With the right attitude, the life as a temporary worker is exciting and refreshing. It is filled with new things and challenges every day. You have control over where and when you work. You can stay for as long as you want and leave when you want, depending upon your contract. On the flip side, the employer can dismiss you in an instant, usually without warning or consequences.

The challenges start the moment you walk in the door. It means working with a variety of people and personalities, learning to adapt quickly, making fast decisions and knowing when and how to ask for help. Temporary work means pushing yourself all the time as you face new challenges and situations. By setting the job length you can set the pace of change in your life.

Working in a temporary job position is no different than any other job. The rules still apply. Be on time, be prepared, and if you need help, ask. Most businesses hate wasted time. No personal calls, keep breaks to a minimum, dress appropriately, and maintain the normal professional attitudes and postures.

Skills

People usually take temporary jobs for three reasons. First, they are between full-time jobs and need the money; second, they want to check out the job market and position to see if this is what they really want to do; and third, they love the life of working when and where they want, enjoying the variety that comes with temporary work.

Not everyone can work as a temporary worker, or "temp" as they are often called. Most people like the security and comfort of a known company and job. They are comfortable working with the same people every day, often doing the same or similar things all the time. A temporary worker develops the confidence to walk into any job situation and get the job done. It can hone your skills, no matter what they are, forcing you to accommodate different personalities, work situations and environments.

Besides the specific job skill, it is important for a temporary worker to be well organized, keeping track of their work and their responsibilities to the different companies they work for. Depending upon the length of the job, a temp can have a new boss and fellow employees every week or so. They need the ability to quickly determine the structure of authority and the responsibilities they are given. They need to learn how to ask the right questions to get the job done efficiently and accurately. They must be fearless when it comes to asking for help and admitting when they are wrong.

Above all else, a temporary worker must be flexible. One company may have a strict dress code and the next not. One company may use state of the art computer equipment and the next do the same job with a pencil and paper. The temporary worker must be up-to-date on the latest technology but still current on how to use the old versions. If the work area is too cold or too hot, odds are it is for a reason, so the worker must be ready to accommodate both, flexing with the myriad ways each company does the same thing.

If you are up to the challenges of being a temporary worker, the first skill that needs cultivating is how to compute how long it will take you to do a task or project. We also offer some tips on how to make your experience as a temporary worker a pleasant and enjoyable one.

Having hired temporary workers and been one myself for several years, here are some of the lessons I learned, often the hard way.

Keep Home at Home, Work at Work

Keep personal issues at home

People really don’t care if you are having a good or bad day. They don’t really care if you are in the middle of a divorce or your 2 year old has a cold. They just want the job done, fast and right.

Don’t personalize your workspace

Avoid bringing personal items to work such as photos and knickknacks. If you bring personal items, you have to quickly pack them up when you leave and something is bound to be forgotten or left behind.

Keep things impersonal

People enjoy knowing about you, where you are from, where you went to school, and why you are doing this, trying to find a connection. As a temp, you are under pressure to perform, living little time for personal conversations. Plan answers to keep things impersonal while still being professional. If you find something in common, suggest getting together at lunch or after work, and keep your attention on the job.

Keep opinions and gossip to yourself

It’s so easy to tell a stranger your life story, describe how bad the drive into work was, or discuss your feelings on abortion or civil rights. You weaken your position when you bring “issues” into the workplace. It can be tough to keep those snappy and witty comments to yourself, but do. No matter how fast they spring to your lips, keep them zipped up.

Watch what information you give away

At work and at your leisure, you never know who is sitting next to you or within hearing. It takes a little slip of the lips to say something about the beast you are working for, not knowing the friend you are having lunch with is related to the beast. It’s a small world and you never know when something you say might be damaging.

Work Environment

Honor their workspace

When temporarily replacing another worker, don’t mess up their work space. People are nervous about their “space” and feel invaded when they know someone else has been opening their drawers and using their equipment. Keep everything as it is. Cleaning around things is usually appreciated. Put everything back where you found it.

Bring your own tools and equipment when possible

Check with each company about the rules of providing your own equipment. If you use specific software, bring it with you and make sure you virus scan everything for your protection and theirs. If you require special tools, bring your own.

If you bring it, take it home

If you need special equipment or supplies and you bring them from home, take them home each night with you. You never know when your office will be different the next day, your job will change, or something may happen and access to the workplace may be restricted to you. Whatever you bring, be it personal or professional items, store them in your vehicle or take them home each night.

Be flexible and adaptable

Not every office or work space will meet your needs. When possible, ask for a more comfortable chair or whatever you need to get the job done. Learn to make do. A phone book covered with your coat makes a short chair higher. Lift keyboards and monitors higher, bring a back support, and adjust things to make yourself comfortable.

Professional Presentation

Be and look professional

Dress appropriately for the situation, always moving towards overdressing on the first day and then adjusting later. Bring hairbrush, makeup, toothbrush and paste, and other essentials to touch yourself up during the day, if necessary.

Smile all the time

Even when your feet are killing you, keep a fresh smile on your face, showing them you like what you do and where you are. Many offices don’t see a smiling face very often and the more you smile, the more they like you and feel relaxed themselves, maybe even smiling back.

Learn the jargon

Every job and industry has its own language and terminology. Sometimes terms change from business to business, forcing you to learn what each company calls the same thing. Voice mail is a messaging service. A receptionist may be the corporate greeter. The more you understand the language, the faster you can follow instructions.

Keep current

Keep up-to-date on the advancements in your industry and skills. Learn the latest versions of the software and equipment you work with, but keep your skills sharp for older versions. Take classes, do your homework, read the magazines, check the web. Research your field of expertise and keep current so you are ready for whatever the job has to offer.

You don’t know everything

While you have been brought in as an expert, and maybe you do know it all, try to keep your attitude humble. Ask for opinions and respect them, listening to the history of what came before and what they expect from this project. Maybe your great new idea was a flop last week. Reveal your knowledge slowly, earning their trust and respect.

Be prepared to leave a job in minutes

Sometimes you know when a job ends and sometimes notice comes quickly. Keep your equipment and tools close at hand. Any software you brought, make sure it is easy to remove and/or erase off the computer. Take everything home with you each night as your notice to leave can come without a chance to return to the company.

Job Production

Make each company feel like it is the most important company you’ve ever worked for

Treat people with respect and importance.

Research the company

While it may or may not be important to the work you are hired to do, it can help to know something about the company before you begin. It can also help you understand the terminology of the business and how the structure of the company works.

Know who is who

Find out as soon as possible who you are to report to, who are the people to get the right information from, and under whose umbrella are you walking. It saves confusion later and establishes a clear foundation.

Write everything down

When you are given instructions, write it down. Don’t trust your memory. If you take notes, people believe what they are saying has worth. It makes you look efficient and helps keep you on track through any distractions.

Get specific instructions

Don’t read minds. Don’t make assumptions about what they want you to do. Make sure you completely understand the task ahead of you by asking questions and restating your instructions.

Listen

Listen to your orders. Listen to the people around you. The more information you gather about your task and the company, the better you can do your job and meet their needs.

Do what you are told to do and nothing else

You are not hired to solve all their problems, just the one you are working on. Doing favors and taking on unassigned tasks can upset things. People have reasons for everything they do and don’t do.

Don’t share information about another company

Competition in business is serious business. Just because one company does things one way doesn’t mean it will work for all. If they hear you talk about another company, they realize you could be talking about them on your next job.

Thank everyone

Take time to say thank you to everyone around you for what they are doing and for their help. Many people work in “thankless” jobs, doing what has to be done with little reward save a paycheck. Take a moment to pay attention to them and thank them. It helps make the world a better place.

Temporary Employee Responsibilities

As a temporary employee, you often work for a recruiting or temporary assignment company. It is their business to match you to the company, with your personality and skills, and to keep the customer and you happy. They need to know who you are, how you work, and what your capabilities are. They need more than a resume. There are often a battery of tests the worker must pass before eligibility. Who and what you are is just as important to them as what you can do because they have to trust you to walk into their client’s offices looking professional and capable to get the job done efficiently and accurately.

Consider the temporary employment agency your boss. Since they rarely witness you working, only getting feedback from the contracting company, it is your responsibility to keep them up-to-date on how you are doing, what you are doing, what your schedule is like, and how you feel about where you work and what you are doing. To help them, here are some tips.

Keep your resume up-to-date all the time

Carry it with you on disk and update it with the new tasks you are learning. Resumes are customizable to specific jobs, so keep a master resume specifying what you do on the various jobs so you have a good resource to cull a resume from. You never know when a recruiter will call asking for a specific skill and you can have the experiential evidence ready.

Send your updated resume to the recruiter frequently

Depending upon the duration of the job, and the turnover at your recruiter’s office, you can lose touch with your job recruiter. Make sure they remember who you are and what you are capable of.

Remember your recruiter

Some job recruiters work with 20 – 50 people every day. They tend to lose track of who is who and what they can do. Besides sending your resume, do small things like sending a thank you card, send flowers, visit the office, do little things to keep them interested and enthused about you. The more visible you are, the better your job opportunities.

Thank your recruiter

If you love the job you are in, don’t forget to let your recruiter know they did good with a thank you call or note card. By letting them know which jobs make you happy, they are more likely to continue to place you in the appropriate positions.

Work with more than one agency

If you need a steady flow of income, find representation with more than one agency to keep the work opportunities coming in. When you are committed to a job lasting more than a week, contact the agencies to let them know you will be unavailable for that time period and when you will be ready for another position.

Making the decision to take your business on the road isn’t an easy one. It is filled with complications, red tape, life changes, and major and minor decisions which can overwhelm you unless you are prepared. First, you must decide if your business qualifies as a mobile one, then think of all the things your business is dependent upon and consider how to bring those into your mobile package.

Do you need a fixed address?

Do customers have to come see you? How physically accessible do you and your product have to be to your customers? Can you survive day to day getting mail sporadically and having it handled by a mail forwarding service, often delayed by a week or more?

Do you need to be in constant contact?

Are you constantly on the phone, available to clients, and ready to respond to their needs? Do they have to be able to find you fast? Are face-to-face meetings a requirement?

Does your business require inventory?

When selecting an RV, you need to take into consideration whether or not you need room for product inventory. Maybe arrangements with a warehouse for handling your inventory would be better. Is it enough you have a few samples you can easily restock?

Does your business require specialized equipment?

Is it portable? Does it have special needs? Will it endure the brutality of the road? Do you require special computers and software? Can you easily update and maintain your office equipment? Do you need to build special containers or support systems to protect the system on the road?

Would it help your business and make you more money to be mobile?

If it is a boon to be where your customers need you, and that location is away from home, then taking your business on the road makes sense. If it doesn’t help your business, and you really can work anywhere, why are you considering this lifestyle? Will it help or interfere with your business?

Separation of Home and Work

When you take your business on the road, your moving home also becomes your office, and the visual front by which your clients will judge your work. The world is still a place where people are judged by their appearances, and how you keep your moving home/office speaks for your reputation. Keeping an RV pristine and ready for clients at any time of the day or evening can be exhausting, especially if you have children and pets. Confining the office area to a specific location in the trailer or motor home helps. Using the dining table and having to put everything away when you’re done can be time consuming and challenging when business is busy.

In planning to take your business on the road, consider how to separate home and work inside the trailer so you also have a place to escape and relax. Put your organizational skills to work to set up an area that maximizes the space, fitting everything in a small area. Carefully plan your equipment choices to avoid redundancy and equipment you rarely use. There are copy and mail stores in most towns which have office equipment such as staplers, paper cutters, packaging supplies, scanners, and things some businesses need only occasionally.

Set up a work schedule with your family to help keep work separate from home. When you are working, ask not to be disturbed and establish clear ground rules. If potential customers are in the campground or you anticipate customers visiting your RV, make sure you clear this with the manager and be ready for people to visit. A lot of campgrounds are very social and people think little of stopping by for a chat. If your work isn’t conducive to these interruptions, let people know or put a sign on the door about your "working" hours. It’s not easy to stay focused with all the potential distractions that comes with traveling.

What makes a good mobile business?

There are many businesses that are very mobile. Some multi-level marketing businesses work well from the road, bringing you and your product to the customer wherever they are. Selling household products, makeup, tools, and any product you can sell through mail or the Internet keeps the inventory low and is great for travelers as they can reach a wider range of customers. Service-oriented businesses, like web page designers or computer programers, are great for traveling, including office equipment repair and maintenance, public speaking and teaching, consulting, and insurance. Businesses working with products and services which don’t require physical storage space, massive inventories, or cumbersome specialized tools are excellent for the traveling business like web page designer, developing computer programs.

Millions of people are hired by companies with travel written right into the job description. For many this means racking up airline frequent flyer miles as high as the sky. For others, traveling can be done more slowly, making RVing a realistic choice. There is something wonderful to be said about sleeping in the same bed every night, eating at the same table, and having the comforts of home with you, even though your physical address may change frequently.

If you are a traveling employee with insurance plans and employee benefits, much of the planning for life on the road revolves around choosing an appropriate RV and finding places to stay for longer than a weekend or two.

Most traveling employees are provided with office space to work in, leaving the trailer as "home" instead of a working space. Even so, many traveling employees carry their own specialized equipment with them from site to site. When choosing an RV, the traveling employee needs to consider the space and weight needs for such equipment.

With today’s modern technology, all it takes is a cell phone and laptop and you can stay in touch with work from almost anywhere. Employees can work at home, from the road, or anywhere they are needed. If your business allows you to work from home, why not consider making home mobile? Is there a requirement to come into the office frequently? That can be worked around. With the advance in video telephones and conferencing, these face-to-face visits are changing.

Taking Work on the Road

Most people living in RVs and working where their job takes them have a home base. For some, this means leaving family behind, seeing them on weekends or once a month, or sometimes even less. While a campground environment can create a quick temporary "family" feeling, it doesn’t replace the family left behind. The traveling employee often works long hours, coming back to the hotel or RV just to sleep and shower and return to work. Living in an RV, returning to a familiar bed, bathroom, and living space can be more relaxing and comfortable for many than returning to a strange hotel room.

There are a wide variety of jobs for the traveling employee who works in all kinds of fields, including construction, transportation, communication, education, sales, and any job position which involves being at a site to do the work. If you’re someone who loves to travel and who has a skill that is "portable," the RV lifestyle might be for you.

Temporary jobs are available in every field, with a high demand right now in construction and communications maintenance, installation and repair. There is work available as a bookkeeper, secretary, receptionist, pharmacist, caretaker, cook, bottle washer, pet groomer, baker, dentist, doctor, medical technician, engineer, law assistant, court reporter, satellite dish installer, sales clerk, ticket taker, bus driver, computer programmer, fruit picker, mechanic, graphic designer, teacher, carpenter, nurse, gardener, writer, pizza delivery person, tour guide, product demonstrator, product tester, magazine subscription seller, landscaper, Santa, waitress, security guard, seamstress, public speaker, catalog salesperson, laundry machine maintenance technician, auto shop stocker, grocery delivery person, political campaigner, door knocker, you name it, there is a need for a temporary position or fill-in for a sick employee.

The traveling worker moves from job to job, independent of a corporate boss and the weight of running a business. They can work in one industry and in one job position but work for a variety of companies, changing when the job is up or when they feel like it. They can work in a variety of job positions, changing their interests within the industry to accommodate changes in the business or their own interests. Or they can take on any job they find as it comes along. They are the most versatile workers on the road.

The more flexible you are regarding the work and working conditions, the easier it is to find a job. Some people are happy enough to be near relatives or the warmth of the sun so they will scrub floors and toilets for 20 hours a week to be there. Others work because they need the money and the rest is unimportant. If you just want to take your life on the road and find whatever job finds you, consider the following questions:

• What do you want to do?
• What are you able to do?
• How long are you willing to work?
• Where do you want to work?
• How much money do you need?
• Would you settle for an exchange of housing and allowance for work?

Most traveling workers hold temporary or short-term positions. They are either hired directly by a company or recruited through a temporary or contract agency which specializes in short-term job placement. Usually these positions do not include insurance or any benefits like stock options or investment plans, so the traveling worker must make their own arrangements and pay for them out of their own pocket, if they need these things. Living in an RV can mean lower expenses, but working as a temporary or contract worker means planning and budgeting to cover the benefits they don’t get.

Finding a Job

Job hunting from the road can be difficult. There are many temporary job recruitment agencies, but it’s a challenge to stay in contact with them when you don’t know where you will be from week to week. The Internet makes it easier to find a job before arriving in a community, but not always. Looking for a job, whether long or short term, is the same. You need to have access to a telephone with an answering machine. You need to keep your resume up-to-date and ready to fax or email upon request. Many agencies require a battery of tests before consideration. Many require face-to-face interviews, but others will work from telephone interviews. If you work with a national or international recruitment agency, you only need to go through this process once and they will forward your records from location to location. Most temporary job agencies do not charge the worker but pass the fees directly to the hiring company.

There are some requirements that must usually be met in order to get a temporary job. These can often be a challenge for the traveling worker. We discuss some of these in our article on Home Sweet Where. They may include:

• Local address and phone number.
• Permanent address and phone number.
• Emergency contact, preferably local, but not always.
• Valid driver’s license, often from that state but not always.
• Green Card or proof of residency and citizenship.
• Social Security Card

Kelly Services and Manpower are two of the largest employment services companies, offering full-time and temporary jobs all over the world. The National Park Service relies heavily upon temporary labor. There is a wide variety of job seeking services on the Internet. Short term jobs can be found, especially before the summer tourist season, at SummerJobs.com and JobWeb.org. A unique national temporary employment agency is growing in popularity with RVers. Labor Finders has few requirements other than being an able body that arrives between 6-8 AM prepared to work. They help you select a job right for you and will even help you get there. At the end of the day you stop at the office and pick up a pay check, their mission being “A day’s pay for a day’s work.” As a national company, they can forward your work history and information across the country, making the work of finding a job on the road much easier. Since all you have to do is show up ready to work, the reliance on a telephone is not necessary.

“How long will this take?” This is the first question most temporary workers are asked. Most companies have a specific task in mind, usually under a deadline. One of the skills most needed in a temporary job is the ability to compute time constraints.

Computing tasks by time requires familiarity with a task. If you’ve transcribed and faxed a letter 300 times, you’ve an idea of how long it takes. If you have set up a web page 50 times before, you have an idea of how long it takes depending upon the complexities involved, since no web page is exactly alike. Keep a notebook to record how long it takes to do certain tasks to increase your accuracy. As an efficient estimator of how long it takes to do a project, your skills and worth increases.
Computing time involves figuring out the following:

• How long is the preparation time?
• How long will the task actually take?
• Is help needed from others?
• How much research time is needed?
• Is the work dependent upon someone else’s schedule?
• How long is the wait for equipment to work?
• How much time is needed to allow for lunch and breaks?
• How much time is needed to accommodate interruptions?

Add a little padding to make sure to meet your time commitments. Most people are understanding about delays, but if you’ve been hired to get the job done in two days and three weeks later you are still working on it, the reasons had better be good.

Computing your time means categorizing your time. There are 7 basic parts to categorizing your time: Preparation, Task, Help, Interuptions, Dependence Upon Others, Review, and Equipment. The Preparation stage is the the part of the task that involves getting ready to start. It can include finding things, getting the equipment prepared and ready, and gathering the information and resources around you to make this task happen. The Task stage is the actual work done on the project at hand. Often this is the smallest part of the consumed time, but sometimes not. Interuptions are the phages of the project where other work or people interupt your schedule and they must be taken into account.

The Equipment stage is a part of the process that is flexible depending upon the complications of the equipment. For instance, you may think that photocopying a few pages is a quick task to complete, but what if the copier needs the toner changed, or the pages jam, or you have to change the paper. The cost of this time must be taken into account. You can’t plan for every actuality, but you can pad your time to account for the possibilities.

Help, Dependence Upon Others, and Review are all phases of the project that involve other people and their time schedules and constraints. With experience and familiarity with that workplace, you can usually compute the time these phases will take. Help means asking others to help you complete the project in some way, by gathering information, answering questions, or offering assistance. Review is time spent by others to review your work to make sure it is in compliance with their standards. Dependence Upon Others is the time you spend waiting for others working on the project to get their part of the project done so you can continue.

Let’s look at an example of how this works.

Letter Transcription

1 – 2 minutes

Begin: Handed a cassette for transcription of a two page letter, instructions are to type it and return for review and editing. You ask if it needs to be double spaced for editing and what specific letterhead and form it requires.

2 – 8 minutes

Preparation: Hunt for letterhead. Hunt computer word processing program for specific letterhead template or design your own. Prepare transcription equipment and put on headphones.

10 – 45 minutes

Task: Transcribe letter.

5 – 10 minutes

Help: Is the transcription understandable? You get help with three hard-to-understand words. You check with another secretary to make sure you’ve set things up the right way.

5 minutes

Task: Self-edit your work. Spell check. Verify accuracy of information.

2 minutes

Equipment: Print out edit copy. Put away transcription equipment.

3 – 40 minutes

Dependence on Others: Present to author for editing and review (assuming the author is available.)

3 – 15 minutes

Task: Make corrections.

2 minutes

Equipment: Print out final copies ready for signature.

2 – 5 minutes

Dependence on Others: Present to author for final review and signature.

2 – 5 minutes

Equipment: Prepare for mailing and delivery.

5 – 20 minutes

Interruptions: You understand interruptions, the phone calls, delays, people asking questions, getting coffee…and all the things that get in the way of our activity. You have to allow time for these.

5 – 10 minutes

Padding: Just in case you haven’t made enough allowance for interruptions and other things that get in your way, create a safety time zone.

Total: 50 minutes to 3 hours (Once familiar with the process, the time shrinks substantially)

There are some down sides to computing your time. If they anticipate the job will take 3 weeks and you tell them it will take 1 week, the company is under no obligation to reward you for your speed. If you tell them the job will take 3 weeks and you complete it in 2, they might compensate you for speed and possibly cover the remaining 2 weeks, or they might not. It is up to you to negociate how and when you are to be paid for your particular services. It’s a matter of balance, figuring out how to keep the company happy and pleased with your work, and still pay rent and put food on the table.

Learn how to say no, too. If you can’t figure out how long a project will take or you don’t feel up to the challenge, admit it. Companies respect people who don’t waste their time. Odds are, they will ask you to return, the key to any good job.

Whether for a long or short term job position, workers usually sign a contract specifying the job descriptions, rights and responsibilities of both parties. Most of the time the company has form contracts. Other workers develop their own contracts to more specifically meet their needs. Whichever way you go, there are some basics you need to consider including in your contract. Just because a contract is a mass-produced form, there is no law that says you can’t write in your specific needs. Everything is negotiable, limited only to your needs and the companies ability to meet them. Be specific about what you really need to get the job done. Sometimes the money is the most important consideration, but an unhappy working environment can make the money seem small after you’ve been there for a couple of weeks.

Put it all in writing, have it reviewed by an attorney, and make sure both parties sign it. Even have it notarized to ensure its validity. This way you are protected and there is no confusion between the parties. Negotiating a contract is hard, and there are times when you have to be willing to walk away if you don’t get what you want. But if you don’t ask, you won’t get.

Every contract is different. It must match your needs and desires. The following list covers some of the basics. Check with an attorney who specializes in contracts in your chosen industry for more information.

Employer

Who exactly will you be working for? You need to state clearly who your responsibility lies with. Is it the recruiting/job placement company or the company you work with. Sometimes it is clear, but sometimes confusing. An employment company may hire a worker, negotiating the contract and paying the salary, and assign that worker to another company, acting as their agent. When there is a dispute with the company, who will step in to defend you? Or do you have to defend yourself? It can get very complicated. By stating who is your actual employer and who will be honoring your contract in case of a dispute, you make it clear for all involved where you stand.

Job Description

What services will you be providing? Be specific as you list the job description and responsibilities. This makes it clear to everyone what is expected of you and the level of responsibility you are undertaking.

Rate and Hours

How many hours are you expecting to work? Is it strict hours or flexible? If you are required to work 40 hours a week, can you work four days at 10 hours each or does it have to be 5 days? Are you paid by the hour or a flat wage? Does this include overtime? How much is overtime compensation? Does this include paid holidays? Which ones? Be specific about how much you are being paid, for how many hours and how it is measured.

Payment

How will you be paid? By cash or check? When possible, make arrangements to be paid by direct deposit to your bank account, limiting the hassle of working with uncooperative banks far from home. When will you be paid? Weekly? Monthly? When does your first pay check arrive? Some companies require an employee to wait until the first full pay period to be paid, sometimes a three or four week wait. Will you need cash in-between pay checks? How is that to be handled? If you are working overseas, ask for payment in US Dollars or your home currency.

Benefits

What benefits do you want or need? What about stock options? Investment matching? A signing bonus? A termination fee? How about bonuses during the year or when certain deadlines are met? What benefits do the regular employees get? If you want these, put it in writing how you will receive them and when.

Holidays

Among your benefits are holidays and vacation days. You need to be specific about which holidays and vacation days you get off work with pay or not. In the USA, you can expect Thanksgiving, Christmas and Labor Day to be vacation days, but working in a foriegn country, like Israel, Christmas is not a holiday, and they don’t know what Labor Day or Thanksgiving Day is as they are unique to the USA. Some Jewish holidays are days off work, while others aren’t. There are days off that are religious and others that are national. Asking for all “religous” holidays off work with pay may stick you with working on or not being compensated for non-religous holidays. Understand which holidays are “official” days off and which aren’t, and be specific about which ones you will work, and which ones you won’t.

Insurance

Will the company or the recruiting agency cover health and life insurance? What about unemployment and worker’s compensation? Or are you responsible? Do you get to choose the plan? Can you change or modify it?

Accommodations/Per Diem

Who decides where you will stay? Do you have a choice or will the company provide housing? Do you have specific needs such as air conditioning, a desk, two telephone lines or a special bed? Does it need to be smoke-free? Are you paying for the lodging? Will the company handle all payments or will they reimburse you? What about food? Does the company provide meals on the job? If not, ask for a meal allowance to cover the expenses. It is common to negotiate a per diem allowance to cover meals and housing.

Transportation

Will the company provide transportation? Will they let you pick out the vehicle or will you be using a company vehicle? What will they pay for and how? Will their payment for the vehicle include the insurance and taxes required or are you responsible? What about the costs associated with maintenance? Do you have specific needs like air conditioning, smoke-free, power steering, gasoline or diesel? Will they provide bus fare or other transportation costs?

Working Area

If you have specific needs for the job, with equipment and work space, make sure you specify these. Do you require air conditioning, an enclosed office space, a quiet work space, specific software or hardware, a telephone, and computer? In the USA, you can expect to work in a smoke free environment, but overseas, expect people to smoke everywhere, so if this is a requirement for you, put it in writing. Be very specific, even to listing the version of software, if necessary.

Taxes

Which taxes will the company pay and which are you responsible for? Are there any taxes, like city and state taxes, that you’ll need professional help to understand? The United States has “tax treaties” with many other countries ensuring that US Citizens don’t pay double taxes. Some countries don’t expect non-citizens working in their country to pay local taxes while others do, especially if you’ve been in the country longer than six months. It can get very complicated handling the tax requirements of two countries, as well as two states. Consider working with a tax expert to handle the confusion and ask the company to pay for such special services related.

Some foriegn workers make a variety of arrangements to avoid paying taxes within the country they are working. One of the methods is called a “hypothetical tax”. This means that the worker will not pay more tax then they would in their home country (specifically the USA) and the hiring company covers any additional taxes paid to the country they are in. This helps the employee avoid over-taxation to a foriegn government while still paying their normal tax rate. Others setup off-shore accounts and businesses so they are not a sole-proprietor or self-employed but an “employee” contracted by a parent company. The company receives the payment of wages as a service fee, and then “company” pays the employee, and the worker is more protected from the whims of foreign government taxes. It gets complicated but there are many ways of working around high foreign taxes. Whatever process you choose, make sure it is spelled out in the contract so that you are protected.

Work Permits and Visas

If work permits or visas are required, put it in writing that the company will handle and expedite keeping these permits and visas up-to-date, covering all associated expenses, keeping your attention on the job and not taking time off to deal with it yourself. If the job requires other special permits, such as food handling, driving, and other licenses, make sure these are up-to-date and specify which are to be paid for by the company.

Non-disclosure and Rights

Many companies require signing a non-disclosure clause which means that you will not disclose any information about the company and their projects to anyone outside the company without permission of the company. Protection of a company’s assets is critical to their success. So is the protection of your own work. If you are a software or product designer or developer, you have to consider how much of your own legal rights concerning ownership of what you create you are willing to give away. Put it in writing so your work and future income from your work is protected.

Off-Site Provisions

If the job requires you to be off-site for any length of time, list the requirements you need and which expenses are covered like housing and meals, transportation, and even long distance phone calls. Be specific as to your requirements such as air conditioning, non-smoking facilities, and any special on-site equipment.

Moving Costs

If you are moving to the new location for an extended time, which of the costs to get you there and set up will they pay for? Airfare? Car rentals? Shipping costs? Shipping costs associated with professional literature and equipment, as well as personal belongings, are usually covered. How much is it going to cost to get you and your stuff there and back?

Renewal and End Dates

How long is the contract good for? An open ended contract can leave you locked in for a long time. Set it for a reasonable time. A simple statement such as “subject to renegotiation” opens the door for pay increases, bonuses, and asking for more or less as your needs change.

Termination

Put it in writing on how the termination will be handled. Do you need to give notice? How long in advance? How much notice does the company have to give you when they let you go? Will they have to pay a termination fee if they break the contract or will you have to pay? Consider how to end this peaceably, so both sides benefit.

Emergencies and Evacuation

If you are working overseas, or in a risky situation, make sure to include emergency contact information and state that the company is responsible for informing your contacts in case of an emergency. If you require evacuation, for war, at the request and advisement of the US State Department, or for any reason, make sure the company will assist you in every way possible including covering the expense of your evacuation from the country.

Is there anything else you need? Some people add a clause that includes insurance coverage and benefits for a spouse and/or children. Others add a form of will and testament if the job might risk their life. Whatever it is you feel you deserve, write it all down. Then start the negotiation process by asking for everything you want and knowing what you will settle for. You can always say no, and they might just say yes.

The road to a successful business can be long and bumpy. If you actually take your business on the road, these bumps can be hard on your equipment, too. When planning your mobile office, you need a flexible and compact office equipment system that fits in a small space and weighs little.

A computer is the central piece of many small businesses. A laptop with a few accessories becomes a fax machine, scanner, copier, library, calendar, and full service communications tool. Protecting your investment, and business, on the road takes some planning. The three things to consider when planning your mobile office are flexibility, stability and durability.

The Mobile Office

Technology is changing and evolving very fast. Things are getting smaller and lighter, making it easier for the mobile office. Cell phones can reach anywhere and the technology is available to pinpoint your position almost anywhere on the planet to within a few feet. Cars talk and direct you to your destination. Many RVs now feature microwaves, satellite TV, and all the technology of a home and office. It takes a lot of work to really get away from civilization.

With all these overwhelming choices, the process of deciding which bits of technology are flexible and durable enough to take on the road have not changed:

Do you really need it?

Did you buy it because it was a cool gadget? Does it really help your business? Will it help you make money? Think serious about your purpose and use for each office item you purchase.

How much space will it take up?

Decisions about weight and space are serious in a mobile office. It can add up fast. Paper and books are the heaviest items and consume a lot of space. How do you want to store things. Can you scan documents and files onto a hard drive or CD-Rom? Many reference books are now available on CD-Rom. Instead of a whole encyclopedia, we carry Britannica on two CD-Roms.

Does it do more than one thing?

Multi-purpose products are a way to get it “all in one.” A computer with a fax/modem becomes a fax machine. Add a printer/scanner like the Canon BubbleJet printers with add-on scanning module and you’ve created a fax/printer/copier/scanner system. Why buy four things when one or two will work just fine.

Will it take a beating?

Remember the old Timex watch commercials? Consider every business product you buy like a Timex watch: will it take a licking and keep on ticking? Really examine how durable it is and how much juggling and slamming around it will take. Make sure it is padded and protected when traveling. Get a full warranty when appropriate. Keep those records with you with copies in a safe place outside of your RV.

Will this help me make money?

Don’t forget the purpose of taking your business on the road is to make money. If you are spending money on things for your business that won’t help you make money, reconsider the purchase.

Equipment for the Road

Technology is changing so fast, it’s hard to keep up, especially when you are living on the road. Handheld computers (PDAs) are revolutionizing the way people communiate and use and get information. Cell phones are now inexpensive and available worldwide. Wireless Internet technology is booming and the need to be physically connected is no longer an issue. Technology is finally catching up with the traveler, especially the traveling worker, but there is still room for improvements. Let’s look at a few of the standard “must have” devices for the techno-junkie traveling worker.

Laptop

A few years ago, the mobile business had only one choice: a desktop computer. Today, 10 times the capacity of those old systems fits inside a slender, lightweight laptop. Many come with 14 inch and larger monitor screens, easing eye strain. With USB and other easy connections, you can add a wide range of accessories.

Hand-held Computer

A “Palm” or other brand hand-held computer doesn’t quite replace the laptop or the desktop computer, but it comes very close. When you need to make a note about your travels, carry a book, maps, track yourself on GPS, make lists, look up an address, and the numerous other “quickie” things we need to do on the road, a small hand-held computer does the job. Many new ones also feature built-in telephones, giving you more power for your punch. There is even new technology on the horizon that will allow the hand-held to project a “picture” of a keyboard onto any surface and it will track your fingers as you “type”, allowing you to easily write letters, notes, and whatever. Amazing things! The power of a small computer in your hand – perfect for the traveler!

Wireless Capability

Wireless access to the Internet is popping up incredibly fast. You can now surf the Internet at most McDonalds and Starbucks across North America and expanding throughout Europe. Wireless access to the Internet is cheap to set up and many people are setting up wireless network hubs in their homes and business and allowing others to “surf” the Internet for free, since it doesn’t really cost more to share. This technology is spreading, but do you have the capability to jump onto the wireless highway? There are currently two popular wireless technologies available: Bluetooth and WIFI. WIFI is winning the battle in the United States, but Bluetooth is not giving up throughout Europe and Asia. Find out which wireless network service is most available in the areas in which you travel, and make sure your laptop, cell phone, and handheld computer are ready to go wireless.

Scanner/Printer

A compact printer/scanner combination, like Canon offers, takes up little space and works great if your needs are few. For high volume printing, a laser printer holds up generally much better on the road than an ink jet, but with care and proper storage in a concussion resistant compartment, an ink jet will work fine.

Cell phone

Once a luxury item, cell phones are cheap and access is available in most places. Today they come with myriad capabilities including email, news alerts, and web access. Keep them charged on a regular basis and bring extra batteries.

Back-up and Storage System

To protect your investment and business, make sure you include a system for convenient back-ups and storage of your computer data. Back up your data on a regular basis and make sure your emergency system boot disk is up-to-date, and the instructions for restoration of your hard drive are handy. The system can be with CDs, tape drives, mirrored, hard drives, removable hard drives, DVDs or any other technology, just as long as you can easily backup and restore your system.

File Storage

Metal filing cabinets are usually too heavy and cumbersome for most RVs. Consider scanning information onto CD-Roms. If you must store files use lightweight plastic containers or a custom designed system built into your RV. Make sure there is a locking system on the drawers as they tend to fly open, spilling their contents, when the vehicle is moving.

Setting Up the Office

Where you put your work area is dependent upon the equipment you have, the space available, and the position in the RV. Weight and balance are important to keep your vehicle safe on the road. If you put all the weight of equipment, files, printers, and computers on one side of the trailer, is it too heavy on that side? Distribute the weight evenly. Is there really room for you to work? Or do you have to compete with the dirty clothes and shoes? Make sure your workspace is comfortable and conducive to concentrating on the job.

If your work area will stay set up, is it visible through a window or from the doorway of the RV? Is there a way to keep your equipment out of site? Working with a laptop makes it easy to set up and put away quickly, but how about your other equipment? How do you want to work?

Today there is a variety of accessories for the traveling worker. We’ve listed some web sites under our Connect the Dots links at the left of your screen. Mobile Gear makes a wide range of accessories for the traveler including file storage and a unique platform for using your steering wheel as a desk for your laptop when the vehicle isn’t moving. New products are coming out all the time to make the life of the worker on the road much easier.

Security and Stability

Whether buying a unit with your mobile business in mind or conforming one you already have to meet your needs, you need to consider the security and stability of your system.

To protect your office equipment from theft, don’t become a visible target. Make sure you have solid locks on all the windows and doors of your vehicle and/or RV. Keep valuable equipment out of sight. When you aren’t using your laptop, put it away. Consider creating a special locking cabinet for your equipment. If thieves want to break in badly enough, they will. The key to protecting yourself from theft is to make it difficult to break in and make it take a lot of time to do so. The longer they work to break in, the more likely they will be caught or scared away.

The security of your office equipment also means protecting it from damage. Living in an RV, you are dependent upon someone else to supply you with electricity and water. A generator will keep you going away from electrical hookups, but even that can have repercussions on your delicate computer and/or electronics. Invest in a quality generator and inverter to keep your electrical power stable. A battery powered computer backup system is great, but if you travel frequently, you have to remember to turn it off every time you disconnect the RV from power. The best investment for protection against brown-outs, power surges and unstable electricity is a good surge protector right at the electric hookup, protecting the entire RV, not just your computer equipment. Unstable power has fried microwaves and televisions as well as computers.

Keeping your equipment secure from the damage rough roads can cause is a bigger challenge. If the equipment is large enough to be fixed in place, like a monitor or recording system, make sure it is on special supports and is cushioned from the impact of travel. Keep your equipment covered and protected from the dust and grime of traveling. Here are some tips for protecting your equipment from the abuses of the road:

Whatever your business, when you take it on the road everything becomes more complicated. Make it easier by starting off simple with the very basic equipment. The less you have and have to rely upon, the less that breaks down or causes you stress. Make a list of everything you have to check and prepare for moving and double check it before you start the vehicle.

When you get your mobile office set up and finally leave, remember the real reason you decided to take your work on the road. Pause for a moment, look out your window and marvel at the constantly changing view.

Setting up your home away from home, or your home on the road, for longer than a couple weeks means establishing "temporary permanence." When you stand still for very long, especially for a job, people you work with expect to be able to find you, call you, and keep track of you.

Choosing a place to park your RV for longer than a few weeks can be a challenge. Is there a campground near the place of work? Or is it way out of town? How costly is transportation back and forth? More than the job earns? In order to make money, income must be more than expenses. In our excitement to get a job, we often overlook the cost of the job.

Setting up your temporary residence in a campground is little different from moving into a new house. You need to set up your utilities and make arrangements for telephones, cable, and getting your mail. It means finding a place close to work and services you need, but one that also makes you feel comfortable and safe. Here are some things to keep in mind when making arrangements.

Length of Stay

Each campground treats your length-of-stay differently. Just about all campgrounds offer different rates for stays of one day, a week, and a month. Campgrounds make the most money on day rates and few will permit stays longer than 3 weeks, while others limit stays to 3 months. Each one is different. Call ahead to determine the permitted length of stay and whether or not they have long-term sites available. Many campgrounds are set up on a first come, first serve basis and if no one has checked out of the long term areas for months, the odds are slim they will do so soon.

Location

Most campgrounds are located outside the city limits, often miles from town and from where you will be working. Some mobile home parks allow RVs, but many don’t. Finding a location that is accessible to work and the transportation system can be a challenge, but keep looking. Many campgrounds aren’t listed in the national guides or even on websites, so check with the local tourist bureau or phone book for more information.

Staying in Touch

Being available for work means being ready by the phone for the call from the recruiter or company hiring you. Some campgrounds offer day rates for phone hooks and at others you must pay for installation of a telephone. If you are staying for a while, this could be worth while. Most campgrounds are good about handling mail for their tenants, but not all. Check in advance on how to handle incoming mail. If the campground doesn’t allow mail service, some post offices still accept general delivery and many provide short term post office boxes. Mail service companies like Mail Boxes, Etc. and others rent temporary addresses.

Utilities and Connections

Most campgrounds offer the basic hookups like electricity, water and sewer, but not all. Be sure and check on which hookups are available. The cost of these utilities are included in daily and weekly rates, but most long term stays require paying for usage. For campgrounds which do not offer full hookups, consider how filling your water tanks and emptying sewers will fit into your busy working schedule.

Rules and Regulations

Each campground has its own rules for behavior, trailer and site upkeep, and other policies which may influence your decision to stay. Gated campgrounds require special keys for access or have restrictive access times. If you work in the evenings, you may work late and return to find the gate locked until morning. Many have limits on pets, vehicles, visitors, and trailer specifications. In general, campgrounds can put together whatever rules and regulations they want, as long as they are posted and you are informed of them upon arrival or change. These may be positive reasons for choosing a campground, or they might infringe upon your lifestyle. Read them carefully before committing to any long-term agreements.

Logistics

Where is the campground in relation with the things you need like groceries and gas stations? Buy a good map of the area and have the campground manager or someone familiar with the area mark on the map where the nearest laundry, malls, WalMart, Kmart, and major grocery stores are. Note gas stations and ask them to recommend a vehicle repair shop they are happy with, just in case. Big name discount stores and grocery stores are often on or near major retail corridors. Near the local WalMart the odds are high you will find grocery stores, tire shops, hardware stores, and a wide variety of shops to get your basic supplies. Laundries are often near grocery stores, too. Small businesses gravitate towards big businesses, setting up shop next to each other. These make good starting points for exploring the community.

Campgrounds come in every shape, size, and design you can imagine. Some are crowded and noisy during the busy season, others are quiet and peaceful. Some allow children, some are for those over 50 or 60 years of age. Some are busy and active places. Some offer amenities while others just offer a place to park your RV. Whatever you choose, make sure you feel comfortable and safe.

We recommend you spend a little time walking around the campground and setting up temporarily before making your stay more permanent. Pay attention to the neighbors and comings and goings for a week or so. I’m allergic to cigarette smoke, and we were thrilled to choose a spot next to a trailer with two “no smoking” signs posted on it. Unfortunately, we found out that the owner sits outside his trailer with friends who smoke and the guy in the motor home across the way is a chain-smoking cigar abuser. After settling in, we had to pack it all up and move to another spot in the campground, far from the smokers. Your discomfort might not be from smokers, but there could be someone having their radio or television constantly too loud, arguing, or other activities not conducive to your lifestyle and enjoyment of the campground. Feel free to discuss this with the campground owner or manager and often they will recommend a better spot in the campground – or move to another one.

Remember, you will be there for a while, so make sure you are comfortable with your surroundings and the amenities. Not all locations have other choices, but many do, so keep your options open.

Finding a Residence – Solid Building

When heading away from your moving home, you will need to find a more "stable" residence, often in the form of a house, apartment, or cabin. If your business or job requires such, make sure that they help organize how you will find a place to stay. Many will provide access to apartment managers and locators, easing the process. Make sure that any damage deposits and initial costs are included in the contract with your employer so they don’t come out of your pocket. Also make sure that you are provided with adequate utensils for the kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom. Televisions and stereos are nice, but not always necessary, so if you really want one, make sure that it is on the list of your specific needs.

In choosing a residence, look for locations with convenient and available parking, as well as easy access to food and laundry services. If possible, make sure there is a washer/dryer in the accomodation, as no one wants to drag their dirty clothes out to do laundry late at night after a full day of work. If you are a church goer, check to see that one meeting your standards is nearby, too.

It is usually up to the company to help ease your transition and to make your life as comfortable as possible, without the company paying much money, so make sure that they do what they can to help you concentrate on your work on not on how miserable your accomodations are.

There is something exciting about working on the road. The view outside your window changes frequently. You meet new people every day. Living in an RV, you can sleep in your own bed each night. There are new challenges all the time. You get to see the country and expand your mental and physical horizons. It is exciting, romantic, thrilling – all the things people assume.

It is also boring, monotonous, dull, frustrating, and extremely wearing on your mental and physical stamina. Working on the road tests your spirit. It means setting up and taking down your home every time you move. It means meeting new people all the time, and having friends and family you trust and rely upon far away. It often means not knowing where anything is. The simple task of finding a gas station or good place to eat becomes a complicated chore. It means begging and borrowing telephone hookups. The stress of being in different places all the time and of working in a world that expects people to have a house and a normal life is high. Trust us when we tell you it is very stressful and not very glamorous. But it does have its wonderful, romantic, exciting, and thrilling moments.

If you are up to the challenge and have developed a lifestyle and attitude that doesn’t rely upon material objects, and if you are an independent thinker and doer, this could be the life for you.

Living the Simple Life: Can You?

Taking your life and work on the road means turning back the pages of time to a simpler life. Everything you need is pruned down to fit inside a mobile container, usually not much bigger than 8 x 30 feet. Your priorities and lifestyle change. A sunset shared is more valuable than a new dress, especially when there is room in your head for more memories but no room in the closet. Everything you have or want is now measured against size, weight, maximizing usage, and how you are going to store it.

Taking your work on the road means becoming very organized. Everything has a place and it must be put back all the time, especially when preparing to move. Most trailers have little space for storing volumes of books and papers, and the weight adds up quickly. An overweight trailer is a hazard on the road.

While the romance of working on the road is attractive, the reality of a tightly enclosed space and limited storage area wears thin really quickly. One person alone in a trailer doesn’t have to worry about much, but with two or a family, it gets both physically and mentally crowded. When you work on the road, especially from an RV, the lines between home and work blur, not much different than a stay-at-home worker, except the home is much smaller. The contest for space and priorities shifts and changes with the demands of the moment.

The simplified life of living and working on the road needs to be one that begins with a plan and clearly defined rules. You need to set work hours and stick to them. You need to limit distractions and disruptions. Set up arrangements with your family on when they can interrupt you and what takes priority for those interruptions. Some RVs have room for a small desk, but others don’t have the space, so you will need to bring out your working material during your work time and put it away when done. With a lot of organizing, structure, and flexibility, working on the road can be as exciting as the myth says it is.

Working on the road consists of three categories:

• The Traveling Business: There are a lot of business which work well on the road. Sales, multi-level marketing, computer services, and just about any customer-oriented service business that involves a large geographic region.
• The Traveling Employee: Many companies have traveling employees, people who are hired to move from place to place to work wherever they are needed, often covering a wide territory.
• The Traveling Worker: Traveling workers are independent people who find work where they want, or where they happen to stop. Often called “temporary workers,” these people make up a large part of the US work force, taking the short-term jobs many businesses need.