Remote work in South Africa

Working from home in South Africa has become increasingly popular, especially with the rise of remote work opportunities. Here are some practical tips to help you set yourself up for successful remote work in South Africa:

Create a Dedicated Workspace:

• Find a dedicated working space in your home that is separate from your living areas and bedroom. A spare room, corner of the living room, or even a quiet space in the basement or garage can work. The key is having an area just for work to help you get into the right productive mindset.
• Set up a proper desk and ergonomic chair to work comfortably for long periods. Proper lighting, whether from a lamp or near a window, is important to reduce eye strain.
• Make your workspace free of distractions like TV, video games, etc. You want it to be a professional environment conducive to focusing.
• If possible, use room dividers, curtains or closable doors to section off your workspace from the rest of the home when working.

Equip Yourself with the Right Tools:

• A relatively new laptop or desktop computer with enough power and storage for your work needs is crucial. Older, slower machines can hinder productivity.
• Invest in a fast, reliable internet connection. Slower connections can make video calls choppy and file transfers sluggish. Pay for faster speeds if needed.
• Ensure you have secure remote access setup to your company’s networks, intranet sites, cloud storage and shared drives. Work with IT to configure this properly.
• A quality headset with mic can improve audio on calls. Or use your mobile as the audio source when on work calls.
• Augment your basic desk setup with any job-specific tools like dual monitors, external keyboard/mouse, laptop riser or drawing tablets.

Structure Your Workday:

• Have set hours for when you will work each day, just like going into an office. This adds routine and boundaries between work and home life.
• Make a daily plan listing out your priorities, goals and schedule video meetings or focused work periods on your calendar.
• Schedule breaks just like you would in an office – step away for lunch, stretch or go for a walk.
• Quit work at a reasonable hour and disconnect fully until the next day. Avoid the temptation to keep working late into the night.

Establish Career Goals:

• Before making the transition to remote work, reflect carefully on your long-term career goals and desired path. Understanding this direction will help you identify the right type of remote role.
• Research prospective remote-friendly companies and jobs aligning with your goals. Look at their values, trajectories and remote work policies.
• Discuss your goals and ideal scenarios with your manager if already at a company. See how remote work could facilitate or alter your current path.

Find Remote Job Platforms:

• Browse job boards and recruiting platforms that allow filtering specifically for remote jobs like WeWorkRemotely, Remote.co and Virtual Vocations.
• Check company websites directly for open remote roles in your field or at companies you are interested in.
• Network within your professional community as remote roles can be “hidden” and only get circulated internally or by referral.

With the right preparation and mindset adjustments, you can set yourself up to thrive as a productive and successful remote worker. The self-discipline and dedication are challenging but rewarding.