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.