Editor’s Observe: This story initially appeared on FlexJobs.com.

There are a lot of the reason why you is perhaps exploring your versatile profession choices. Maybe your neighbor works remotely and also you envy their morning espresso on the porch as you head out in your every day commute.

Possibly your house life has modified, and also you’re now juggling caregiving. Or, maybe you notice that your life doesn’t need to be a alternative between your profession and your total wellness.

Regardless of the motive, if you happen to’re right here to find the fundamentals of a versatile job and how one can launch a search to seek out one which’s an ideal match for you, we’ve obtained some suggestions that can assist you.

Reasonably than soar at any job offered as versatile, take the time to pinpoint exactly what you want when it comes to flexibility, work-life steadiness, and profession development.

1. Perceive What a Versatile Job Is

In the event you’ve been contemplating a brand new job, you might need seen the time period “versatile” utilized to varied schedules. Due to this fact, you is perhaps questioning what precisely a versatile job entails, and that is a necessary query to know the reply to.

As a result of “versatile” is an all-encompassing time period that may imply various things to totally different folks, some versatile jobs could also be a superb match for you whereas others gained’t be. In a nutshell, a versatile job is a working association that may permit you to discover a steadiness between your profession and your private life.

Nevertheless, some key options can establish a place as a versatile possibility. These embody jobs with schedules which can be versatile or outdoors of typical enterprise hours, the power to work at the very least a number of the time remotely, or freelancing.

2. Uncover Your Good Versatile Work Type

Earlier than beginning your search to discover a versatile job, it’s important to find out the kind of flex that may work greatest for you. Since it would be best to incorporate flexibility into your search, understanding what you want earlier than you begin trying will save time and assist you goal your search. Contemplate the professionals and cons of every of the next versatile work schedules.

Half-time: Jobs that don’t require you to work full-time are inviting if you happen to’re on the stage in your life the place you aren’t searching for full-time employment. However past filling that apparent want, part-time roles additionally give you the power to achieve some further revenue or launch a brand new profession whereas sustaining the safety of your full-time place.
Versatile schedule: For a lot of distant employees, versatile schedules provide the final word freedom. Reasonably than having to work conventional workplace hours, you’ve got extra freedom to construct your schedule round your private commitments, which might imply something from working early earlier than you drop the children off at college to working three lengthy days and two shorter days. The choices are almost countless.
Various schedule: Whether or not you’re balancing caregiving duties, two jobs, or are merely extra productive outdoors of conventional workplace hours, another schedule is perhaps a dream come true in your profession. The primary distinction between versatile and different schedules is that your employer typically units particular hours so that you can work with another schedule, similar to night, evening, and weekend shifts, for instance.
Freelance: Whereas not particularly a schedule kind, freelancing is entrepreneurship. As a freelancer, you’ll construct a enterprise providing companies to shoppers and different companies. When you can typically dictate your schedule, you’ll additionally must be conscious that you’re chargeable for each facet of the enterprise, from advertising and marketing to taxes.
Distant: Working remotely signifies that you get to skip the commute — at the very least some days. Whether or not you earn a living from home full-time or a couple of days per week, you’ll have the liberty to arrange your workspace, observe yoga at your desk, and produce your canine to work day-after-day. For a lot of, that is the final word dream job — working from dwelling and regaining a while and freedom whereas nonetheless working for a corporation you imagine in.

Don’t low cost your capability to discover a versatile job if one single type of flexibility doesn’t suit your wants. Though some jobs are targeted on one kind of flexibility, you’ll find jobs that supply a couple of versatile association. Frequent mixtures we see often posted embody freelance jobs with versatile schedules, distant jobs with versatile schedules, and distant, part-time jobs.

3. Get Versatile Job Search-Prepared

Earlier than making the leap into your versatile job search, be sure you put together your self. You’ll need to start the identical manner you put together for any job search.

Your first step is usually revamping and overhauling your cowl letter and resume to be simply tailor-made for each job utility. Additionally, you will need to clear up all of your social media pages and concentrate on constant private branding all through your entire messaging.

It’s additionally an awesome concept to begin prepping for future interviews by acquiring skilled apparel, establishing a house workplace if you’re going distant, and gathering relevant suggestions.

Past the usual issues, if you happen to’re trying to transfer to your first versatile function, there are a couple of extra methods to set your self up for achievement. Employers need to see that you just’re not merely following a development however that you just’ve mastered the talents wanted for achievement in a versatile work association.

For example, spherical up any distant work expertise you’ve got, similar to on-line programs you took or the few days you labored from dwelling whenever you have been sick.

With none formal expertise, you would possibly take into account freelancing or volunteering so as to add weight to your resume. It’s also possible to spotlight that you just’re a self-starter and don’t require micromanaging when crafting your resume bullet factors.

4. Leverage Your Community

Whereas networking is a large a part of discovering any job, it’s usually much more vital throughout a seek for a versatile job whenever you often don’t have the benefit of face-to-face interactions.

When employers can put extra context to your title and private model, they’ll start to affiliate you as a potential answer to their wants.

Let your mates, household, {and professional} contacts know you might be open to new alternatives. You by no means know when somebody might need a lead for you. Moreover, take into account becoming a member of skilled organizations or teams associated to your business. It will assist you meet new folks and construct useful connections.

Social media is one other glorious approach to unfold the information about your job search. Use hashtags on LinkedIn to seek out related postings, and be sure that you’re absolutely using LinkedIn teams and the facility of your profile. Observe corporations on Twitter that you just’re concerned about.

You’ll uncover that they’re more and more using social media networks to announce openings and supply candidates.

Lastly, don’t neglect the worth of face-to-face networking, even if you happen to’re searching for a versatile work alternative. Attend business occasions or meetups in your space. You by no means know who you’ll meet or what alternatives would possibly come up.

5. Be Diligent About Avoiding Job Scams

Whereas versatile work has many benefits, one of many biggest disadvantages is the variety of scams that job seekers encounter. With many interactions occurring remotely, it’s simpler than ever so that you can turn into a sufferer if you happen to’re not diligent. The most effective methods to keep away from a rip-off is to make use of a distinct segment job board.

With a complete group devoted to vetting job postings, you may really feel assured making use of to the listings you see there.

Past job boards, you need to use greatest on-line practices by going on to the corporate web site to use, fairly than submitting any info by way of an advert or hyperlink that you just come throughout.

You’ll be capable to confirm that the posting is respectable and apply by way of a safe server as a substitute of submitting your resume or utility by way of electronic mail.

Validate the e-mail deal with of any contact you obtain — particularly if it’s sudden — and be conscious to not give out private info earlier than any job has been supplied. If one thing doesn’t really feel proper or feels too good to be true, by no means enable your self to be pressured right into a hurried choice.

6. Don’t Neglect Smaller Firms

Bigger corporations get numerous press protection for his or her work perks. However usually, smaller corporations are simply as beneficiant, if no more, with their versatile work choices. And though it’s not marketed, that doesn’t imply they’re not open to permitting you to work a extra versatile possibility.

In the event you uncover an organization you’re enthusiastic about due to their work or their firm tradition, take into account asking if a versatile work association could be an possibility (even when solely on a trial foundation).

7. Contemplate Your Present Employer

Tying in with the tip above, have you ever completely explored whether or not or not your present employer would entertain versatile work choices? Going again to the second step, if you happen to’ve genuinely analyzed what kind of flex you want, you would possibly uncover which you can keep your job and meet your commitments with some easy tweaks.

Define the advantages to your employer and ask for a gathering along with your supervisor or HR. Simply because it’s by no means been carried out doesn’t imply it may possibly’t be carried out. Whereas this isn’t all the time an possibility, if you happen to genuinely love your job, it’s value having the dialog.

8. Discover a Full Profession Change

Whereas there are numerous versatile work choices, not each profession can help all of them. In the event you’ve pinpointed your best flex and decided that your present profession gained’t help it, it’s time to seek out your new path.

Start by itemizing transferable expertise after which dive into profession exploration. In the event you’re struggling to reframe your expertise into values that may profit a distinct business, take into account discovering a profession coach who can help you.

Incorporate Flex Into Your Search

When trying to find a versatile job, use key phrases particular to the kind of flexibility you might be searching for. One other nice possibility is to seek for jobs by specializing in corporations which have a status for providing flexibility. Discovering a versatile job is very similar to trying to find a daily job. With the fitting instruments, targeted efforts, and a optimistic perspective, you’ll find and land a versatile job that’s the excellent match for you.