The Internet as your office: Why you should take your career online

MANILA, Philippines — Fifty years ago, a scientist named J.C.R. Licklider envisioned a “galactic network” that would connect computers from all around the globe and provide quick access to all kinds of information. His vision took on many stages and different names, but now it’s a little something a lot of us know as the Internet.

Fast forward to today, and this “galactic network” is everything that Licklider envisioned, and more. It’s a black hole of information, a portal for communication, and most importantly, a venue for great opportunities.

Now that the Internet is so commonplace, many have turned to it in search of work opportunities, and quite a handful have earned international acclaim and success through it as well. Take Mark Zuckerberg and his Harvard project, Facebook, or Tavi Gevinson who attracted the attention of the New York Times with her blog and passion project, The Style Rookie.

What the Internet can offer is a valuable job opportunity that not many office based occupations can: flexibility.  

This is particularly helpful for those who are looking for a career shift. You can be anyone and do anything with the right tools. The Internet opens up all kinds of job opportunities and experiences for freelance artists, tech-savvy developers, aspiring virtual assistants, and even dedicated teachers.

But while the potential is there, some are hesitant to take it. Maybe they’re still skeptical about businesses founded in the virtual world, or are apprehensive about how successful their online ventures can really be. Well, here are 3 reasons why you should take your office online: 

1. The flexible terms 

This is the aspect of online work that appeals to a lot of people. From mothers who prefer working from home to watch over her kids to caffeinated call-center agents who work when we sleep, all see this as a valuable factor to his and her lifestyle. Online jobs adjust to your work ethic. That doesn’t mean to say you won’t have to make some compromises here and there, but it means you have more control over the way you work. And being able to have a say in that regard is priceless. 

2. The audience 

That is to say, anyone who has regular access to the Internet is your audience. If you are an online buyer and seller, and your products are awesome, don’t be surprised if you have to start offering international shipments. If you are a freelance artist, who knows which global companies or foreign indie businesses will come knocking on your virtual door. And if you’re a teacher, you can reach more than just your local students, and make a difference in the lives of kids (and adults) all around the world.  

3. The income

And of course, let’s not forget the income. Not only are online careers flexible and fulfilling, but they are also lucrative. After all, it’s the digital age; nearly everyone is online, and a lot want a slice of what the Internet has to offer. And in combination with tip #1, flexible work hours also means flexible income. This means that your pay hinges on the number of hours you put into your work — the more hours, the bigger the pay. But if you want to give yourself a rest, you can manage your work in mind of your pay. 

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To better illustrate these points, an online English teacher shared what it was like having a non-traditional virtual career:

Teacher Anzie has been an online English teacher for the past 2 years. She started out as a trained nurse, but for personal reasons, decided to make a shift into the BPO industry. There, she worked the graveyard shift in retention sales, meeting the needs of aggravated customers for 2 years. It was only when she decided to quit her job when she stumbled across an ad for 51Talk. All she needed was a laptop and a stable Internet connection, and then she got started. 

“I just took my chances at the beginning because I recently resigned from my job. And when I got accepted, it went on and on.” 

Today, teacher Anzie is one of 51Talk’s leading teachers. She’s taught over thousands of foreign students, some of whom even consider her as a ‘best friend’. She’s helped so many students in the past 2 years, enabling them to reach their potential and instilling confidence in their skill, that a lot of her regular students have trouble booking her classes. 

“Actually I’ve been doing this for a very long time now — it seems like a calling,” she says. In terms of her teaching style, Teacher Anzie shares, “what I do differently for my classes would not just be for them to learn. I don’t ask to just read and read, because I do know that they know how to read. What I focus or emphasize on is how they can express themselves in a way that they wouldn’t feel like ‘Oh! I’m making lots of mistakes’. It’s actually to build their confidence.” 

One of the limitations of a formal classroom setting is that it becomes more difficult for the teacher to pay attention to each student’s needs. In an online setting, however, teachers like teacher Anzie are able to identify and address a student’s particular need right away. 

“You have to adapt to your students’needs, it’s not the student who will adapt to you. For example I’ve encountered a slow learner, like probably, the student wants me to speak slowly, so I have to adjust my pace.” In comparison with a traditional teaching setting, teaching is also a learning experience for the teachers.

All in all, her experience in 51Talk has been a positive one. After a series of career changes and unfulfilling work, she was able to find career fulfillment in a stable job with good pay, flexibility, and convenience. —Rappler.com

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Career shifters now have the option to take their career online with 51Talk, the country’s fastest-growing online English Language Teaching (ELT) platform.