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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask what job you do that means you can work from home?

148 replies

TallWomanWalking · 10/04/2017 15:15

I am just being a tad curious and nosy.

What jobs do you do that mean you can work from home?
And does it pay decently?

OP posts:

Yffy673 · 10/04/2017 22:44

Mrs Trent do tell us more... I'm a SAHM so this post has been really insightful thanks OP

tovelitime · 10/04/2017 23:02

Work as a freelance consultant for myself. Average about £2k a month and work approx 2 days a week. I've worked in the industry for years and have a good reputation and contacts and it suits me. Could earn a lot more but suits me well at the moment. Am also studying one day a week

BuffyChiro · 10/04/2017 23:02

I work for a CIC which is internet based and all staff work remotely. It's reasonably well paid and there aren't commuting expenses, 'work appropriate' clothing expenses etc. I don't have kids so no childcare costs.

As other posters have said, it can be really lonely and I do feel a bit isolated. I also look an absolute mess most days because I don't see the point in putting in the effort when I'm just going to be sitting at home.

I'm kind of keeping an eye out, but not properly searching, for a new position and I want it to be an on site position for the social aspect.

FairytalesAreBullshit · 10/04/2017 23:06

I know a woman who does this camera thing, she doesn't know we know, but it made no sense that she was classing herself as a model, but didn't really model. Sent DH in to investigate, she does stuff in front of a camera, it's £5 for 5 minutes.

She has a speciality too...

...

Period play! Yuk yuk yuk! She advertises that she bleeds proper heavy. During these weeks it's a specialist interest so you pay more.

FairytalesAreBullshit · 10/04/2017 23:09

UtterBankers how did you get into that?

FairytalesAreBullshit · 10/04/2017 23:10

Something that more people are doing is Vlogging family life. So a camera, internet connection, editing software, you're sorted.

rightsofwomen · 10/04/2017 23:13

Bioinformatics. Employed by US university and work full time from home.
Decent pay for academia and the flexibility suits me perfectly as a single mother of 2.

MrsBobtonTrent · 10/04/2017 23:14

I started out selling our own crap to clear space and make some extra cash while on maternity leave. Then I noticed some underpriced items in charity shops/car boots (where I did most of our shopping due to being a bit skint). Unfortunately, charity shops etc are much more switched on now, so you need other sources of stock. I made a leap to buying things specifically to sell and registered as self-employed. Gradually I refined what I traded to specialise in a particular sort of item and learnt about it, what to look for, how to describe condition etc.

It's not particularly difficult to do, but for me what has been important is:-

Think about the price bracket. Under £30 an item and you have to sell volume to make it worth your while. Over £200 per item and customers need too much handholding and reassurance. Consider your hourly rate.

Think about scalability. At first you can pop to the post office. But plan for the day when Royal Mail or a courier will collect from you and work towards fulfilment. To make big money you are unlikely to have a big enough spare bedroom or garage. And pick/packing 100 orders a day is going to kill your hourly rate. Edibles and breakables are going to be a headache to outsource. Anything handmade is going to involve slave labour or lack of scalability. Begin with the end in mind.

I only sell on third party websites (eBay, Amazon etc.) as they have traffic and facilitate payment. Don't waste time and money on logos and business cards, websites, SEO etc..Look up "bootstrapping" and keep overheads low. For my first 5 years I could have walked away and my only loss would be a couple of boxes of Jiffy bags and a price of a skip to clear the spare bedroom. Don't borrow money.

Good luck!

Jux · 11/04/2017 01:33

I work for a small, independent publisher, doing background research. No, the pay is not good, but I'm paid by the hour so if I'm having a bad day I don't go in and can do it all at home - and frequently do! I'm disabled (ms) so my condition is unpredictable and very variable. I'm not sure many places would employ me due to my unreliability.

I am immensely grateful to them, and love my colleagues dearly (they were friends before they were colleagues) who treat me so well and so kindly.

jennymac31 · 11/04/2017 01:56

I work in the financial sector and tend to work from home 2-3 days a week. I haven't found it lonely but that's probably because there's always a teleconference/videoconference that I have to attend so end up talking and engaging with someone at least once a day.
My job pays well and working from home gives myself and dh flexibility in respect of instances where dd is off ill and dh can't take time off from work.

allthebanananamesaretaken · 11/04/2017 07:38

IT job - software test. Basically don't wfh a lot because I like being in the office but if I want to I just say I'm wfh today. Very flexible for stuff like school events etc.

Software development is very collaborative by nature and software test is a specialism that means you need to talk to everyone, so depending on the company/team it might work fine to wfh or might not. Seems increasingly common for people to wfh some days and be in the office some, to have some time with their team. I don't think I would like to do software test full-time remote.

I got into IT by doing a CS degree, but it is possible to get in via self-teaching etc though hard to get that first role to get your foot in the door whether you have a degree or not - in fact wouldn't recommend anyone lay out money on a degree nowadays unless they'd done some work experience to be confident they liked it.

HotelEuphoria · 11/04/2017 08:07

Large corporate, customer service type role, 37k no commute, no worries in the snow, brilliant when kids were small as I could work longer hours than in the office, now grown up I get stir crazy. Possibly need to go back into the office.

crazywriter · 11/04/2017 12:55

Freelance journalist/writer. My DH IS getting into social media marketing as a freelancer but right now doing little as he's looking after the kids to allow me to work. I used to wah around the kids when he worked full time out the home and it was a nightmare. dd1 went to nursery 3 days a week to give me chance to build the business back up after mat leave. Now we have more freedom and are both happier.

colourfull · 11/04/2017 12:57

celebration cakes, all from home so can work around the school day.
I do have to work to a schedule though so if something interrupts my day such as school meeting then i have to work late into the night, i can't put off this weeks cakes until next week.

EurusHolmes · 11/04/2017 13:23

I'm a journalist and work from home two days a week, occasionally nipping out for interviews

EurusHolmes · 11/04/2017 13:25

My salary is shite though

OhDeareyMe · 11/04/2017 13:29

I'm a senior data analyst and I work from home 100% (with occasional travel to meetings) and have done for 10 years. Pay is good and while I do still need childcare, it is much easier than if I worked in an office. I have a nanny who works office hours and I nip out and do the school run at 3.15 most days. It can be lonely and its not for everyone but I love it (especially in school holidays when I don't have to get up early to get everyone ready before I start work!).

Iamcheeseman · 11/04/2017 17:49

Can I ask- those of you work from home and have good salaries- have you always done this job/worked in this field and transitioned to working from home or did you specifically find a job that allows you to work from home?

MaisyPops · 11/04/2017 17:52

I used to work in the charity sector and could do my session planning from home if i wanted.
Friends do copyediting from home, online tutoring and run their own business.

Teacher now but one of my friends schools allow them to take their preparation time in am/pm chunks and they can takr their PPA time at home if they like. Personally, i like being in school for mine and would rather have it spread out through the week.

Sammysquiz · 11/04/2017 18:10

I retrained so I could do something from home. I was in the Civil Service, but once I'd had kids I resigned (was very much a full-time office-based role) and trained in bookkeeping and accountancy. I now do that on a freelance basis from home, with the occasional visit to client's premises.

FeliciaJollygoodfellow · 11/04/2017 18:15

Project manager for high street bank.

I can work out of an office or from home. I mainly choose the office as it's very close to home and I'm more productive. I also don't have an office space at home.

ErrolTheDragon · 11/04/2017 18:22

have you always done this job/worked in this field

I have. Working from home never entered my head until DH's job moved - before we had DD - I just wanted to carry on with the work and it was the only way to do it.

Rossigigi · 11/04/2017 18:23

Learning and development manager- in for meetings maybe one or two a week rest worm from home.

Rossigigi · 11/04/2017 18:23

Work even lol

debbs77 · 11/04/2017 18:32

Standandbecounted, do you do that via a specific company? I would love to do that!

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