Remote working

Question

I've got an interview on Tuesday for a job that's just a little too far to commute to, I would very much like to work remotely 4 out of 5 days a week so I'm asking what are the best ways to sell remote working to a prospective boss.

Answer 1

• Lack of interruption: more efficient working
• Skype (etc.) gives you face-to-face time whenever necessary
• You're so good they can't afford to not have you as an employee :)

Answer 2

The Web Worker Daily has lots of good stuff on this.

This article specifically "So You Wanna Work From Home? You Can Convince Your Boss?" http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/11/13/so-you-wanna-work-from-home-you-can-convince-your-boss/

Answer 3

While Damian's link seems decent, it is focused on an existing boss, me thinks.

Just six months ago, I convinced my big boss man to allow me to telecommute. With him, and other people I have spoken with about this issue, the elephant in the room that nobody wanted to talk about was trust.

Some people, not just bosses but also your potential coworkers, think telecommuting is just a cover for goofing off, working two jobs, or whatever. Some people, on an emotional level, equate warm bodies in a chair for long hours with actual 'work'. (No matter that you are surfing porn or youtube or codinghorror.com ;) The hard statistics and solid logic will lose to primal, subconscious fears most of the time.

My suggestion would be to use the logical reasons stated by others, but focus on the warm fuzzies:

• Offer to work the first thee months on site until you have bonded with people.
• Offer to be 24/7 available by phone.
• Offer to make that one day a week in the office flexible--change up week-to-week as needed by the company.

Build trust.

If you do get the gig, be sure to respond to any IM, email, phone call, whatever ASAP. And be proactive about letting people know what you are up to.

Answer 4

Don't be the first to mention it. You will be thinking about it, but unless the interviewer brings it up, be really careful about introducing it into the conversation. Obviously, it's an interview and you should feel reasonably free to ask questions, but this is still a touchy subject.

My current employers aren't massive fans of remote working. It's tolerated in small doses for senior (and long-term) people who live a distance away or for out of hours emergency work, but generally your physical presence in the office is the key reason we employ you. We have Skype and VPNs and all that jazz, but sometimes there's no substitute for actually having your colleagues around you.

Consequently when interviewees are too strong on this point, I'm binning them before they even get too far along selling themselves to me.

So my advice would be to be play it like you expect to be in the office every day. Don't mention 4 out of 5 days remoting as that would set alarm bells off. Get a picture for what they currently do.

This isn't a personal attack, but you're unlikely to be so good or unique that this company will institute a new policy just for you. Companies with a remote working policy are only likely to introduce one for long-term employees or senior management. So get your foot in the door on their terms first - then worry about changing their culture.

Answer 5

Personally I think if it is the kind of workplace that allows it, they will tell you that as one of their bullet points when trying to impress new/potential employee...

Otherwise i think you shouldn't bother.

Answer 6

Global warming!

(I.e., use less energy since you don't need to commute.)

Answer 7

I would wait until you get an offer. Then you can respond by telling them you're really interested, but concerned about making the commute daily. Depending on their reaction, you can judge if there is any room for negotiation.

I wouldn't bring it up during the interview process.

Answer 8

Be upfront with what you want. Once you get passed the intial interview and are starting to negotiate what you want, be explicit. Either they'll let you have it or they won't. It all depends on what your priorities are. If you don't think it's that big of a deal that you can telecommute, then don't ask for it. If it's a deal breaker, then your employer should know that. Don't try and go in the first day and explain to them that you were really hoping that you could work remotely several days a week. That's like asking for a raise your first day there. Why do the long term people get perks before the short term people? It's because they have been there long enough to renogiate their terms of employment.

Think of it as a perk. It's like asking for a higher salary, more vacation etc. Remember they're trying to sell you on the organization as much as you are trying to sell yourself to them.

Answer 9

One of the problems with tele-working is missing the underground rumours and a bunch of non-verbal communication, depending on the company / boss, these can be of paramount importance. Also, mistakes are often the fault of the person who is not there to defend themselves.