Discover Why Online Training Is Crucial For Remote Workers
Any job that doesn’t require your physical presence for a large portion of time can be done remotely. The information economy has unlocked so many new doors for remote work! If you look at remote work statistics, it’s clear that remote work isn’t just a phase. It’s here to stay and continues growing in a big way year after year. Lately, it has been gaining momentum faster than ever before, with a 2019 Buffer survey showing 99% of people polled would like to work remotely at least part-time.
How do you join the growing movement? There’s no easy answer, but many different factors can point you in the right direction.
Becoming A Remote Employee Or Contractor
Despite the number of gurus online who want to give you a step-by-step guide on how to become a remote worker, freelancer, etc., there’s no cut and dry method to make it happen for you. If you’re already employed, you may be able to re-negotiate your contract to include remote work hours or a more flexible schedule. If you’re looking for new opportunities, you might need to learn new skills and branch out on your own.
When remote work is your goal, you have to find a path that makes sense with your existing assets (education, experience, connections, capital, etc.), even if you have little to nothing at your disposal. Push for what you want and do what it takes to make it happen.
There are some practical things you can do to get closer to your goal of being a remote worker as well. Getting connected with other remote workers and learning new skills are two ways you can help propel yourself toward success. Let’s focus on how learning, especially learning through online platforms, can help you become a remote worker and improve your performance.
Online Training And Remote Work
What’s the relationship between remote workers and online training? Both have been growing in popularity for years, seemingly in tandem with each other. It’s no accident. Remote workers gain a lot of benefits from online training, and many start their remote work careers with skills or negotiation tactics they learned online.
Here are a few of the most common benefits remote workers or those hoping to do remote work in the future get from online training courses:
1. Stand Out
Anyone can call themselves a remote worker, freelancer, or independent contractor. What makes you stand out is demonstrating you have the capabilities to do the work right. Online training will help you get to the point where you understand your field thoroughly and you’re confident in your abilities. This will help you gain some footing in a tricky work environment.
2. Stay Relevant
If your office has in-house training or mentorship programs, it’s a bit difficult for you to join in unless they offer the programs online. When that’s not an option, you need to seek out your own training, mentorship, and career improvement opportunities by doing your own eLearning courses. Just like remote work is attractive, remote learning is equally beneficial.
3. Get Motivated
Learning something new is a great way to help you stay focused and get the motivation you need to continue working hard. Online training is great for remote workers, especially since motivation can be difficult without a manager working with you directly in the office. Take an online learning course that will renew your excitement to work and get you on the path forward again.
4. Learn A New Skill
It’s a competitive marketplace. The more you know, the better off you are. Learn new skills and start using them to get remote working jobs right away. You can sharpen skills that will help you excel in your current workplace or learn new skills that are able to be done remotely to help you score a remote job in the future. Either way, everything you need to learn is available at your fingertips.
Keeping Up Your Skills
If you fall behind industry standards and stop improving your craft, you may find it difficult to maintain a steady stream of work and to remain relevant without being in the office. Remote workers have to work just as hard as traditional employees to keep their knowledge up to date and their skills sharp.
For remote workers, office training may not be available, making eLearning and online training the best option. If you don't take the time to update your work knowledge and take courses, you’ll fall behind your peers, and you may become obsolete over time.
One challenge that applies specifically to remote workers is the potential to be overlooked or forgotten because of the nature of your working conditions. You have a higher risk of being pushed aside in favor of employees and workers who are familiar with each other from interacting at the office. Staying sharp and on the cutting edge of industry knowledge will keep you on the map and help you avoid being overlooked.
If you want a promotion or opportunity for advancement, online training and applying your new knowledge will help your case. Informing your manager that you’ve completed training on your own can bring attention to your work ethic and dedication to the job.
Conclusion
eLearning won’t solve all your problems and instantly make you an effective remote worker, but it’s a great tool to add to your arsenal. Take courses that make sense for you. If you need to learn how to market yourself better, take marketing and sales courses. If you’re struggling to keep up in your industry, learn as much as you can to get ahead. Knowledge is power, especially for remote workers or wanna-be remote workers.
