Why Today’s Virtual Office Succeeds Posted on January 12, 2016 BlogAdmin Posted in Blog , Graphic Design Degree
Why Today’s Virtual Office Succeeds: Tips From DMAC ( Digital Media Arts College Florida ) Today’s corporate office is anywhere! Instead of taking the time in the morning to get showered and commute to your office many employers are opting to hire independent contractors and freelance individuals when they are in need rather than employing someone that they’ll be responsible for. There’s several reasons that the virtual office or remote office succeeds, let’s explore them more here. No worker’s compensation necessary. Most independent contractors work on a 1099 and are responsible to pay their own taxes. You can fill out the form once a year or when it needs to be updated (for instance, you move) and reuse it each time. If you will be working as an I.C. Then make sure that you hire an accountant or do your taxes quarterly so that you stay in good with the IRS. When you work from your home there are less distractions as long as you’re disciplined. Organize your time as if you were at that big office. Putting in a full day is important here, no matter if you’re working remotely or not. It’s important to remind your friends and family not to text you or call you multiple times per day because you are indeed working. By creating boundaries, you’re helping others realize this is your job and it’s important they respect your time. Turn your phone off and don’t fall into the prey of social media to be one of your biggest time thieves. You will more than likely have deadlines that you have to meet. Working from home is a blessing for most, don’t make your time working at home a curse. You will more than likely get paid after the work is done unless you contract with the employer as a vendor and are paid either a
percentage of in full up front. Many people in the Graphic Design fields work off of a deposit before the work begins with the balance paid in full prior to the work completion. If you are working as a freelance artist, get a legal professional to draft up a “Work for Hire” agreement and always contract who you’re working with. If they present you with a contract or agreement, then have a lawyer look it over to understand the full rights. In some cases, you will not be allowed to disclose your name as the artist and in many situations you lose all creative rights. If this is something you’re concerned about, get legal advice on how it should be handled. More camaraderie, less conflict in the office space, providing a more peaceful way to work. Since you won’t be surrounded by the many creative individuals you will find that your work day goes quicker without the animosity of people getting in your way. There are less interruptions which make for a more productive day. Even when you work for someone, the day can be spent being tossed around from project to project. (Typical of smaller agencies and firms) You’re only a phone call or email away if you’re needed to make the time more valuable than bickering with someone over ideas. Employers don’t have to have larger offices. You will find many people today are working in “collectives” which is a group of individuals that create teams in the advertising and marketing fields . Each person will have their skill set including the art director and graphic designers. It’s not uncommon to work in this capacity and develop a strong work team that completes projects as they are presented. People tend to be more dedicated to performing when they are responsible for themselves. Since there is no one to micromanage you, it's your career that you have to be responsible for daily. There are less supplies for the owner to purchase. If you work from your home, invest in a good computer. But this is one less item that an employer will need to purchase which makes this a winwin. The more people create a synergy with their prospective employers the more work is found. Hiring independent and freelance employees is becoming one of the biggest solutions of the century. It takes a special individual to understand how to develop skills and for some people working from home isn’t the best
answer. But if it is, you’ll be developing a great career that allows you to be responsible for your time, without micromanaging and can be a lucrative career.
For more information on how making the best out of your career contact our counselors at Digital Media Arts College Florida.