Working From Home in a Scientific Career

What work-from-home opportunities are available in the sciences? Can you transition back into a conventional workplace after being at home? How does working at home impact your finances? There are many ways to work from home in a scientific career field, and answers to all your questions about it. Ways to Work Remotely Freelance writers are self-employed. You might seek a single contract with a particular company or you might look for multiple smaller jobs. Some writers put up notices at schools to write or type papers. Scientists who can write well often help other scientists write articles or prepare proposals. Editorial positions may also be available for scientifically-trained professionals. Many scientists can make the transition to technical writer. Some technical writers have regular employment and others are self-employed. People in this position write user manuals, document safety information, prepare annotated bibliographies, and create similar technical materials. There are many possibilities for telecommuting work in the sciences. There is a market for internet research, literature searches, and more. Some consultants review research plans and professional papers for their scientific merit, as well as give editorial advice. Not everything that can be done at work can be done at home, but many things can. Think about the position you have (or want) and list duties that can be performed at home. Some employers that dont offer telecommuting work may be receptive to the idea, providing you can present a case for this form of employment in a rational manner. It helps if you can increase productivity or decrease costs to the company in your proposal. Thanks to the internet, it is possible to teach without entering a traditional classroom. To find these positions, check out school websites for open positions. Tutoring is usually a part-time position, and some tutors help students in their own home. Check local newspapers and bulletin boards at schools to find jobs. You can call or schedule an appointment with the academic assistance offices at schools to explore unadvertised opportunities. Some companies also hire tutors to help employees in continuing education. As you might imagine, there are certain limitations to doing science at home. The most notable problems are associated with safety, security, and finances. However, if you are creative, its possible to engage in science and engineering from home. If you are a theorist or do computer modeling, you have some excellent options. If you want an affiliation with a corporation or institution, team up with a local school or business. Joining a professional organization is always a good idea, too. You can be an entrepreneur in any field, including science. You can be self-employed without being an entrepreneur, but some of the most attractive employment prospects may result from a start-up venture. Search for work at home jobs. If you have particular skills, for example, with graphics programs, programming, or photography, there may be other positions that will appeal to you. What You Will Need If you work out of your home, you will need to demonstrate the following traits: Self-motivation is the key to success at working from home. When you work from home, you have tasks to complete with a relatively open timeframe for completion. You must be able to motivate yourself to do all of the things you need to do. If you do choose to work at home, be aware there will be times when your self-motivation will flag. Its natural, but you must be able to overcome it.Fortunately, physical organization isnt the same as being neat. However, if you are working from home, you will need to establish good record-keeping procedures and keep your files (whether hard copies or on a computer) within some organizational structure.For most at-home jobs, there is no immediate supervisor handing down priorities, so you will need to determine what needs to be done and how to do it, and then get it done.Its much harder to leave it at the workplace when the workplace is also home. Some people set aside a separate room for work (which has benefits regarding taxes), whereas others hav e less structured divisions between home and work. Some people set strict office hours. Some people have separate computers for work and recreation. Its important to make some sort of division or at least a comfortable integration. Otherwise, youll risk job burnout or else never get tasks completed. Other Issues Most people who work at home dont make a permanent transition. Keep an eye on how your work-from-home experience can be written up in your resume or vitae. When possible, maintain subscriptions to professional and trade journals or visit a library that carries them. Attend meetings and conferences, take classes, write papers, and build up concrete evidence that you are continuing your education and expanding your professional skills. You want to maintain business contacts, so keep up with your correspondence. While many self-employed positions pay less than conventional employment, you may find that you save money on clothes, transportation, and food. You may be able to deduct home office expenses. There are more options than ever before to get health insurance and other benefits as a self-employed person.