Video Why You Need Work Flexibility and How to Get It

Video Why You Need Work Flexibility and How to Get It Video Why You Need Work Flexibility and How to Get It On National Flex Day 2018, we hosted an expert panel of guests to talk about flexible work and how to get it. Below, you can view the full recording or read the key takeaways from this great event! was joined by Dell’s Global Human Resources Director Mo Chahdi, digital nomad and success story Jason Byer, and The Penny Hoarder Staff Writer Tiffany Connors. These folks generously shared their expertise and experience in flexible and remote work. View the full webinar on why you need work flexibility and how to get it: Read the key takeaways from the webinar: Some companies take work flexibility very seriously- and they’re the ones job seekers should pay the most attention to. Mohammed Chahdi, global human resources director at Dell, explained Dell’s “Connected Workplace” flexible work program, which helps their team members do their best work regardless of where and when. The company creates policies, tools, guidelines, and best practices to empower leaders and employees to do their best work without unnecessary barriers like location. Dell has actively promoted work flexibility for nine years. They offer a continuum of options for people that help them work from the office, from home, and wherever they are in between (traveling for work, meeting with clients, etc.) for a seamless, productive work experience. See Dell’s current open flexible job listings now! Job seekers should seek insight into how a company handles flexible work options because, though not all companies handle flexwork the same way, how they handle it will give you a sense of whether they truly are a flexible company. Wondering if a company you’d like to work for offers this type of flex? Research the company to see if you can find clues as to its flexible work offerings. Look for it in… The company’s culture Its human resource policies How it organizes its office space(s) The way the company talks about itself online The way employees talk about the company online The company’s page in the Company Guide These are some of the current trends in the flexible and remote job marketplace. The Penny Hoarder’s Tiffany Connors says these trends really stand out: Career Fields: Healthcare, hospitality, and technology are three areas with lots of remote jobs, but flexible and at-home jobs exist in most career fields. also outlines the top career fields and companies for flexible jobs here. Soft Skills: Companies with flexible jobs are really looking for soft skills like empathy, patience, leadership, problem-solving, and time management. Paid Leave: More companies are offering paid family or parental leave for caregivers. Negotiating flexible work options with your employer? Before you even discuss flexible work options with your manager, you need to prepare and lay the groundwork for your discussion. Digital nomad and remote job success story Jason Byer, who found a remote job on , recommended the following steps: Research the workplace culture at your employer to see if flexibility is already in action. Be good at what you do. If you’re a mediocre employee, it’s going to be tough negotiating flexible work where you’ll need to be trusted to work without supervision. You don’t need to be the best, but you need to be good at what you do and show interest and excitement in your work. Have regular meetings with your manager. It’s crucial this person sees the value you bring and for both of you to discuss areas to improve. Push for more frequent meetings, even short 15-minute meetings. Start being seen as a leader within the company so you’ll be trusted with more responsibility outside the office. Change how you approach your plans to sound like someone taking the lead. Rather than asking for permission, state what you intend to do. Instead of, “Can I do this?” say, “I intend to do this. What are your thoughts?” Anticipate the concerns of your employer. They want you to get your job done, be effective, be creative, and do well for the goals of the company. Be ready to tell your manager if you’ll be keeping the same schedule, be available to meet regularly, be able to keep up with your responsibilities or clients, etc. The panel offered these key tips for applying to flexible or remote jobs. Use search words like remote, telecommuting, and virtual. Do not search with the phrases work-from-home or work-at-home because they’re too often used with scam jobs. Note any previous experience working flexibly on your resume. Whether casual or formal, if you’ve been effective working flexibly, you should mention it. Apply to fewer jobs with better applications. It’s better to apply to only the jobs you truly want and are truly qualified for than to apply to as many jobs as possible. Spend more time crafting excellent applications for fewer jobs. One-size-fits-all resumes won’t work anymore. Pay attention to the specific requirements in the job description and make sure any you fit are noted on your resume. Show that you’re trustworthy throughout the process. In job applications, emails, phone calls, and interviews, show the employer you can be counted on and trusted. Trust is a key component in flexible work. Always include a cover letter, even if it isn’t required. Cover letters let you show your passion, interest, personality, trustworthiness, and more that a resume doesn’t always convey by itself. And to wrap up, we discussed how to balance work and life when you work flexibly. Have online and offline times. Set work hours within your own house. You shouldn’t work all day and night just because your work is always there. Flexible and remote workers tend to overwork, so pay attention to how you’re spending your time. Develop physical boundaries. Have a dedicated workspace or office to work from so that your brain understands when it’s work time and when it’s non-work time. We have a lot of creative office ideas here! Don’t constantly be available for work. When you’re off the clock, turn off your work email on your smartphone so aren’t constantly bugged by notifications. Let everyone else in your home know your work times. Kids, spouse, roommates- whoever you share a home with should know when you’re working so they can respect that boundary.