Virtual Office Resource

Are you a self-starter who enjoys being around others, but doesn’t mind being alone at times? Or perhaps you’re an introvert who is task oriented and prefers working alone. Then again, maybe you’re an extrovert who thrives on communicating and collaborating with others.

Whichever the case, you could be a great candidate for remote work. In fact, perhaps you’re already working remotely all or just part of the time. If that’s the case, you are part of a growing trend.

FlexJobs.com says 43 percent of U.S. employees now work remotely at least occasionally. That’s up from around 9 percent in 2007.

Remote work typically brings to mind people getting the job done from their homes. That’s my usual approach. For me, working from home is ideal, as it eliminates most distractions. And it allows me to use my deskphone and my big screen computer display.

But some people don’t have the room for a home office. And some simply prefer to work from elsewhere, such as a shared office space, the library, a coffee shop, or elsewhere. (When I need a break, or my internet connection is out, the library or Starbucks are nice options.)

Of course sometimes working from an airport, or a hotel conference room, guest room, or even hallway is your only choice. These settings aren’t always ideal, they can be noisy, and even if you’re in a hotel room, the connectivity can be wonky.

But organizations that run business conferences as well as hotels now understand that internet connectivity is a requirement, so services on this front continue to improve. So do the systems, products, and applications that bring remote workers into the loop. That includes things like video and audio conference call services that enable anyone to join from anywhere and noise canceling headphones.