7 Myths about Online Work

It’s amazing how our opinion about online work can change in the span of a year. Despite its popularity, many questioned its advantages in contrast to traditional jobs. Though this might be due to their lack of exposure to online work before the pandemic hit. Afterwards, they had to rely on rumors and hunches instead of referring to reliable sources, as most companies are also still consolidating their efforts regarding remote online work.

That said, here are 7 myths about online work that might help you clear any misconceptions about working online.

Myth #1: Online Work is as Easy as A-B-C. Anyone Can Do It.

Online work attracts people from different walks of life. Some have come from full time corporate jobs, while others are fresh out of college with no work experience. Both young people and adults enjoy the idea of working from the comfort of their home. But, this does not necessarily mean that it works for everyone.

There are some that might see a relative or a friend that has an online work setup and think, “hey, I can do that too”. Sadly, not all of them are qualified. Some don’t have the equipment, while some lack the soft skills for it.

Online work is not something to be taken lightly. It may be more convenient than traditional jobs, but it still requires the same dedication and skills.

Companies hire remote workers because they know they are able to perform the job. They believe in their ability to handle different situations in their line of work as well as their ability to meet requirements.

Myth #2: Tutorials and CSR Jobs are the Only Options.

Too often when people find out that someone is working online, their immediate response is: “So, you’re tutoring someone online? Or, are you answering calls from clients?” Contrary to popular opinion, there are lots of jobs available apart from the two.

As people were forced to stay at home for the better part of the year, a lot of jobs have transitioned to online work.  You can work as a web developer, writer, SEO specialist, audio engineer, and the list goes on. Simply put, it’s work online.

Entrepreneurs and business owners can also outsource administrative and low-priority tasks, such as schedule management and data entry. This enables them to focus on more important functions of your business or organization.

Myth #3: It’s a Lonely World Out There.

People say that loneliness is part of the routine when working online. They say that online work will leave you with no social life. That, and facing the computer every day means sitting all day long without any meaningful conversations. Some insist that you won’t have any time for anything other than your work.

Loneliness can exist even in traditional workplaces. Cutting yourself off from peers and society is merely an option which you can decide to avoid. You can do things, such as:

• Decorate your work environment to make it more inspiring
• Hangout with friends when you’re available
• Take breaks when necessary
• Create meaningful connections online
• Connect with colleagues who are also working online
• Do your work inside a coffee shop, library, or someplace public

The key is to connect when you can. Being alone at work does not necessarily mean being lonely. Lots of opportunities exist for you to reach out; you simply need to make things happen.

Natasha Koifman puts it this way: “The key is to keep participating, to reach outside yourself and to trust that the more open you are, the more actively you participate, the less you have to fear loneliness.”

The good thing about online work is that you can bring it anywhere you go. You can work as long as there is a stable internet connection. If you don’t want to be lonely, you can shift location or do something to connect with your peers.

Also, it’s not like you are required to work 24 hours a day and seven days a week. You can manage your time wisely to spend time with people and things outside of work.

Myth #4: Remote Work is Less Productive.

A study from the Harvard Business Review shows that workers can be more productive when at home. In the study, a call center company gave their employees the opportunity to work from home. In contrast to those working at the office, they were happier and were 13.5% more productive. It also saved the company $1,900 per remote employee due to less equipment and logistic costs.

The ability to work independently and at a convenient environment leaves room for better results. It enables better concentration and can provide better employee morale to fulfill tasks.

Simply put, online work can provide the convenience and comfort that is not available in most traditional jobs. The idea of freedom and flexibility can work wonders in certain individuals, and can also stimulate them to do better. That makes them determined individuals who willingly perform their best to achieve their goals.

Myth #5: Communication is Difficult.

Communication is critical in any workplace. When you look online, you may find people who complain about a online worker’s or a client’s inability to communicate with one another consistently. Both of them could end up suddenly disappearing without a trace.

There are lots of risks online, and both parties should beaware of this before committing. Similar to traditional work, it requires dedication to fulfilling the best practices of honesty, transparency, and consistency.

Workers and clients can take advantage of the tools for communication. Aside from emails, they can chat directly via Skype or Zoom, collaborate with a team via Slack, or use a CRM software to coordinate with multiple teams.

Technological advancements have made it easier to connect, and lots of companies have benefited from them. Of course, there are ways to use such technology more efficiently, so you can stay in touch with your team and clients and avoid misunderstanding or any lack of communication.

There might be many reasons for not showing up or for failing to communicate. Yet if both parties can agree on an effective solution that will bring them together, it should not be a problem moving forward.

Myth #6: No Information is Safe.

It is risky to share information with people you don’t know a lot about. This is typical in an online work. Entrepreneurs and business owners share their account credentials especially when hiring help for managing accounts.

This is why it is important for them to hire a reliable remote worker. Anyone can qualify for the job, but not everyone can be reliable enough to keep information confidential when necessary.

Though you can always take precautions with your cybersecurity. Nowadays there are authentication methods to help secure accounts. Password manager, like LastPass, are also available. Use these tools to share your account credentials to online workers without giving them complete access to your account. You should also remove workers in your user permissions if they no longer work for you.

There are also certifications that you can take to assure your clients that their information is safe with you. In the end, the key is to stay updated with the changes in your account and overall business.

Myth #7: It’s Completely Stressful.

According to Stress.org, stress is your body’s response to any demand for change. It’s the consequence of going through a series of activity until your body starts having problems coping.

Stress can be caused by a lot of things. It could be due to personal, social, or traumatic events in a person’s life.

Some online stressors could come from customers or clients, unprofessional settings, lack of motivation to work, delayed salaries, and other factors. Though this is not necessarily true to all.

In an interview with RJ Bobis, he shares the importance of enjoying one’s work. RJ has been working online for three years as a web developer, and is passionate with what he does.

For him, it’s a matter of finding the perfect match—the company or client that suits you best. When you apply for a specific position online, it’s already a given that you know what it is and that it won’t be a problem for you to fulfill its demands.

So much is invested in businesses to keep them running. The time, effort, and resources spent are no joke. If you find yourself stressed with work, as RJ puts it, you are not really enjoying. Perhaps, you deserve happiness someplace else.

Believe and Succeed

The virtual space offers lots of opportunities for work. Everyone has his own opinions about it. Nonetheless, many online workers continue to perform at their best and succeed.

What they do is not as easy as what many believe. It takes commitment and hard work just at it does in traditional workplaces.

“If you want to be successful, it’s just this simple. Know what you are doing, love what you are doing, and believe in what you are doing.” -Will Rogers

Anyone can start on a task, but not everyone has the tenacity to complete it. For this, it pays to know what you really want. Without a clear perspective, you can end up confused and eventually quit.

Openness to uncertainty helps when handling different projects or when dealing with different clients. With an online work, you can set yourself to success just as you can in other workplaces.

Tell us what you think about the 7 Myths about Online Work. Feel free to add comments and suggestions. You can also reach us on  Facebook or Twitter if you have more questions about working online!

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