The Pros and Cons of Remote and Part-Time Jobs
Thanks to modern-day technology, the world of work have never been more diverse. Instead of the working the traditional 9-5 grind, more and more people are starting to adopt different ways of working. For example, on the one hand, you’ve got people who are taking up remote work, working either for their company at home or on a freelance basis for companies around the world.
On the other hand, an increasing number of people are starting to take up part-time jobs, a job that only requires a set number of hours per week, enabling an individual to take on as much or as little work as they please.
However, as with anything in life, there are going to be both pros and cons to working in these ways. So you can see whether this is the right career choice for you, let’s explore the ins and outs of remote and part-time work.
What is a part-time job?
Just to clarify, a part-time job is a job that is defined as being between 15-30 hours a week, of course, depending on the role that you’re in. Contracts can vary depending on what company you work for and their policies and have become extremely popular with professionals around the world.
The pros of professional part-time jobs
First, let’s explore the positive effects that a remote or part-time job can have on your life.
1. More personal time
One of the most obvious benefits that a part-time or remote job can provide is more personal time for you to do what you want. Whether you want to spend more time with your family and friends or have time to partake in things you love, start a new hobby or even your own business, taking up a part-time/remote job could be ideal for you.
2. More freedom in your work
As a freelancer working on a remote basis, you’ll have many more opportunities to do the work that you want to do. You can take on contracts that you want to work and add a kind of personal touch to what you create.
If you’re planning a career change, you can use resources like TED Talks to learn new skills, where you’ll be able to expand your skill set so you can do the jobs you want.
3. Sample new careers
Sometimes, you may not be able to decide whether or not a career is right for you. By taking on a part-time/remote job in the career of your choice, you can see whether the work and industry are what you were looking for, giving you the experience you need to make the right decision to commit to the job.
4. Time for more work
Another quality benefit is the fact that you can have more time to work if you require it. You can save time not spending it commuting to the office and dealing with distracting colleagues who may steal your time dedicated to work.
Paul Runswick, a freelance writer, explains, “If you’re 30 hours a week, but want the opportunity to increase your income, there’s nothing stopping from taking up a temporary or another part-time job to boost your income and dropping the other job when you’re done.â€
The cons of a professional part-time job
As with all things in life, there are some negative attributes you’ll want to consider about part-time/remote jobs.
1. An absence of job benefits
Typically, when you sign up for a part-time job, you won’t be entitled to the same benefits that full-time employees are entitled to. This can include things like holiday pay, sick pay, company pensions, bonus rates and other company-specific benefits from companies or new business model. However, this point will depend on the company you’re working for as some will provide a range of benefits you can enjoy.
2. Productivity problems
If you’re working from home or on a remote basis, productivity can sometimes be an issue as you have to motivate yourself. If you’re sitting at home, it’s easy to get distracted with different things, whereas in a workplace environment, breaks are monitored and distractions, like phones and TVs, are minimized.
If you’re looking for ways to increase your productivity, you can use writing and proofreading tools, such as OriginWritings, which can help you manage your workloads and streamline your way of working.
3. Reduced income
Of course, since you are working fewer hours, you’ll be earning less money than someone who is working full-time. This solely depends on what you’re doing and who you’re working for. In some cases, you may still earn a fair wage, even if you’re working part-time, depending on the job role.
But, typically, income may become a problem if you have an expensive month of bills but haven’t had the hours to make money to pay them.
4. Potentially increased stress
Since you’re in a part-time role, you may still have a set amount of hours to complete a set amount of work. Some companies or employers will expect you to handle a certain volume of work but with less time to complete it. This is especially common if you’ve reduced your current hours to part-time hours. If you are pressed for time, stress levels can be raised, causing concerns for your mental wellbeing.
5. A negative perspective
“There seems to be some kind of taboo surrounding part-time jobs that they are only jobs that you can be unskilled for you or, in some ways, are unprofessional. While this may not be the case, it’s still a common misconception that you may have to explain to people in your social circles,†shares Jason Kins, a remote worker currently working for 1Day2Write.
6. Fewer progression opportunities
One of the main problems you may face when you’re working part-time at a company is there are fewer opportunities to progress and move up the ranks. Of course, this won’t be a problem if you’re working part-time as a freelancer for companies since you’ll be your own boss, but not being in a company full-time means it’s much more difficult to move up the ranks.
If you’re planning to progress in a company, you need to show you’re committed to working full-time so you can be there to prove yourself when opportunities come up that need addressing.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many pros and cons that come with working part-time or remotely. However, many of the negatives can be avoided if you may find the right choices when it comes to choosing what work you do by defining what you want out of your career and what direction you want it to go.
Thinking of hiring a career coach to help you find the right part-time job to give you more time and freedom? Browse our directory of career coaches and get a FREE consultation or request a personalized coach recommendation!
Related reading:
About the Author Joel Syder
Joel Syder is an IT analyst, coach, tutor and aspiring writer at AcademicBrits. He enjoys helping people to realize their potential in exciting field of information technology as well as creating articles about things that excite him.
