Work out of your home office: Top 5 WFH jobs in 2021

Companies and employees are waking up to the benefits of working from home.

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Some of the most popular WFH jobs that we are likely to see in 2021.
Even a year ago, weekday morning routines for most of us involved getting ready for work, packing lunch, and commuting to work in peak hour traffic. While the concept of ‘Work from home’ existed in the periphery, it was mostly viewed as an option that was suitable for less serious career tracks where growth aspirations were limited.

COVID-19 changed all that. Suddenly, the whole world had to work remotely - right from top CEOs and CTOs to the underlings in the organizations. Online video meetings and collaborating over Google docs became the new normal. And just like that, the concept of WFH became mainstream. From technology giants such as Facebook, Google, and Amazon to smaller organizations across the globe, allowed almost all employees to work from home.

Companies and employees are waking up to the benefits of working from home. A recent survey by co-working space provider Awfis revealed that working professionals in India are saving Rs 5,520 per month and 1.47 hours of travel time each day on average. The same survey also found that 74% of the respondents were willing to work remotely. Also, trends such as the gig economy have already been playing a role in legitimizing WFH even pre-COVID. Reports suggest that the gig economy is likely to globally generate~$455 bn in volume by 2023.


Given this, we can certainly expect an uptick in WFH roles. It is, however, critical that professionals understand the long-term implications, take adequate measures to keep in touch with industry evolution, and most importantly, upskill and reskill themselves regularly in line with industry requirements. Here is a list of some of the most popular WFH jobs that we are likely to see in 2021.

Web Developer
Web development lends itself very well to remote working since it mainly requires a good laptop/desktop computer and a stable internet connection. Of course, web developers need the requisite skills and proficiency in the right tools such as CSS, HTML, as well as programming languages including Ruby and JavaScript to develop visually appealing websites and apps.

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If you’re looking to WFH, here are some top roles you can consider.

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Software Engineer
Software engineering, which entails the development of computer systems or software is another well paid work from home job. Given the growing importance of technology, software engineering plays a key role in building the right technology tools to run businesses more effectively. Again, the role requires certain specialized skills such as an in-depth knowledge of coding and computer programming.

System Administrator
Each company requires system administrators who are responsible for monitoring the installation, acquisition, upgrades, and maintenance of their computer systems. A system administrator is also required to guide organizations when it comes to selecting the right computer systems and ensuring their efficient operation. The job can easily be performed remotely as long as one has access to the right technologies. This job generally comes with high remuneration and works well for a freelance model.

Digital Marketing Specialist
With the proliferation of the internet and omnipresent internet connectivity, more companies feel the need to use the internet as an important marketing channel. As a result, the demand for digital marketing specialists is through the roof. A digital marketer is responsible for planning and implementation of an organization’s digital marketing strategies designed to align with the organization’s business goals. In terms of skillset, digital marketers are expected to have a good understanding of social media and mobile campaigns, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), and Customer Relationship Management (CRM).

Social Media Manager
Just like digital marketers, the role of social media manager too is the product of the Internet age and growing popularity of social media platforms. Businesses realize the need to have a credible presence on social media and require specialized support to achieve this. The very nature of this job is cut out for remote working since it involves tasks such as writing blogs, creating social media content, coordinating with marketing efforts, developing online communities, and noting feedback. To excel in this field, staying updated on industry and market trends is absolutely necessary.

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The post-COVID era is poised to open up a world of new opportunities, several of them suitable for remote work. However, to succeed in this new scenario, there is a greater onus on employees to stay relevant, prove their worth, and ensure that they are ahead of the curve when it comes to learning and upskilling.

(The author, Krishna Kumar, is founder & CEO of Simplilearn)
5 Most Sought-After Skills In A Post-Covid Workplace
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Upskilling is the order of the day whether it’s because your industry has been affected, you’ve been asked to leave or simply just considering a change. And the new normal means that certain skills will be highly sought in the post COVID-19 world, given that many of our usual ways of living have changed. Employees all over the world are compelled to adjust to digital infrastructure and work remotely. This requires acquiring new skills – not just technical but also soft skills to make a smooth transition into the new way of working. Lakshmi Mittra, VP – Center of Excellence (CoE) and Clover Academy, Clover Infotech, shares the top skills that in a post covid world:

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Problem solving skills become essential in a remote working scenario. Since employees are collaborating and communicating virtually, this can raise a series of challenges. Problem solving skills enable employees to approach problems rationally and view them as opportunities. In this way, they can identify the most effective methods to rectify situations and ensure smooth functioning of business operations.
Problem solving skills become essential in a remote working scenario. Since employees are collaborating and communicating virtually, this can raise a series of challenges. Problem solving skills enab..
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The current global crises have not only tested employees’ capabilities to perform in a remote working environment but also their emotional resilience. With some enterprises announcing remote working till the end of 2020, it has become imperative for managers to develop strong leadership qualities to manage teams remotely, inspire and bring out the best in them by outcome based management. Enterprises are organizing courses to skill their leadership and mid-management teams to plan and manage their work better and build camaraderie among their teams remotely.
The current global crises have not only tested employees’ capabilities to perform in a remote working environment but also their emotional resilience. With some enterprises announcing remote working ..
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Since the majority of the workforce is operating from home, hackers are using this as an opportunity to launch cyber-attacks. As per recent reports, there has been a significant increase in the number of cyberattacks on personal computers, networks, and routers. With IT and cyber security becoming more critical than ever, cybersecurity experts will be on the priority list for every enterprise.
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With remote working and collaboration, it is very important to communicate clearly and be well-planned to get the best out of teams. Right from training and skilling employees to getting projects delivered on time, communication skills will become very critical and could be a key factor that distinguishes successful projects from the others.
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When it comes to the remote working culture, organizations are transitioning their operating models to incorporate remote working capabilities. They are trying to get as many applications and technology infrastructure on the cloud as possible. The enterprises that are already equipped with a cloud strategy have been able to seamlessly transition to virtual working quicker, and with minimal disruption to their teams and customers. With cloud being a key part of enterprises’ digital transformation strategy, there will be a greater demand for cloud architects and cloud IT admins in the post COVID-19 new normal.
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(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of www.economictimes.com.)
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