Defining Virtual Work Heres What Each Term Means

Defining Virtual Work Heres What Each Term Means Defining Virtual Work Heres What Each Term Means Anyone who has ever done an online search for virtual work can tell you it can get rather confusing trying to sort through all the different ways to describe jobs done outside of a traditional office setting. As you scroll through flexible job listings, you will find virtual, remote, at-home, online, distributed, and telecommute jobs. All of these terms and buzzwords are used to describe work-at-home jobs. In many cases, these words are interchangeable and overlapping but there are some important distinctions as well. To add to the confusion, job seekers and employers tend to use different words to describe the same type of job. Below are some definitions of the most commonly used words to describe jobs done outside of traditional brick-and-mortar offices.  If you are serious about landing a great work-at-home job, it is important to understand the terminology so you will know exactly what a future employer is going to expect from you. Definitions of Virtual Work Telecommute Telecommute was the original term for work-at-home jobs, initiated by NASA in 1973. Today, the term has become somewhat of a catch-all phrase to describe work that can be done entirely or occasionally outside a traditional office environment. All of the following words and phrases fall under the telecommuting category. Virtual Work Virtual work implies individuals work from home offices using modern technology to get things done. Both traditional, office-based companies, and virtual companies- such as- hire individuals to work 100 percent of the time from home using the Internet. Employers tend to use this term frequently when looking for home-based workers. A virtual job is a 100 percent telecommuting job. These jobs are often seen with titles such as virtual teacher, virtual administrative assistant, or virtual salesperson. Remote Remote jobs are done in remote locations away from the office. Depending on the position, a remote job could be done from a home office or, in the case of a salesman, could be done on the road or other location. This term is used quite often by employers and it can mean something different to each one. Make sure to read job descriptions very carefully when you come across this term to understand exactly what the hiring manager is looking for. Remote jobs are telecommuting jobs but the employer will typically specify where the work will take place and whether or not any time is required in the office. At-home At-home jobs are jobs done at home. Similar to virtual work, at-home jobs- also known as home-based jobs- are typically done 100 percent of the time from a home office without required trips to the office. Whereas a virtual worker may have the freedom to work occasionally from a coffee shop or other location, at-home workers may be required to work out of a quiet home office or use special equipment. At-home jobs are typically 100 percent telecommuting jobs with job titles such as customer support professional and transcriptionist. Online Online jobs are done outside of the traditional office environment using the Internet. Similar to virtual work, online jobs can typically be done from any location as long as the appropriate technology is available. Although there are many legitimate online jobs worth checking out, this term is most often used  with job scams and too good to be true work opportunities. Online jobs are 100 percent telecommuting jobs with job titles such as proofreader, writer, and data entry professional. Distributed The term distributed team is often used by employers when they are talking about groups of people who work across geographic boundaries and time zones. Distributed teams are similar to remote teams in that they work outside traditional offices. Unlike remote teams, however, all members of a distributed team work from home. is an excellent example of a distributed team. Although we are dispersed throughout the country, we have programs and technology in place to help us feel connected to each other and our jobs. Distributed teams telecommute 100 percent of the time and hire for a variety of job titles such as visual designer, web engineer, writer, and web strategist. Companies hire both employees and freelancers for virtual jobs. Positions can be  part-time, flexible schedule, or 9-to-5, and location specific or available anywhere there is appropriate technology. Although these definitions should give you some insight into what the various terms for work-at-home jobs mean, make sure to read each job description carefully and ask questions during your interview to fully understand what  is expected of you. Find a Virtual Job