Is Working Remotely for You?

How I got into the Industry

If you would have asked me when I was younger if I would be working in the tech industry, I would have told you that you’re crazy. I originally wanted to study fashion, so that I could become a fashion stylist. When I went to the fashion school in downtown San Diego, the price tag on it was outrageous, so I decided to change my academic vision. I opted to go to community college and declared my major in psychology. Eventually, I transferred to San Diego State University and graduated with my bachelors.

While I was attending SDSU I met my first boss in the tech industry, who is the founder and CEO of a digital marketing firm, based in San Diego and Seattle. When he told me what he did for a living, I didn’t fully understand it at first. Regardless, I thought it was super cool because it involved the internet. I LOVE the internet.

After being his personal assistant for almost two years, he offered me a position in his digital marketing agency. I didn’t know what to expect nor did I fully understand what I was going to be doing. I started from the bottom and have gradually moved up over time as I have learned new online marketing strategies.

I’ll be honest- I needed a job when I first started. I was on a super tight student budget and anything would help to pay the bills. I had a hard time finding a regular job due to the economy, my crazy class schedule and my lack of job experience.

After being in the tech industry for the past four years here are some of my thoughts...

Advantages of Working Remotely in the Tech Industry

• Hours of Flexibility
• I think this is my favorite advantage.
• As long as I get the work done and attend meetings, it doesn’t matter what time I am working. I tend to go to the doctor a lot and have other life commitments, so I can adjust my schedule when I have to.
• I try to keep a consistent routine and work the same hours for the same company, so I can be reliable and dependable.
• This is a great option for mothers!
• Pay
• If you know what you are doing, you are more likely able to charge more than the minimum wage, which is a HUGE plus in my book.

• Easier to Find Work Online than Traditional Work
• I have found that most of my co-workers have their own company on the side. If they know that you work hard, complete tasks on time and do a great job- they are likely to hire you for some additional projects.
• It’s all about networking people!
• Of course, there are online job sites that can help you find work when you need to such as Elance, UpWork and LinkedIn.

• Working from Practically Anywhere with an Internet Connection
• Most of the time I am working from home, which means I can sing along to my favorite tunes on iTunes or Spotify, when I am not on the phone for a meeting.
• Check out my Spotify Playlist HERE.
• Be sure to follow my playlist! I am constantly adding new music on there.
• Also if you have any suggestions, please feel free to send me a message!
• If you want to change things up, you can head over to Starbucks or other coffee shops that offer FREE WIFI.
• I once went out of town, and I will still able to check in!

Here are Some Stats about the Ladies in Technology

I read an Elance infographic recently about Women in Technology, which inspired this article. I found their information interesting and totally relatable for me. Here they are:

• Individuals who are freelancers are 41% millennials
• This is the category I fall under because I was born in 1987.
• 44% of freelancers live in the United States
• I live in California.
• 45% of women lack a female role model that works in the tech industry
• This statement is SO true for me. I didn’t know any ladies in the tech industry until I started working in it and have met many tech savvy ladies.
• Having diverse projects helps strengthen one’s skills by 65%
• I have had the honor and privilege of marketing various industries from app development, home insurance, alarm insurance, business insurance, commercial real estate, management software and many more.
• Online work allows women with kids to spend more time at home by 60%
• This is a great advantage because there is no work commute or daycares involved.
• It's easier to find jobs online than compete for a traditional full-time job by 60%

What do you think, ladies? Will you give a tech job a try like I did?

Source:

Elance