In this day and age, flexibility is key when it comes to work, especially for moms. Mothers often have to balance their kids’ schedules with their own — and many moms can’t afford constant child care, which means that caring for their kids inevitably intersects with their work schedules. Flexible careers for mothers may seem hard to find — but in fact, there are many different options available for those who want to work from home. This can include inbound sales jobs, customer service jobs, and more; there are even healthcare jobs where you can work from home.
As is the case with any type of job, working from home can present its own particular challenges. If you decide to work from home for an insurance company, for example, you’ll need to be just as accountable for your work as any other insurance agent. The same issues would need to be considered by those who choose telemarketing from home, as well as those who decide to be work from home dispatchers. Below, we’re going to look at some of the things you should take into account before deciding to work from home — and how you can deal with some of the concerns you may have.
1. Customer Service Issues
Whether you’ve decided to work from home for an insurance company or consider stay at home call center representative jobs, you will probably deal with customer service issues at some point or another. Customer service problems can be especially daunting if you’re working from home; you won’t necessarily have coworkers able to help you at the ready. Keep in mind the practice makes perfect. The more you deal with these types of issues, the easier the process will become. Furthermore, lots of companies actually offer in-person training for employees that work from home, giving you the experience you need before work begins. An estimated 65% of companies provide effective training to help their employees gain customers’ trust; it’s very likely that the company you work with will do the same.
For that matter, remember that for every customer that complains, 26 won’t say anything. Customer complaints are not insurmountable obstacles. If you want to work from home for an insurance company, it’s quite possible that much of your time will be spent fielding customer concerns. But you’ll have the tools at your disposal to handle these problems.
2. Time Management
Keep in mind that time management is a major concern for a lot of employees that work from home. Due to your flexible schedule, you may be tempted to put certain aspects of work off until it is more convenient for you. But a job is a job, and your employer will expect you to put in a certain amount of hours. You can’t let your schedule get away from you.
In some cases, it may be a good idea to create a chart for yourself, or an organizational table of some kind. If you decide to work from home for an insurance company, you’ll likely need to work with a variety of clients throughout the day. Keep track of who you’re working with and at what time; set specific times throughout the day at which certain tasks must be done. This will help you stay organized as you endeavor to work from home.
3. Dedication
If you work from home, it’s very likely that you’ll be working customer service on one level or another. You may be expected to work on call for a certain amount of time. If you work from home for an insurance company, you may end up taking calls at an inconvenient time. It’s part of working a flexible schedule — a “trade off”, if you will.
Your customers will expect a personal touch as well. After all, it’s estimated that a loyal customer is worth 10 times as much as his or her first purchase. Keep in mind that in dedicating yourself to your work and your customers, you could potentially increase your income, and ultimately open up more opportunities for yourself.