With remote jobs gaining in popularity in Israel, especially among olim who work for companies in the US, the question of where to work is a crucial one.
Working from home
Working from home has a lot of obvious advantages. You can roll out of bed straight to your office without that pesky commute, there’s no need to pack a lunch or buy an expensive meal and you can throw in a load of laundry in between tasks. But in order for working from home to be a viable option, you need certain conditions:
- A place to sit comfortably with convenient placement for your computer (probably not your couch)
- A professional looking, quiet space from which to conduct meetings (not your bedroom)
- An environment that is conducive to work, without too much coming and going (especially of little people!)
Working in a shared workspace
Don’t have these conditions? You might want to think about working in a shared workspace. While it’s true that every Israeli coffee shop has at least one person sitting there all day with their computer, cafes have similar problems to noisy households. There are too many distractions and it’s not the most professional background for your meetings and phone calls. Also, although they seem like a free workspace, the expectation that you will order food and drinks throughout the day can make it an expensive option.
A shared workspace will also cost you, but in return you will get a proper desk and a work environment. Many shared workspaces in Israel offer services such as conference rooms, quiet spaces for meetings, printers, coffee and snacks. Some will allow you to pay per day or per week, while others will require a monthly payment or even a long-term commitment.
When many people of different professions work in the same office, there can be opportunities for collaborations and for learning from each other professionally. You can refer work to others and they can refer work to you. You might work on a project together or get advice on how to handle a situation or perform a certain task. Of course, it’s also easy to find yourself involved in conversation when you should be working, so if you’re often distracted, this type of work situation might not be right for you.
Choosing the right shared workspace
When choosing the right shared workspace for you, consider these factors:
- How far will you have to travel to get there?
- What percentage of your income will go toward paying for this workspace?
- What services are included and do you actually need them?
- Do you prefer a large, bustling workspace or a smaller, family feel?
- Will this space increase or hinder your productivity?
Most workspaces will allow you to try them out, either for free or for a small fee. Spend a day in a space you’re considering and see whether it meets your needs and if it will be a pleasant experience as well as a good place to work.