype Update:

Since May 1^st of this year, VoIP-based services and applications such as Skype and Magic Jack are no longer blocked by Belize Telemedia Ltd! This is a biggie for Belizean telecommuters as we no longer need to find creative ways of bypassing the system to engage in virtual work.  Skype capability is a mainstream prerequisite used by most companies and employers online for web conferencing with telecommuters and or to perform outbound customer service calls. This resource had previously been unavailable to Belizeans due to censorship. With that all behind us, we can now focus on exploring and securing virtual opportunities which had previously been denied us.

Incoming Bank Wire Transfers:

The next concern that I hope will be addressed by the Belize government is the red tape and ridiculously high costs relating to receiving incoming wire transfer payments for online contracts.  Even though PayPal is accessible for Belizeans, one has to request permission from Central Bank of Belize via a letter explaining why we need the account and once the money is channeled via local banks, the incoming transfer fees are currently USD thirty per transaction which is outrageously high.

With companies like oDesk charging  USD thirty per transaction for outgoing wire transfers plus a 10% commission, we simply cannot afford to compete with telecommuters from countries such as the Philippines who have lower overhead costs and whose banking laws facilitate foreign exchange and telecommuting. It is very frustrating when we have to bid higher for jobs and lose contracts due to the high internet, electric and banking rates. Yes, internet rates have been reduced a bit and we are grateful but Belize need to become more telecommuter-friendly if Belizean teleworkers are to become more successful in the virtual job markets.

Contracts:

When making bids for virtual contracts, please ensure that you:

• Review contracts and make sure that you have a clear understanding of the terms and conditions relating to the deliverable milestones and time frames.
•  Also, do not forget to include clauses specifying your status as an independent contractor and stipulate if your services are non-exclusive.

       Non-disclosure Agreement (NDA):

   

     Securing your PC and data is a priority for contractors providing professional services who are privy to proprietary information belonging to another person or organization.  Most clients will request that you sign a non-disclosure agreement to secure sensitive data you have access to. Even if a client does not request this, offering to do so demonstrates professionalism on your behalf. Here are some simple basic negotiation tips to bear in mind when you are asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA):

• Ask for time to peruse the document which will give you a chance to either personally vet or have your lawyer examine it.
• If there are any clauses which encroach on your personal creativity or holds you liable for damages if a breach should occur then think long and hard about signing such without retaining advice from your lawyer.

Data & PC Security:

Prior to pursuing virtual job opportunities it is advisable to ensure the following:

• Confirm that you have original versions of Windows or Mac on your PC
• Install and maintain security software such as: Windows Defender for Windows 8, Identity Finder and Personal Software Inspector.
• Restrict remote access and research any remote management and screen sharing software you may be asked to install on your computer as many of these products are easily compromised. If you must share a resource with others, you should disable file and print sharing, format your drive using NTFS (New Technology File System), and correctly set the file and directory permissions.
• Encrypt all files to secure data on your PC.

That’s all for now, if there are any subject areas you wish me to elaborate on kindly let me know I will endeavor to make my posts more frequent and as always I ask for your comments and constructive criticism as this helps me to know and understand your interests, correct any errors made and update information shared. 

Virtual Assistant Services… a work in progress

In my previous posts, I had briefly summarized some points that we need to consider while seeking employment as a telecommuter and I hope that they have been helpful to you all. My apologies to my readers for not being here for a while, but I have been so busy researching and working on upgrading some much needed internet skills and revising my resume to make it more appealing to potential clients. This is very time-consuming but I feel it was well worth the effort and I hope that you have also spent some time doing some self-assessment and discovering your niche in the online job marketplace.

After much examination of the job opportunities available as a telecommuter, I have decided to focus on offering my services as a VirtualAssistant. I feel this is the best way to exploit my 20 years experience in administrative,  procurement  and operational leadership roles. I love the fact that VA’s work generally as independent contractors as I prefer being my own boss, however, some also work as employees for other VA agencies. Virtual Assistants generally seek to establish long-term professional relationships with their clients but may also provide temp services or contract work. They are paid either on a fixed-contract basis per job or work for clients on an hourly basis.

According to USLegal, a Virtual Assistant, Virtual Office Assistant or VA is “ an entrepreneur who provides professional technical, administrative, creative or any other form of assistance to his/her clients primarily over the internet from his/her home-based office”. 

To become a Virtual Assistant, the core prerequisite is that you have expert administrative and or secretarial experience and skills. General services offered by VA’s are administrative support services such as:

•        Database management

•        Secretarial services

•        Appointment setting

•        Transcription

•        Event planning

•       

Technologies are constantly changing at such a rapid pace, therefore to keep abreast of market demands; we need to anticipate and be responsive to the needs of our target audience. As businesses struggle to keep pace with social consumer trends, there is a growing demand for VAs to offer specialized services such as:

•        Social media marketing

•        Website design and updating

•        Internet research

•        Forum moderation

•        Language translations

•        Blog writing

If we desire to be successful and sought-after professionals, then we need to revolutionize our current skills and business practices. This can easily be accomplished by taking a few classes online or at some school in our locality. In Belize City, you can upgrade your computer skills by taking classes at Cardicom Computer Training Institute. They offer a wide variety of courses and also provide scheduled or customized individualized classes to suit your needs. There are also many courses being offered online by VA organizations and agencies if you wish to get certification as a Virtual Assistant.

I am stilling looking into which organizations offer the best resources and VA support services for Belizeans and will share this information as soon as I am satisfied with the results. I hope you find the above-mentioned information helpful and good luck with your job search.

Please feel free to comment as I would appreciate some constructive criticism and any helpful information you may wish to contribute to assist myself and readers in our search. Remember always that worrying never solves any problems but contributes to health problems, depression, wrinkles and unwanted grey hairs. Do your best and leave the rest in God’s able hands.

Getting Started Part 2

Workspace

I have found that the best suitable private workplace for me is in my bedroom since I do not have an available spare room in my home at this time. I do intend to have a separate private room for my home office once things get going. Being a parent who works from home comes with a few challenges as despite being more easily accessible to our families as we are present at home, during working hours we need our privacy and quiet. This means, that our families need to respect and be supportive of our work-at-home ethics. We must be firm and lay down the rules early or end up getting stressed from the constant interruptions and background noises.

Equipment & Services

To set up your home office all you need basically is:

ü  Desktop or laptop

ü  High-speed internet ( BTL currently offer 512 kb for $ BZ 88 )

ü  Webcam

ü  Microphone

ü  Phone

ü  Security Software ( some clients prefer you using the same as theirs)

ü  Desk

ü   Comfy chair

ü  Air conditioning unit or low noise fan ( depending on your comfort level and budget)

ü  Multifunctional printer such as the HP Officejet Pro 8600  cost only $ US 160.

 Most online employers require us to have Skype  which is blocked in Belize by BelizeTelemedia Ltd. who are as the foremost ISP in Belize. Those seeking employment as administrative support, virtual assistants or secretaries are excluded from many telecommuting job bids due to not having this service available. This is very exasperating for those who are desperately trying to find a job and many Belizeans are now using VPN (virtual private network) services to bypass this problem. I am still researching these services and alternative solution to this impasse and suggest you do the same.

Payment Methods

The payment method for most companies is via PayPal or Bank Wire Transfer.

PayPal

According to Ms. Coyi of the Belize Central Bank, we must get permission from the Belize Central Bank prior to opening a Paypal account.  To get permission you must do the following:

1. Write a letter explaining the purpose of your needing this type account, that it will be used only to receive payments for online work/income and not to send foreign exchange out of the country. Remember to provide a valid mailing address, telephone number and email.  Address letter to:

Ms. Azucena Quan-Novelo
Director
Research Department
Belize Central Bank
Belize City

      2.  Attach a copy of your Belize passport or Social Security card

Upon of receipt of the permission from the Belize Central Bank you may then proceed with opening your PayPal account.

Bank Wire Transfer

For bank wire transfers there is a fee of $BZ 50 charged by local banks for the transaction. Companies like oDesk charge a commission fee of 10% plus a fee of $US 30 per wire transfer for bank fees and processing. So folks, we need to be making some serious dollars here for this type of employment to be lucrative as we are looking at some serious overhead costs here.

Exercise

As telecommuters we will be spending a lot of time sitting at a computer, therefore ensuring we get adequate exercise is very important for our health and well-being. I highly recommend daily walks as this not only keeps us fit and energetic but helps us to not feel isolated from missing the office crowd.  If you are not a morning person like me, then instead of driving to do errands during the day, take a walk. If you decide to walking early morn or after dark, remember always to be safe and have a walking buddy and to avoid known high crime areas of the city and isolated and poorly lit areas at night. 

Getting Started Part 1

What is “telecommuting”?

According to Cambridge Business English Dictionary Online, telecommuting also referred to as telework is “to work for an organization from your home and communicate with the main office and customers, etc. by phone or email.” Telecommuting is facilitated by utilizing the internet, phones, webcams etc. and can be done from any remote location not just your home instead of the usual traditional office setting with co-workers.

The check-list

As I considered the possibilities for employment as a telecommuter, I realized I had to do an assessment of the online job market, what job skills or expertise I can offer, what skills I will have to learn or improve, workspace, equipment, work hours, payment methods and exercise schedule. I am a champion of check lists as they help us to be more organized because we can make list of things we need to get done or take care of and check them as we complete each task. This can easily be done using an excel spreadsheet or table.

The online job market

The online job market is very competitive as those living in eastern countries and the Philippines have less overhead costs and can afford to work at lower job rates. In job sites such as oDesk and elance  they bid as low as $US 1 per hour for virtual assistant jobs which is less than the hourly wage for Ready Call Center . This is not lucrative for us as Belizeans as we need to cover the high overhead costs relating to telecommuting and our living expenses. Some types of telecommuting jobs which are available are:

• Sales & Telemarketing
• Virtual Assistant
• Translator
• Online Tutoring
• Secretarial
• Writing (e.g. for blogs)

Job Search

When doing your search for online jobs, you need to specify “telecommuting jobs from anywhere” as many telecommuting jobs require you to work from a specific location. This will narrow down your search to jobs which you can do from any location in the world. Searching for legitimate online jobs is quite a task and can become very overwhelming and frustrating as there are so many scam sites on the internet. Although many seem very lucrative and claim free registration, after you have completed the entire registration process, using your email address, you then find out that they are charging a fee and payment is using your credit card, debit card or PayPal.  

During my search of telecommuting sites, I read that we should not pay to get a job, but I also noted that even the free sites have some form of hidden fees. My mom used to say nothing is free in this world and I have accepted that philosophy as it has been proven so many times in my life. Some sites like Flexjobs  charge a subscription fee but it may be worth it to avoid wasting time searching for free subscription sites. Here are some sites you could investigate or register with to get you started on your job search:

oDesk

elance

craigslist

Worldwide Work At Home

Skills and expertise

The minimum educational requirement by online employers is a high school diploma. Employers are seeking telecommuters who have telecommuting experience, skills and are certified. Now may be the time to brush on your typing skills using one of the online typing tutors such as Rapid Typing Tutor. Knowledge and familiarity with MS Office applications such as Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint is also in high demand. There are many sites online offering free online computer classes such as  alison and meganga . 

 It is also advisable to revise your resume, highlighting telecommuting skills in demand by employers online, such as:

·        Communication skills ( email handling, web conferencing, im, phone etiquette)

·        Strong Typing Skills (40 wpm or above)

·        Familiarity with MS Office

·        Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

·        Internet Research

·        Self Motivated

·        Ability to Work Independently

·        Strong Time Management Skills

·        Language Skills

Work Hours

Your work hours are determined by the type of contract you have, the time zone and business hours of the company you are working for. If you have a fixed contract then you have a bit more flexibility with your working hours but must deliver work on time. If you are being paid hourly, some companies like oDesk monitor you using screenshots to ensure clients are getting their monies worth of your time.

I will continue next time on sharing tips and my experience in Getting Started Part 2. Until then take care and remember that we can only do our best and the rest we must leave in God's able hands as he alone knows what is best for us and when is the right time.

The Vision

I will be sharing with my readers my journey as a single mom in becoming a successful telecommuter from Belize and I hope that my experiences and investigative tips will assist other Belizean women in successfully finding employment online from home. I believe this may not be the complete solution for the socio-economic problems in our society but could help to provide some financial relief to the unemployment issues affecting us.

Like most Belizeans, I am very concerned about the deteriorating societal conditions in my country and I found the most recent employment statistics released by the Statistical Institute of Belize to be most disturbing. A survey which was conducted in September 2012 shows that Belize has a population of 342,636 people and that 16% of Belizeans are unemployed. What I found to be extremely disturbing is that 75% of the workforce is without even a primary school level of education with 63.5% being women, who ARE the backbone of our country.

Low incomes and unemployment are known key socio-economic factors which augment increases in violent gang related crimes in communities. Similar viewpoint has been expressed in an abstract titled “the relationship between socio economic factors and gang violence in the City of LosAngeles” by D N DN Kyriacou, H R HR Hutson, D D Anglin, C C Peek-Asa, J F JF Kraus J Trauma 46(2):334-9 (1999), PMID 10029043 .

I feel that criticism of government policies or searching for someone to blame for the current status of 40% of Belizeans living in abject poverty, does little to alleviate the misery of those living in such impoverished conditions. A quick fix of saturating our streets with policemen, making stringent laws and incarcerating offenders, does not address the known catalysts which have contributed to the current crime wave in our communities.

I feel it is my civic duty to try to do something to help in improving the status of my Belizean sisters who are known to be hard-working women and the pillar of our communities, despite the majority being single moms with little or no formal education or job skills. We must utilize whatever means available to facilitate a proactive atmosphere for enterprises to flourish, thereby reducing the unemployment rate in our society.

People want to work so they can have a better quality of life and to be able to educate their children.  This can be seen by the employment niches filled by call centers like Ready CallCenter and Transparent BPO who are currently in operation in Belize. Hence, I decided to investigate telecommuting opportunities as they relate to the Belize workforce, taking into consideration that many do not own a computer, have computer skills or internet access in their homes.

I would appreciate any tips and constructive criticism from my readers and look forward to hearing from you.