Traditional work environments aren’t for everyone. Just as there are some people who truly enjoy the structure of a 9 to 5 job with a planned work day, other people cringe at the thought of having to report to work at the same time every day and take orders from others.
Hate Your Job? Should You Quit? Is a Work at Home Job a Good Idea?
Working from home is perfect for someone who enjoys an unstructured work environment, is a self-starter, and can find work & complete projects on their own. A good work from home candidate is someone who doesn’t need a manager to oversee his or her work progress.
Alternatively, anyone who likes structure and having someone else determine the daily work routine may not enjoy working from home. Individuals who respond well to structure and guidance may prefer a traditional office environment to a home-based job.
Before Working from Home, Consider Real Reasons for Quitting a Job
Someone who hates their traditional job due to factors that have nothing to do with a restrictive work environment may simply want to get a job at another company instead of going with a home-based job. Discussed below are reasons why working from home makes sense for individuals who desire flexibility.
List of Pros, Benefits of a Home-Based Business & Other Jobs at Home
Following are five benefits of working from home. Someone who currently has a traditional job may want to consider these factors before making a decision to quit their job to work from home in a home-based business.
- Work from home individuals set their own hours. This may be ideal for anyone who likes to work early in the morning, late at night, or sporadically throughout the day (i.e. two hours here, two hours there, with frequent breaks in between work sessions).
- Importance of personal accountability. Nobody will be there to monitor when the individual goes in and out of the office.
- Follow a self-determined work pace. Individuals who work from home can work as few or as many hours as they want without objection from others.
- Escape formal performance appraisals. There’s no need to have unnecessary daily or weekly meetings with a manager to update him or her on progress. Self-employed individuals know whether they are getting the work done, and only they are affected by whether or not the work is done on time.
- Parents with jobs at home can be flexible. Parents who want to work from home can make the work schedule fit around kids’ activities. There is no need to leave work early and clear the absence with a boss. The person can simply stop working when necessary and pick back up at a convenient time for the family.
Should You Quit Your Job? Pros & Cons of Working from Home
The benefits of jobs at home listed above can be considered as a cons list when viewed from another angle. For instance, some people may view performance appraisals as a positive; for the right person, validation from a supervisor of a job well done can be very motivating.
Another thing to consider is that not everyone works well when they must determine their own pace and deliverables. Finally, even though a work from home job gives parents scheduling flexibility, some people may find it nearly impossible to resume work later in the evening, even when necessary.
Consider Pros & Cons of Quitting a Job to Work from Home
For some individuals, working from home can be extremely motivating because everything they need to succeed comes from within and not from someone else cracking a whip. A work from home job can be very satisfying personally and professionally for the right individual.
Consider the benefits of working from home noted above (as well as the inverse of each benefit) when making a decision to quit a job to run a home-based business. Learn about the cost savings of working from home in the article Cost Benefits of Working from Home.
Further reading (one self-employment idea and a sample resignation letter):
Find Teaching Jobs Online, Education Employment – Teaching is one type of job that can be done from home. Learn what it takes to get a college-level online instructor position.
Free Sample Letter of Resignation – In this article, see an example of a resignation letter and learn how to quit a job gracefully before heading out to pursue a home-based job or other self-employment. Make resigning from a job a snap with this sample resignation letter.
Related article:
Work at Home Moms - How WAHMs Juggle Jobs & Kids
Lena Gott - Lena Gott is a Certified Public Accountant who gives practical financial advice to her readers.
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