Yes, you can work online. And yes, you can make money. The Internet has become a place where more people now "go to work" than even in the largest city. This article discusses the scope of the online workplace, then lays out 5 critical keys to joining the online work force and making a success of it. Consider that more than 1/3 of the US workforce is now making a living as nontraditional contract workers. This is a phenomenal statistic. The next time you are sitting in an airport, look at the person to your left, then the person on your right, and then the person directly across from you. Chances are at least one of these people works on a contract basis, probably online. The growth rate of contract work is TWICE the growth rate of employment in the standard workplace. Most US firms---over 90%---now use contract talent on a regular basis, paying $120 billion to contract workers per year. That's a lot of jobs for a lot of people! You could be one of them. The stunning growth of market demand for online workers--- up 121% since 2009---has been especially impressive given that during this same time period the recession has put most other areas of employment into sharp decline. Despite the overall dismal employment picture, the demand for online workers has been increasing dramatically. Of course, the benefits of working online sound ideal also. No more commuting. No more office distractions. No more "dressing for success", day after day. No more punching a time clock. All this flexibility they talk about can sound pretty wonderful. But there are important considerations for you to take charge of if you intend to make a success of becoming part of the growing online workforce. To begin with, follow these 5 keys: 1. Educate Yourself on the Possibilities First. If you expect to work successfully online, you will need to speak the language of the new workplace, know what the new jobs are (and what they are called), and know the new types of employers and how to communicate with them and win their confidence. 2. Align Yourself with What Work Is in Demand Online. Many skills you may already have developed. Others you may need to add, or polish up on. Become an avid learner as well as a job seeker. As you see gaps in your own capabilities, fill these gaps, preferably online, through classes, tutorials, research and reading. 3. Translate between What You Are Able to Do and What Online Employers Need to Have Done. The translation process is yours to do, not the employer's. Be prepared to communicate clearly what specifically you will be able to contribute, using the actual words and tasks of the work to be done. 4. Make a Place for Yourself in Your Home Where You Can Do Serious Work. Your at-home office needs to be efficient, comfortable, and conducive to productivity. In any home it is possible to carve out such place, even if this sometimes can require creativity. Also, equip yourself well. Time is money. Inefficiency is costly. And you will need a way to close yourself off---a door, or maybe a room divider--- so that you can focus on the tasks at hand. 5. Take Control of Your Time. When you work online, you are the boss, and you will need to act like one. Get down to work. Get the work done. Take periodic breaks. Avoid the classis time wasters. And "go home" at the end of the day. Set action goals for the week, the month, and the year, and plot their accomplishment across time, noting and correcting any "drift" in progress. Use a scheduling tool to assist yourself with benchmarking and planning. Working online requires the mindset that you are not working just at a "job", you are working for yourself. The way to be truly successful at this kind of endeavor is to put in the time and effort it will take to find your place, communicate your talents, ensure that you do contribute value--- and reap the rewards.
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