The HomeWorkingClub Podcast

After a long and strange summer, Ben and Alex restart the HomeWorkingClub podcast with a chat about the future of the working world. 

Armed with results from our recent home working survey, we talk about whether the working world has changed forever, and whether governments will ever persuade office workers to revert to their previous lives.

Included in this podcast:

• An update on HomeWorkingClub (1:37)
• Big results from the survey (3:27)
• How the world is evolving (7:34)
• How to hold on to your home lifestyle (10:00)
• How existing freelancers/home workers are changing (15:30)
• The end of the city center? (18:40)
• Alex gets in a muddle! (21:34)
• A "super special secret project" (22:15)

Find detailed show notes and a complete transcription here.

Supplementary Links and Information

• Access our complete survey data.
• See our list of remote first companies.
• The brand new Freelance Kickstarter course - use coupon code "PODCAST33" for 30% off (expires 14th September 2020.)

In this episode, Alex talks to Kyle Ladewig of Out Of Office.

The company helps for remote workers and freelancers form small working groups, online and off, to replace the important social interaction people would usually get from an office environment. 

Kyle discusses how his business has had to adapt following Covid-19, provides tips for managing remote teams, and recommends productivity techniques that will be helpful to all.

Full transcription and show notes are available here.

Included in this podcast:

• An introduction (1:10)
• Remote work its mental health implications (4:16)
• How does Work Club work? (9:18)
• Advice on running a remote team (15.53)
• Productivity tips (17:45)

In todays podcast, Alex has the pleasure of interviewing James Hirst, the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Tyk, a global company with a remote workforce spread across the world.

James shares advice on what fully remote companies seek when recruiting. He also discusses the challenges of running global remote teams, and considers the likely "new normal" of remote working.  

You can find full show notes and a complete transcription here.

Included in this podcast:

• What does Tyk do? (0:48)
• What do remote companies look for in employees? (7:20)
• All about working across timezones and cultures (12:20)
• How is remote working evolving? (17:06)
• Is working from home a skill in itself? (21:33)
• How will the working world change in the future? (30:03)
• Additional advice for aspiring remote workers (35:50)

In this episode, Alex talks to Steve Hoyles, a personal trainer who has successfully diversified into freelance writing.

Steve shares some great tips on finding success in the freelance world. He also pulls on his fitness expertise to provide some great guidance on staying fit and healthy when you are stuck at home.

You can find full show notes and a complete transcription here.

Included in this podcast:

• An introduction (0:44)
• Research skills, and their importance in freelance writing (06:25)
• Steve's advice for new freelance writers (10:33)
• Advice for online job boards (17:25)
• Potential problem areas for new freelancers (22:00)
• Working during time away (29:20)
• Health tips for freelancers (31:15) 

Supplementary Links and Information

• Steve's website and Instagram.
• Details of Steve's fitness retreat business.
• An earlier podcast on becoming a writer. 
• How to get started in freelance writing. 
• All about building a freelance portfolio from scratch.
• Our review of the Problogger job board. 
• Tips for exercide at home during lockdown.

This episode’s show notes are brought to you in association with Vurbl 🎧 Vurbl is launching new technology for audio creators. Their podcast reviews and recommendations are a great way to discover new things to listen to. Check out this list of podcasts to listen to during quarantine, or go to Vurbl.com to sign up for their beta release.

In the tenth episode of the HomeWorkingClub podcast, we discuss a subject that WE know many people are interested in:

How to get your first freelance gigs, specifically on freelance job boards such as Upwork and PeoplePerHour.

We talk about how to stand out, which jobs to apply for and which to avoid, and provide lots of insight on getting your profile looking just right.

A full transcription is available here, along with complete show notes.

Included in this podcast:

• Getting your profile looking right (2:55)
• How to stand out (7:00)
• Why small, off-piste jobs are worth looking at (15:00)
• Why you need tenacity (19:52)

***

Supplementary Links and Information

• Our article on alternatives to Upwork.
• After recording, we confirmed that you CAN create a video profile on both Upwork and Freelancer.com.
• Our previous podcast, where we picked up lots of freelancing tips from the Freelancer.com CEO.
• The article Ben contributed to on finding work on Upwork. 
• More advice for finding work on freelance job boards.

In episode nine of the HomeWorkingClub podcast, we were honoured to have the pleasure of hosting Matt Barrie, CEO of leading freelance marketplace Freelancer.com.

In this detailed discussion, we address how aspiring freelancers can get started in the world of online freelancing, how big businesses can start from small investments, and what the business "new normal" might look like in a world after Coronavirus.

We tackle many other issues as well. Thanks to Matt for taking the time to join us.

Full show notes and a complete transcript both available here.

Included in this podcast:

• An introduction to Matt Barrie and Freelancer.com (0:32)
• How to get your first freelance job (10:39)
• Why the freelancing world is only just getting started (16:00)
• How one freelancer built a huge business from voiceovers (18:57)
• What's the first thing a new freelancer should do (21:40)
• What will the "new normal" look like? (27:25)
• Summing up (33:15)

Supplementary Links and Information

• Find Freelancer.com here.
• Our article on freelancing trends for 2020.
• A bumper roundup of tips for freelancers.

Who'd have known we'd find ourselves chatting about working from home during an almost-global lockdown.

But here we are.

In this week's podcast, we discuss how to both survive and thrive in these unprecedented times. Perhaps you're suddenly working from home unexpectedly. Even those of us who always work from home are going through some changes, not least the need to juggle working from home with childcare.

This episode provides you with some support with home working during the 2020 lockdown. It's the first podcast we've recorded remotely over zoom.

Full show notes and a complete transcript are available here.

Included in this podcast:

• The importance of honesty (2:50)
• About the need flexible (6:00)
• Going easy on yourself (9:00) 
• How to embrace new ideas and opportunities (15:25)
• All about being kind (20:19)

It maybe sounds a little over the top to say that software can change your life. But if you use a computer for hours every day, the right apps can make a huge difference.

In this podcast, we talk about software that can seriously enhance your professionalism and productivity. Several of these apps are completely FREE.

Full show notes and a complete transcript are both available here.

Included in this podcast:

• Save lot of time with typing using TextExpander or TypeIt4Me (1:20)
• Organise your life and work with Trello (4:20)
• Improve your writing and avoid silly mistakes with Grammarly (7:43) 
• Find out how much screengrab tools can improve your productivity (10:05)
• Why we still have a lot of time for Microsoft Office (12:47)
• Why experimenting with new apps is important (18:40)

Supplementary Links and Information

The Software we Recommend

• TextExpander* (see full review).
• TypeIt4Me
• Trello
• Grammarly* (see full review).
• Skitch
• Greenshot
• Office 365*

Other Suggested Links

• A much longer list of apps we recommend. 
• Our podcast about Upwork.

*Affiliate links.

In episode six, Alex and Ben tackle the thorny subject of freelance "feast or famine."

Recorded only a week before release, this particular episode drops at an unusual time.

Millions of people are seeing their working lives changed beyond recognition. It's alarming how much changed between recording and release.

The podcast includes a frank discussion of freelancing, and tackles the question of whether there are ways to avoid peaks and troughs.

Detailed show notes and a full transcription available here.

Included in this podcast:

• DOES freelancing means "feast or famine?" (0:55)
• Is being an employee better or worse? (2:23)
• How to deal with busy times. (3:39) 
• Is feast or famine avoidable? (4:54)
• An example of what can happen (11:48)
• The problem with the "hustle harder" mentality (13:45)
• Does freelancing get easier? (16:03)

Supplementary Links and Information

• A list of sustainable side gigs. 
• Our review of the UserTesting site. 
• Advice on the current global situation for freelancers.
• Some advice on preparing for a recession.
• Our article on the best skills for freelancers.  

In episode five of the HomeWorkingClub podcast, we tackle a question that's been bothering us for a while: 

Why does everyone want to be a writer?

As usual, you can listen to the podcast, or read a full transcript and access detailed show notes here.

Freelance writing is the number one thing people who visit our site are interested in, so the question is - what exactly is the appeal?

Today, we look at the genuine ups and downs of freelance writing, and consider whether it's really as great a career as people think.

Will you still like the idea of being a writer after listening? You'll have to wait and see!

Included in this podcast:

• Why IS freelance writing popular (0:48)
• What IS writing? (2:25)
• What skills are needed? (5:03) 
• What will you write about? (6:50)
• Are you actually good enough? (10:00)
• What clients look for. (11:20)
• How to get started (14:50)
• A little on bylines (21:06).

Supplementary Links and Information

• Results of our survey, discussed in the podcast.
• 52 Online Jobs (includes writing!) 
• The most desirable freelance skills.
• Our own guide to starting a blog.
• Some websites where you can find writing gigs. 
• Our big review of Upwork.
• Problogger jobs.
• How to build a portfolio without experience.