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by Laura Stack, MBA, CSP, CPAE “Some people call this artificial intelligence, but the reality is this technology will enhance us. So instead of artificial intelligence, I think we’ll augment our intelligence.” — Ginny Rometty, American business executive Artificial intelligence (AI) gets a bad rap in pop culture. For every fictional Jarvis or David, there are a half-dozen Skynets or Ultrons. In the real world, most workers believe artificial intelligence is something we’re still waiting on. But it’s already off and running in corporations around the world, though not necessarily in forms people tend to think of when they hear the term “artificial intelligence.” Some visionary authors call what we have “artificial stupids,” but whatever you call them, they can get the job done. The job, in this case, is making human workers more productive by handing the reins for repetitive, dull tasks to silicon coworkers. I’m not talking about robots, and no one intends these AIs to take over human jobs. These AIs consist of increasingly sophisticated software boost personal productivity at work, based primarily on machine learning culled from previous data. Let’s look at a few ways AI has already begun to help out: Forecasting. By assessing past data from your business or department, and testing hundreds or thousands of models using your data, AIs can help forecast the outcomes of any potential decision or approach. It can also consider innovation, potential disruptions, or supply-and-demand changes based on existing or potential conditions. This may sound more useful to manufacturers of widgets than to classic white-collar offices, but keep in mind that we still manufacture our own kinds of products for our end-users, whether they be white papers or computer programs. Besides, standard manufacturing firms also have white-collar offices to handle the technology used in production and make predictions for next year, quarter, and decade. Given the proper constraints, an AI can learn from its past errors, optimize its data based on what it’s learned, and move forward based on its new conclusions — 24/7. It can also use this information to develop algorithms to predict when maintenance and upgrades to its own system are needed. Security. These days, the only way to avoid data theft is to use computers completely cut off from the World Wide Web. That just doesn’t cut it if your business model requires an online presence. Even if it doesn’t, most white-collar businesses need dedicated access to the internet so workers can more easily do their jobs and communicate with one another. Many businesses have some level of human security to protect their real assets and people, but increasingly, they also require a high level of cybersecurity to protect data, intellectual property, and other intangible assets. AIs provide an unsleeping eye to safeguard all these: by learning to recognize cyber-attacks based on algorithms developed after previous attacks, by closely monitoring input from outside, and by shutting down access to sensitive files/systems as necessary. They can even help backtrack the attackers to their source, to block further attacks. While script kiddies and other hackers remain a serious concern, with the proper AI cybersecurity, they aren’t as worrisome as they once were. Research and Personal Assistants. Digital assistants aren’t exactly new, but as AI has evolved in recent years, they’ve become much easier to use and more reliable. Now, with a few instructions, they can handle your email, keep your calendar in hand, and streamline other processes with simple suggestions. This are straightforward tasks evolved from Clippy and Microsoft Bob of the pre-Y2K era (look ’em up). But the most useful thing about these assistants is that they can sift through enormous masses of data with ease, allowing you to do the kind of research that might not have been possible a decade ago. Before search engines alone, research was a much more onerous task, which could require months of library work and, in some cases, prohibitive levels of travel. Being pure software, AIs not only don’t need time off, but they also can process basic data much faster than anything human. As a result, they can relieve us of a great deal of tedium and allow us to discover connections that help us develop or refine products and continue evolving our technology. The examples here are just a few ways AI can increase efficiency, and thus productivity, in the modern business world; soon we’ll be seeing many others. © 2022 Laura Stack. Laura Stack, MBA, CSP, CPAE is known as The Productivity Pro®. She is an award-winning keynote speaker, bestselling author, and noted authority on personal productivity. For 30 years, she has given keynote speeches and workshops on increasing workplace productivity in high-stress environments. Stack has authored eight books, including the bestselling What to Do When There’s Too Much to Do. She is a past president of the National Speakers Association and a member of the exclusive Speaker Hall of Fame. To book Laura speak at an upcoming meeting or event, contact her at www.TheProductivityPro.com. View the full article

Since joining Think Productive a month ago today (happy anniversary TP!), I’ve had the pleasure of attending lots of our workshops. It’s been the best way to dive into my new role as Learning Success Manager, where I get to support our superstar clients plan learning programmes for their teams. After 19 years as a teacher, trainer and facilitator, it’s wonderful to sit at the other side of the table (well, laptop) as a participant in Ninja Russell’s online Project Management Training. Project Management 101 is a relatively new addition to the TP catalogue. The session overview promises to help me “Be the Project Manager that Wows the Rest!”. This sounds juicy and I can not wait to test it out. Can Russell really get me understanding and applying impactful tools and techniques in 6-hours? 6 hours later He did it. I am now a happy cocktail of drained, motivated, empowered and very hungry. What I liked about Russell’s approach is that the day was centred around a real-life project that each of us was working on. Russell took us on a journey that began with our ‘Project Aim’. Sounds simple in theory, but it took us a few tries until we successfully applied SMART targets and got to the essence of what our projects were intended to achieve. The next stop was the ‘Success and Failure Criteria’, where we got to pen our non-negotiables. The Gantt Chart proved to be a crowd-pleaser as we all got to visually see our project’s tasks, contributors and dates in a tidy visual. This made me happy for two reasons: It made my project go from overwhelming to achievable.I really like colourful charts! Russell then moved us on to milestones, risk management, stakeholder mapping and engagement. Through each stage, participants were moved into breakout rooms for discussions and had ample time to practise and apply the principles. Russell was generous with his knowledge – but also shared templates that we can use in the future. And of course, the famous TP Workbook means that all my learning is captured for me to refer to later. I was one of 9 participants – all of us from different industries – and the model worked for all our projects. There was a real buzz of excitement and a genuine willingness to share ideas and problem-solve together. They were a great bunch. If I have piqued your curiosity and you’d like to chat about helping your team with their Project Management skills, get in touch with me at deane@thinkproductive.co.uk and we can schedule a slot to get together over a cuppa. The post What I learnt during my Project Management Workshop appeared first on Think Productive UK. View the full article

Work from home staffing agencies make it easier to find remote work. In fact, staffing agencies are regularly used by both small and large companies to help fill vacancies with great talent (like you). But, are staffing agencies really remote-friendly? Yes, for the most part. Keep reading to learn more about 21 work from home staffing agencies. One just may be your ticket to a new remote role. What is a Work from Home Staffing Agency? First, let’s go over what a staffing agency is. Staffing agencies are the middleman between employers and job seekers. They are also called recruitment, search, or staffing firms. For example, let’s say Company PDQ Inc. regularly has wfh jobs. Currently, it needs to hire an online bookkeeper. However, PDQ does not want to go through the recruiting process on its own. After all, hiring is costly and time consuming. In fact, it averages out to about $4,129 and 42 days to fill a single position, according to ADP. work from home staffing agencies connect companies and talent So, PDQ decides to work with a staffing agency instead. Now the staffing agency sets out to find candidates to fill the bookkeeper position. To do this, they might advertise on popular remote job boards or post on LinkedIn. Additionally, many work from home staffing agencies have an existing pool of candidates they turn to also. How Do I Get Hired? First, you provide your basic information to the staffing agency. This includes your work history and job preferences. Then a recruiter works with you to find a role that is a good fit. Eventually, there are interviews to complete as you go through the hiring process. Finally, you receive an offer of employment or a fixed-term contract. Generally speaking, staffing agencies streamline your job search. You hand your resume to them and your recruiter uses it to find multiple open roles on your behalf. What Remote Positions Can I Find? Some staffing agencies work in specific industries. For example, let’s say Staffing Solutions RUS specializes in placing legal staff. Others offer broad staffing services across all industries. Regardless, you can find just about any remote job vacancy via staffing firms. Common remote roles regularly promoted by staffing agencies include: Customer ServiceAdministrative AssistantPayroll RecruiterMarketing Specialist And, that’s just a short list! What Types of Employment Do Staffing Agencies Offer? Typically, staffing agencies are known for temp jobs. And, yes, there are definitely temporary jobs available. However, it doesn’t stop there. There are different types of employment you need to know about before registering with a staffing agency. Temporary Often, companies use staffing agencies to fill short-term vacancies. A common example is when an employee takes maternity/paternity leave for a few months. Another scenario is when companies periodically require extra help. For example, an online retailer needs all hands on deck during the holidays. In both scenarios, these companies use staffing agencies to fill roles temporarily. These assignments typically last for just a few months. Temp to Hire Temp to hire is like a trial run. In other words, the company is open to hiring a temp worker permanently but wants to test the waters first. So, there’s a short-term contract in place with an option to hire at the end of it. Direct Hire Finally, there is direct hire. This is when a company turns to a work from home staffing agency to place a full time employee. Once a person is placed via the staffing agency, they are officially an employee of that company. Work From Home Staffing Agencies: The Top 5 with the Most Remote Jobs Now you have a good understanding of what a staffing agency is and the types of employment you can find. It’s finally time to look at firms that have tons remote openings available. 1. Kelly Kelly has been in the recruiting business for more than 75 years. Today, they work with 90 of the Fortune 100 companies to place top talent in open roles. In fact, Kelly places nearly 500,000 workers every year. Even more impressive is that a whopping 72% of openings at Kelly have a remote work option. Recently Listed Remote Roles at Kelly: Outbound Customer CareRecruiterTest ScorerInterpreterPayroll Specialist Please visit the Kelly Job Openings page for more information and next steps. Special Note: Kelly often mass hires for a single role (pipeline hiring). For example, a single listing for “Customer Service Agent” could be for hundreds of openings that need to be filled. 2. Randstand Currently, Randstad is the second largest staffing firm in the world! For the most part, Randstad provides top talent to companies across all industries, including many Fortune 500 Companies. At this time, 81% of all roles are remote-friendly. randstand places remote workers in roles across all industries Recently Listed Remote Roles at Randstand: Customer Service RepresentativeAccounts ReceivableMortgage UnderwriterInsurance AgentMedical Billing Randstand’s Job Seeker page has detailed information about signing up to join its talent pool. 3. Robert Half Robert Half International was founded in 1948. Today, it’s often listed on FlexJobs’ 100 Top Companies with Remote Jobs. Additional Robert Half awards include one of the Best Places to Work by Human Rights Campaign and one of the Happiest Companies in America by CareerBliss. Robert Half places talent across in-demand remote industries like legal, human resources, accounting, IT, finances, and more. Roughly 86% of its listings are remote. robert half regularly recruits remote workers Some recently listed roles include: AccountantAdministrative AssistantSales RepresentativeParalegalProject Assistant Head on over to Robert Half Hiring to learn how they can help you find a remote job. 4. Kforce Kforce mostly places workers in technology and accounting/finance roles. In fact, it works for 70% of Fortune 100 companies to provide short-term and long-term support in these areas. Go ahead and check out my Kforce review to learn about the ins and outs of recruitment there. Today, Kforce has 4,000 clients and places 23,000 candidates in open roles each year. Approximately 73% of all listings are for remote work! submit your resume and work with a recruiter at kforce Past openings include: Payroll AccountantTax AccountantTechnical ManagerProject ManagerTechnical Support To join one of the better work from home staffing agencies, visit Kforce to submit your resume. 5. Ajilon Founded in 2011, Ajilon is a newer staffing company. Even still, it’s able to place nearly 15,000 professionals every year! Ajilon specializes in marketing, administration, customer service, human resources, and nonclinical healthcare roles. For example, recent listings include: Medical BillerCustomer Service RepresentativeAdministrative AssistantPayroll Medical Coder An impressive 85% of these roles are remote. To start, job seekers, like you, work with recruiters to get placed in the perfect position. There’s more detailed information about the recruiting process over at Ajilon. ajilon recruiters are there to help you find the right remote job Even More Work from Home Staffing Agencies The five staffing agencies mentioned above are those with a high percentage of work from home jobs. Additionally, each of them appear on the FlexJobs’ Top 100 Companies hiring remote workers. This means they routinely post and hire remote candidates. Needless to say, there are hundreds and thousands of remote-friendly positions using those staffing agencies. However, there are even more work from home staffing agencies to choose from. 6. Solomon Page Works with companies within industries like Fashion & Beauty, Hospitality, Media, and Healthcare. 7. Belay An entirely remote team started in 2010. Common remote jobs at Belay include Virtual Assistant, Bookkeeping, and Social Media Manager. 8. Lee Hecht Harrison (LHH) Helps job seekers find jobs with companies that align with their values. Also brings temps on as LHH employees which come with benefits like health insurance, PTO, and bonuses. 9. Staffmark Places an astounding 41,000 people in jobs every week. https://video.digi-me.com/staffmark/expectations/CIYM0001 10. Beacon Hill Staffing Group Named one of the best staffing firms by Forbes. Has jobs available in legal, project management, administrative, and research industries. 11. Michael Page Recruitment expertise in accounting, legal, human resources, information technology, sales, and marketing. Provides career advice for job seekers to help build their careers. 12. Aquent Firmly believes that work should be flexible and inclusive. Provides career coaching and benefits to its talent. 13. Working Solutions Places agents as independent contractors in various work from home programs. Must pass assessments to receive an assignment. 14. Manpower Group Works across all industries. Offers resources for job seekers to change careers and develop skills. 15. HealthCare Support This is a niche recruitment firm that focuses exclusively on the healthcare industry. 16. Medix Serves workers and businesses within healthcare, life sciences, and IT throughout the US. Additional offices located throughout Canada. 17. FlexProfessionals Next up is FlexProfessionals. As you might have guessed by its name, this work from home staffing agency recruits professionals for flexible work arrangements! Previous remote roles include Accountant, Human Resources, Project Coordinator, and Operations Manager. 18. Hired by Matrix Although headquartered in NJ, Hired by Matrix hires professionals across the US. Remote roles it fills are mostly temporary and freelance, so keep that in mind before applying! 19. Profiles Since 1998 Profiles has provided staffing services for creative technology and marketing industries. Some examples of remote roles its hired for include Marketing Coordinator, Content Strategist, and Content Editor! 20. BuzzCo Another small, family-owned work from home staffing agency is BuzzCo. Most roles are full time, contract, or freelance. In the past BuzzCo has placed remote workers in roles like Account Executive, Designer, and Illustrator. 21. Stage 4 Solutions Marketing professionals can turn to Stage 4 Solutions for help finding a remote role. Currently, the company has more than 10,000 professionals in its talent pool. Example of roles include both short-term and long-term projects like Event Marketing, Administration, and Social Media Management. What Else Should I Know About Work From Home Staffing Agencies? Many work from home staffing agencies have in-person and remote roles available. However, some (like Belay) are entirely remote. Always tell your recruiter you’re interested in remote work only. Keep in mind, a lot of remote job openings have location requirements. This holds true for staffing agencies too. So, as you work with a staffing agency, don’t be surprised to see jobs that require candidates to live in select states and even specific cities. It’s completely normal. Lastly, be open and honest with your recruiter. Their job is to find you a job that aligns with your career ideals and goals. Tell them what you’re looking for and the types of companies you see yourself working for. Only accept a placement if it’s a role that actually interests you. In the end, work from home staffing agencies are a reliable source of remote jobs. However, keep in mind that staffing agencies do not guarantee placement. Finally, visit the work from home staffing agencies on this list. After you get established with one (or two) you’ll have a steady stream of remote jobs coming your way. Pro tip: Focus on a few agencies within your desired industry! If you have any questions, let me know in the comments below. I’ll do my best to steer you in the right direction. You’ve got this! Happily, Ashlee get placed in a remote job by work from staffing agenciesThe post Work from Home Staffing Agencies: How to Get Placed in a Remote Job appeared first on Work from Home Happiness. View the full article

by Laura Stack, MBA, CSP, CPAE “The best way to predict the future is to create it.”—Peter Drucker. Making predictions about the future of productivity can be dangerous business. Remember all those people who predicted that the Internet would be a flash in the pan? Yeah, me neither. What I do remember is how wrong they were. That said, I’m going to make a few predictions about what might happen in 2023 in the productivity field, based on what we’re all hearing lately. Inflation will continue to eat at your productivity. Inflation has many causes, so we’re not looking to blame it on anyone here. But as prices for everyday costs like food, housing, and energy rise, some substantially, your dollars buy less — especially, as has been the case for decades, when pay doesn’t rise as fast as costs do. This strikes at both individuals and businesses. When business and labor costs rise, productivity — rate of output (i.e., profit) per unit of input —inevitably drops. Until the Fed gets its act together, and if President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act works, we won’t tame inflation anytime soon — especially if it rises globally, as seems to be the case. That’s the bad news, but the next few points seem more positive. Remote work will continue to be common, and likely increase. Many knowledge workers have already proven that it works for them, and that they’re just as productive as ever, if not more so. They get to work in comfortable environs, can spend more time with family, don’t have to lay out as much money for childcare, and their commune is measured in steps rather than miles and wasted time. If you can do your work in the time required, does it matter where you do it? You may sacrifice face time with co-workers, but that’s what Zoom and GoTo are for, and no one but office planners really likes the open office or cube farm concepts anyway. Besides, less real estate used means less rent, which increases fiscal productivity. We’ll see more freelancers. In a phenomenon related to #2, as employers demand workers to return to the office, I expect to see the Great Resignation continue as happy remote workers refuse to return for the above reasons. They may have to pay for their own insurance and have few benefits, but this isn’t always a big deal for younger workers, and often contractors can nab larger per-hour wages because they do have to take care of their own benefits. As more people become contractors and tap into the gig economy, I’d expect to see more “digital nomads.” Some remote workers have already relocated to cheaper states and even cheaper countries — often without telling anyone —and can’t easily go back anyway. Their reasoning is that they can do remote work effectively almost anywhere — because they can. We’ll see the first forays into VR conferencing. Forget Zoon and Skype. If Mark Zuckerberg has his way, virtual meetings will soon morph into virtual reality Zuckerberg is investing in getting a service called Metaverse in place, so you put on your VR headset and meet your co-workers in a shared virtual environment of your choice to discuss work topics and otherwise keep in touch. Whether this will win over those of us sick of seeing our colleagues on computer screens, some of whom may prefer phone conversations by this point, remains to be seen. But once it works, I suspect it will contribute to the predictions #2 and #3 above. We’ve already have a decentralized global workforce forming for the last few decades. Effective VR could accelerate this trend. Working My Way Back To You Looking back, price inflation seems inevitable to some economists, as many workers return to the global market with plenty of savings from the lockdowns of the pandemics, while competing over fewer resources, due to closed factories and other service providers. (They could have figured this out earlier and warned us.) That will likely impact both individual and mass productivity in many disciplines. However, I think the pandemic has also freed workers in many ways, by giving them more power decide when and where they may work. This is not just to their benefits. With no commutes and fewer expenses, some workers may do the same jobs for less, and employers need not pay for nearly as much real estate and some benefits. In time, the productivity benefits should become obvious to all — and inflation won’t last forever. Did we miss your favorite prediction? Let us know in the comments! © 2022 Laura Stack. Laura Stack, MBA, CSP, CPAE is an award-winning keynote speaker, bestselling author, and noted authority on employee and team productivity. She is the president of The Productivity Pro, Inc., a company dedicated to helping leaders increase workplace performance in high-stress environments. Stack has authored eight books, including FASTER TOGETHER: Accelerating Your Team’s Productivity (Berrett-Koehler 2018). She is a past president of the National Speakers Association, and a member of its exclusive Speaker Hall of Fame (with fewer than 175 members worldwide). Stack’s clients include Cisco Systems, Wal-Mart, and Bank of America, and she has been featured on the CBS Early Show and CNN, and in the New York Times. To have Laura Stack speak at an upcoming meeting or event, call 303-471-7401 or contact us online. View the full article

How to become a remote online notary? Great question. Here at Work From Home Happiness we’re all about remote-friendly career paths. In fact, we’ve written a number of in-depth career guides for aspiring remote workers. After all, we want you to find a remote job you’ll love, not just any ol’ remote job. And, in recent years, notary work has become increasingly popular among remote workers over the last few years. Formerly, notary work was not remote friendly. However, thanks to the pandemic Remote Online Notary (RON) became a thing. Currently, more than 40 states have laws that allow remote notaries. And being a notary is just one of many wfh jobs out there. But, it’s not something you can just jump into. Instead, you have to follow a number of steps in order to become a remote online notary. So, without further ado let’s get into it. What Is A Notary? Before learning how to become a notary, it’s important to discuss what a notary is. First, a notary is technically known as a Notary Public. These are state-appointed persons who act as witnesses during the signing of important documents. But, they do much more than that! According to the National Notary Association, “A Notary Public is an official of integrity appointed by state government to serve the public as an impartial witness in performing a variety of official fraud-deterrent acts related to the signing of important documents.” National Notary Association As previously mentioned, notaries play an important role during the signing of documents. So, people turn to notaries when signing official documents. Now, technically anything you sign can be notarized (including your second grader’s field trip permission slip) BUT not everything needs to be signed. However, commonly notarized documents fall in categories like: Real EstateLegalFinancialHealthcare public notary stamp and seal example Additionally, OneNotary includes commercial leases, employment contracts, legal affidavits, passport applications, and mortgage documents as some of the most commonly notarized. What Can A Notary Do? Again, a notary can notarize just about any signed document. I’ve had a notary present during the signing of my parents’ wills and at the closing of my home’s refinance. Heck, some states will even let notaries marry couples! But, there are also things notaries cannot do. For example, they cannot certify copies of vital records like birth and death certificates. What Work Does A Notary Perform? Next, let’s look at the specific job functions of a notary. First and foremost, notaries verify identity. They make sure the people signing documents are who they say they are. In other words, notaries check government issued IDs to prevent fraud. Secondly, notaries double check that documents are complete and ready to be signed. Then they ensure all parties are willingly signing and are not being forced into anything. Similarly, they’ll make sure that each person understands what it is being signed and are competent enough to knowingly sign. After all named parties have signed, the notary will fill out their notary certificate. This will include the notary’s signature along with their stamp or seal. It looks something like this: a SAMPLE OF A PUBLIC NOTARY STAMP AND SEAL FROM THE STATE OF IDAHO Finally, the completed certificate with stamp or seal is provided with the signed documents. That’s it – the notarization is complete! How Much Does a Notary Public Make? When discussing how to become a remote online notary the topic of pay inevitably comes up. Notaries cannot just charge any amount for their services. Instead, most states set limits on what a notary can bill based on the document they are notarizing and the number of people signing. For example, Florida allows notaries to charge the following fees per signature: $10 – acknowledgments$10 – Jurats$10 – Verbal Oath/Affirmation $25 – RON (Remote Online Notary) Additionally, Florida Notaries can charge extra for travel. “How much extra?,” you ask. Well, that’s up to the individual notary. The State of Florida does not set limits for notary travel expenses. To sum it up, notary earnings vary state to state. However, notaries are able to charge per signature or oath and may also charge reasonable travel fees. Remember, some states even allow notaries to officiate weddings. For example, Florida Notaries can charge $30 to perform a marriage. Who Can Be a Notary Public? Now, can anyone become a notary? Again, the answer to this question largely depends on which state you live in. However, the majority of states have general notary guidelines like: 18 years or olderLegal resident of the state Read and write English No felonies No misdemeanors involving fraud or deceit Additionally, some states have mandatory training and/or exam requirements. For example, the State of Florida requires 3 hours of notary training followed by a passing score on a test. So, Does That Mean I Can’t Become a Notary With a Criminal Record? Not necessarily. Some states will not allow individuals with felonies on their record to become a Notary Public. Period. Other states, like Florida, allow notaries with felony convictions as long as that person has had their civil rights restored. Additionally, misdemeanors that involve fraud, dishonesty, or deceit can prevent you from becoming a Notary Public in many states. Remember, every state has unique rules regarding its notaries. Always double check your state’s notary guidelines for the most up-to-date information. Can I Work From Home As a Notary Public? Absolutely! In fact, how to become a remote online notary is a pretty popular question these days. And, thanks to the pandemic, the majority of states now have laws that allow its notaries to work online. So, what’s the difference between how to become a notary and how to become an online notary? First, an online notary is typically referred to as an RON which stands for Remote Online Notary. A Remote Online Notary can notarize the same documents as a traditional Public Notary. Similarly, RONs perform the same tasks previously mentioned but entirely online. To do their jobs, remote notaries use special technology to complete the notarization process. This allows all parties to appear before one another and verify identity without physically being in the same room. Sample of what remote online notary software is like courtesy of gcpay How Do I Become A Remote Online Notary? Many states require you to become a traditional Public Notary first. Then you can apply to become a RON. Some states have additional training requirements for RONs (like Florida). Remember, default to your Secretary of State website for the most current direction for RONs and Notary Public information. We’ve also created a State Notary Resources Google Sheet with Helpful Links to each state’s Notary Websites as well as whether they allow RON: What Schooling Do I Need to Be A Remote Online Notary? Finally, some states require training for notaries. Other states simply ask you to pass an exam. However, almost all states have free training or study guides aspiring notaries can use to satisfy notary requirements. Please be cautious of “online notary schools” that teach you to become a notary in your state. Most states do not have mandatory training requirements. And those which do often provide all the training you need for free. Florida, for example, provides its own Notary Education Program. The three hour course is the only training you’ll need and it’s 100% free! From there, Florida offers an additional Remote Online Notary training – also free of charge. What if My State Doesn’t Have Training Requirements? Furthermore, some states have zero guidance for how to become a notary. For example, notaries in Alabama are appointed by county-level probate judges. To be considered, Alabama residents fill out an application and secure a $25,000 bond. From there, it’s up to each notary to develop the skills necessary to be successful. The State of Alabama website simply points residents to its Secretary of State website. It can be pretty confusing on how to become a remote online notary depending on which state you live in! Before you jump in, please visit your Secretary of State Website. A google search can result in hundreds of online training programs or notary schools that charge you for training you can receive for free from your state! What Fees Are There To Become A Remote Online Notary? Great question! Again, every state has different filing fees for its notary publics and RONs. For example, the State of Florida charges a $39 application fee for its notaries. Additional expenses remote online notaries have include: Notary Stamp or SealeSealDigital CertificateState Approved RON software to perform remote notary services Surety bond for online notarizations Additionally, notaries may opt for errors and omissions insurance or a Notary Journal to keep track of all their official acts. Errors and omissions insurance protects you in the event you make a mistake while providing remote online notary services. Again, and I hate to keep saying this, but your state will let you know what supplies are required and which are optional! How To Become a Remote Online Notary Lastly, let’s put it all together so you have a good idea of what it takes to become a notary in your state. Generally, these are the steps needed to learn how to become a remote online notary: Meet Your State’s Requirements See if you meet your state’s notary requirements, i.e., age and criminal history. Note: Some states disqualify individuals with felony convictions or anyone with fraud convictions Complete Training (if Necessary) & Pass Certification Determine if your state mandates notary training. Remember, you might not have to pay for training if your state (like Florida) provides it free of charge. Additionally, you will likely have to become a Public Notary first before you can become a RON. Research if your state allows Remote Online Notary (RON) Not all states allow RON. Use our handy State Notary Resources sheet to see if yours does. If so, complete necessary training to also become an RON Complete Notary Application After you complete training and/or certification fill out the application to become a notary in your state and pay the associated fees. Additionally, purchase a surety bond. Optionally, buy Errors & Omissions insurance. Please check your state’s Secretary of State Website for surety bond requirements and approved vendors! Gather Necessary Notary Supplies Compile a list of necessary supplies as a notary and RON Notary Public and RONs need specific supplies like stamps, embossers, certificates, and software. Only purchase what you need – your state will tell you which supplies are needed. Additionally, RONs may only use state-approved vendors for remote notarization software. Examples include Nexsys, NotaryCam, SafeDocs, etc. Market your in-person and Remote Online Notary services Once your application is approved and you have all the necessary equipment -Congrats! You’re now a Notary Public and/or Remote Online Notary. Now it’s time to market your services. How To Become A Remote Online Notary and Start A Home Business Finally, it’s time to start working as a remote online notary. Remember, you are now self-employed. As such, you need to learn how to be self-employed from home. Additionally, invest in marketing classes or at-home business training. We recommend Notary Training Institute to help you build a successful and thriving Notary Public business both locally and online. Additionally, Notary Training Institute helps students expand their Notary business to include additional revenue streams like Signing Agent. And, if you ever have additional questions on how to become a notary, they provide tons of resources and support. There’s even a Notary Training Institute Members Only Private Community. It’s a highly-recommended resource for anyone looking to start a grow a remote online notary business. Happily, Ashlee The post How to Become A Remote Online Notary appeared first on Work from Home Happiness. View the full article

There are a lot of virtual assistant jobs out there. In fact, even I’ve tried my hand at a few over the years. And, honestly, I enjoy the work of a VA. Why? First, many virtual assistant jobs are flexible. They’re perfect for the side-hustling mama to the full-time freelancer (and everyone in between). And, you can opt to contract with a virtual assistant company or start your own virtual assistant business. In fact, there are nearly 300 in-demand VA services you can offer directly to clients! But, before discussing the ins and outs of finding VA work, let’s start with the basics. What is a virtual assistant? Before you look for virtual assistant jobs, you gotta know what a virtual assistant (VA for short) is. A virtual assistant is someone who provides support and completes tasks from a remote location. This means that a virtual assistant in Texas could make travel arrangements for their client in Germany or coordinate meetings for an executive in Seattle. Really, the possibilities are endless. According to Investopedia, a virtual assistant is “an independent contractor who provides administrative services to clients while operating outside of the client’s office.” Investopedia However, not all virtual assistant jobs are contract. More on that later. What is important to know is that thanks to our ever-connected world and ability to do pretty much anything with a computer and Internet connection, virtual assistants can provide just about any service that an in-office administrative assistant can. And this means a lot of legitimate virtual assistant jobs out there for anyone looking for wfh jobs. What does it take to get hired for virtual assistant jobs? Next, what skills are needed as a VA? First, since virtual assistants are entirely remote, you’ll need a computer, high-speed internet and telephone to stay connected with clients and complete tasks. Depending on the client or company you contract with, there are likely to be additional requirements. For example, I’ve seen some companies require their virtual assistants to have a landline phone. Additionally, some require VAs to have the capability to fax, scan and copy from their home office. And still some want specific skills like the ability to type 75 WPM or working knowledge of Photoshop. Heck, there are even virtual assistants jobs specifically for paralegals! Remember, the required skill sets or software needed will depend on the company or a client’s nature of business and their individual needs. Always read a job description VERY carefully before you apply. Most will tell you the needed skills and tech requirements for the position. Psst: Not feeling great about your current tech and administrative skills? No problem! Take a refresher course with Coursera! Who would make an outstanding virtual assistant? If you refer to yourself as a Jack or Jill of all trades, you’d probably make a great virtual assistant. Since VAs are often tasked with a variety of jobs, you’ll need to have a little knowledge of a lot of things or at the very least be really proficient in Internet research in order to come up with the answer/solution to any question/problem. However, there are several skills that are helpful to have when looking for virtual assistant jobs. Generally speaking, virtual assistants: Have great communication skillsCan write effectivelyAre self startersRoll with the punchesStay cool, calm and collected under pressureKnow how to multitask and prioritizeWork with a sense of urgencyRequire limited direction If you’ve ever worked as an admin assistant, personal assistant or in any kind of secretarial role, then you already know what it takes to provide support to others and get things done quickly, efficiently and without interruption to a client’s schedule. A virtual assistant’s role is no different with the exception that you’ll be doing it entirely from home. Companies that Offer Virtual Assistant Jobs While some people choose to create their own virtual assistant job, others are more interested in contracting with a company. Really, each has its pros and cons! If you’re looking for companies that do contract with VAs, check out this list: 1. Great Assistant A division of profit factoryPlaces assistants with entrepreneurs W2 position Pays around $25/hourMust email jobs@greatassistant.com to apply MUST follow application instructions to a T! 2. VaVa Virtual Assistants This is both an Account Manager & Executive Assistant role Must live in the United States 3+ Years of Executive Assistant Experience 30 hours (or more) per week 3. EA Help Virtual Assistant Jobs at BELAY Formerly EA HelpRequires previous experience assisting high-level executivesMust have a quiet home office with latest MS Office installed1099 contractor roleHires general Virtual Assistants as well as Bookkeepers, Website Specialists, and Social Media Managers 4. Worldwide 101 Boldly Read my Boldly Remote Jobs ReviewActively hiring for Executive Assistants, Marketing & Social Media Specialists, Project Management, and Virtual ParalegalsHas a program specifically for Military Spouses Should have 7 years experience in your fieldRequires in-depth internet knowledgeQualified applicants hear back within 14 days of applyingHiring process includes 2 video interviews, psychometric testing, and background/reference checksHired as a W2 employeeFormerly Worldwide 101 5. Gabbyville part of the gabbyville application process Virtual answering/receptionist servicesProvides bilingual virtual receptionistsAnswer calls during a company’s business hours and takes messagesMay also schedule appointments or take ordersNot much by way of application process, if interested, need to email career@gabbyville.comMust provide a screenshot of your Internet Speed, Typing Speed, and Twilio speed as part of your application 6. Zirtual Note: On August 10, 2015, Zirtual abruptly shut down. They remained closed for seven days until Startups.com (a startup launch platform) acquired Zirtual. They resumed service beginning August 17, 2015. Now, Zirtual is once again hiring Virtual Assistants to work from home. Must be US-basedCollege education required1099 independent contractor role VAs earn 47% of their client’s monthly planAverage earnings = $3,000-$3,500 monthlyYou can fill out a profile to be considered for future roles 7. Contemporary Virtual Assistance Offers both full and part time virtual assistant jobsPrefers individuals with specialized experience in a particular field, ex. social media, WordPress, graphic design, Google tools, etc.Must be available at least four hours a day Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ESTNeed to have high speed internet and reliable phone accessPay rate starts at $10.00 per hour with room for advancement after 60 daysRarely hiring Screenshot from Contemporary virtual assistance hiring page 8. Time Etc. has Virtual Assistant Jobs Appears to be very part-time work (read the review here)Requires a minimum of just three hours of availability per week but prefers a five hour per week commitmentMust be available Monday through FridayNeed to have 2-3 years of admin/secretarial experienceStarting pay rate of $13.00 per hourNeed to have a Skype account, printer, and Microsoft OfficeWriting skills preferred as jobs might include blogging, content writing, social media updatesPrefers a one-year commitment 9. Paragon Planners Part-time work only, 20-32 hours per weekHires Virtual Administrative Assistants & Virtual Assistant SchedulersPay rate is $14.00 – $16.00 hourly Fill out a Google Form to applyMust be available Monday – FridayOnly hires in select US states states paragon planners currently hires in (as of september 2022) 10. Vicky Virtual Seeking work-at-home receptionists to handle calls, answer questions, schedule appointments, etc.Must be living in the United StatesNeed to have a headset for answering calls, reliable high-speed internet connection, type at least 50 wpmShould be able to speak in a “neutral accent”Experience providing phone-based support and customer service is a plusPay rate starting at just $10.00 per hourRarely hiring, Usually posts job openings on FlexJobs 11. Fancy Hands Crowdsourced VA platform (read the review here)Requires a lengthier application processPaid per task ($3-$7)Work available 24/7Payments issued every other week on TuesdaysOpportunity to move up 12. $99 Social Help small businesses around the world with their social media accountsWrite creative content for social media (Twitter, Facebook, G+, LinkedIn)Discover and find unique content around the InternetMinimum commitment of 10 hoursEarn an average of $12/hourMust be available Monday – FridayYou will have to perform a practice assignment to be hired part of $99 social application process 13. Smith AI Hires virtual receptionistsTasks include taking messages, collecting payments, transferring calls, etc.Minimum 40 WPM typing speedMust be available for at least 5 days a week for 5 hours per dayShifts are broken into 2-5 hour blocksStarting pay at $15/hour for US agentsStarting pay at $11/hour for agents outside of the US 14. Red Butler Delegated Red Butler is now Delegated. You can read my Red Butler Review to learn more.High school degree neededCollege degree preferred5+ years of relevant experience Virtual, remote, or freelance experience a plusNewer computer (3 years or less) 15. Aspire Work as a virtual conciergeRoles include Lifestyle Concierge and Travel Concierge$500 sign up bonus if you pass certificationEmployee roleCan choose a 4 day or 5 day workweek 16. Virtual Assistant Jobs with OkayRelax English fluencyCurrently only hiring in Philippines and Pakistan Full timeAvailability during US West Coast HoursPrevious remote work required 17. Team Delegate Says they’re always looking for the “best and brightest.” However, they’re not always hiringMust pass background check to get hiredAvailability during business hours required1099 Contractor roleDoes not hire residents of MT, PA, NY, NJ or CA 18. Vasumo Must live in US or Canada3 years minimum experience neededRequires 3 months of paid training Must pass certification after training to get hired 19. U Assist Me Must live in El SalvadorCandidates must have advanced English skillsRequires availability between Monday-FridayMust be comfortable working on tasks like bookkeeping, social media, management, and bill collecting 20. 24/7 Virtual Assistant Must email your resume to: careers@247virtualassistant.comYou will only be contacted if you are a good fit for an existing clientAverage pay rate is $13-$14/hourMost assistants work part-time, 20-120 hours per month 21. TaskBullet Should be committed to learning new skills and professional developmentServices you may need to know include marketing, admin support, and real estateCan work as an executive assistant, personal assistant, or social media assistantAlso has opportunities for non-U.S. residents (learn more here) 22. Peachtree Versatile Assistants Bachelor’s degree preferredAvailable at least 15 hours a week1099 contractor role$22/hour pay rateMay undergo a background checkMust pass a a skills assessment 23. Equivity Virtual ASsistant Jobs Hires part time virtual assistantsAvailability between 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday – FridayBachelor’s degreeUS residentHires virtual paralegals and virtual executive assistants Former Virtual Assistant Jobs Finally, you’ll see a crossed out list of VA companies below. Those are there on purpose. At one time, these were all active virtual assistant companies. However, they have since become inactive, were sold, or simply went out of business. Instead of deleting them, strikethroughs are used so you can see these companies. Virtual Office VA Staffing Must be a resident of the U.S. (Texas residents cannot be accepted)Contract positionPays weekly; $9.00/hour for actual work completed (not idle time)Must complete free training before being offered a contractDecide how much you want to work and for which clients Clara Labs Work as a remote assistant, mostly processing emailsYou also help ‘train’ Clara’s artificial intelligence platformMust be familiar with Google Calendar and GmailHired as an independent contractorFlexible schedule, but must be available during business hours PST Lifebushido Always hiringPart-time work starting at five hours a week with the option to increase to 20 hours based on performanceHires worldwideMust email jobs@lifebushido.com to receive information about the hiring process Care 2 Share Real estate staffing company that hires VAsMust have Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. availabilityWordPress, Adobe, and real estate experience preferredMust have high speed internet, noise-free working space, headset with microphonehttp://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=worfrohomhap-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B003H4QPJQ for phone callsAlso prefers college grads, those with accounting experience and knowledge of QuickBooksSend resume to jobs@caretwoshare if interested exec-u-sist Must complete a self-guided interviewEmployee positionWill need to create a five-minute video as part of the application process (answer questions, show your workspace, and demonstrate your personality)Have four days to complete the application process Office 88 Tele-Staff Must sign up and take a short testFour types of virtual assistant jobs: web designergraphic designertranslator/proofreadersecretary Hired as a freelancerCan also earn commission for selling Office 88 services Create Your Own Virtual Assistant Jobs As you can see, there are no shortages of virtual assistant jobs out there. But contracting with a virtual assistant company or getting hired on as an employee doesn’t make sense for everyone. The good news is, you can start your own virtual assistant business — even if you have no experience. Just ask Gina Horkey. She built a successful VA business from scratch to $12,000/month. Impressive, right? She’s pretty transparent about how she got there, and even delivers the step-by-step goods in her self-paced course. You can snag the Jumpstart Your VA Biz course right now for under one hundred bucks. This post contains affiliate links. Please see my disclosure statement for more information. The post Virtual Assistant Jobs: 20+ Companies Hiring Remote Agents appeared first on Work from Home Happiness. View the full article

FIRST SEEN ON GRAHAM ALLCOTT’S WEEKLY NEWSLETTER ‘REV UP FOR THE WEEK’. “If you understood everything I’ve said, you’d be me” – Miles Davis Over the years, I’ve worked with and interviewed some pretty remarkable people. Business owners, high-performing leaders, young people with incredible energy and potential, older people with quiet wisdom and painful experience, Olympic gold medallists, multi-millionaire entrepreneurs, professional clowns, inspiring authors, community leaders changing the world, folk musicians telling stories… It’s a long list. One of the questions I’m sometimes asked when I do keynote talks is whether I notice any patterns in how high-performing or ‘A-type’ people think. My honest is answer is “not really… except that humans are weird”. I’ve coached people whose impressive level of drive, when we’ve boiled it down, came from a desire to do better than the kid at school who bullied them 20 years ago, or a desire to gain the approval of strangers to make up for the lack of parental approval. Equally, I’ve met people who calculated, at a young age, exactly what they wanted their life to resemble, and worked diligently backward with a laser-like focus. The way we think about success, money, work and what constitutes a ‘good life’ is different for all of us. The only constant is that one way or another, we are all weird. Perhaps you are, dare I suggest, sometimes a bit irrational, or you can get stuck easily, and you may have missed the obvious path. Equally, maybe you can hook on to important details that others might miss, or see someone else’s pain before they do, or see numbers as colours painting a picture. Alain De Botton, writing about romantic love, says one of the best questions to ask on a first date is “how are you weird?”. And what I know for sure is that understanding our biases, hang-ups, geeky-passions and emotional patterns is fundamental to a successful life (whatever you determine that to mean for you). And of course, by understanding the motivations of others, we can work out what weirdnesses we might share in common, and what weirdnesses are different. Sometimes it pays to turn your weirdness volume up to 11, and other times it’s better to reign it all in. So here are a few weirdness questions to provoke some self-awareness and self-kindness this week: What weird thing means I procrastinate? (and what could I do either to change it, or to bring it to the attention of others?)What’s the weird thing that makes me adorable, or might make me more successful? How do I find my polar opposite, or find my tribe?What’s the weird thing(s!) that makes me a terrible boss/lover/housemate/colleague/employee?When am I holding onto a weirdness narrative because it’s the easy excuse?Knowing that everyone else is weird too, how can I learn to be more comfortable in my own skin? For more weird insights and wisdom, sign up to Graham’s weekly newsletter ‘Rev up for the Week’ here. The post You are so weird (and it’s OK) appeared first on Think Productive UK. View the full article

Looking for typing jobs from home? You’re not alone. Typing-based remote jobs are some of the most popular around. In fact, typing-heavy jobs were what got me into remote work almost a decade ago. I was always a fast typist. When I was eight, we got a brand new Compaq computer. I was thrilled. I quickly expressed interest in learning to type. My ever-supportive mom bought me computer software called Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing. I loved it. I honed my typing skills and always tried to get faster. Eventually, I carried my typing skills through high school and even used them to do data entry work for a medical office during the afternoons and summer. It was only natural that when I decided to kick my cubicle to the curb that I would try to capitalize on my fast fingers. What I quickly learned was that, if you’re a fast and accurate typist, you can definitely put your fingers to work. Typing Jobs From Home: Options Available Almost all remote jobs require typing skills. Since you’re not in an office, most of your communication will be done in writing. You’ll send tons of emails, instant messages, and do a lot of typing to communicate. But, there are those remote career paths that require a lot more typing than the average position. So, if you’ve always been a fast typist you should definitely look into these typing jobs from home. 1. Bookkeeper A bookkeeper keeps daily records of money coming in and money going out. Unlike an accountant, a bookkeeper doesn’t need accreditation or a degree. Instead, they need to be accurate typists as they work to keep true financial records. Bookkeepers can work for a single company or outsource their services to different clients. A bookkeeping service is a great option for fast typists since the quicker you work the more you can earn. In fact, Entrepreneur named bookkeeping as one of the most profitable businesses. So, if you’re a fast and accurate typer, you can earn a living from home as a bookkeeper. 3 Free CLASSES! 2. Medical Billing and Coding As far as typing jobs from home, medical billing and coding is incredibly in demand. A recent CNBC report found there are far more medical billing and coding job openings than professionals to fill them. Needless to say, you can definitely earn a living from home typing as a medical billing and coding pro. But, keep in mind, you need some training and certification to get started. Medical billing and coding professionals assign specific codes to patients’ charts. These codes are used by insurance companies to issue payment for procedures and services. Because these codes become a permanent part of a patient’s medical records, certification is required as an entry level candidate. Fortunately, you can complete medical billing and coding training online (and in less than a year). Career Step has a comprehensive medical billing and coding program that partners with companies that hire remote workers. So, in as little as a year, you can land one of many typings jobs from home as a medical billing and coding pro. 3. Transcription There are tons of opportunities to work from home in transcription. True story, my very first remote job was as a legal typist. I listened to recorded depositions and phone interviews for insurance companies. Then, I transcribed them word for word. These transcripts were typically used in lawsuits where insurance claims were involved — think car accidents, theft, fire, vandalism, etc. Needless to say, it was very interesting! And, it was a remote career path that perfectly played into my typing skills. But, legal transcribing is just one of the typing jobs from home in transcription. (If you’re seriously interested in legal typing jobs, though, I highly recommend you take this free legal transcription course first!) You can also find work as a general typist and medical typist. General Transcription A general transcriptionist usually transcribes audio ranging from focus groups to financial calls and even sermons or lectures. Really, there are all types of professionals and businesses that use general typists to turn recordings into written documents. General transcriptionists typically don’t have to transcribe verbatim. Instead, they produce cleaned up transcripts that don’t have “ums” and “uhs,” false starts and stutters from speakers. To be a general transcriptionist, you don’t need special training. In fact, many companies will take a chance on beginners. However, to make the most of your time, you need to be a fast and accurate typist. Plus, you have to get used to typing while listening to audio and using a foot pedal. I highly recommend a free transcription course before you jump into transcribing head first. Doing so will give you a good overview of transcribing for a living and help you decide if it’s right for you. Did I mention it’s free? Medical Transcription Medical typing jobs from home are some of the most lucrative. However, you need training to be considered. As a medical transcriptionist, you listen to doctor dictation and transcribe what is being said. Often, there are specific medical and anatomy terms that would be difficult to understand without proper training. The good news is, medical transcription and editing training can be completed online and in less than a year through Career Step. Upon graduation, you’ll be ready to take on work as a home-based typist in the medical field. 4. Data Entry As a Certified Professional Career Coach (CPCC) specializing in remote work, I get a TON of questions about data entry work. Unfortunately, there just aren’t enough real openings to keep up with the demand. Often, there are tons of jobs posted online looking for home-based data entry clerks. But, more often than not, these postings are scams. On occasion, there are legit data entry positions posted. However, these often pay very little — I’m talking pennies for hundreds of characters typed. For example, I signed up for data entry work at Virtual Bee (it’s now called SmartCrowd). Again, I was always looking for typing jobs from home that would let me earn money just for being a quick typist and it seemed like a good option. As it turns out, it wasn’t. I threw in the towel after a week of work and only earning $7.00. Yep, you read that right — a measly $7.00. If you’re truly interested in data entry work from home, you can check out different platforms and marketplaces that frequently post these type of jobs. Some popular options include Amazon Mechanical Turk, SigTrack, Fancy Hands, and Upwork. Keep in mind, the pay rate will vary quite a bit. And like the other typing jobs from home listed, the faster you can type, the more you’ll earn! 5. Captioning As a captioner, you’ll sync captions to video so they show up on screen at the right time. To do this, you have to accurately type what is being said and time it just so. Captioners can find work captioning pre-recorded video or live broadcasts. Of course, when it comes to live broadcasts, you’ll need to type quickly enough to keep up with speech in real time, as it happens. This requires quite a bit of skill and extremely fast fingers. If you’re new to captioning, Rev is a good place to start. While the pay is on the lower side, you can gain experience as a beginner. From there, you can go onto higher-paid positions. 6. Email & Chat Agents Any non-phone jobs are always popular among remote job seekers. That’s why email and chat agent positions are some of the most coveted positions around! Fortunately, there are a number of companies that hire email reps and chat agents to support customers. Typically, virtual reps will primarily handle customer inquiries via email and chat. However, there may be times when you have to take calls, so keep that in mind. In addition to being a fast typist, you also must have a strong grasp of grammar. You will always need to respond to customers in complete, error-free sentences. Apple is a well-known company that hires chat agents, but there are some less-common companies that hire email representatives. If you’re a fast typist, it’s a good idea to check them all out! 7. Virtual Assistant Finally, don’t forget about virtual assistant work as a source of typing jobs from home. A virtual assistant tackles a variety of tasks depending on skills and clients. For example, VAs can do graphic design, social media, email management, marketing, ecommerce, and so much more! You can work for one of the many virtual assistant companies or start your own business as a virtual assistant. In fact, grab this FREE Guide to 275+ In-Demand VA Services for inspiration. Typing Jobs From Home Think you have what it takes to successfully perform typing jobs from home? Keep in mind, you really do need to be fast and accurate to make these jobs worth your time. Some companies will only require a typing speed of 30 words per minute or greater. But, for transcription jobs or medical billing and coding gigs, a minimum 70 words per minute is pretty standard. Before getting started, test your typing speed. If you struggle to maintain a high word per minute rate or your accuracy is lacking, you can always brush up on your skills. There are free sites you can use, like How To Type, to refine your abilities. Before you know it, you’ll be ready to tackle all the typing jobs from home. Happily, Ashlee P.S. This post contains affiliate links. Check out my disclosure statement to learn more. TweetPinShareShareThe post Typing Jobs From Home: 6 Options For Fast Typers appeared first on Work from Home Happiness. View the full article

We get a lot of questions about work from home anywhere companies that are hiring. For example: Which companies hire outside of the US? Are there any remote jobs that can be done anywhere? Where can I find international wfh jobs? And these are just a few of the most common ones! Truthfully, there are dozens of individuals who reach out to us week after week in frustration. The problem isn’t an inability to find work from home jobs – it’s finding companies that hire where they live. And, we totally understand this frustration. Even under the best circumstances remote job searches are tough. First, you’ve got to be mindful of scams. Second, you’re likely limited to a handful of remote jobs based on your location alone. In fact, roughly 95% of remote job listings have geographic restrictions, according to FlexJobs. In other words, just 5% of all remote jobs allow work from anywhere. Why Do Companies Have Location Requirements for Remote Work? So, why do remote jobs have location restrictions? Isn’t the whole point of remote work to let people work from locations other than a traditional office? Well, the answer isn’t a simple yes or no. For the most part, remote hiring boils down to laws and taxes. That’s it. Remember, companies can’t just decide to hire workers in one country (or even state) without first being allowed to do so. The Rise of Hiring at Work From Anywhere Companies Fortunately, there’s been a rise in the number of work from anywhere jobs and companies that hire around the world. In fact, roughly 16% of all companies are fully distributed – meaning they hire talent anywhere, regardless of location. And, that’s good news for remote job seekers, especially those who live outside of the US. Now, there are more options than ever before to work from anywhere (as long as you have internet, of course!). 346+ Work From Anywhere Companies Hiring To give you an idea of different companies with work from anywhere jobs we’ve put together this MEGA list. Currently, there are 346 entries listed here – with plans to add more as we come across them So, be sure to bookmark this post and check back often – you never know what new work from anywhere companies hiring you’ll find! How To Use This List Here at Work From Home Happiness we want you to find a remote job you’ll love, not just any remote job. And part of finding truly satisfying remote work is to get hired at a company that aligns with your personal values. But you have to do research to find these companies. This is called creating a Target Company List. (Please visit RemotelyAshlee our in-house career coaching pro for more on launching a purposeful job search). So, we hope you’ll use this list to research work from anywhere companies hiring. It’s a great resource to jump-start your remote job search with a plan and a purpose! Where Else To Find Work From Anywhere Companies Hiring Right Now We didn’t just happen to come across the 346 (and counting) remote companies on this list. There are websites you too can use to find even more companies with work from anywhere jobs. Remotive Worldwide Jobs First, head over to Remotive. This is a remote work job board. You can find freelance, full time, part-time, and startup remote jobs here. Plus, there’s the option to filter jobs by “worldwide” location. In other words, discover work from anywhere companies hiring right now on Remotive! FlexJobs Another go-to site for work from anywhere companies hiring is FlexJobs! Unlike Remotive, FlexJobs is not free to use. You must purchase a membership to fully browse remote job listings here. However, at just a few bucks a month, we find FlexJobs is well worth the price tag. Plus, all jobs are hand screened which means no scams to worry about here. Also, FlexJobs filters make it easy to find 100% remote jobs hiring from around the world: Start a Work From Anywhere Job Search When you think of remote work, do you picture yourself sitting on the beach with a laptop? Or, do you live in a country typically excluded from most remote jobs? No problem! You can still find meaningful remote work. However, you will have to focus on work from anywhere companies hiring. This can be a little more difficult but it’s totally possible. work from anywhere companies hiring are your ticket to beach workcations! Remember, always research potential companies before you apply to them. Your end goal is to find a remote job you’ll actually enjoy. Please use the work from anywhere companies on this list to find remote jobs hiring no matter where you live! And, if you have any questions please leave them in the comments below. We’ll be sure to get back to you ASAP. Happy Job Searching! The post Work From Anywhere Companies Hiring: 346+ to Choose From! appeared first on Work from Home Happiness. View the full article

by Laura Stack, MBA, CSP, CPAE “The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.”—Leo Tolstoy, Russian novelist, in War and Peace. Late in June 2022, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released the results of the previous year’s American Time Use Study (ATUS), as it has annually since 2003. I’ve reported on it each year for more than a decade. The ATUS data for 2020, released in 2021, reflected significant effects from the COVID-19 pandemic that has gripped the nation since March 2020. Fortunately, during 2021, the crisis loosened its stranglehold on the economy, allowing it to bounce back to pre-plague levels. However, the economy has since fallen behind again due to the rise of the worst inflation since the 1980s (sure to be a significant factor in next year’s report). A reminder: the ATUS study covers all individuals over 15 years old, including full-time high school and college students, the disabled, the unemployed, and retirees. It also covers every day of the week, including weekends and holidays. Therefore, the average hour per day worked may, at first glance, seem low. However, these numbers are averages for every day and every person, including those who didn’t work or worked only part time. In the 2021 data, it also includes almost 2 million people holding multiple jobs. Home Work While the 2021 work statistics resemble those of 2019, one difference from pre-COVID stats is a continuation of a phenomenon I’ve long seen as inevitable, but COVID just accelerated its development. The sharp increase in working from home reported last year continued in 2021, especially among professionals, with minor changes. No real surprise there, given the continuing pandemic and the fact that both workers and employers have become accustomed to people working from home. Indeed, a significant percentage of workers have refused to return to the traditional workplace, resulting in what employers have dubbed “the Great Resignation” when they’ve been pressed by employers to return (I’ve blogged about this recently). As the pandemic forced continued use of videoconferencing and telecommuting technology (e.g., Skype and Zoom), 38% of employees did some or all their work from home, as opposed to 68% who did some or all their work from their workplace (these numbers exceed 100% because some workers did both). The 38% of individuals who worked at home in 2021 is down a bit from the 42% who worked from home during the 10 months recorded for 2020. That year, the reporting was late in starting, as the COVID-19 pandemic began in earnest. In 2021, those who worked at their workplaces averaged 7.84 hours on an average day they worked; people who worked at home worked an average of 5.61 days on days they worked. This lower number for those who worked at home may reflect less time spent commuting; however, again, this average includes all days of the week and holidays, which suggests most Americans are working significantly longer than the “standard” 40 hours per week. Thirty-five percent of men worked at home on an average day, down a bit from 36% in 2020, while the number of women working from home dropped sharply from 49% to 41.5%, possibly because many children returned to school in 2021 and no longer needed home schooling and at-home supervision. Overall, workers in management and with higher levels of education tended to work more from home that those with less education. For example, 67% of workers with advanced degrees worked from home on days they worked, while just 19% of those with only a high school diploma did. A bit under 51% of the population 15 years old or older worked in 2021, higher than the pre-COVID 2019 level of 49%, as opposed to an average of 39% in 2020. Clearly, millions of people were back to work as COVID restrictions eased nationwide and their jobs returned. The average number of hours worked on days worked (including weekends) rose to 7.75 as opposed to 7.6 in 2020, springing back above the 2019 level of 7.7. As counted by ATUS, “employed persons” includes full-time workers and part-time workers, which also lowers the average number of hours worked to below the expected eight hours; but interestingly, the sum across seven days adds up to over 50 hours weekly for the average worker. The Takeaway It’s clear that in 2021, the economy had begun to recover from COVID. It continued to stabilize for most of 2021, before inflation hit late in the year and in early 2022. In next year’s ATUS article, I expect to report a downturn in the economy, as we’re officially already in recession, though it’s hard to say how that will affect jobs. Non-salary workers may work longer, while both salary and wage workers may get part-time hourly-wage jobs on top of their main jobs to offset the increased costs of necessities like food and energy. We’ll see.So: how did the pandemic affect your work in 2021? Let us know in the Comments section. © 2022 Laura Stack. Laura Stack, MBA, CSP, CPAE is an award-winning keynote speaker, bestselling author, and noted authority on employee and team productivity. She is the president of The Productivity Pro, Inc., a company dedicated to helping leaders increase workplace performance in high-stress environments. Stack has authored eight books, including FASTER TOGETHER: Accelerating Your Team’s Productivity (Berrett-Koehler 2018). She is a past president of the National Speakers Association, and a member of its exclusive Speaker Hall of Fame (with fewer than 175 members worldwide). Stack’s clients include Cisco Systems, Wal-Mart, and Bank of America, and she has been featured on the CBS Early Show and CNN, and in the New York Times. To have Laura Stack speak at an upcoming meeting or event, call 303-471-7401 or contact us online. View the full article

Alorica Work From Home – here’s what you need to know. Alorica is a customer experience (CX) company. That’s a fancy way of saying Alorica is in the business of customer service. And, that’s good news for you, if you’re looking for remote work. After all, there are a lot of work from home customer service jobs – and Alorica is just one company with plenty of them to choose from. So, how do you get hired here? And what is it like to work at Alorica? Read on. This Alorica work from home review is everything you need to know about working here, before you apply! What is Alorica? As I mentioned, Alorica is a CX company. They sell customer service as, well, a service to other businesses. In other words, companies hire Alorica to help them manage customer care. For example, a hotel chain needs agents to answer phone calls from guests. These agents help book rooms, answer questions, and manage guest reservations. However, it is expensive and time consuming to operate a call center. So, the hotel group outsources its customer service to Alorica. Now, Alorica is in charge of reservations and customer care for this large hotel group. As a result, Alorica hires work from home agents to answer calls on behalf of the its client – the hotel. Tell Me More About Alorica Work From Home Jobs Alorica has a lot of job openings. But, not all of them are remote. Let’s pay close attention to specific at-home opportunities called Alorica-at-Home. What is Alorica-at-Home? Simply put it’s Alorica’s program built specifically for remote workers. Instead of operating an in-person call center, Alorica allows agents to work from home. “We’re a company that only does one thing – we make lives better…one interaction at a time. And thanks to Alorica-at-Home, you can help us do that from the comfort of your couch!” alorica careers page What Kinds of Positions are Available? Mostly Alorica-at-Home offers call center positions. This includes job titles like: Customer Experience AgentCustomer Service RepresentativeHealthcare Customer Service RepresentativeCustomer Support RepresentativeFinancial Customer Service RepresentativeCustomer Service SpecialistVirtual Customer Service Representative However, Alorica also has work from home positions for roles like: Team ManagerClient SolutionsPharmacy Tech AssociateProject ManagerMedication Access Specialist Keep an eye on the Alorica Jobs Page for a complete list. Make sure to filter by “virtual” location for all the remote listings! Does Alorica Work From Home Have Location Requirements for Remote Jobs? Yes! Remember, the majority of work from home jobs have geographic requirements. And, Alorica is no different. For example, Alorica currently hires in select countries like: United StatesCanadaPhilippinesBulgariaGuatemalaPanama Furthermore, Alorica has wfh jobs with specific region, state, or even metro area requirements. For example, a work from home financial customer service rep role is only available for Albuquerque, NM or Lake, Mary, FL residents. I think it’s easiest to filter jobs down to “virtual locations” so you see all the work from home jobs back to back like so: Is This an Employee Position? You bet! If you don’t know your remote work type, figure that out first! Otherwise you won’t know whether this is a good fit for you Alorica mainly has employee positions. As such, Alorica employees are eligible for benefits like: Paid trainingMedical & dental insurancePTO401(k)Employee discount programTuition Reimbursement Additionally, almost all listings advertise full time work. So, be sure you want to work full time and have a set schedule before you apply for Alorica Work From Home! What Will I Do? Great question! First, it depends on which position you’re interested in. Some of Alorica’s virtual jobs are specialized. However, the majority of them are listed under the “Call Center” category. As a result, you will spend your shift answering back-to-back calls, messages, or chats. Some tasks you’ll perform: Talk with customers over phone, email, chat, and/or social mediaResolve customer questions and concernsDe-escalate issuesRespond to assistance requests Upsell to customers when appropriateUpdate customer information as needed Remember, you work for Alorica as a representative for big-name brands. That means you will work with customers to clear up concerns and confusion about products and services that Alorica clients offer (not Alorica itself). For example, Alorica Call Center Agents may answer calls for Hilton and Intuit (among other brands!). What Requirements Do I Need to Work From Home for Alorica? At the very least you need a high school diploma or GED. However, applicants with a college degree are preferred. Alorica also prefers candidates who have: Customer service experienceBilingualCall center experience Of course previous call center work or being bilingual isn’t a requirement. It’s just an added bonus if you have any of these under your belt! In addition, Alorica Applicants need a quiet home office workspace. You should also have a current Windows PC and high-speed internet – these will be tested during the application process. Are There Specific Skills I Need? Absolutely! To be successful with Alorica Work From Home, you should have: Strong oral and written communication skillsFamiliarity with Microsoft Windows, Word, and ExcelPatience and confidenceAbility to navigate phone and computer systems with easeStrong typing speed Alorica also looks for applicants who are able to stay calm and composed when dealing with difficult customers! Is There a Background Check or Criminal Record Check at Alorica? Yes! According to the Alorica Employee Handbook, “A pre-employment, post-conditional offer background check is required for any candidate being considered for employment. Employment offers are conditional pending successful completion of a background check.” The background check will verify: Criminal historySSNEmploymentEducationCredit history Now, does having a criminal record prevent you from working at home for Alorica? Not necessarily. However, Alorica may withdraw an employment offer under some circumstances. For example, criminal convictions involving violence, theft, and/or dishonesty are likely to hinder your application. What is The Pay Rate? It depends. Alorica does not specifically discuss pay for most of its listings. However, several remote ads have pay rate mentioned in the job title. For example, Customer Experience Agent $15/ hourBilingual Customer Experience Representative $18.00 per hourFinancial Care Representative $16-$17/hrCustomer Service Representative – Work at Home – $18/HRVirtual Pharm Tech Associate $20/hr Of course, this is a short list of different remote roles with pay rates. But it’s reasonable to think that Alorica Work From Home offers starting pay around the $15/hour mark. After you submit your application, a recruiter will reach out to you with more details about the role – including pay. I’m Interested! What’s the Alorica Work From Home Application Process Like? It takes about 30-45 minutes to complete the entire application process. However, you do not have to complete the entire thing in one sitting. Alorica allows you to save your application as a draft and continue it at a later point. In total, there are 10 main sections of the application to navigate through. 1. Register First, you have to register as a New User through Alorica. (Or login if you have already signed up before!). You can create a username and password or simply use your Google Account details to login. 2. Background Details Next, it’s time to provide some background information. Be prepared to provide details of your previous work experience! Note: You can upload a resume and have your details filled in for you. No resume? No problem! You can also manually fill in all fields as well. 3. Additional Information Afterward, Alorica will verify additional information like whether you’re 18 or older, legally able to work, and available to work various schedules. 4. Experience Questionnaire Then Alorica will ask specific questions about your previous experience. For its Alorica Work From Home program, you will be asked: How many years of call center experience do you have? Number of years experience in customer service? Highest level of education? Remember, be honest! This information will be verified. 5. Diversity Questions After Experience, Alorica dives further into diversity questions. This part of the application will ask about your ethnicity, race, gender, and veteran status. Note: You do not have to answer these questions. 6. Self-Identification of Disability Following Diversity is a short “Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability” form. Because Alorica does business with the government, they are required to provide equal opportunity to individuals with disabilities. Again, you do not have to fill this out. 7. Complete Tax Questionnaire Next up is an Employer Tax Credit Screening. You will be asked to provide your full name, address, and social security number. From there be ready to answer questions about any previous government benefits you have received like TANF, SNAP, or SSI. Please note, the answers you provide are 100% confidential. In other words, Alorica does not see your responses – they’re used to provide tax breaks. 8. Harver Now it’s time to start Harver. It appears Harver is a hiring tool companies use to help them bulk hire. And, this makes perfect sense for Alorica. Essentially, the Harver portion of your application is an assessment. It is broken down into 5 different parts: Situational Judgment Test Personality TestSkills TestTyping TestInternet Speed Test Situational Judgment Test After a short introductory video you will be asked to answer questions based on made up scenarios. They refer to this as a Situational Judgment Test. In total, there are about 9 questions broken down into sets of 3. Most questions want to know how you would handle specific customer interactions. However, some asked about what you would do if a problem came up while working from home. Personality Test After the Situational Judgment Test, you will take a personality test. There are about 75 questions in total. Skills Test Next, Alorica Work from Home wants to know you will be successful as a remote worker. So, you will have to answer a timed skills test – you have about 45 seconds to answer each of the roughly 15 questions! Typing Test Now it’s on to the Typing Test! This is a short, 3-minute test. You will retype text as quickly and accurately as you can during the 3-minute period. Remember, you want to display both speed and accuracy. Internet Speed Test Finally, you will perform a quick internet speed test. You don’t have to do anything here other than click a “start” button. Alorica’s system will perform the test and display the results for you. This test is to double check that your home internet is fast enough for remote work. 9. E-Sign Your Application Hang in there – you’re almost done! Now you will read a short statement and e-sign your application. This is to acknowledge that all information you provided is true and accurate to the best of your knowledge. That’s it! 10. Review and Submit And, finally, it’s time to review your application and submit it to the Alorica team. If needed, you can edit information about your work experience, background, and demographics. Once everything looks good, go ahead and hit submit. Your Application is Complete After you submit your full application, you’re all done. Next, a recruiter for Alorica Work From Home will review your details. If you’re a good fit, they will reach out to you with next steps. Remember to keep an eye on your inbox for any updates. You can also check on the status of your application by logging into your Alorica account and click the “View My Submissions” link. Alorica Work From Home Scams Unfortunately, scams are a part of the work from home world. And, Alorica is no different. However, Alorica is well aware of scammers posing as company representatives and has taken measures to warn applicants. For example, Alorica shares a Fraud Alert on its Careers Page. Remember, a common work from home scam is to ask applicants to pay for equipment or administrative fees. However, reputable remote companies WILL NOT ask applicants to pay for expenses related to employee positions. Period! Alorica Work From Home Reviews Lastly, don’t forget to do your homework! Part of my job here at Work From Home Happiness is to help remote job seekers find a job they’ll love – not just any ol’ remote job. To land the right remote role, always research the company. First, head over to its social channels and see how it interacts with customers. Then, browse the company website to find its mission statement or company values. Typically, you will start to get a vibe from the company and whether it’s a place you could see yourself working. Finally, read employee reviews. You can use Glassdoor, Indeed, and even Facebook to find current and former employee feedback: But, read reviews with a grain of salt – most people will take the time to write about a negative experience, fewer will share their positive thoughts. In other words, employee reviews are helpful but shouldn’t be the only way you determine if a company is a good fit for you. Should You Work from Home for Alorica? Overall, Alorica appears to be a solid remote-friendly company with plenty of customer service and call center jobs to choose from. They also provide decent pay as well as employee benefits. The application process is lengthy but it helps to speed up the hiring process. After all, factors that quickly rule out candidates like internet speed and computer compatibility are determined pretty early on, so you don’t waste your time. Remember, this position is not for everyone! Alorica Work From Home is all about call center operations, so you will have a good deal of phone work and customer interaction. Introverts will likely find this role overwhelming because of the constant calls. However, if you thrive on human interaction and feel comfortable with customer service this is a promising role. It doesn’t hurt to go through the Alorica Work From Home application process to learn more and to see if it’s a good fit for you! The post Alorica Work From Home Review: Everything You Need to Know appeared first on Work from Home Happiness. View the full article

You’re busy. You have a million and one things on your plate and the list never ends. You’re wondering how you’re going to manage your workload and meet your deadlines. You think about going on a course or workshop to learn how to prioritize. You google ‘Time Management Training’. Maybe that’s what you need? Well, stop right there. Time Management Training isn’t the answer. Because you can’t manage time. Whatever you do, the clock still ticks. You’re only ever going to have 24 hours in a day. There’s no workshop that can change that. So what can you do? Well, you can manage your attention. That’s where our ‘How to be a Productivity Ninja‘ workshop comes in. You’ll learn how to avoid distractions, get your best work done and make space for what matters. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the sheer volume of things you need to do each day, then this workshop is for you. We’ll show you how to break down your daily schedule into manageable chunks so you can focus on what matters most. During the workshop you’ll: Learn sustainable strategies to get more of your best work done in an age of information overload and rapid change.Get in control of your actual workload by building a trusted ‘second brain’ system right there on the day.Manage multiple projects, priorities and responsibilities with more clarity and less reactivity. And much, much more. Don’t just take our word for it! It was well thought out, practical and the best use of my time I have had in a training session for years Ronan Gillen, eBay (workshop participant) What do I do next? If you want to reduce stress by eliminating those nagging feelings of doubt, guilt and overload panic, and replace them with a focused, playful, purposeful and productive momentum then book on to one of our upcoming Public Workshops here. And if you want to create this monumental change throughout your whole team, then just drop us an email and one of our Superstar Productivity Ninjas will be in touch. The post Time Management Training for Busy People appeared first on Think Productive UK. View the full article

When I tell people we’ve had a 4 Day Week since 2011, I think it’s fair to say most people are surprised, impressed and feel a glimmer of hope. There’s hope that the future of work is headed in a more human, happier and healthier direction. REST AND RECOVERY It’s easy to see how the 4 Day Week has been good for our wellbeing. An extra day of rest and recovery to ourselves. Who can argue with that? The 4DW has naturally taken our productivity to another level too. Rest and recovery are important for good productivity. With a shorter week, we benefit from what I call “Pre-holiday and Post-holiday feelings”. PRE-HOLIDAY PRODUCTIVITY BOOST We all know that pre-holiday feeling, where we sense that every hour counts but that we can’t do it all. The 4 Day Week is like a deadline which forces us to prioritise, it pushes us to focus and to be ruthless with how we protect our time and attention. POST-HOLIDAY PRODUCTIVITY BOOST And after our three-day weekends, we naturally benefit from a “Post-Holiday Productivity Boost”. We return refreshed, re-energised and ready for action. More open to ideas and opportunities. Making decisions, solving problems and handling the next fire from a place of perspective and clarity (rather than from a place of tiredness, stress, overwhelm or low morale). HEALTHIER, HAPPIER As you can imagine, we’re also less likely to leave or to be ill, are more likely to be happier and more engaged at work, and to be proud of where we work. All of this is good for the bottom line (look up any employee engagement meta-analysis by Gallup). All of this is easy to predict and to understand. What many people are quick to quite rightly ask though, is: “Yes, but how do you fit five days of work into four?” They often go on to say, “I’d find it more stressful” and “That wouldn’t work for us – even five days isn’t enough.” THIS HERE, this very question, is the key to unlocking the true glorious potential of the 4 Day Week. Certainly, I’ve heard of companies who have made the 4 Day Week “work” by squeezing the same volume of work into fewer days, and by taking a more draconian approach to break times, social media use, office watercooler chat or personal appointments. Essentially, giving with one hand and taking with the other. This is a wasted opportunity to fully open the door to the many other ways in which the 4 Day Week can bring unprecedented productivity and wellbeing transformation. IMPACT THINKING In a world where the work never ends, rather than jumping blindly into another week of pointless meetings and endless emails, shouldn’t we be asking ourselves: “How do I really make space for what matters?” Is checking your emails again for the third time this hour really the best use of your time? When is your proactive attention at its peak? Are you protecting those couple of hours a day from distractions and using it to do your more complex, deep work – the stuff that really adds value? The high impact work, which is not only challenging and satisfying, but which helps move you and your organisation closer to achieving its goals. Are you taking a step back each week, to review your projects and commitments and to go into “boss mode”, strategically deciding when and what needs to be progressed? Are you empowering your team to ask similar questions? If properly supported by management, the 4 Day Week can give you and your team permission to think in this way, in terms of impact. When a colleague asks “Am I really needed at this meeting?” or “Can you help me prioritise my projects”, I know we’re doing something right. FREEDOM AND RESPONSIBILITY We have the freedom and responsibility to structure our workdays, to look at them strategically, to decide when we want to collaborate, when to take breaks (because listening to your body and giving your brain a break is the smart thing to do) or when to go offline or to work remotely. All of this within the boundaries and needs of the team and business of course. And we are trusted to do it. Trust is key here. So what we’ve opened the doors to here is higher quality productivity, going hand-in-hand with deeper wellbeing. We trust and empower each other to make space for satisfying, higher-impact, good work that creates value. We all crave this fulfilment and respect. In our experience, the 4 Day Week is a wondrous, virtuous circle of deeper wellbeing, authentic engagement and higher quality productivity. And we’d never go back. *At Think Productive, we inspire and equip people and organisations to make space for what matters. Download our brochure. Want to equip your people with the tools and mindset to be Productivity Ninjas? Explore our life-changing workshops The post Why We Champion the 4 Day Week appeared first on Think Productive UK. View the full article

Overnight remote jobs are great for night owls. They’re also a good option for anyone who needs an alternative schedule. However, third-shift gigs aren’t always easy to come by. But, there are still plenty of options to choose from. For starters, certain industries have more overnight opportunities than others. Plus, there’s always the option of creating your own flexible remote-friendly job. Let’s cover the basics of overnight work before we get into the nitty gritty. What is Considered an Overnight Remote Job? First, let’s discuss what overnight remote jobs actually are. In the US, work schedules are split into three different shifts: First Shift – 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.Second Shift – 5:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.Third Shift – 12:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. So, a business open 24 hours a day has three sets of workers to cover all three shifts. In this case, we’re talking about the third shift which runs from 12:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. As a result, it’s commonly referred to as “overnight” or the “graveyard” shift. Types of Overnight Remote Jobs Like all remote jobs, overnight ones are broken down into two main types: EmployeeSelf-Employment As a reminder, an employee position is like a traditional job. In other words, you work for a company. As a result, you are given specific rights like: Steady pay Benefits eligibilityTaxes withheld from pay However, you (as the employee) are expected to follow the company’s policies and procedures like working assigned shifts and requesting time off. On the other hand, self-employment is working for yourself. That is you are your own boss. For example, business owners, freelancers, and independent contractors are all self-employed. As a self-employed worker you’re responsible for: Finding workPaying estimated taxesCollecting paymentsHealth insurance As a result, you create your schedule and come and go as you please. Of course, each type have their pros and cons, and you’re likely to come across both while searching for overnight remote work. So, it’s important to know the difference ahead of time. Needless to say, please know your remote work type BEFORE you start your remote job search. Remember, knowing your “type” (besides tall, dark, and handsome or Henry Cavill) simplifies your job search and makes it easier to find work. Which Industries Hire Overnight Remote Workers? Next, let’s consider some remote-friendly overnight positions. But first, it’s helpful to think of industries that would hire overnight workers in the first place. After all, not all businesses are open 24/7. However, tons of companies with online or virtual footprints are “open” any time, day or night. Healthcare & Social Work Medical questions pop up at any time. As a result, many insurance companies and medical centers have 24-hour hotlines patients can call to ask questions. And, thanks to telehealth, more and more users readily turn to phones and computers to solve health concerns without going to the hospital. Tele-nurse, phone-triage, counselors, therapists, and crisis line operators are all common healthcare overnight remote jobs. Of course, a medical background or social work experience is required! REAL OVERNIGHT REMOTE JOBS IN HEALTHCARE & SOCIAL WORK Tech Support Many software companies have around the clock support for its users. For example, Apple provides 24/7/365 for its products and iTunes. (Check out Apple work from home jobs to learn more about working remotely for the tech giant!). Additionally, hosting providers, internet services, online schools, and financial institutions employ overnight tech support professionals to assist website owners, students, and customers. Help desk, service desk, and tech support representative are readily available remote positions. As a bonus, many are entry-level and provide room for advancement. Insurance Is there ever a good time for an accident? Of course not. However, it seems like many accidents happen at the most inopportune times like, say, overnight. As a result, insurance companies have agents available 24/7 to answer calls and help policyholders file claims. There’s also a need for all hours roadside assistance. For example, U-Haul and AAA have remote overnight dispatchers to assist stranded motorists. Customer Service As always, there are a lot of remote customer service jobs. And this includes overnight remote jobs too. Banks, like Discover and American Express, offer 24/7 support for card holders. As a matter of fact, there are a number of work from home American Express jobs. Similarly, online retailers, like Amazon, and shipping companies, like FedEx, employ constant customer support teams. Additionally, work from home staffing agencies contract with corporations to provide day and night support. When it comes to remote customer service, you never know what you’ll find. For example, there are even third-shift Customer Care Associate positions with dating apps: Writers The news never sleeps! In fact, news outlets follow a 24/7 coverage cycle. So, it makes sense that online publications look for writers to post breaking news no matter what time it is. As a result, there are journalist, blogger, and content writing positions open to night-loving remote workers. Additionally, freelance writing is so flexible that assignments can be completed day or night! Hospitality Likewise, the hospitality industry operates nonstop. As such, hotels and airlines use remote agents to answer guest questions and make reservations. Plus, large agencies have travel agents on staff 24/7 to make travel arrangements. Needless to say, overnight remote jobs in hospitality include Travel Agent, Reservations, Ticketing, and Travel Consultant. Community Engagement, Social Media, & Moderation Lastly, there’s the nonstop world of social media to consider. In fact, many companies use social media as a means of support and customer service. A recent survey of US consumers found 80% turned to a brand’s social media for support. Accordingly, brands rely on community managers and moderators to respond to social mentions at any given time. As a matter of fact, ModSquad is in the business of hiring overnight remote jobs in social media moderation! Remote Overnight Jobs: Create Your Own Companies aren’t always hiring remote overnight workers. In that case, create your own. By that I mean freelance. What is Freelancing? As I mentioned earlier, there are two types of remote jobs: EmployeeSelf-Employment Freelancing falls under the self-employment category. Additionally, freelancers sell services and bill for those services. For example, a client hires a freelance writer to create 500-word blog posts at $50 per post. Now, the beauty of freelancing is the ability to set a schedule that works for you. In other words, you create your own overnight remote jobs. In fact, freelancing offers enough flexibility that work can be done at 2:00 a.m. or 2:00 p.m. or any time in between. Benefits of Freelance Overnight Remote Jobs Additional benefits of freelancing include: Unlimited earning potential – Pay rates are not set in stone. Therefore, freelancers aren’t stuck making a fixed amount per hour or annual salary. As a result, freelancers earn more per hour than 70% of traditional (employee) workers in the US. Greater satisfaction – A study by IBM determined freelancers are generally happier and more engaged than employees! And, not to state the obvious, but I’m all about finding work from home happiness around these parts. Accessibility – Freelancing offers an opportunity for individuals limited by personal circumstances, i.e., health, the ability to work. For example, workers living with chronic illnesses, autoimmune diseases, or disabilities often find it difficult to work outside the home or maintain a traditional schedule. Fortunately, freelance jobs allow work to happen at odd hours or different locations like a hospital or health center. Freelance Resources for Beginners I previously mentioned how flexible freelancing. As a result, freelancing lends itself well to working any time and anywhere, including overnight and remotely. However, I always want to be super transparent about the difficulties freelancers face. Although freelancers are higher paid, generally happier, and enjoy flexibility – it takes a lot of work to get there. Back in the day, I quit my well-paying corporate job to freelance full time. At the time, I had no professional writing experience or any clue how to properly manage myself as a business of one. Unfortunately, I learned the ins and outs of freelancing the hard way. My first year was rough. At times, I was ready to throw in the towel and crawl back to my cubicle begging for mercy and a paycheck. But, I kept myself afloat with remote jobs hiring immediately and eventually learned enough about freelancing to make it on my own. So, please learn from my experience and educate yourself about freelancing before you jump in. Or, better yet, invest in freelance training that teaches you a freelance skill AND how to run a successful freelance business – win, win. TranscribeAnywhere TranscribeAnywhere teaches aspiring typists how to start their own freelance transcription biz. First, students pass a series of transcription lessons. Then they’re prepared for the reality of freelancing full time. As a matter of fact, get a glimpse into the world of remote transcribing by signing up for the Free Seven-Lesson Mini Course. ProofreadAnywhere Another program built with freelancers in mind is ProofreadAnywhere. To start, students learn the ins and outs of proofreading professionally. From there, lessons teach business building skills like finding clients and tackling finances. Sit on on a free 76-minute proofreading workshop to discover what makes a good proofreader and how to attract your ideal clients! Bookkeepers Admittedly, I’m not the best with numbers and that’s exactly why I’m not a bookkeeper. However, bookkeeping may just be right up your alley. To find out, take a free three-part training series to learn about building a bookkeeping business. Hurry! Seats are limited: Virtual Assistant Similarly, tackling to-do lists isn’t my forte. Thankfully, Virtual Assistants (VAs) exist! VAs help professionals manage day-to-day happenings. For example, clearing inboxes, reservations, customer service, social media, and more. Needless to say, it’s a big business in the world of freelancing. And you can get it on it too by learning how to become a VA. Edit Republic My friend, Phon, is a self-employed editor (and nice human being). Her career first started as a professional romance novel reader. Then she launched her own freelance proofreading and copyediting business. Now she teaches others how to turn their love of reading into an online editorial business. Sign up for the free masterclass for the 4-step framework needed to start a freelance editorial biz of your own. SmartBlogger As I previously mentioned, writing lends itself well to overnight remote jobs. In fact, I’ve written at odd hours for the better part of a decade as a self-employed blogger. However, it wasn’t exactly smooth sailing to get to that point. So, I highly recommend joining the Paid to Write Club. The program provides the support you need (and wish I had at the time!) to get your first paying freelance writing client. Where Can I Search for Overnight Remote Jobs? Finally, let’s quickly talk about places to search for overnight remote jobs on your own. But, first, let’s recap what we’ve learned so far… Some industries have more overnight remote jobs than others Freelancing is flexible enough that you can create your own overnight remote jobYou should always determine your remote work type BEFORE you start a job search Got it? Good! Now, here are places you can look for remote overnight jobs on your own. Remote Job Boards Previously, I’ve written a lot about remote job boards. Please check out Top 10 Remote Job Boards for Thousands of Real Leads. This list will keep you plenty busy no matter your remote work type. However, there are two standouts I highly recommend: FlexJobs and SolidGigs. Both sites are paid membership sites. For the most part, these two sites have greater quality leads than others and thus save time for job seekers. FlexJobs First is FlexJobs. This is a membership site but it’s well worth the monthly fee. To start, FlexJobs hand screens every single listing (and there are a lot of them). It’s guaranteed that all posted positions are 100% legit. In other words, you don’t have to worry about scams. Plus, there are both employee and self-employment job leads here. So, no matter your remote work type, there are plenty of leads! SolidGigs Next up is SolidGigs. This is a job leads website specifically built for freelancers. As I said before, it takes a lot of work to get started and stay afloat as a freelancer. After all, you have to find clients and spend countless hours looking for leads. That’s where SolidGigs comes in. They take care of lead generation by providing a roundup of high-quality freelance gigs in your inbox every single day. Now you can focus on producing great work and less time scouring job boards. How Can I Help You Find Remote Overnight Jobs? Lastly, how can I help? It’s never easy to look for a new job. Please feel free to reach out to me and introduce yourself. I’m always happy to help point you in the right direction. You’ve got this! Happily, Ashlee PS This post contains affiliate links. Please read my disclosure statement to learn more. The post Overnight Remote Jobs appeared first on Work from Home Happiness. View the full article

by Laura Stack, MBA, CSP, CPAE Few things have changed the modern workplace more than the COVID-19 pandemic. Large-scale remote work, which many corporations tried and discarded as unmanageable not so long ago, suddenly became required in most businesses. Nascent and underutilized technologies experienced rapid development and widespread implementation. While the pandemic paralyzed some industries for a while, the white-collar world not only adapted quickly, but it also thrived. According to most studies, individual productivity increased slightly after employees went home to work. Familiar surroundings, flexible schedules, and a lack of commutes led to happier, more engaged, and less-stressed workers… to the point where most of the rank and file simply didn’t and still don’t want return to the office. Employers, conversely, want their workers back. They have properties and mortgages to pay, and they need people filling those seats to get a return on their investment. They also claim greater value for face-to-face meetings than remote ones, an increased sense of camaraderie in the office, and easier communication of ideas between employees. Some analysts suggest they also want to regain more direct control over their employees. Since mid-2021, when many companies began to urge or order their people back to the office, they’ve experienced significant pushback. The recently remote workers are content and productive, having proven to anyone willing to notice that work location doesn’t always count if they do their assigned work. A surprising number have proven willing to quit if they don’t get their way. How can employers adapt to this new reality? Consider these suggestions. Go with the flow. I’ve long believed that the workplace would eventually decentralize, though I never suspected a pandemic would cause it. Before, we were like honeybees, working and producing in a central hive. Now we’re like mason bees, just as productive but solitary in our own little holes, still making plenty of honey. We’re in contact with our teams; we just don’t see them every day, and don’t need to. I realize this weakens the traditional manager/employee and team bonds to some extent, at least for those supervisors unwilling to put in extra effort. However, remote work allows the organization in general to (a) save a ton of money by maintaining less real estate; (b) pay less for the requisite utilities, insurance, and associated costs; and (c) tap a much larger pool of workers. In addition, studies show that many workers will consider accepting lower pay if they don’t have to come into the office as often, especially those with long commutes. Again, more easy savings. And remember: it’s cheaper to keep experienced employees than to train up new ones. Adopt a hybrid environment. Some workers will want to come back to the office. So, keep some of them in house, and let others stay remote where possible. Plenty of businesses were already doing this in a limited way when the pandemic hit, especially for short-term specialists like coders and tech writers. But if you have a bunch of permanent full-time workers already working remotely, and it’s effective, why not give them the option, too? Then you can consolidate and save money. Sweeten the pot. If you need your employees to return to the office, make it easier for them. Pay for their commutes. Offer childcare services or stipends. Improve their benefits, let their shares vest earlier, or provide better matching for their 401k’s. You’ll discover many ways you can lure workers back to a centralized location if you give it some thought. Much to the astonishment of the business world, several 2021 polls indicated that a high percentage of white-collar employees who were then working remotely because of the pandemic (40% to 95%, depending on the source) would quit their jobs if their employers tried to force them back to the office. And millions have, in a trend pundits call “the Great Resignation.” As of March 2022, the monthly Quits Rate in non-farm jobs, as tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, has risen to a record high of 3% (also achieved in November and December 2021). In April 2020, it was half that. If you’re a white-collar employer, and you aren’t getting pushback on this issue yet, you probably soon will. How you handle it will determine the future of your business—and whether it survives. © 2022 Laura Stack. Laura Stack, MBA, CSP, CPAE is an award-winning keynote speaker, bestselling author, and noted authority on employee and team productivity. She is the president of The Productivity Pro, Inc., a company dedicated to helping leaders increase workplace performance in high-stress environments. Stack has authored eight books, including FASTER TOGETHER: Accelerating Your Team’s Productivity (Berrett-Koehler 2018). She is a past president of the National Speakers Association, and a member of its exclusive Speaker Hall of Fame (with fewer than 175 members worldwide). Stack’s clients include Cisco Systems, Wal-Mart, and Bank of America, and she has been featured on the CBS Early Show and CNN, and in the New York Times. To have Laura Stack speak at an upcoming meeting or event, call 303-471-7401 or contact us online. View the full article

Why is Mental Health Training Important? It’s a well-known fact that organisations must have first aiders, at least one per floor or a recommendation of 1 per 50 employees. Yet, as the number of suicide deaths per year inch closer to that of heart attack deaths, asthma attacks become less common than panic attacks, and food phobias are about as usual as food allergies – why aren’t we talking about Mental Health First Aid more? Even without digging into the morbid statistics, creating mental health awareness within the workplace says; “This workplace believes you have a worthwhile story to tell. You are in a safe place to tell it, and we will support you to manage your illness and be here.” What are the benefits of mental health training? Mental health training within your organisation can be transformative. As with first aid training, mental health training gives employees the tools to keep themselves and their colleagues well: It endorses that seeking help when things aren’t ok, is ok. Empowers people with mental health illnesses to thrive at work. Creates a supportive culture and acts as a preventative step toward mental health issues within the workplace. Mental health training is a step towards positive, long term cultural change within your organisation. If team members believe they work within a culture that discourages stress, over-working and presenteeism, they are more likely to speak up when they need a break. And because we spend such a large proportion of our life at work and in contact with colleagues, workplaces are uniquely placed in the fight to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness. But sadly, most employees do not believe their managers would know what to do when approached about mental illness and most managers agree (1). This cycle of fear prevents us from speaking up when we’re not ok and stops us from asking when someone else isn’t ok. Mental health training can provide a safe space and protected time for team members to explore how to ask and what to do if someone is not ok. What do the stats say about Mental Health in the Workplace? As part of tackling mental illness, the Health and Safety Executive recommends mental health awareness training for the organisation. Such movements are in direct response to the stats around mental ill-health in the workplace that continue to grow each year: 1 in 6 workers will experience depression, anxiety or problems relating to stress at any one time (2).In 2018/19, stress, depression or anxiety were responsible for 44% of all cases of work-related ill health and 54% of all working days lost due to health issues in GB (3).1 in 5 people take a day off due to stress. Yet, 90% of these people cited a different reason for their absence (4).Presenteeism accounts for two times more losses than absences (5).Every year it costs businesses £1,300 per employee whose mental health needs are unsupported (5).People with long-term mental health conditions lose their jobs every year at around double the rate of those without a mental health condition. This equates to 300,000 people – the equivalent of the population of Newcastle or Belfast (6). These stats are just what we know of and most probably represent the tip of the iceberg. In a space where we spend much of our time, often in positions that are a portion of how we identify and where the work is a stressor in our stress bucket, organisations can no longer ignore how important it is to be mental health aware. Your mind makes you, you. Written by Becky Few Owner of Not Lost, but Free, LinkedIn. Becky Few is a freelance mental health and wellbeing consultant with a portfolio in health improvement resulting from experience within many facets of the speciality. Rebekah is currently undertaking studies in counselling and holds a PGDip in Health and Social Care Leadership and B.Sc. in Psychology and Philosophy. Becky delivers our Mental Health Awareness workshops in the UK. She has worked for 13 years in mental health and wellbeing, working in patient-facing roles as a Wellbeing Practitioner, Behaviour Change Specialist and as a Voluntary Crisis Support Worker, alongside leading public health teams. Becky is currently involved in several public health and wellbeing projects. She also provides academic support, including lecturing to various higher education institutions. In addition to this, she runs her own business providing consultancy and facilitation. References: Business in the Community. Mental Health at Work 2019: Time To Take Ownership [Internet]. 2019. Available from: wellbeing.bitc.org.ukMcManus S, Bebbington P, Jenkins R, Brugha T. Mental health and wellbeing in England: Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey 2014 [Internet]. Leeds; 2016. Available from: content.digital.nhs.UKHealth and Safety Executive. Work-related Stress, Depression or Anxiety Statistics in Great Britain 2019 [Internet]. 2019 [cited 2020 Jan 6]. Available from: hse.gov.ukMind. Work is the biggest cause of stress in people’s lives [Internet]. 2013. Available from: mind.org.ukCentre for Mental Health. Mental health at work: The business costs ten years on [Internet]. 2017 [cited 2017 Oct 16]. Available from: centreformentalhealth.org.ukStevenson D, Farmer P. Thriving at work: The Independent Review of Mental Health and Employers [Internet]. 2017 [cited 2017 Nov 22]. Available from: gov.UK The post Why Investing in Mental Health Training for Your Team is Important appeared first on Think Productive UK. View the full article

To create great comms you need to be able to identify the right comms channel for your message to land correctly, with impact and with clarity and the right intended tone. In our Supercharge Your Team Comms workshop, we introduce our workshop participants to POPP (we love an acronym ) as a method to identify the best tool for your comms. So, before you send out any piece of comms, take some time to think about the: Purpose – what is this purpose of this piece of comms? Why am I even sending this email or setting up this meeting? Outcome – what result am I looking for here? Priority – is this urgent? Is it important? What level of urgency or importance can you put on this? This will help you decide on the comms channel that is most appropriate. People – who do I need involved? Who do I need to share/tell/ask about this particular piece of comms? Here is an example from the workshop of how the POPP model works: So, before you hit send on that email, or set up that Zoom meeting, run through POPP to be sure that you’re using the most impactful comms tool at your disposal. And check out our CALM tool, which along with our POPP method will make sure your comms are never ignored! The post Make your comms POPP! appeared first on Think Productive UK. View the full article

by Laura Stack, MBA, CSP, CPAE In a rapidly changing environment, it’s no surprise that new “buzzwords” occasionally pop up on your bingo card. One of recent example is upskilling. At first glance, the definition seems obvious, but it means more than you might think—especially after our shared ordeal with the COVID-19 pandemic. These days, we all need to take the time to upskill and refresh our work habits, which the World Economic Forum predicts will raise the global GDP by up to $6.5 trillion by 2030. Upskilling involves taking your work to the next level, to better fit your job’s current and future needs. It’s not good enough to just tread water. You must consistently work to advance your career, if only to keep pace with change. The white-collar professional never really stops learning. Here are a few tips to make sure you’re advancing as you should. Keep working on your people skills. Soft skills like emotional intelligence (EQ), willing cooperation, and tact have always had a place in our field. As we evolve more toward remote and hybrid work environments, these will be more important than ever for camaraderie and a sense of teamwork. Hone your communications skills. Again, this skill has always been important, but has become increasingly essential as the workplace evolves. On a conference call, and even to some extent on a videoconference, you don’t always have the social cues that let other people pick up on the nuances of your messages, and vice versa. You certainly don’t with email or IMs, so take some time to learn how to state your opinion or the facts simply and clearly, whether verbally or in writing. This will cut down on misunderstandings, bottlenecks, and roadblocks. Read, read, read. It’s especially important to read widely in your field, so you can keep up with new developments and make contributions to your organization. But also read widely in other fields, including fiction and current events. Creative applications may help you handle a tough problem at work, and planting ideas in your subconscious mind can result in new, profitable concepts as the ideas cross-fertilize. Keep educating yourself. Whether it’s getting a new license or certification, taking a continuing education class, or learning the latest programming language, don’t hesitate to do it. I joined a forum and learned how to start and run a nonprofit. It may involve pushing yourself out of your comfort zone or paying for it yourself, but if it will advance your career, it can be worth the cost and effort. Biting the Bullet Upskilling is vital unless you want your career to stall. And frankly, it mostly consists of simple things you should do anyway. Some, like training, may be covered by your organization, and some you can do during downtime and breaks, like keeping up with your reading. Upskilling doesn’t have to be hard; you just need to keep at it and not get complacent. What can you do to shake things up? © 2022 Laura Stack. Laura Stack, MBA, CSP, CPAE is an award-winning keynote speaker, bestselling author, and noted authority on employee and team productivity. She is the president of The Productivity Pro, Inc., a company dedicated to helping leaders increase workplace performance in high-stress environments. Stack has authored eight books, including FASTER TOGETHER: Accelerating Your Team’s Productivity (Berrett-Koehler 2018). She is a past president of the National Speakers Association, and a member of its exclusive Speaker Hall of Fame (with fewer than 175 members worldwide). Stack’s clients include Cisco Systems, Wal-Mart, and Bank of America, and she has been featured on the CBS Early Show and CNN, and in the New York Times. To have Laura Stack speak at an upcoming meeting or event, call 303-471-7401 or contact us online. View the full article

Being a manager isn’t easy. The technical skills a person relies on early in their career don’t always translate into the core skills needed to lead others. If they did, anyone could be promoted and adored by their employees. Of course, we know that’s not the case; toxic managers walk among us. Usually, a workspace stress is the direct result of having an ineffective leader. Take a look at these four types of toxic bosses you may encounter in your career. We’ve also provided some strategies for dealing with each. The Micromanager The sign of micromanager is that they closely monitor every element of their staff’s work and can be quite controlling. Ask a micromanager why they act this way, and they’ll tell you it’s because employees aren’t accountable and can’t deliver the desired quality or quantity of work without constant oversight. On the flip side, employees feel like they aren’t trusted or empowered to perform their best. Dealing with a Micromanager Working with a micromanager can be frustrating, especially if you’re used to working independently. The best way to deal with a micromanager is to work on slowly gaining their trust. Give frequent status updates when you’re working on a project and make sure you deliver on your promises consistently. Over time, even the worst micromanager can begin to trust a good employee and loosen their vice-like grip. The Buddy Manager The buddy manager aims to please. When you first meet him or her, you’ll think you’ve hit the jackpot of great bosses because they’re fun and friendly. But they’re more interested in being friends than leaders. The problem is, it’s impossible to be a good manager without making tough decisions, providing constructive criticism and occasionally angering staff. Buddy managers will just tell you what they think you want to hear. At best, you won’t receive the honest feedback you need to grow as a professional. At worst, you may never get the opportunity to advance in your role because you’re blissfully unaware that higher-ups aren’t happy with your performance. How to deal with a Buddy Manager To deal Read More » The post 4 Types of Toxic Managers & How to Deal with Them appeared first on Accounting Principals Blog. View the full article

Being a manager isn’t easy. The technical skills a person relies on early in their career don’t always translate into the core skills needed to lead others. If they did, anyone could be promoted and adored by their employees. Of course, we know that’s not the case; toxic managers walk among us. Usually, a workspace stress is the direct result of having an ineffective leader. Take a look at these four types of toxic bosses you may encounter in your career. We’ve also provided some strategies for dealing with each. The Micromanager The sign of micromanager is that they closely monitor every element of their staff’s work and can be quite controlling. Ask a micromanager why they act this way, and they’ll tell you it’s because employees aren’t accountable and can’t deliver the desired quality or quantity of work without constant oversight. On the flip side, employees feel like they aren’t trusted or empowered to perform their best. Dealing with a Micromanager Working with a micromanager can be frustrating, especially if you’re used to working independently. The best way to deal with a micromanager is to work on slowly gaining their trust. Give frequent status updates when you’re working on a project and make sure you deliver on your promises consistently. Over time, even the worst micromanager can begin to trust a good employee and loosen their vice-like grip. The Buddy Manager The buddy manager aims to please. When you first meet him or her, you’ll think you’ve hit the jackpot of great bosses because they’re fun and friendly. But they’re more interested in being friends than leaders. The problem is, it’s impossible to be a good manager without making tough decisions, providing constructive criticism and occasionally angering staff. Buddy managers will just tell you what they think you want to hear. At best, you won’t receive the honest feedback you need to grow as a professional. At worst, you may never get the opportunity to advance in your role because you’re blissfully unaware that higher-ups aren’t happy with your performance. How to deal with a Buddy Manager To deal Read More » The post 4 Types of Toxic Managers & How to Deal with Them appeared first on Accounting Principals Blog. View the full article

We’ve all been there – the anticipated job interview. You landed the interview and now it’s time to talk about your accomplishments, right? Half true. While interviewers want to know why you’re the best candidate for the position, they also want to understand how your behavioural patterns and personality will impact company culture and objectives. There is no way to know exactly what questions you’ll be asked, although there are a handful that are likely to pop up. Impress your interviewer by learning how to answer the 5 good interview questions with confidence: why are you leaving your current job? You must be wondering how to answer why are you leaving your current job? Be sure to demonstrate what you have accomplished in your current or previous role. The best way to answer why you left your last job is talk about how you contributed to the company and that you are leaving on good terms – avoid criticizing former colleagues or management. Instead, show sincerity and explain that you’re seeking new challenges and opportunities for growth. What is your greatest weakness? Your first thought may be to present an attribute as a biggest weakness. Interviewers are people too and like to see humility in potential employees. If you have any doubt about how to answer what is your greatest weakness, first talk about a trait you’re actively working to improve. For example, if being meticulous means you spend unnecessary time on projects, recall a time you took a few steps back and looked at the bigger picture. This shows employers you acknowledge your flaws and are making strides to correct them. How do you handle conflict at work? Your answer helps the interviewer predict how you may be dealing with conflict at work. How might you react if a supervisor rejects every one of your proposals? Will you use the criticism to improve, or will you take it personally? Explain a situation of conflict at work with examples, include context, how you found a solution, and the results. Remember to be positive and solution oriented. Where do you see Read More » The post How To Answer The 5 Toughest behavioural interview questions appeared first on Accounting Principals Blog. View the full article

We’ve all been there – the anticipated job interview. You landed the interview and now it’s time to talk about your accomplishments, right? Half true. While interviewers want to know why you’re the best candidate for the position, they also want to understand how your behavioural patterns and personality will impact company culture and objectives. There is no way to know exactly what questions you’ll be asked, although there are a handful that are likely to pop up. Impress your interviewer by learning how to answer the 5 good interview questions with confidence: why are you leaving your current job? You must be wondering how to answer why are you leaving your current job? Be sure to demonstrate what you have accomplished in your current or previous role. The best way to answer why you left your last job is talk about how you contributed to the company and that you are leaving on good terms – avoid criticizing former colleagues or management. Instead, show sincerity and explain that you’re seeking new challenges and opportunities for growth. What is your greatest weakness? Your first thought may be to present an attribute as a biggest weakness. Interviewers are people too and like to see humility in potential employees. If you have any doubt about how to answer what is your greatest weakness, first talk about a trait you’re actively working to improve. For example, if being meticulous means you spend unnecessary time on projects, recall a time you took a few steps back and looked at the bigger picture. This shows employers you acknowledge your flaws and are making strides to correct them. How do you handle conflict at work? Your answer helps the interviewer predict how you may be dealing with conflict at work. How might you react if a supervisor rejects every one of your proposals? Will you use the criticism to improve, or will you take it personally? Explain a situation of conflict at work with examples, include context, how you found a solution, and the results. Remember to be positive and solution oriented. Where do you see Read More » The post How To Answer The 5 Toughest behavioural interview questions appeared first on Accounting Principals Blog. View the full article

Technical Accounting – What is it? The term “technical accounting” refers to the execution, analysis, and oversight of accounting systems within specific corporate contexts. While any accountant should be well-versed in general accounting theory, a technical accountant is required to demonstrate additional competence in the execution of booking transactions within accounting systems, understanding how those transactions will affect the accounting system, and properly assessing whether a transaction is properly entered and generating accurate output. A technical accountant should be able to review previous work (either done by themselves or by others) and readily determine its accuracy. These skills will often drive toward additional roles including the analysis of accounting systems, determining the effectiveness of internal controls, and making recommendations to management regarding potential modifications to an accounting system. Technical Accounting vs. Accounting Accounting, as a general term, refers to the idea of aggregating financial (or other) data for the purposes of producing reports to be used by management or other interested parties in evaluating the trajectory and value of an organization or undertaking. Technical accounting refers to the specific efforts, including the entries, adjustments, analyses, controls, and other efforts that go into converting data into useful output. To make an analogy, baking refers to the activity of taking ingredients and converting them into a loaf of bread. A general theory exists that ingredients are baked and produce a baked good. Technical baking might refer to identifying those specific ingredients, developing the specific enumerated recipe, and ensuring that the baker properly identifies and quantifies each ingredient, sets ovens at appropriate temperatures, and adheres to the appropriate baking time to produce the actual loaf of bread. If a substandard loaf is produced, the technical baker would study the loaf to identify where the failure occurred in the baking system and modify the system accordingly to enable the baker to produce a proper loaf of bread in the future. Firms, particularly public accounting firms, rely on technical accountants to assist them in evaluating clients’ accounting systems and perform checks of accounting reports to determine whether accounting errors may have occurred. Simple examples of Read More » The post Technical Accounting appeared first on Accounting Principals Blog. View the full article

Technical Accounting – What is it? The term “technical accounting” refers to the execution, analysis, and oversight of accounting systems within specific corporate contexts. While any accountant should be well-versed in general accounting theory, a technical accountant is required to demonstrate additional competence in the execution of booking transactions within accounting systems, understanding how those transactions will affect the accounting system, and properly assessing whether a transaction is properly entered and generating accurate output. A technical accountant should be able to review previous work (either done by themselves or by others) and readily determine its accuracy. These skills will often drive toward additional roles including the analysis of accounting systems, determining the effectiveness of internal controls, and making recommendations to management regarding potential modifications to an accounting system. Technical Accounting vs. Accounting Accounting, as a general term, refers to the idea of aggregating financial (or other) data for the purposes of producing reports to be used by management or other interested parties in evaluating the trajectory and value of an organization or undertaking. Technical accounting refers to the specific efforts, including the entries, adjustments, analyses, controls, and other efforts that go into converting data into useful output. To make an analogy, baking refers to the activity of taking ingredients and converting them into a loaf of bread. A general theory exists that ingredients are baked and produce a baked good. Technical baking might refer to identifying those specific ingredients, developing the specific enumerated recipe, and ensuring that the baker properly identifies and quantifies each ingredient, sets ovens at appropriate temperatures, and adheres to the appropriate baking time to produce the actual loaf of bread. If a substandard loaf is produced, the technical baker would study the loaf to identify where the failure occurred in the baking system and modify the system accordingly to enable the baker to produce a proper loaf of bread in the future. Firms, particularly public accounting firms, rely on technical accountants to assist them in evaluating clients’ accounting systems and perform checks of accounting reports to determine whether accounting errors may have occurred. Simple examples of Read More » The post Technical Accounting appeared first on Accounting Principals Blog. View the full article

In the age of COVID-19, the notion of working virtually has become so commonplace it is almost clichéd to even discuss it as somehow novel or noteworthy, but in the world of the CPA, the move to working beyond the office is neither new nor easy. CPAs face significant issues when taking their efforts outside their corporate walls. Rise of the Virtual CPA The idea of the virtual CPA is hardly new. Many CPA firms had remote capabilities dating as far back as the 1970s, with modems dialing directly into office networks. Those relied on centralized systems housed in LAN rooms at CPA firm offices with work backed up to storage tapes. As time progressed, the technologies allowing remote work matured; in the early 2000s, we saw the introduction of cloud storage and remote hosting, the proliferation of virtual desktops, and the beginning of the end for local hosting. Today, nearly every professional software vendor in the space, like Thomson Reuters, Intuit, CCH, and others all sell fully cloud-based solutions for CPAs and their firms eliminating almost any need for centralized servers or storage. Individual practitioners have been able to use these technologies to provide outsourced virtual accounting services as a primary service to businesses that cannot afford or do not want to have local in-office accounting staffs. This has allowed the CPA to go fully remote…if they or, more importantly, their firm or clients are willing to. A CPA can now technically work and operate at 100% capacity nearly anywhere on the planet (or, at least, anywhere there’s Internet access, which, by virtue of mobile hotspots is effectively anywhere). Despite that capability, CPAs and CPA firms have tended to gain a reputation as risk-averse late adopters. Despite decades of technological progress, according to the CPA Firm Management Association’s 2020 Information Technology Survey, only about half utilize an external cloud provider to host their applications. Two-thirds do use virtual server products. Surprisingly, according to the Journal of Accountancy’s 2020 Tax Software Survey, a full 81% of tax firms locally host their tax software. Given where the industry is, virtual CPAs Read More » The post Becoming a Virtual CPA appeared first on Accounting Principals Blog. View the full article