You’re sitting at home in your favorite chair, relaxed and casual. But when you’re a self employed professional, the “professional” is the most important part of all.
It’s easy to be relaxed and loose when you work at home. You’re on the job, but you’re comfy and totally at ease with the world. Want a cocktail? Have one. Want to turn a movie on in the background? Go right ahead. Need a fifteen-minute break that stretches to forty-five? No big deal. Just don’t forget one important rule of work at home: the key word to “self employed professional,” is professional.
No one that you work with is your friend. Employers are not buddies, the people who contact you for work don’t want to have conversations about your personal life, and if your work isn’t up to par there aren’t going to be any favors. Sure, you work at home and you’re the one calling the shots – but if you fail to act in a professional manner, you’re going to find out just how hard it is to live without money.
Keep close to the “rules” of self employment and work at home, and keep your reputation intact as a quality provider of services.
1. Don’t make friends. You haven’t got the time and frankly, neither do they. No comments about personal business – only comments about business business will do.
2. Keep emails short and to the point. Your professional emails aren’t the time to trade witty banter or share the latest joke. Keep it short, sweet, and no-nonsense at all times.
3. Open and close each email professionally. Always include your name no matter how well acquainted you are, and always address the person you’re sending the mail to in the proper fashion. Thank them, always, for their time at the end of each mail.
4. Keep records. You want to know who you did the work for, what the file name or project names are, and on what exact date you turned work in. Don’t expect them to keep track – you be the one who keeps track.
5. Send invoices. When they fail to pay, don’t be afraid to send a gentle (professional) reminder. Include an invoice every time you send a note regarding payment.
6. Find out everything you can about employers. In the world of self employment, some people who hire you will play their cards pretty close to their vests. They may disclose little else than an email address. Find out more – and tell them you need to know for your resume.
7. Meet every deadline. Reputation is everything, and you want yours to show that you can manage tasks.
