what is a remote job

Does the idea of remote work appeal to you? If so, you’re not alone. According to a recent study, more than 30% of Canadian workers would actually change jobs just for the chance to have a remote job. In short, a remote job is a role or position where an employee’s designated job duties can be completed without the need to go to the office or other company location.

If you’re considering remote job opportunities, this guide can help. It explains more about what remote work is, how it works and how to find the right remote job for you.

remote work definition

Remote work occurs when employees complete job tasks outside of a traditional workplace. Workplaces might include central offices, call centers, factory floors, retail locations and other spaces that are overseen directly by leadership, which is generally also on site.

While working from home is a common form of remote work, other options exist. If employees are working from coffee shops, airport lounges, hotels or private coworking spots, they are working remotely.

In some cases, employees might work remotely some of the time while coming into the office or other workplace the rest of the time. When remote work is coupled with tasks completed in the workplace, it's known as a hybrid work environment.

a brief history of remote work

The term "telecommuting" was created by a NASA engineer in 1973. Before the internet, IBM tested the concept of work-from-home with call center staff that handled their work via telephone. The pilot program began with five people. It was so effective that by 1983, IBM offered all 2,000 call center employees the option to work from home.

While select employees in small numbers of companies across the globe were offered remote working opportunities in the decades that followed, it wasn't until the age of the internet that flexible work environments became more popular. Still, technological capabilities were limited to features like email and instant messaging for many years. That put limitations on which jobs worked well remotely and how companies could oversee and manage processes when employees weren't on site.

As new technology, such as web-conferencing, developed, remote work became increasingly possible. Still, by 2016, only around 4% of Canadian employees worked remotely.

Reasons for delays in the adoption of remote work included:

Businesses not believing it would well
Businesses not having the infrastructure and technology in place to support it
Employees not creating a demand for this option

Fast-forward to 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic. Remote work became a necessity for business survival in the early days of the pandemic, and businesses scrambled to make it work. In many cases, it worked so well that employers and employees alike were agreeable to keeping the option around long-term. Which is why in 2021, around 30% of Canadian employees were working remotely.

Following the pandemic, remote work has become a perk that employers can't afford to ignore and many employees can demand.

how do remote jobs work?

For the most part, remote jobs are very similar to in-person jobs. For example, you’ll be required to complete assigned tasks and maintain consistent communication with your supervisors, just like any other job. However, there are a few questions you should find answers to before accepting a work-from-home job. You can also use these questions during an interview with a potential employer.
how does the onboarding process work?

Onboarding for remote jobs varies from employer to employer. Some companies want new hires to complete at least a portion of the onboarding process in person. This practice is often done to help new hires feel more connected to the company. If it’s a hybrid position, it’s highly likely that you will complete some steps of your onboarding and training on-site. Other companies, especially those offering fully remote jobs, may have a virtual onboarding process that you can complete from home.
can I work from anywhere?

It’s important to keep in mind that just because a job is remote doesn’t mean that you can work from anywhere. Some companies stipulate that you must work from one central location, typically your home. This is a common practice for companies that provide tools and equipment for a home office or who pay for a dedicated internet connection for security purposes.

If the employer doesn’t have any restrictions on where you can work, then the sky’s the limit. As long as you can still complete your work on time and stay connected, you can work from anywhere, such as the local internet café, shared workspaces or even while traveling.
do I need a home office?

Depending on the specific position and job duties, you may not need an extra room for a home office. You will, however, need a dedicated office space no matter what type of role you fill. You need a space where you can keep your work materials and tools separate from your personal items. This step can improve your production level and allow you to keep a proper work-life balance. If, however, you need a quiet space to talk with clients or co-workers or if the employer requires you to have a separate space, then you may need to dedicate a room for a home office.

Many employers either provide their remote workers with all the tools, equipment and office supplies necessary to complete the job or offer a stipend to help offset the costs of creating a home office, but this is not always the case. Be sure to inquire about who is responsible for acquiring these supplies before accepting any job offer.
how do i communicate with my employer?

Typically, the majority of communications between remote workers is done through email. Most companies employing remote or hybrid workers also have a workflow management platform to assign tasks and collaborate as a team. You also are likely to use some type of video conferencing software to attend virtual meetings.

Additionally, you may use other job-specific software. For example, customer service representatives often use CRM platforms to manage customer data. The employer provides access to these digital tools, but having experience working with these platforms is a plus.