AIBU to ask what your WFH jobs are

[dobbyssoc]

Wondering if people could tell me what jobs they do and in what industry that allowed WFH before covid hit? I have never come across one that will even entertain the idea but with DC I would really appreciate that flexibility but they don't seem to exist (not in the immediate future but in the coming years!)
AIBU to feel like they don't exist!

I work in financial services. Company not keen on home working in the past although I did do one day a week to accommodate my locations parking restrictions. They've now realised that most back office functions are now more rather than less productive now folks are at home and are now considering which roles they could make home based so I suspect other companies might be similar.

I think this will be the biggest thing in workplaces for decades. Similarly to poster above, I can't see it being appropriate in non covid times for people with children at home but it could allow flexib!e or part time roles for folk with children in school or other places with child care.

IT - niche software implementation. I have been WFH for more than 10 years.

Some customers weren't keen until they saw the cost of expenses for me to attend their office, usually needlessly.

There is nothing I need to be in their office for.

I will be stopping this work soon though as the government's changes to IR35 due next April will ensure all our work is sent to India or other offshore outfits.

DP is an insurance underwriter. It’s terribly dull.

Project manager for civil service but currently on ML.

I am a planner for manufacturing company

Translator & editor.

Sales Manager. I go to the office once a month for team meetings and have a couple of client meetings per week but home apart from that.

Lawyer here too.

I also write a lot about legal issues on a freelance basis and thought my workload would drop right off a cliff. It has increased, which suggests to me that a lot of people are more efficient at home even with all the challenges of childcare and imperfect office space like working on kitchen tables.

Finance Director for EMEA so based from home with travel (normally!)

Network Architect/Support

Accountant

Lawyer.

Sales consultant - I work with start ups to get their sales function working smoothly (define their service, target the right people, develop leads and close sales)
I work for myself so these are usually projects anywhere from 3 to 6 months duration.
Multiple clients at a time as some need 1 day a week, others 2/3

Civil servant here, WFH prior to COvid. I travelled alongside that though - twice a month ish and for between 1-3 nights at a time.

It doesn’t mean I work when ever I want though. I have lots of flexibility but still need to be present for a good chunk of the 8.30-5 day. It does however, give me lots of freedom for things like appts, errands, to help family and friends out with school runs etc.

Outside of Covid lockdown/school closures etc, we would not be allowed to have young children without another adult in the home whilst working - teenagers or what have you is fine, or maybe an hour or two after school if they are primary age, but its a no no with us to be in charge of babies/toddlers whilst working normally.

@dobbyssoc yeah totally, it certainly reduces the rushing around and stress of commuting which helps with a home life balance. Also reduces amount of childcare needed throughout the day.

You'll probably struggle to find many jobs that are advertised as home based, but if you look at non customer facing roles in local and central government, that kind of thing, what you may find is home working can be applied for after probation. That's been my experience anyway, careers sections of websites often giveaway how agile they are.

Another accountant. Never been busier.

Large accountancy/professional services firm where pretty much everyone can work from home

Customer service

I'm an engineering physicist. I can do ~80% of my job from home and will be looking to keep it this way when 'normal' resumes. I'll try and go in say 2 days a week to do my practical stuff. If I was a lower grade I wouldn't be able to WFH to this extent (more physical 'doing').

Exec Assistant, one day in the office and the rest of the week from home, I love wfh, I can do 90% of my job absolutely fine, I won't be able to when all goes back to normal due to travel and meetings etc, but at the moment, it's working really well.

Large accountancy/professional services firm where pretty much everyone can work from home

Snap. I work in admin and we're always recruiting so if you're interested OP, send me a PM

Head of Marketing. I've worked from home either full or part time since 2015 with varying amounts of office commitments. Currently do two days in the office once a fortnight.

Project planner for a construction firm. The entire company have always been able to wfh 2-3 days per week, regardless of role or level. As long as you don’t miss any client meetings etc.

I normally have an hour long commute each way that is expensive. We’ve been unofficially told we won’t be back this year, and I honestly think I will end up wfh almost permanently.

Forgot to mention, any office based role now for large companies will predominantly be office-based.

As this becomes the new normal for large MNCs, recruitment will move away from advertising by locations, and will be based more around the best person for the job.

As this becomes the new normal for large MNCs, recruitment will move away from advertising by locations, and will be based more around the best person for the job

Isn't it increasingly likely that the 'best person for the job' will be living in a low-wage economy? After all, if location is not important, then why hire staff in expensive Britain rather than, say, in Poland or India? Plenty of competent English speaking people there ready and willing to work for much less.