How Do You Grow Your Career While Working From Home?

Continuing career growth while working from home can feel like an abstract venture. However, you can pursue expanding your career by networking through your work Slack, Zoom meetings, and LinkedIn. Consider working on personal projects to exemplify to potential employers your passion and willingness to work beyond a full-time position.

By Timothy Mably

As remote work continues to become available across industries, more professionals are asking how they can grow a career while working from home. Nearly 59% of professionals across the country work remotely, leading many to consider what will come next. Thinking beyond your position about expanding your career can feel like a distant challenge.

Recruitment coordinator Amelia Watson was formally an English teacher who quit her career in education at the end of 2021. She chose to pursue remote opportunities because she had a difficult experience finding entry-level jobs with a sustainable salary. Since her husband was in medical school and they didn’t know where he would find residency after graduation, remote work was a convenient solution for a stable income. Watson says, “Having a truly remote job gives me the ability to move anywhere without having to find a new job.”

This experience is shared by many who didn’t see remote work as an option just a few years ago. She sees positives in the transition, saying, “I truly work more efficiently at home, as I am able to focus much more easily. If something is distracting me at home, I can probably control it. However, in a physical workplace, I was always so distracted by other people, building construction, and noises in general.” 

Transitioning from an in-person position to a remote one can be a smooth process, but you will need to reorient yourself on some practices like networking. Although networking will always require some proactiveness, it will be especially needed while working from home.

Network From Home

There are a variety of ways you can network from your living room. If you’re working within a team and use a company Slack or have Zoom meetings, you can take advantage of opportunities to communicate with coworkers or managers. Depending on your field and position, your capacity to network on the job might improve.

Watson reflects on her previous job as a teacher in which she didn’t do any networking. She says, “Now that I’m working for a large company, even though I’m remote, I’m able to reach out to people who work in sectors I want to learn more about and have video calls with them. Working from home also gives me more time in my day, so I’m able to spend time on LinkedIn if needed.”

Utilize your looser schedule in a remote position to spend more time connecting with others, whether through your organization or LinkedIn. Your career is equally scalable when you’re working at home compared to working in person. 

Watson has worked for her employer for a year, but frequently has conversations with supervisors about her long-term and short-term career goals. She says, “Being willing to work remotely has opened the doors wide open for me, as I’m not limited to the few jobs that open up in my current city. The numbers just make sense.”

It can be a crucial component of your career growth to intentionally connect with others through work, building relationships over time. It doesn’t need to be for networking purposes, as simply creating bridges can lead to opportunities later on.

Jennifer Holloway is the director of strategy at Flow Digital and has experience working remotely. Throughout her time working from home, she has networked on Facebook groups and has attended virtual networking events. Holloway says networking should be casual. “Share your expertise, help as many people as you are able, take the opportunity to learn, and build friendships.”

She recounts that her consulting contracts, part-time and full-time work, have been the product of networking. Recently, Holloway accepted a part-time remote job after several months of applying to online listings. After utilizing her online network, she received two job offers within two weeks.

Change Your Perspective

With the difference in how work can be obtained, you may need to adjust your perspective. There are multiple ways in which remote work can be a more practical option for planning your career path.

When Watson chose to work remotely and not at a company located exclusively in Mississippi, it changed the way she looks at her professional trajectory. She doesn’t have to wait for a coworker in a higher position to get promoted for her to have a chance at being promoted. She explains, “I’m working for a company with thousands of employees all over the world with constant growth and movement, and many of the job openings are remote, so my options are much more extensive.”

If someone in a remote position reaches a point where they are unable to progress in their current organization, they can begin applying for other remote opportunities. They don’t need to move and uproot their lives to enter a mid-senior level position at another company. Instead, they can determine their next job based on salary and qualifications.

Functioning in a remote position with this mentality of openness can influence your approach to growing your career. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by the uncertainty of a promotion or the possibility of having to move, you can have some relief.

Consider Personal Projects

If you ultimately desire a career in the arts, you will have more space to pursue creative projects. Whether you would like to write a book, work on photography, or sell art, there will be time to focus on personal projects. This could look like a separate side venture and secondary source of income, like freelance or commissioned work.

Even if it doesn’t earn money, creative projects can still be worth mentioning on a resume, cover letter, or included in a portfolio. These can be listed as accomplishments with short one or two-sentence descriptions, in a similar style to how you might elaborate on a volunteer experience. A potential employer can recognize your passion and ability to work on more beyond a full-time position. 

It will also signify that you like to challenge yourself and you are capable of balancing multiple pursuits. Your followthrough on both professional and personal projects will showcase your commitment and work ethic to a hiring manager.

Holloway explains the importance of setting time aside throughout the day. She says, “Being a long-time work-from-home professional, I think it is critical to be really intentional about your work-from-home time if you want to expand your career.” 

She believes that blocking out time and creating a workspace in your home can help set boundaries. It also helps to differentiate between your current employment and other ongoing projects. Compartmentalizing can help to establish a barrier, contributing to a potential perspective on where you would like to go next in your career.

Working from home won’t affect your career growth if you navigate it strategically. By adjusting your perspective of remote work, seeking opportunities to connect, and spending time on passion projects outside of your organization, you can prepare for what’s next.

Top Takeaways

How can you grow your career while working remotely at home?

• Transitioning from an in-person position to a remote one can be a smooth process, but you will need to reorient yourself on some practices like networking. 
• If you’re working within a team and use a company Slack or have Zoom meetings, you can take advantage of opportunities to communicate with coworkers or managers. 
• It can be a crucial component of your career growth to intentionally connect with others through work, building relationships over time.
• If you ultimately desire a career in the arts, you will have more space to pursue personal projects.
• Even if it doesn’t earn money, creative projects can still be worth mentioning on a resume, cover letter, or included in a portfolio.