Regardless of why, if you’re about to join the work-from-home crowd, there are a few things that will help prevent crashing and burning from the stress.

Setting Remote Work Guidelines

Your key to success is creating boundaries and routines for yourself. Sure, you could work in your jammies most days, forgoing a shower and healthy nutrition. But it wouldn’t be long before your productivity, along with your mental and physical health, suffered. Instead, try implementing some of the following tips.

Create a Schedule

Just like you would at the office, train your mind to get into work mode. Even when working a flexible schedule, you need to ensure that you’re creating intentional work boundaries on your day. For some positions, your employer will set those, even if you’re working remotely.

For others, that means sitting down with your calendar and mapping out how you’re going to get your 40 hours in. Otherwise, life will tempt you throughout the week to choose something more fun. “It’s just an hour or two, I can make it up” is a common refrain new flex workers tell themselves—until they find themselves needing to put in a missing 10 hours on a Saturday to meet their work commitments.

Take Your Breaks

Part of keeping a schedule is ensuring that you’re managing your entire day well, including lunch and casual breaks. Just because you’re at home doesn’t mean you’re not entitled to 15-minute breaks every few hours.

Studies have repeatedly shown that breaks are good for productivity and mental health. Bonus points if your break gets you some outside time as well. Along with breaks, create solid boundaries between work and home hours, just as you would if you had to leave the office to commute home.

Create a To-Do List

Even more so than in an office, having a well-planned list of tasks for the day is essential for your productivity. One of the most significant challenges you’ll face at work, regardless of where you work, is staying focused. At the office, your coworkers tend to be the biggest distractions. At home, it’s laundry, dishes, the neighbors, your dog…the list goes on.

Rather than have your attention sucked away, create your to-do list at night before shutting down. That way, when you start work in the morning, you have a solid plan for your morning. You’re much more likely to stay on track when you know what the first step is.

Plan Your Distractions

When creating your schedule, be realistic about when you need to turn your focus away from work. If you’re in a home office with small children around, it’s unrealistic to think that they’ll be content for eight hours until you flip the “Closed” sign on your office door—even if you have in-home childcare. What about your dog that needs to go outside? Or that laundry that could be going while you’re working?

Rather than take an all-or-nothing approach, plan out your schedule to balance your personal commitments as well. If you have school-aged children, that might mean scheduling free time when everyone gets home. You’ll be able to connect, hear about their day, and get them settled for your last hour or two of work.

Utilize Website Blockers

Without fear of a manager or coworker walking by, it’s easier to get sucked into the internet black hole. Figure out what your challenge is. For some of us, that means blocking out social media. For others, it might be current events. Still, others might get pulled in by that delicious-looking dessert recipe.

Since you can’t block the entire internet working from home, your best option is to limit access to sites that pose the most significant threat to your productivity.

Get Dressed

One of the best things you can do is put on real clothes for your mental health and productivity. Sure, an occasional day in your jammies could be pretty relaxing. However, getting yourself “office-ready” helps ensure that you get your brain transitioned over to work mode.

It also ensures any impromptu Zoom meetings don’t result in embarrassment if your camera is turned on accidentally.

Interact With Other People

Do you occasionally feel like a bear coming out of isolation? It’s probably time to join the outside world a bit. For most roles, working from home doesn’t mean you can only work in your home. It’s easy to become isolated working remotely, so be intentional in seeking out people.

Schedule work out of the house regularly—perhaps in a coffee shop or coworking space. If the weather allows it, maybe you can take your laptop to the city park or even the balcony of your apartment building.

If you do have to work at home due to security or technology requirements, such as transcription equipment, make sure that you’re getting out of the house outside of work hours.

Boost Your Productivity for Success

Working from home can be incredibly beneficial for your work-life balance. Creating a thriving work environment means being intentional with your boundaries. Hold yourself accountable for fully showing up for work and shutting down for home time. Doing so ensures that your mental health and your productivity will thrive.

The post How to Work From Home: 7 Tips appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Customer service is a field where you get to help people every day. Although it can be challenging at times, it’s also enriching. Recruiters want to ensure that you’re passionate about customer service and assisting others. To help you prepare for your interview, we’ve compiled a list of the most common customer service interview questions.

Why Are You Passionate About Customer Service?

That’s essentially the question that recruiters are trying to determine. The variety of customer service roles is vast, with various perks and schedules. From retail to food and beverage to travel and hospitality, every industry requires empathetic and caring employees. You can have a range of duties, from answering a chat helpline to fielding phone calls for reservations to in-person customer support roles.

And yes, there are nuances between the different fields. However, the fundamental skills are the same. Ideally, you’ll need to show the recruiter you can problem-solve, you have a passion for helping people, you’re able to stay calm under pressure, and you have excellent communication skills.

Recruiters will often determine this through a variety of story-based questions, also known as the STAR method. STAR stands for situation (what was happening), task (what you needed to do), action (how you responded), and result (the outcome).

Start Brainstorming Your Answers

To help you start compiling your stories and answers, we’ve got some questions you might hear during your interview. These questions might be worded differently, but if you practice answers that speak to the intention of the question, you should find it easier to adjust on the spot.

Why are you interested in working in customer service?

This question is usually asked to determine whether you are genuinely interested in a career in customer service or just looking for a job. The employer wants someone who will be engaged and enthusiastic about their work.

Example Answer:

“I have always been passionate about helping others, so I would say that I care deeply about providing excellent customer service. In fact, as part of my education, I spent a year working as an administrative assistant at an accounting firm, where I took on many different roles within the office. I learned how important it was to provide good customer service by assisting clients with their problems quickly and efficiently in that position. It was gratifying to resolve challenges that made someone’s day easier, rather than having to direct them to someone else.”

What do you think makes a great customer service representative?

The interviewer wants someone who has sound knowledge of what is required for this type of work and demonstrates the following qualities: empathy, patience, and comfort speaking with different kinds of people. Since many companies provide customer service over the phone, it’s vital to have excellent communication skills (both verbal and written). Also, because customers can be agitated at times, it’s essential to remain calm and helpful.

Example Answer:

“I think the most important quality for a good customer service representative is empathy. I know that when I was completing my internship at [XYZ company], I learned how valuable it can be just being able to listen. Often, when a customer was unhappy, they really wanted someone to listen to their frustrations first.”

What were you most excited about in your previous role?

Through this question, the interviewer is trying to determine if your interests are a great fit for the organization and the role or if you’d get bored.

Example Answer:

“I think one of the main things I was excited about in my last job was being able to problem-solve with customers who were having issues with their products. Some problems are easier to solve than others, but I often resolved the issue with persistence. It was like a puzzle trying to find a solution sometimes, which I thrive on.”

Describe a time you were faced with a challenging customer service situation.

This question provides the interviewer with valuable information to determine what you might consider overwhelming.

Example Answer:

“I remember one situation when a customer called us on the phone. She was distraught because her dress hadn’t arrived yet, even though it was supposed to be here on Monday. She wouldn’t be able to wear it for an important event she had planned on attending that weekend. Ultimately, she was overwhelmed with the need to find a different dress before the event. While we couldn’t get her dress in time, I was able to provide her with a dress from the showroom and work with the alterations department to prioritize her fittings, so she was ready to go by the weekend.”

What motivates you to go above and beyond for customers?

The interviewer wants to find out what drives you to do good work. They want employees to go above and beyond for customers because they care about their organization, not just another paycheck.

Example Answer:

“I think one of the main things that motivates me to go above and beyond for customers is knowing that I’m helping make a difference in their lives. Even when we can’t fully resolve an issue, we’ve done everything possible, and I always hope they leave feeling valued.”

For more tips on how to answer this question, see How to Answer “What Motivates You?” In a Job Interview.

What is the best customer service you’ve ever received?

Employers want to know if you empathize with customers and provide excellent customer service because you understand how important that is.

Example Answer:

“I think one of the best customer service experiences I’ve ever received was at bed and breakfast we were booked at. They had accidentally overbooked the rooms due to an error in the online system. They worked hard to find us alternate accommodations and even called to check on us the next morning to ensure that the new hotel worked out great. They invited us to breakfast at the house, despite staying elsewhere. We ended up booking there at a later date because they worked so hard to ensure we were well-cared for.”

Tell me about a time you received a customer service complaint. How did you resolve it?

Though this question seems to open up the opportunity to recount a negative experience, giving an example here is beneficial. This question gives you the chance to demonstrate how you approach problem-solving and emphasizes your communication skills.

When describing your answer, be sure to discuss what happened leading up to the complaint (including what was directed explicitly to the customer’s discontent), how you responded, and how that response led to a positive outcome that met or exceeded expectations (if possible).

Example Answer:

“I once had a customer call because she was disappointed with how long it took for one of her shipments to arrive. I apologized profusely and immediately looked into the order’s status. Upon realizing that it was my error and I had failed to submit it correctly, I shipped out a replacement order, so her items arrived overnight. I let her know that it was my error and how I was resolving it. I called to ensure the order had arrived and met her needs the next day. The customer was very pleased, and afterward, even sent a handwritten thank-you note.”

Preparation Is Key

You never know going into any interview precisely what the questions will be. Some questions will be determined by the specific role and whether the manager is trying to target a particular trait that will round out their team better.

However, as with every other aspect of job hunting, the more you research common questions and prepare your answers, the better your chance of success. Don’t leave the interview and think of a better story later. Instead, spend time brainstorming on past experiences and consider the different ways those stories support you as the best job fit.

The post Common Customer Service Interview Questions appeared first on Job-Hunt.

It’s important to feel enthusiastic and energized about your current job and your long-term career. Research shows that when you feel happy and energized about your work you are more likely to be productive, creative, and successful. And beyond success on the job, a satisfying work-life has a huge impact on your well-being—improving your attitude, your energy level, and even your health.

Many people—even those who love their remote jobs—find it’s not easy to stay fully engaged when they are by themselves. Maybe they feel isolated, or bored, or they miss the energy that comes from hanging out with the rest of the team.

If you’re not feeling motivated about today’s tasks or your long-term career path, there are countless little things you can do to generate more enthusiasm. But where to begin, or how to keep going?

Whether I’m working with clients or trying to generate more oomph in my own work life, I often refer to an easy little tool I call “The Engagement Triangle.”

As I wrote in my new book, Find Your Happy at Work, you’re more likely to engage and feel happier when you’re aware of three things: your sense of purpose, the people associated with your work, and the best ways to approach your tasks.

The three points of the Triangle—purpose, people, and performance—are keys to your happiness and success on the job. My executive coaching clients often like to “do the Triangle” by asking themselves questions related to each of these three keys.

Engagement Triangle Basics

Purpose

It’s easier to love your job when you’re working for something bigger than just your paycheck.

• Your reason for pursuing this career path is about more than money. Chances are you take pride in your work because of its impact on other people. And your personal career mission may encompass the values that guide your broader life, like kindness and integrity.
• Your work has greater meaning when you understand and support the vision and standards of your organization, your immediate team, or other professional colleagues.
• Although you may not actually know your customers, your pride in providing others with an excellent product or service can make every day feel worthwhile.
• Even a tedious job can feel rewarding if you have a good reason for working so hard, like supporting your family or preparing for the future.

People

Your job can feel more satisfying because of your colleagues, customers, and other people you encounter through work.

• Human beings evolved to need community and enjoy collective activity. When you feel connected with others, your outlook on life is more positive.
• Having friends at work can make you happier and more effective in interacting with everyone. Creating friendships when you work remotely requires you to be proactive. It means you often have to be the one to reach out and focus on your colleagues’ concerns and interests.
• Studies say teams accomplish more when coworkers show each other respect, gratitude, trust, and integrity. You can model these values by showing concern for your teammates.
• If you’re working far away from your colleagues, find other ways to spend time with people. For me, that can mean walking dogs with a friend and, at the same time, chatting about our career challenges.

Performance

You’re more likely to love your job if you invest effort in your tasks, build expertise and interest in your work, and exercise some autonomy.

• Time passes quickly when you have challenging tasks and opportunities to create something. Look for ways to use your strengths, move toward your goals, and innovate as you pursue your projects.
• When work feels dull, you can stimulate fresh energy by learning something new. The sense of achievement that comes from acquiring a different skill or deeper knowledge can spark an upward spiral.
• Workers who decide how to get a job done are happier and more productive than those who always wait for directions. If you’re feeling over-managed, focus on the decisions that you can control, and make repetitive tasks more interesting by finding ways to improve the process.
• You can find considerable satisfaction by consistently doing your job well and meeting your obligations. You’ll enjoy it even more if you keep finding ways to improve your work.

Use the Triangle to Generate Energy and Enthusiasm

Try motivating yourself by considering questions related to each of the three points. A starting point might be to begin every workday by quickly writing answers to these questions:

1. Purpose: What core value will I keep in mind during my work today?
2. People: To whom will I reach out in the course of the day?
3. Performance: What project might bring me an opportunity to learn something new?

About the author…

Beverly E. Jones works with leaders to spark new engagement and productivity in their teams, and she helps coaching clients to grow and thrive in their careers. Her work as an executive coach often focuses on enhancing performance, managing time and energy, improving communication, or navigating transitions. Bev’s new book, Find Your Happy at Work, is a roadmap to helping you find more joy, meaning, and success at work at the same time you motivate your team. Her book on building career resilience, Think Like an Entrepreneur, Act Like a CEO, is available around the world, from Africa to India and Europe, and in languages including Simple Chinese, Arabic, and Vietnamese. Visit her website, Clearways Consulting, or connect with Beverly on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.

The post 3 Keys to Staying Motivated When You Work Alone appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Achieving work-life balance may seem like an impossible dream, with many feeling that work will always require more of their time and attention than they’d like. But it is possible to find an equation that results in work-life balance for you.

What Is Work-Life Balance? Definition & Meaning

Work-life balance means you’re able to equally prioritize the demands and desires of your personal and professional lives. But “equal” doesn’t mean you’re spending the same number of hours on each every day or week. When you have work-life balance, you’re able to give each side your attention regularly without feeling that one is taking up too much of your time over the other.

8 Tips to Improve Work-Life Balance

1. Go For What Works 

Many people think that the “right” definition of work-life balance means spending equal amounts of your time and energy on each. However, for most people, it’s impossible to find enough hours in the day to split equally between the two.

Instead of trying to balance both sides of the scale, find a work-life balance that lets you feel satisfied and productive every day. If that means working extra hours three days a week, so you have more personal time for hobbies and families four days a week, go for it. As long as it’s a schedule that works for you and gives you the balance you desire, it’s the right one for you.

2. Prioritize You and Your Health

No matter how much work you want to accomplish or how much time you want to spend on passion pursuits, if you’re not prioritizing yourself and your health, you won’t have any work-life balance.

Include “you” time in your work-life balance calculations to help you maintain your physical and mental health. That could be time every day to meditate or exercise, making sure you eat healthily, or checking in with the doctor every few months. 

3. Make Time to Unwind

When you work in an office, you might spend your commute working or listening to a work-related podcast. Likewise, if you work at home, you might use what would have been your morning commute to dive in and start the day right after coffee.

While it’s true that working during your commute (or “commute”) can help you get a head start or finish up some tasks, consider using that time to disconnect from work instead. Using it as a transition between work and home can help you find the work-life balance you need.

For example, instead of listening to a work-related book, why not read a juicy novel or intriguing memoir? Instead of getting an early jump on your day, use that time for a walk with the dogs or a slow cup of coffee. 

Jumping right from work to home (and back again) can make it feel like you never get a break. But building a buffer between the two that helps you relax and unwind from the day (or prepare for it) can help you feel more energized and less stressed.

4. Maintain Boundaries 

In addition to transitioning between work and home, make sure you’re setting and maintaining healthy boundaries between the two.

No matter where you work, in today’s connected world, it’s easy for work to get a hold of you whenever something comes up. Likewise, it’s easy to check in on work when we’re feeling bored or, worse, because we feel guilty about not working.

But letting work creep in when you’re off the clock can lead to you feeling unbalanced. Setting boundaries and sticking to them will help you find work-life balance. 

Let work know that you’re not available after five p.m. unless it’s an emergency (and define what an emergency is). Then, if someone contacts you, make sure that you don’t respond until the next day (or following Monday) unless it truly is an emergency.

5. Take Breaks

Work-life balance can also come from taking breaks throughout the day. It gives your brain a chance to relax and recharge while also helping you feel like you aren’t working all day long!

Instead of working through lunch, take it to the park or eat with coworkers. If you have to eat at your desk, don’t work. Read a book, check social media, or have a chat with a friend.

Likewise, make sure you take breaks throughout the workday—once every 60 minutes is a good goal. A walk to the watercooler to refill your glass or a trip around the block counts. Even “micro-breaks” where you stand up and stretch at your desk for a minute can do wonders for you, your brain, and your work-life balance.

6. Set Priorities

Your professional and personal lives probably have a zillion tasks to do every day. And while they may all feel like urgent priorities, the reality is that they probably aren’t.

To improve your work-life balance, take some time at the end of every day (or the beginning) and figure out which tasks are critical and which ones can wait. You might be surprised at how much isn’t as urgent as you thought it was.

As you create your task list, though, make sure work isn’t taking up all the priority spots. Give your personal tasks some priority too, and you may find you’re achieving more work-life balance than ever.

7. Get Flexible 

If you have a flexible job, you’re in luck! One great way to help improve your work-life balance is to flex your schedule.

Figure out when you perform at your peak, then arrange your schedule accordingly. This can help you accomplish more in less time, leaving room for the other things you want and need to do.

And if you don’t have a flexible job, talk to your boss about flexing your schedule. Focus on how much more you’ll be able to get done and how that will benefit the company.

8. Ask for Help

If you still feel like you can’t achieve the work-life balance you need, ask for help. Talking to your boss is a great place to start. But if that isn’t possible (or doesn’t work out), ask your friends and family for help.

Redistributing the duties and responsibilities at home can go a long way toward helping you find work-life balance. 

Equilibrium Is Possible

Improving work-life balance won’t happen overnight, or even in a few weeks. But taking some slow and steady steps can help you rethink your work and personal responsibilities, resulting in a formula that improves your work-life balance.

The post 8 Tips to Improve Work-Life Balance appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Turns out you’re in good company. According to Global Workplace Analytics, 82% of U.S. employees want to work remotely at least once a week. 

Enter the world of hybrid work—also known as the best of both worlds.

What Exactly Is a Hybrid Work Schedule?

Realistically, there isn’t an exact definition of a hybrid work model. As this article on Hive states, everyone’s hybrid setup is different. For some, that means an employee works remotely a few days a week and in the office the other days.

Other employers may allow some employees to work remotely while other team members work in the office full-time. Often, you’ll find there is a combination of those two hybrid models. A lot is dependent on location and job duties.

Why Job Seekers Are Pursuing Hybrid Work Models

There are a variety of personal benefits an employee may be pursuing with a partially remote role. Hybrid scheduling can solve a lot of dilemmas if you are balancing other obligations. 

Being a caregiver to small children or an elderly parent can be a challenge with an inflexible, 9-to-5 schedule.

For others, it’s about lowering anxiety by not joining in the ironically labeled rush hour every day. Cutting down on time spent commuting can offer a much-needed calm to your week. 

Speaking of commuting, working at home part of the time also lightens the environmental impact. Unsurprisingly, the EPA lists transportation as the leading source of greenhouse gas emissions. 

Perhaps you’ve finally realized the dream of moving out to a rural location. The commute into the city isn’t impossible, but it sure would be nice if it weren’t every day.

Whether your reason is personal, environmental, or both, there are important considerations to ponder before jumping into the first hybrid role you see.

Questions to Ask Yourself When Considering a Hybrid Role

Analyze how you’ll work from home effectively. While the image of sitting on your couch in your jammies all day might be appealing, the reality might lead to back pain and a lack of motivation. 

Make a list of your ideal schedule and work location. List out any personal obligations or desires. Are you in charge of school drop-off, or do you love your Monday morning spin class? Write those down. 

Where are you going to be conducting your work? You aren’t necessarily tied to your home office. Maybe your goal is to avoid the three o’clock traffic jam, but your house seems too isolating.

The coffee shop down the street or some other coworking spaces might be a great solution. You’ll still find a reprieve from the daily hustle and bustle and be able to get out a bit.

Questions to Ask Employers When Considering a Hybrid Role

Once you’ve got your list of what an ideal hybrid role means for you, here are some questions to help you find it.

Approach the interview with some straightforward questions for the interviewer. This shows you’ve considered the big picture around making a move to a hybrid role. 

Your first question should seek clarity around how the employer defines their remote work schedule. 

Are all employees working from home part of the week, or is part of the workforce working in the office full-time? Do employees choose which days they’re commuting into the office? How are hours determined on days at home? 

Remote Office Space Expectations

Are the benefits provided to in-office employees given to hybrid workers as well? While you might be thinking that donuts in the conference room can be easily given up, a computer and a desk are essential. 

Traditionally provided at the office, is the employer also providing technology at home? Who pays for the internet service? Will Zoom meetings require you to get a larger bandwidth? What about software that may be needed to keep you secure?

Beyond software, companies in finance or customer service may require the remote worker to have a quiet work environment separate from the rest of the household. Is that a reality for you currently?

Regarding Team Communication

Casual conversation in the office builds rapport and team dynamics. How intentional is the employer in creating the opportunity for casual conversation for remote team members? 

What is the communication schedule, and how are team projects handled? Does the company routinely use online tools and project management software that you’re not familiar with?

Setting Yourself Up for Success

For many, the ability to split their time between a fully remote and an in-person role is the ideal setup. Understanding your needs and the requirements of prospective roles will help you find success in your remote job search.

The post What Is a Hybrid Work Model? appeared first on Job-Hunt.

For retirees who want or need to work but also want to enjoy their retirement, remote retirement jobs offer them a chance to work when, where, and how they choose.

And part-time, remote jobs allow retirees to actually enjoy retirement while bringing in additional income.

Below is a list of jobs for retirees that can be done remotely from home:

Bookkeeping Jobs

Accounting Jobs

Bookkeepers and accountants can work from home to reconcile accounts, collect past-due accounts, process payroll, upload journal entries, and more.

Career Coach Jobs

Use your experience in this remote job to work as a career coach. Coaches typically meet one-on-one with clients to provide career advice, interview tips, and review resumes.

Consulting Jobs

Another way to use your career expertise is by working as a consultant. Consultants work with companies to help them identify and solve problems and come up with new solutions or workflows.

Customer Service Representative Jobs

Customer service reps can work from home to answer calls and respond to emails. Helping customers with troubleshooting and answering questions are common tasks for this role, which is a common remote job for retirees.

Data Entry Jobs

Remote data entry jobs involve entering and updating data into a computer system. You’ll need to be tech-savvy and may need to know how to use a 10-key number pad.

Editing Jobs

Editing jobs can be a perfect role to do remotely. Editors will look over content, whether online or in print, to make corrections related to grammar, style, punctuation, and clarity.

HR Jobs

Sourcing candidates, assessing potential candidates, screening resumes, conducting phone interviews, and performing background checks are a few of the duties of an HR coordinator.

Instructional Designer Jobs

Instructional designers design and develop learning curriculum. You may need expertise in a specific industry, such as business, education, or healthcare.

Legal Assistant Jobs

Legal assistants typically handle the administrative needs of a law office and responding to client communications by email, phone, and text.

Marketing Jobs

Marketing coordinators usually develop and implement marketing campaigns, track data, maintain databases, handle social media, and more.

Online English Teacher Jobs

An online English teacher will teach English classes for children who are located in another country. Classes can be taught via video or an online learning platform.

Resume Writer Jobs

Resume writers will rewrite and edit client resumes and consult with clients using phone and email. A strong understanding of various industries and job functions is usually needed to do this job.

Teacher Jobs

Thanks to online programs, teachers can work virtually to instruct students in group or individual settings. You may need a teaching license and knowledge in a specific subject area, but this is a popular remote job for seniors because of their career experience.

Transcription Jobs

Transcription jobs involve transcribing speech or recordings into text. Attention to detail is needed, and you may need to meet a words-per-minute (WPM) typing requirement.

Travel Agent Jobs

Travel agents book and arrange flights, hotels, and transportation for individuals and businesses. You’ll need to be tech-savvy in order to learn online booking programs.

How to Find a Part-Time, Remote Job for Retirement

Try out these tips to help you find interesting, fulfilling, and fun work in your retirement:

1. Look at Working in Retirement as an Opportunity

“Instead of looking at a part-time job in retirement as a burden or a step down in a career, think about it as an opportunity to learn new things and stay current while continuing to earn a paycheck,” recommends FlexJobs CEO Sara Sutton.

2. Don’t Let Fear Hold You Back

Don’t let fear stop you from moving forward. Try taking small steps, such as gaining added skills and knowledge to give you confidence. Volunteer work and online courses can help you add to your skill set.

3. Simplify Your Job Search

Looking for remote work can be full of scams. FlexJobs has a team of researchers who scout and verify all the jobs on the site. Using FlexJobs for your retirement job search means you’ll stay safe and have access to only real remote opportunities while streamlining your efforts.

Are you looking for a remote, work-from-home, or flexible job? Visit FlexJobs to find verified jobs in many different categories, including public relations jobs, online writing jobs, proofreading jobs from home, and more.

The post 15 Remote Jobs for Retirees That Can Be Done From Home appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Freelancing is the dream for many people, which makes it feel completely out of reach and impossible at times. But it’s not.

Sure, there’s quite a bit of luck involved in making it as a freelancer. But beyond that, there are a few qualities you should possess to set yourself up for freelance success (and a fulfilling freelance career).

Here are eight qualities you need to succeed as a freelancer:

1. Know Your Strengths and Weaknesses

Being a freelancer requires a pretty high degree of self-awareness. For starters, you have a way less rigid work environment, which makes it all the more important for you to know where you thrive and where you fall short.

Is it way harder for you to get quality work done from the couch or when you’re still in your pajamas? You need to be able to recognize that, and then—even more importantly—do something about it.

Even further, freelancing means you’re a one-person show most of the time. It’s important that you know what areas you excel in and which ones you struggle in so that, if and when you can afford to delegate some tasks, you offload the most draining ones.

2. Be Disciplined

Similarly, nobody is going to be there to force you to crack down and get to work. There’s no boss watching you out of the corner of their eye or colleagues to judge you when you spend an hour online shopping instead of working.

If you’re going to be successful, you need to be a self-starter. Not everybody has that level of discipline to motivate themselves, but it’s an undeniable requirement for people who want to make it as freelancers.

3. Be Persistent

Persistence is always important, but particularly when you’re just getting started and desperately trying to track down work. Seriously, if I could grant you a peek at my sent emails from way back when, you’d laugh. Practically all I did was follow up on pitches and cold emails. I was persistent to the point of being obnoxious.

While I don’t recommend doing that same thing and checking in frantically (ahem, guilty as charged), you need to be dedicated and willing to put in the legwork. A successful freelance career won’t just happen to you—you need to make it happen.

4. Be Resilient

There’s one word you’ll hear more than anything as a freelancer: “no.”

I’ll admit that it’s disheartening, and I’ve indulged in way more sob-induced ice cream binges than I’d care to admit. But rejection is the name of the game, and you’re going to need to let it roll off your back.

Don’t think you’re someone who can develop a thick skin? As brutal as it is to hear, you might not be cut out for a career as a freelancer.

5. Be Organized

Freelancing isn’t all about working on dream-worthy projects in the corner of a coffee shop. You’re responsible for a lot of different tasks.

You need to keep track of your income and expenses. You need to promptly reply back to client emails and stay on top of your deadlines. You need to keep your files sorted and your workload streamlined.

Needless to say, the best freelancers are organized. Not only does this make their own lives easier, but it also ensures that their clients feel confident that they’re working with someone who has their business in order.

6. Be Outgoing

You don’t necessarily need to be outgoing in the traditional sense—you will be spending a lot of time alone, after all. However, you do need to be able to be a little aggressive to land new clients.

If you want to grow your business (and of course, you do) you’re going to have to be comfortable networking and approaching strangers, whether you’re doing it in person or virtually.

7. Be a Skilled Communicator

It’s funny how many people think that freelancing is their excuse to not have to deal with people on a daily basis. Allow me to burst your bubble: being a freelancer involves a lot of communication.

Arguably, you need to be an even better communicator than you need to be in a traditional office environment, since you don’t have the luxury of saying something in passing or yelling over your cubicle wall.

You also need to be willing to have hard conversations—like negotiating a higher rate or breaking up with a client—and handle them tactfully and professionally. There’s no boss or other colleague to take care of that dirty work for you.

8. Be Flexible

Flexibility is a key perk of the freelance life, but it’s also a core demand. You’ll be dealing with an ever-changing workload (not to mention income), and you need to be able to roll with the punches.

Freelancing for a living requires a certain degree of adaptability. If you’re somebody who prefers predictability and stability over anything else, being a freelancer might only increase your stress level.

Set Yourself Up for Success

Does this list capture absolutely everything you need to make it as a freelancer? Definitely not. But it’s certainly a start. Ensuring that you possess (or at least can work to possess) these eight important qualities will get you started on the road to freelance success.

Written by: Kat Boogaard

The post How to Become a Successful Freelancer: 8 Tips appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Although there are still plenty of work-from-home scams to be mindful of, there are also thousands of legitimate jobs that offer remote opportunities.

Here’s a sampling of a range of career fields where you can make money while working remotely.

12 Career Fields to Make Money From Home

1. Account Management

If you have exceptional listening skills, as well as the ability to anticipate the needs of others, becoming an account manager could be a good career choice for you. As an account manager, you’ll provide exceptional client service to gain new business or maintain an existing business relationship.

Example remote account management job titles:

• Client Success Manager
• Link Building Specialist
• Account Strategist

2. Communications

Communications jobs include social media, foreign relations, public relations, and many others. This broad job category means there are many career options available for those who have active listening, strong presentation, and exceptional writing skills.

Example remote communications job titles:

• Senior Communications Manager
• Communications/Public Relations Leader
• Email Communications Writer

3. Editing

Editing is an excellent way to break into a work-from-home career. If you have writing, editing, and proofreading skills, check out the latest editing job listings at FlexJobs. Whether you have a degree in mass communications, journalism experience, or a grammar teaching background, this could be the right career choice for you.

Example remote editing job titles:

• Digital Editor-in-Chief
• Proofreader
• Specialist Editor

4. Education & Training

Education and training positions can be found in the form of training employees on the latest techniques or working in a school system to educate staff and students. Education and training positions offer many legit ways to make money from home.

Example remote education & training job titles:

• Online ESL Teacher
• Economics Tutor
• Instructional Designer

5. Fundraising

Fundraising positions are designed to garner the funding needed for projects and to maintain a business entity’s operations. Donations can be solicited in the form of monetary tithing or gifts for a nonprofit organization.

Example remote fundraising job titles:

• Prospect Researcher
• Campaign Specialist
• Grant Writer

6. HR & Recruiting

Human resources and recruiting careers work to seek and secure the best employee candidates for a company. HR professionals conduct interviews, fill job openings, manage benefits programs, and more.

Example remote HR & recruiting job titles:

• Human Resource Coordinator
• Head of Talent
• Senior Recruiter

7. Marketing

Marketing is another career category that offers widespread positions that typically work to promote, develop, or sell products or services. Jobs in marketing can include promotions, advertising, market research analysis, brand management, and public relations.

Example remote marketing job titles:

• Marketing Specialist
• SEO Manager
• Product Manager

8. Software Development

Software development is the role to create, design, and program online applications and interfaces. Software development positions often require experience but don’t always require a specific degree, making them unique positions for the skilled and not just the educated.

Example remote software development job titles:

• Software Quality Assurance Tester
• Backend Developer
• Full-Stack Developer

9. Translation

Translation positions are plentiful in an ever-melding world with more global travel among those who speak different languages (for example, Spanish jobs). Translation services can be found in many locations to include courts, prisons, hospitals, schools, legal entities, and others. Translation services are also needed for those who use sign language to communicate.

Example remote translation job titles:

• Language Consultant
• French Translator
• Translator

10. Travel & Hospitality

Travel and hospitality professionals can work in a myriad of positions, such as travel agents, hotel managers, reservation agents, travel counselors, hotel inspectors, and more. If you’re knowledgeable in travel, you could be eligible to work for airlines, cruise lines, hotel chains, and more.

Example remote travel & hospitality job titles:

• Corporate Travel Consultant
• Group Travel Specialist
• Villa Reservation Agent

11. Virtual Assistant Jobs and Executive Assistant Jobs

Virtual administration professionals work remotely to support the functions of a business or to assist an executive or department. These professionals will often schedule appointments and maintain a calendar, field calls and document messages, support leaders with day-to-day functions, and assist with payroll tasks.

Example virtual administration job titles:

• Virtual Assistant
• Virtual Scheduler
• Executive Assistant

(Read more on how to become a virtual assistant).

12. Writer Jobs

Writers are needed in nearly every industry. Writers can hold positions at newspapers, radio stations, advertising agencies, journals, magazines, and many other venues.

Example remote writing job titles:

• Digital Media Content Writer
• Proposal Writer
• Content Manager

Other popular categories of remote jobs including Nursing Jobs, Project Management Jobs, and more.

The post Make Money From Home With These 12 Career Fields appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Too many job postings are fake! You need to know who is really behind this job posting. The recruiter OR the employer’s name is required information for you to verify that applying for the job is worth your time.

Job search scams come to you via email, but you also find scams posted on websites as well, from the big name job boards and social networks to a small local employer or recruiter.

If you are unsure of a job opportunity you may find, or that may be sent to you by someone you don’t know, use this Sniff Test (below) to verify that the opportunity is real (or not).

Yes, it is a P-I-T-A (as in, a pain-in-the-a…) to do this research, but right now you really don’t have other viable options to protect yourself. This is a MUCH less expensive and easier to do than cleaning up the mess after your identity has been stolen.

5-Steps to Verify Before You Trust

Avoid job scams by doing this sniff test. Don’t take the time and go to the effort to apply for a job posting unless you know it is legitimate.

This is a variation on the old trust-but-verify saying. Trust AFTER you have verified that a job is “real” by being sure that the employer passes this sniff test.

  1. Who Is the Employer or Recruiter?  

Be very cautious if there is no employer or recruiter name associated with the job posting. Independent recruiters often legitimately recruit for employers, but the recruiter should provide you with their own name and contact information (which you must verify).

Recruiters may not tell you who the employer is because they are afraid you will go directly to the employer, eliminating their commission for finding you. But, legitimate recruiters will be happy to provide you with have no need to protect their name from you.

•   Check the email address or website domain name.  

  A posting should have an email address or link for responding. Check to see if that is a legitimate domain name (more below).

  If the posting came via email, check the From: address. Is it a real person or is it someone using a Gmail or other relatively anonymous and generic email provider. Should an employer be named in the posting, the From: address should agree with that name or be clear that it is a third party recruiter representing the employer.

•   Check the phone number if no email address or website domain name is given.  

  Do the phone number lookup below before calling the employer. Once you have called them, they have your phone number, so verify the posting and employer or contact first.

Do NOT respond until you know the employer or the recruiter is legitimate!

  2. What Does Google Know About This Employer or Recruiter?  

Google the employer’s or recruiting company’s name, address, and phone number, or other contact information you have, to see what you find.

If they have a Website, Google should find it for you.

However, do NOT automatically trust them because they have a Website (see # 3, below)!

•   Employer/recruiter name look-up:  

  Search on the employer’s name by putting the name inside double quotes, like this “Smith Company Inc.“ (if Smith Company Inc. was the employer you are trying to find).

  If the only results from that search are job postings on many different job boards, that is a very bad indicator. A legitimate company, to stay in business, must have more of a presence on the Web than just job postings.

  NOTE: Be sure that you match the exact spelling and wording in your query! “Smith’s Restaurants” and “Bill Smith’s Restaurants” may or MAY NOT be the same organization.

  And, SmithsRestaurants.com, SmithsRestaurantsInc.com, and SmithsRestaurants.net may – or may NOT – be owned by the same organization. One could be real. Two could be real. All could be real, but unrelated. Or one could be real and the others could be bogus, pretending to be the real one.  You won’t know unless you check.

•   Phone number look-up:  

  If they’ve given you a phone number, Google the phone number to see what Google can tell you about them and to see where else that phone number appears.

  If Google doesn’t know about the phone number, it is on a website listing sources of annoying phone calls, or it shows up on a completely unrelated list of phone numbers (e.g., dial-in numbers for an Internet service provider), do NOT trust it or the job posting or the job posting source.

•   Address look-up: 

  If they’ve given you an address, Google the address to see what Google can tell you about it. If Google has the address in their database, check Google Maps to see what it shows you – a business district, a cemetery, or an empty field. Google isn’t always right, so double-check with SuperPages (see # 3 below).

•   Social media presence: 

  Check for a company page on LinkedIn, Facebook, or your other favorite social networks. Be very cautious if you find NOTHING for THIS employer or recruiter (with same name and location).

For more tips, read 50 Google Searches to Avoid Layoffs and Bad Employers.

  3. Who and Where Are They?  

Once you are positive you have a name match, look for concrete, verifiable contact information on the website, on the home page or on Contact or About pages – a street, city, state, and Zip plus a non-800 phone number.

• A form for you to complete on their website, telling you nothing about them, is NOT sufficient “contact” information.
• A link that opens up a new email message from you tells you nothing about them and is NOT contact information.

If you only have an email message from them, look for contact information in the signature space at the bottom of the message. If there is nothing or only a phone number, do NOT assume that the requestor is legitimate. IF there is information, verify it (more below) before responding.

  4. Does a Legitimate 3rd Party Directory Have Them Listed?  

Do a quick look up using the company name on Hoovers.com, SuperPages.com, or the Better Business Bureau to see if the address and/or phone number for the employer or recruiter are listed. Compare with the job posting or the website to confirm that the contact information belongs to the employer or recruiter.

  5. Is the Email Address Associated with Who They Say They Are?  

If there is an email address for response, check to be sure it is from the employer’s domain name, e.g. HR [or recruiting or a person’s name]@[employer-name].com but NOT [employer-name]@gmail.com, [employer-name]@yahoo.com, or [employer-name]@ some other public email provider.

Take Job-Hunt’s “Scam/Phish Proof Quiz” and read the “Understanding Domain Names” article to be sure you understand how domain names and email addresses work.

Or, Contact the Employer Directly

If you still aren’t sure that the job is legitimate, contact the employer, using the SuperPages.com or Hoovers.com official contact information, to confirm that the opportunity is real.

If they haven’t posted the job, they will appreciate knowing that someone is abusing their name and identity. If they have posted the job, you’ll get a chance to talk with them to see if it’s still open and how friendly they sound.

Bottom Line

If the situation doesn’t feel right to you, follow your instincts and walk away from the opportunity. It may be your smartest move.

Typical Online Job Scams:

• Driver’s License Job Scam
• Reshipper and Payment Rep Scam Jobs

More About Spotting Scam Jobs:

• 9 Characteristics of a Job Scam
• 5 Types of Online Job Scams
• Quiz: How Scam/Phish Proof Are You?

About the author…

Online job search expert Susan P. Joyce has been observing the online job search world and teaching online job search skills since 1995. A veteran of the United States Marine Corps and a recent Visiting Scholar at the MIT Sloan School of Management, Susan is a two-time layoff “graduate” who has worked in human resources at Harvard University and in a compensation consulting firm. Since 1998, Susan has been editor and publisher of Job-Hunt.org. Follow Susan on Twitter at @jobhuntorg and on Facebook, LinkedIn.
More about this author…

The post The Job Scams Self-Defense Sniff Test appeared first on Job-Hunt.

That leads to a frequently asked question: What kinds of jobs or careers are suitable for introverts?

The answer is a little complicated, because introversion isn’t the only dimension of personality that relates to job satisfaction.

Knowing that you’re an introvert doesn’t automatically mean that certain jobs are going to be right for you and others wrong. But it is definitely one dimension to consider as you examine the elements of career satisfaction.

A little research and self-exploration will help you determine some paths to pursue – and this kind of exploration probably suits your introverted personality.

Here are five resources for that exploration:

1. Do What You Are (book by Paul D. Tieger and Barbara Barron-Tieger, Little Brown & Company, 2007) –

Gain a better understanding of all aspects of your personality type, including introversion-extroversion, and identify specific jobs that are in tune with your all of your strengths.

There’s a wide range of jobs suggested for introverts, far too many to list here, but including such diverse fields as teaching, counseling, architecture, engineering, finance, computer science, web design, writing/editing, photography, paralegal, bookkeeping, tax preparation, clergy, social work, merchandise planning, interior design.

2. Professional Associations –

Learn more about a job from the professional associations for that occupation or industry.

3. Google –

If you Google the phrase “careers for introverts” you’ll find links for several articles, blogs, book references, etc. There’s even a discussion among introverts on just this topic.

4. LinkedIn –

Talk to someone who actually does that job. If you don’t happen to know anyone, use the Advanced People search on LinkedIn to find people you’re connected to who do that job, and ask for an introduction.

Questions to ask include the following:

• What does a typical day look like?
• Does this occupation allow you to work on one task at a time until it is complete, or are you typically involved in multiple tasks at the same time?
• Is the work fairly structured and routine, or is the work fairly unpredictable?
• How much time is spent interacting with people? With data? With machines?
• What does the work space typically look like?

Bottom Line:

A combination of self-assessment and career exploration can uncover the job that’s a great fit for your personality.

About the author…

Wendy Gelberg is a Career Navigator at JVS CareerSolution in Boston and author of The Successful Introvert: How to Enhance Your Job Search and Advance Your Career. She is a certified career coach and resume writer whose expertise is in helping people who are uncomfortable “tooting their own horn.” Wendy writes resumes, gives workshops, coaches individuals, and writes articles and blogs on all aspects of the job search process. Samples of her resumes and career advice appear in over 20 books. Wendy has been a career coach and resume writer for over 15 years. She has been an introvert her whole life. Contact Wendy at wgelberg@careersolution.org.

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