Today, telecommuting and working remotely are more common than ever before. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of Americans working from home jumped by almost a third between 2005 and 2016. Remote work has become so commonplace that it’s now a job skill you should advertise if you’re interested in finding new work as an online employee. Because many companies are now looking for candidates who can work from home and online software like Google Docs is making it easier for people to do their jobs from anywhere with an internet connection. Working remotely is also convenient for employees because it gives them more flexibility in where they live (and therefore how much they spend on housing), what time of day they come into work, or even if they need to take care of a personal errand during business hours. If you’re searching for remote work opportunities, or simply want to find ways to make your current position more remote-friendly, read on for our ultimate guide to the benefits and challenges of working from home and using online office software like Google Docs and Microsoft Word Online...
What is office software?
Office software refers to a group of programs that you’re likely already familiar with if you’re a regular computer user. These programs include Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Apple Pages, Apple Numbers, and Google Docs. While these are all useful for different reasons, the main focus of this article is on Google Docs. Google Docs is a web-based word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation program that is accessible via any internet connection. This makes Google Docs ideal for individuals who work remotely because they can access their documents from anywhere. Google Docs also comes with a ton of useful features and integrations that make it a great tool for remote workers.
Benefits of Working Remotely
Here are some of the most significant benefits of working remotely:
- You’ll save money on gas. Because you don’t have to worry about getting to and from the office every day, you’ll also save on gas, as well as wear and tear on your vehicle.
- You can live anywhere. This can be a major benefit if you’re trying to escape an extremely high cost of living, if you have family in another city or if you simply want to experience the joy of travelling and exploring new places.
- You can save money on childcare. If you have kids, you likely know that the cost of childcare can add up quickly. Working remotely can help you avoid these costs.
- You can work according to your schedule. No more rushing to get to the office on time. You can set your hours and decide how you want to schedule your day.
- Your productivity may increase. Although many people associate remote work with a lack of productivity and laziness, research suggests that working remotely could increase your productivity.
Challenges of Working Remotely
Now that we’ve covered some of the benefits of working remotely, let’s talk about some of the challenges that come with it.
You need a strong internet connection. You can’t work remotely if you don’t have consistent access to the internet. You need it to do everything from communicating with your team to editing documents and collaborating on projects. If you don’t have a reliable source of the internet, you won’t be able to do your job.
You need to be self-disciplined. You might think that nobody’s looking over your shoulder when you work remotely, but that doesn’t mean you get a free pass to be lazy. You need to be self-disciplined enough to stay on task and get your work done without any outside supervision.
You need to have a virtual team. To do your job remotely, you’ll need to collaborate with other people. You probably won’t be able to do everything on your own. You’ll need to build a virtual team of people who you can trust and who you can work with remotely.
Ways to Find Remote Work
Browse job boards. This is one of the most straightforward ways to find remote work. You can do a quick search for “remote jobs” or “work-from-home jobs” and you’ll find tons of websites where companies post their remote job openings.
Network and apply to companies you’d like to work for. Another way to find remote work is by networking, particularly with people in your industry. You can also apply to companies that you’d like to work for, even if they don’t advertise remote work opportunities.
Essential Tools for Working Remotely
- A reliable internet connection. If you want to work remotely, you need a reliable internet connection. You should make sure that your internet speed is fast enough to support your work, and that there is minimal risk of downtime.
- A virtual private network (VPN). Many companies provide their employees with a VPN, but if you work remotely, it’s a good idea to invest in one yourself. Not only can a VPN protect your internet connection and give you more privacy, but it can also allow you to access company resources from home, such as internal websites or file-sharing platforms.
- A virtual office platform. If you work in an industry that involves lots of collaboration (like marketing, public relations, or sales), you’ll likely need a virtual office platform. Virtual office platforms allow you to create project teams, view team member availability, share files, and stay up to date on projects.
- A word processing or document editing program. You’ll probably spend a lot of time creating documents, like emails or whitepapers, and collaborating with virtual team members. You’ll want a word processing or document editing program that is accessible from anywhere.
Online Office Tools for Working Remotely
Google Docs: Co-writing and editing made easy. Google Docs is a great online office tool that allows you to work remotely with other people on documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. You can create, edit, and share documents with others from anywhere, and it’s all completely free. Microsoft Office: The king of online office software. While Google Docs is great, many remote workers still prefer to use Microsoft Office when they work remotely. Microsoft Office is a comprehensive word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation program. It’s available for both desktop computers and mobile devices, and you can use it for free as long as you have a valid email address.
Google Docs: Co-writing and editing made easy
Google Docs is a word processing program that allows you to create and edit documents from any device with internet access. You can also invite other people to edit or co-write documents with you, and you can set each person’s permissions to determine what they can and can’t do with the document. Google Docs is integrated with Google Drive, which means you can also store your documents online and access them from anywhere. Google Docs also has a built-in revision history, so you can go back and view previous versions of your document. Google Docs is a powerful document editing tool that can help you work remotely. You can invite people to edit documents with you, set each person’s permissions to determine what they can and can’t do with the documents, and view a revision history to see past iterations of your work. Google Docs is free to use and available for both desktop computers and mobile devices.
Conclusion
Working remotely can allow you to save money on gas, childcare, and rent, while also allowing you to explore new places and work according to your schedule. To do this, you’ll need a reliable internet connection, self-discipline, and the ability to collaborate with others and use online office software like Google Docs and Microsoft Office.