Challenges in Remote jobs

Staring at the camera may seem difficult

The first thing is something that you will all have struggled with is looking at the camera. When you are on zoom or on your web conferences just with remote working we have to make sure that we are making eye-contact with people. It makes people feel more connected to us within a meeting or interview. But that means you’re not actually looking at the camera screen showing all the other participants, but you are looking into a tiny dot on the top of your screen or maybe into a separate webcam. This could be quite disorientating.

Overcoming the challenge

The way to get around that is just to have some practice. You can cover up your own picture on the screen of yourself so you can cover up those video streams so you’re not being distracted by watching the recording. You can focus solely on talking to the little camera dot.

It is hard to differentiate between work time and home time

You can be switched on all day. There’s very little boundaries and it’s very easy to blend work life and home life when you are working remotely as you are always on. Especially if you have international clients there’s always somebody awake sending you messages in the middle of the night. Working after a prescribed time must be a big no even though people aren’t very brilliant at sticking to that.

Overcoming the issue

Think about what measure you could have that allows you to keep a work-life balance and to make sure that you have switch-off time during the day. The trick is to stay productive and minimise distractions, as well as minimising the potential for overwork and burn out.

Distractions can always be a curse

Your workspace should have a clear physical boundary. Your work must stay within that space. Make sure it must be an area that’s not susceptible to disruptions. As your home is a place where you may get distracted due to certain things.

Overcoming the issue

If you don’t have access to a suitable area at home, choose an appropriate external area, but a place where you can avoid distractions. Consider that working remotely nearly always requires an internet connection. Working virtually in a public place often mandates the need for VPN or similar secure connectivity.

Time zone differences

Those terrible time zones may also seem to be challenging. You may be waking up just when your teammate is going to bed. Which means you can’t always depend on your fellow team mate to be available to answer an urgent question or solve any other immediate need.

Even so, collaborating could be difficult as you and your team will be working across different time zones. Delay in receiving emails, feedback and reduced engagement with the team are some of the many challenges faced while working with a global remote team.

Overcoming the issue

Many tools and platforms enable you to work effectively with a remote team across multiple time zones and gain your goals without compromising on accomplishing your goals on time. Furthermore, encourage sharing preferred time zones for your team and normalising working on asynchronous time zones before trying to reach out to them or setting up any deadlines.

Technology hiccups

One among the main fears a remote worker trembles is due to technical hiccups. Or, maybe, when your computer breaks. Both are your problems to solve.

A lot of public Wi-Fi hotspots can also be spotty. And even having a decent internet connection, video conferencing apps aren’t completely reliable, so virtual meetings can be an exercise in frustration.

Overcoming the issue

To avoid delays in your work and for peace of mind try to have a backup plan. A mobile hotspot device or a cell phone plan that enables tethering can save you when your internet goes out. A tablet or even a backup computer sometimes can get you through the day until you can get your computer fixed.

Loneliness

Many of the remote employees are tired of feeling lonely. Even introverts need some social interaction. Being a member of an office is full of spontaneous moments that break up your day, like hallway chats, having lunch, having birthday parties or having a face to face meeting. Remote workers have to be more proactive and often require to look outside of work for their social interaction. It’s simple to forget social interaction doesn’t have to be limited to co-workers if you’re used to working a regular 9-to-5.

It’s easy to develop cabin fever even with video conferencing software and tools like Slack, if you’re alone in your house for too long. Cabin fever is a real issue, and remote workers are more susceptible to it than office workers, especially those who work asynchronously.

Overcoming the issue

To avoid delays in your work and for peace of mind try to have a backup plan. A mobile hotspot device or a cell phone plan that enables tethering can save you when your internet goes out. A tablet or even a backup computer sometimes can get you through the day until you can get your computer fixed.

Overcoming the issue

Try getting your human interaction outside of work. It’s great to be friends with your colleagues, but you can also hang out with your children, spouse, family, friends, or neighbours. As mentioned earlier you can also work outside of your house like shared desks, co-working spaces, coffee shops, and libraries are another solution and can often replace the social benefits of an office without the distractions of working next to colleagues.