Virtually yours,

Working virtual is hard. Some may think it is cool, convenient and easy. Let me disabuse you of that idea. It is hard, hard work, hard to get along with your employers and hard to maintain.

Here are some tips for those who want to work online:

1. Set a work goal with your employer. Make sure you are both aware what tasks need to be accomplished for the week.

2. Be constantly in communication with your virtual employer. This is so your virtual employer will know that you are still alive and kicking. Have your instant messenger always online so your boss can get in touch with you anytime or even leave a message.

3. Send an email confirmation on all emails that your boss will send you. Things like got it, or received this email or any other positive response will make you both aware that you are getting his/her instructions.

4. Try to create a worksheet using excel file. Put there date, time and job accomplished or tasks accomplished. This is so you can show your virtual employer what you have been doing anytime they asks.

5. Write down all the tasks or jobs that your virtual employer has instructed you. This is so you won’t be able to forget it.

Most importantly, ask right away if you have questions, or recap what is said to you to make sure you get it correctly.

Remember, a lot of those online employers are jerks and users. They have no qualms about kicking you out anytime they feel like it. They feel they don’t owe you any loyalty because you are simply virtual.

And if you get kicked out or a contract was abruptly cut short, don’t feel bad. It happens to the best of us.

Virtually Correct???

I have one call center account that ended just after two days of training. My call center agents are horrified, they think that they must have done something wrong which has led to the termination of the account.

Actually it is not their fault. Neither I think is the fault of the employer. There are a few things about hiring virtually, working virtually and communicating virtually which every virtual employer and employee should be aware of.

1. If you want to hire someone virtually, please make sure that the job tasks are those that can be done virtually and with less supervision. This way, you won’t keep on thinking whether the person has been doing the job or sleeping on the job.

2. Set a goal or job tasks for your virtual employee. It is hard to work virtually because you have to constantly prove to your virtual employer that you are working and not sleeping on the job. A goal for the week helps the virtual employee accomplishes the job tasks quicker and more efficiently.

3. Be considerate. Please remember that some people may leave their physical job because you promise them an online job. You cannot just all of a sudden tell the person you don’t want to use their services anymore. The virtual employee also spends time, money and energy to being your virtual employee.

4. Please pay on time. You are already paying peanuts for a virtual employee therefore be more conscientious when it comes to paying them ok. Some employers have to be always reminded about the payment, which I think is really very inconsiderate of them.

On the last note, not all job tasks can be done virtually. There are certain job tasks which really have to be done onsite. You cannot get a virtual employee to do certain jobs and then in the middle of it decide that it will be better to get someone onsite. We are not chopped liver to be thrown away just anytime.

Just business

I got my second online job 17 months ago. That was November 2004. At the time when my virtual employer gave me the go signal, I was one month pregnant with my second son. So you can imagine how I felt, sick all the time. But then online jobs are hard to come by so I persevere. Four days after my operation ( I had emergency C-section ), I was in front of the computer doing my job. My lower abdomen hurt because of the operation and I felt weak, but there is such a thing as being responsible.

To my dismay, my employer told me one year after working for him that he wants to include telemarketing in my line of work. Take note, I was a customer service rep for his website and now he wants me to do telemarketing for his other website. After three months I quit, it was horrible. I hated it. I told him I would prefer continuing my work for the first website.

Guess what? He must have gotten mad about it. He agreed to let me continue my work with the first website BUT….I was asked to look for link exchange for the second website. When I didn’t get much result, he added more pressure until I couldn’t stand it. So I told him that I never claimed to be a SEO expert. When I started working it was as a CSR, therefore if he wants me to work both as a CSR and as a SEo for his second website, I am resigning from both sites.

What do you think happens? Of course he took my resignation happily. What an utter ass!!! ( sorry for the language mom ) After all my loyalty to him, this is how he repay me? I turned down another online job from a friend because his company was my priority, because I have been working for him for a year already and because he is my first boss.

The lesson here? Companies don’t consider loyalties to their employees, specially one that is virtual. They can kick you out anytime they want. So if you are working virtually, and you are able to find something better than your present job, go for it. It is a practical world that we live in. As my college history teacher used to say, in politics there is no permanent friends but only permanent interest, so it is in the business world, nothing personal, just pure BUSINESS.