If you’ve been a freelancer for any period of time, you already know that networking is one of the best ways to help your career thrive. As a freelancer, not getting the opportunities that you were hoping for is almost always due to a lack of networking, when building and maintaining connections can be essential to keeping a position that’s not the typical 9-5. So, how can you successfully network as a freelancer? We take you through 3 ways that you can begin building your network, so you never run out of opportunities.

Start close to home

While you may feel as if you’re asking your family or friends for “help” by hiring you, beginning your freelance career close to home is a great way to start gaining opportunities. And while those close to you may or may not be looking for the type of services you provide, they can pass on your name to someone who is.

FlexJobs tells us more on why it’s smart to start close to home:

“There’s no need, at first, to jump way outside your comfort zone as you build your networking skills. Focus first on making sure your friends and family members know exactly what you do and what kinds of jobs you can handle. Encourage them to spread the word among their networks. You’ll be surprised how much business can come your way through this simple step.”

Attend local networking events

Attending local networking events is a great way to begin your career and make a slew of helpful new contacts at the same time. Networking events are a chance for groups of professionals to gather together and make connections in their own area, which is a great bonus for those who want to work with locals.

Wanderful World explains why you should consider attending local networking events to grow your business:

“Sounds scary, right? Turning up to an event where you don’t know anyone and you have to talk about all things work? Yes, it sounds terrifying, but these kinds of networking events are so important in the early stages of your career. Boosting your name in your area can lead to an influx of work when you start – particularly because companies and businesses are more willing to work with someone who has something in common with them, like where they live.”

Contribute to freelancer content

Whether or not writing is your craft, it’s incredibly helpful to contribute to online content in your area of expertise. Whether writing a blog post, starting an Instagram account, or building a YouTube channel, your online content may just fall into the right hands at the right time.

Freelancer Map tells us why contributing to freelancer content can be a great way to boost your freelancing career:

“Contributing to online forums, commenting on articles, and writing blog pieces can help boost your freelancing career immensely. All you have to do is discuss the very thing your career is built around. If people stumble upon your content, they may see you as an expert in your field and may even hire you or recommend you to others. Contributing to articles can also get you in touch with other members in your industry and can increase your visibility as a freelancer.”

Did you know that co-working spaces are a great place to network with local professionals? Check out our co-working space here and claim your desk.

COVID-19 has brought with it a permanent change regarding remote work, regardless of whether public health standards are allowing employees to return to the office are not. According to Forbes, 74% of professionals expect remote work to become standard practice, which means one thing – time to tailor your resume for remote work! In this article, we take a look at how to tailor your resume for remote work, so you can make it easier to land yourself a job in today’s working landscape.

Make it known you’re in the market for a remote job

There are several reasons why it’s important to make it clear that you’re looking for a remote job only on your resume. While some jobs may be specifically looking for remote roles, other employers may not have yet considered allowing new hires to work from home – until they saw your resume, that is. 

TopResume tells us more about why it’s important to make your intentions perfectly clear when it comes to seeking remote work:

“Although some job listings are obviously for remote roles, that won’t always be the case. Sometimes companies will list their headquarters as the location and note that remote work is allowed. In other instances, companies might not mention remote work at all but will consider it as an option if you’re qualified for the role. Whatever the case, it’s your job to make it clear in your application, cover letter, and resume that you’re seeking a remote opportunity.”

Include your remote work experience in your resume summary

Including your remote work experience on your resume will let employers know that you’re already well versed in the ins and outs of working from home and that it’s something that’s worked for you in the past. While your remote work experience may not be directly related to the position that you’re applying for now, it’s still important to outline how they may benefit your potential new employer. 

Indeed.com explains why you should include your remote work experience in your resume summary:

“If you have a summary of your qualifications on your resume, consider detailing remote work experience there. Since this section is at the top of your resume, hiring managers will know you can work remotely right away. This section is typically a bulleted list and provides an overview of your experience and how it relates to the job. Therefore, if you’re applying for a remote job, include details about your history of working remotely and how that’s beneficial to the company.”

Create a portfolio that stands out

While remote jobs are becoming more and more common, they are still wildly competitive. This is why creating a portfolio is so important to stand out in a crowded market. No matter your industry, you can create a simple digital portfolio that will give you an edge over other qualified candidates.

We Work Remotely tells us more about the benefits of creating a portfolio that stands out:

“Your cover letter and resume are necessary for hiring managers, but your digital presence, or portfolio, is what’s really going to help you get noticed in a crowded market. When you spend time on each of these equally, you’ll create the total package employers will fight over. Your online portfolio can be as simple as a one-page highlight per skill or as robust as a full digital portfolio of all your work and achievements.”

Interested in renting out a co-working space for your new remote work position? Check out our co-working space here and claim your desk.

Whether you work from home, at the office, or from a coworking space, odds are you’ve experienced the pain of slouching over a computer day after day. This likely means that your neck and back are suffering, and may have even been the cause of a few sick days here and there. 

The good news is, there are ways to prevent this back pain from happening, or even minimizing it while it’s occurring. In this article, we take a look at 3 proven ways to stop back pain when you’re stuck at your desk, so you don’t end up with persistent and long-term symptoms.

Adjust your workspace

Did you know that adjusting your workspace to an appropriate height may make a significant difference to your back and neck? It’s likely that you’ve been working at a height that has caused you to have to slump over your desk, affecting your overall posture.

Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine tells us why adjusting your chair and/or your workspace could make a big difference in how you feel physically:

“Proper care for your back starts with adjusting your work environment. Whether you use an office desk or another type of workstation, you need to set it to a height that you will be most comfortable working at for long periods of time.”

Find time to breathe and leave your screen

One of the most important ways to prevent injury as a result of sitting at a desk all day is to take time to stop working during the day. While getting up and walking around once every hour can be highly beneficial to your neck and back, taking this break can also prevent eye strain, stress, and injury.

Allwork.Space explains why taking a few moments to leave your screen is highly beneficial to your mind, body, and spirit:

“Everyone breathes, right? So this may sound a bit odd. But spending a few minutes breathing deeply and with focus can help you minimize stress and concentrate on the task at hand. Try setting a timer for every hour or so and remember to take a few deep breaths. Also, when that alarm goes off, look away from your screen. This gives your eye muscles some variety from staring at the screen, reducing strain.”

Check your posture

You’ve probably gotten used to the action of slumping over your desk, with any other position now seeming uncomfortable. However, by sitting straight and practicing correct posture, you will not only be more comfortable over time, but you will prevent injury to your back.

The Joint Chiropractic tells us why it’s important to check your posture when sitting at your desk:

“Chiropractors have long taught the importance of using correct posture as the best way to prevent back pain and injury to the spine. Research suggests that very few people use such posture. Many chiropractors know that correct posture may not come naturally, therefore suggest patients practice such posture by utilizing stretches and yoga.”

Did you know that renting out a co-working space can make all the difference to your freelance career? Check out our co-working space here and claim your desk.

There’s no denying that COVID-19 has flipped the world upside down in virtually every aspect, with new requirements for remote work becoming more needed than ever. Even as many of us have been given the all-clear to return to our in-house office jobs, more and more employers are finding that their employees want to keep working from home. And with such a large number of employees continuing to work from home for the long haul, this has led many of us to wonder if the future of workplace benefits is going to change to tailor our remote positions. In this article, we take a look at 5 remote workplace benefits that employers are considering for 2021 and beyond in order to tailor to their employees’ needs and expectations.

Flexible Work Hours 

Let’s face it, flexible hours have been every working person’s dream since the beginning of time. After all, nobody wants to be disciplined for arriving 10 minutes late if they’re having an off day, or if they’re having trouble getting their kids off to school. More employers are realizing that remote work is not just about the flexibility of where you work, but when you work as well. 

Childcare and Family Benefits

The effects of working under one roof with your entire household were felt by all of us, and especially by those of us who have children. And regardless of whether or not our office is at home or in a co-working space, that doesn’t mean we can afford to be any less distracted. This is one of the reasons why childcare and family benefits have been brought to the forefront of employers’ minds.

Forbes.com tells us more about why childcare and family benefits are becoming high in demand:

“According to Cleo CEO Sarahjane Sacchetti, the demand for comprehensive family benefits programs was already on the rise pre-Covid, but the pandemic brought the need for such programs into sharp relief. “This conversation about parents and working families was growing in urgency with employers, but I think COVID has really cemented that this is going to be at top strategy for employers moving forward,” Sacchetti told Employee Benefit News.”

Work-Life Balance

While many employers may like the fact that employees are working more than their 40 hour work weeks when working from home, odds are, they’re not getting paid extra for it. The focus on mental health is more prevalent now than ever before, and employees are finding better ways to track their employees’ output to ensure a fair work-life balance.

Solut.ca explains why more emphasis will be put on a proper work-life balance for employees:

“When you work from home, boundaries between the professional and personal world seems to blur. With the remote work trend of 2021, employees would take this wake-up call sincerely. For companies, it means equipping systems to measure an employee’s output, such as a time tracking system for remote workers, similar to an on-site arrangement.”

Mental Health Support Will Become the New Normal

We think we can all agree that mental health support in the workplace has been a long-term issue. However, the past several years have shown some improvement in mental health benefits, with COVID-19 bringing these issues to the forefront.

Harvard Business Review tells us more on the mental health support we can expect to see in the workplace going forward:

“By late March, 68% of organizations had introduced at least one new wellness benefit to aid employees during the pandemic. In 2021, employers will go even further by working to de-stigmatize mental health by expanding mental health benefits, creating days where they shut the entire company down for a day to offer “a collective mental health day” to build awareness across the workforce about this critical issue.”

Home Office Expenses

Businesses that have been well versed in remote working for some time have likely offered a stipend for home office expenses for years. However, businesses that are new to remote working are now realizing that it’s important to assist new remote workers in setting up their home office spaces. In fact, a survey conducted in mid-2020 found that 1 in 5 companies was helping to pay for remote workers’ home office expenses. 

Did you know that you can rent a coworking space to make your remote working experience even more productive? Check out our co-working space here and claim your desk.

If you’ve recently started your freelance career, you’re probably going through a whole range of feelings and emotions (the first being freedom!). However, you may be confused about exactly where you should set up your freelance workspace. While there are many benefits to working from home, there are also many downsides. When you work at home or even in a coffee shop, distractions can come in slews, and it can be easy to fall behind when you have unlimited access to your PJs and your couch. A coworking space is not only much more affordable than you think, but it is a great option for keeping freelancers on schedule. In this article, we take a look at why you should consider getting your work done from a coworking space as opposed to working from home. 

A Coworking Space Can Help You Form a Set Routine

When you all of a sudden have full control over when you start and stop your workday, sticking to a set routine can be difficult. The sad reality is that when you work at home, not only are you exposed to a wide variety of distractions, but those around you think that your day is completely flexible. A coworking space can not only keep distractions completely at bay but will help you form a set routine on top of it.

Writer’s Edit tells us more about how a coworking space can make all the difference in setting and sticking to a routine:

“If you’ve got enough discipline, you can definitely form a set daily routine from a home office – but if you need a little help, a coworking space might be just the thing for you. While it’s not the same as a traditional workplace, in the sense that there’s no boss waiting there for you to arrive every morning, a coworking space is still an external workspace. The mere act of getting up, getting dressed, and going there can help you settle into a more regular routine. If you’re transitioning from a ‘normal’ job to freelancing and finding it too hard to establish a work routine at home, perhaps try a week at a coworking space to see if it suits you better.”

A Coworking Space Allows You To Work Among Others

It cannot be denied that working at home can get lonely. And let’s face it, one of the only reasons why you enjoyed working outside of the home in the first place was for those social interactions. A coworking space allows you to get in some of that social time during the day, with a mutual understanding that you’re all there to get work done.

The Conversation explains why coworking can give you that social support you need during the day, without simply becoming a distraction:

“Coworking also allows freelancers to work among others, even if not with them, in other words, to “work alone together”. What started in 2005 in San Francisco by a software developer who wanted “the freedom and independence of working for myself along with the structure and community of working with others”, is now a multi-billion dollar industry.”

Coworking Gives You More Job Control

Last but not least, coworking gives you more job control. What do we mean by this? It means that you have the option to choose whether or not you would be more productive at home on any given day, or if you wish to utilize your coworking space. 

Harvard Business Review tells us more about why simply having the option of a coworking space gives you more control over your workday:

“They have more job control. Coworking spaces are normally accessible 24/7. People can decide whether to put in a long day when they have a deadline or want to show progress, or can decide to take a long break in the middle of the day to go to the gym. They can choose whether they want to work in a quiet space so they can focus, or in a more collaborative space with shared tables where interaction is encouraged. They can even decide to work from home, without repercussions, if they need to meet a repairperson or deal with a family member’s needs.”

Now that you know why renting out a co-working space can make all the difference to your freelance career, check out our co-working space here and claim your desk.

If you’re a self-run business, you probably got into this to get something big and ambitious done. You want to put your big idea out into the world and see it through. Maybe you have a step by step business plan and outline, and maybe you’re just starting out and have no idea how to achieve your goals. 

This is where co-working comes in, giving you an open space to connect with others, get inspired and get things done. Let’s break down how a mutually shared space like co-working can help you get your business goals achieved. 

Network With Passionate People Through Collaboration

A huge struggle for start-up businesses and self-employed people is finding some source of motivation. Of course, you’re passionate and know what you want to accomplish. But figuring out where to start, or how to even get something done, can be a real challenge. 

Self-motivation is not something that is acquired overnight, but rather a skill you learn from others. Being in a co-working space helps you hone in on and practice that skill. Shared workspaces as an entrepreneur gives you the space to connect with other people who may work in different fields, but share your levels of passion. 

If you do work in a co-working space, talk to the people around you, participate in community events, and get to know the people who work there. You never know what could turn into a potential opportunity, and you’ll be inspired by their drive. 

Kate Swoboda of the Entrepreneur gives advice on networking with others:

“A co-working space can only be what you make of it. And it can be so much more than just another place to get work done. The potential for networking within a co-working space is one of the major advantages. When done right, this networking can be low-key and feel as simple as having a conversation around the watercooler with new friends.”

Look Forward to Work Everyday

Co-working spaces work a little differently than an average office workplace. Our spaces for example, offer boutique-style work zones and offices, with open-concept style architecture, open light and breakout rooms. 

Co-working spaces have a more progressive environment that allows driven people to work together. Being in a work environment with productive people in a beautiful space actually makes you feel good and puts you in a good mood every day that you go into the space. You’re also actively making the choice to go into these spaces, as opposed to being forced to go into an office environment.  

Increase Productivity in Shared Workspaces

As a remote worker, entrepreneur or self-run business, if you’re working at home, productivity can be low most days. Being in an environment like a co-working space can push you to get things done. Often, people develop a routine or to-do list to accomplish something while you’re out at work. Having separate spaces for living and working increases your personal productivity. 

The Realtime Report makes a great point about being productive when you’re surrounded by others:

“When it comes to working in a communal office space, everyone else in the area will be focusing on their own assignments. This will give you no choice but to keep your eyes on your own projects and avoid falling behind, which will then keep your whole team on track.”

Co-working spaces can open up a door of possibilities and help you improve your own productivity and business abilities. 

Our co-working spaces provide lots of office space and networking spaces, like private and shared workspaces, as well as a break room and other amenities.

It’s safe to say that the world after coronavirus will be different for workspaces. Big offices with hundreds of employees in one building may not be possible for a while, and certainly not in close proximity to each other. 

Things are changing at a rapid rate and this is a great time for people to choose co-working spaces, whether they’re self-employed or a company employee. Having a shared office space that allows people to come and go as they please opens the door for remote workers and entrepreneurs to have more freedom in where and how they work. 

Choosing Your Own Remote Work Spaces

Co-working spaces allow a lot of freedom in how and where you can work. Having the option of working at home or working in an office space is a luxury that co-working allows. After a season of working from home, more people will be leaning to working outside of the home again to reconnect with people. 

Working from home can be beneficial and so can working in a co-working space. The idea of remote work is growing year after year, and the aftermath of this pandemic will fast track it. 

Work Design Magazine comments on how remote work will be increasingly valued in the future: 

“This pandemic now gives immense credibility to the idea that, in addition to the choices offered in the office, choice can also now include our homes. Yes, there are policy, financial and technology implications that must be addressed at the company level, but I think it’s safe to say that the knowledge-worker community has answered the most basic question during this experience—remote work can be effective.”

Flexible Hours & Cutting Costs

The economic loss from this pandemic will be a long and difficult recovery to get back to the way things were. Office spaces will be looking to cut costs where possible and giving people the option to work from home in order to save money on rising office rental costs. 

This is where co-working can be beneficial, since there’s more options going forward of choosing remote work. Shared spaces are less expensive and employees can choose their own hours and workspaces depending on the day or month. 

Dane Strangler at Forbes explains how businesses will want to spread out their employees to other locations:

“Large corporations will likely look to “de-densify” their offices—both to help their employees manage the crisis and transition in the recovery, as well as to avoid future such disruptions. Big companies of all kinds already locate some employees in coworking spaces. With big business emerging as one of the post-crisis “winners,” we will likely see this trend continue.”

Safely Distancing While Still Making Connections

Instead of working from home, workers can be relocated to a co-working space and plug into the local scene, which is what’s likely to happen after this. More people will be flocking to co-working spaces to continue to make connections and network with others in community spaces. 

Luckily, co-working spaces offer a lot of free space in order for people to actually social distance properly. They put you in direct contact with new business connections while still being able to keep a distance and stay safe. No matter what, we’re still longing for connection during the pandemic, and co-working spaces can help individuals come together in a shared space. 

Australian architect Amanda Stanaway says why we’re still looking for connection in working spaces: 

“Yes, most people work to earn money, but we also work because we enjoy coming together to create ideas and solve problems. I think that’s what we’ve been missing these past few weeks. That sense of connection is fundamental to the human race.” 

While the world may be changing, there’s simple solutions that can enforce great networking opportunities while helping recover communities from big loss. Co-working is a positive way for workers to reconnect with others and work in more productive ways. We offer spaces at monthly rates, from private offices to open networking spaces. If you’re interested in working at La Collective, check out our workspaces.

Starting a business is a demanding challenge, but can be immensely rewarding for your career. More and more, we’re seeing the rise of female-led businesses and female entrepreneurs. They’re finally being recognized for their work and supported by their local and online communities. 

Co-working is a great space for women to find a way to get their work done while being celebrated and supported by their peers. If you’re struggling to get your business started at home or in public workspaces, consider a co-working space for your business needs. 

Being Able to Network with Like-minded Women

The great benefit of co-working is everyone else who is there shares similar work habits to yours. Co-working spaces are filled with like-minded, self-driven individuals who are passionate about their work. 

Having the platform and space to be creative in your business and be surrounded by others who are doing the same thing opens up the door to networking, especially with other women and female-identifying persons.

“Women are no longer living a linear path to success. Careers came with a built-in infrastructure. You were given your colleagues, networks, retirement accounts, insurance, etc. Today it’s different especially for women who want to design their own work lives. That structure doesn’t exist and we have to build it for ourselves. We have to collaborate to get access to the resources we want, which requires a heavy level of commitment, understanding and community. It’s the crowd sharing economy realized, but in the workplace.” -Jen Mojo

Freedom in the Workspace

Co-working is great for meeting other women and it can also be a very freeing space to drive your business to your ultimate goals. Being a self-run business or entrepreneur gives you complete freedom to accomplish what you want, and being in a space with others can provide you with that support. 

Co-working entrepreneur Felena Hanson explains this further: 

“Women have long operated in a business world we didn’t create. So many women feel like outsiders in various industries that it’s great to create room where our needs come first.”

The Rise of Community-Driven Events 

With more women running their own businesses, comes more ways to engage in the community. And with making so many connections at co-working spaces, your network of peers and colleagues will have lots of ideas to put their work into action. 

This is not a new idea, as workplaces have initiatives made for women and new businesses to network together. Co-working spaces allow complete freedom to make your own initiatives and have the ability to organize and plan whatever you and your peers want. 

While it can be a difficult challenge, the rewards completely pay off and people who experience marginalization in the workplace can find a new sense of freedom in co-working spaces. 

If you’re interested in our spaces, please fill out the form on the bottom of the page and check out our space.

The great thing about being an entrepreneur is the opportunity to reach people around the world, as opposed to just reaching those in a single office. As a remote worker, working from hope is a great option and gives you the freedom to choose your own hours. But it can also be isolating and hard to be productive at times. 

This is where co-working spaces come in. If you’re a remote worker, a co-working space can give you a collaborative office with the ability to drop in whenever, keep a flexible schedule and connect with others.

You Choose Where You Can Work Best

Remote working can be a challenging kind of job, but co-working can make it significantly easier. Having the option to have a space to collaborate with others gives you more freedom to work where you want – and also when you want. 

You’re able to pick your own hours and choose where you can work. If you’re craving an office space and seeing others, you can choose to go to a co-working space. On another day, if you’re more in a state of mind to work from home, you have the choice to work from home if it’s available to you. 

The Remote Nomad further explains the freedom that comes with choosing where and when you can work:

“Another challenge that new digital nomads in particular face is that although they now have the freedom to work when and where they want, they still have this pressure to work Monday through Friday between the hours of 9 am – 5 pm. However, being a digital nomad and remote worker means you can embrace your own unique working style.”

Increase Productivity and Be More Satisfied

Another benefit of remote work in a co-working space is the added productivity that can come from being around other like-minded people. Being in a co-working space puts you in the right mindset to get more done. 

Vox reporter Rani Molla discusses how people are more productive while remote working: 

“A recent Harvard Business Review study of US Patent and Trade Office workers found their output increased by 4.4 percent after a transition to remote work, with no significant increase in having to rewrite patents due to appeals. And a Stanford study of a 16,000-employee Chinese travel agency found that remote work increased employee satisfaction and helped halve the agency’s previous employee attrition rates.”

Co-working is a great way to increase your productivity as a remote worker. You’re able to come to a space that you enjoy and work with other independent workers and entrepreneurs. Having that ability to collaborate and network can be huge for your personal productivity. It’s part of our natural working process and routine that when we’re with others, we are more efficient workers. 

If you’re interested in learning more, check out our boutique-style workspaces we have to offer. You can also contact us using the form at the bottom of the page.

Are you a small business owner, looking for a place outside of your home to launch your startup? When you’re just starting out, renting an office space can be expensive and often completely unnecessary – especially when you have the option of a co-working space. We’re going to take you through 3 reasons why a co-working space makes sense for your startup, so you can have no hesitation about getting started.

If you aren’t too familiar with co-working, you may be under the impression that co-working does not provide you with much flexibility. After all, it’s just having the ability to rent a desk at the end of the day, right? Wrong! Not only does co-working provide many more benefits for your startup business, but you can pick the co-working space that suits your company best.

Gemma Ward of Bplan tells us why co-working still allows the ability to personalize your workspace:

One of the top reasons why a startup company would choose a co-working space would be the reduced office expenses. In fact, working in a co-working space is one of the most ideal ways to save money, while still reaping the benefits of an office environment. 

Asma Hafiz of Coworkingmag.com talks about why co-working is the way to go when it comes to saving money:

“Coworking spaces give entrepreneurs and young startups an opportunity to work in a fully equipped office without having to worry about setting up their own private office. Establishing an office can be a tedious task which requires a lot of funds. One major benefit of coworking is that it is the best way to work in an office with minimum investment. By working in a coworking space you can operate your business without indulging in expenses that come with setting up an office.”

When you’re a startup business, building relationships is key to growing as an organization. After all, it’s all about who you know, and what better way to meet others in your industry than by co-working? You’re not exactly going to run into exciting new opportunities in your home office and your chance for building valuable relationships is small at your local coffee shop.

John Soloman of Chargebee.com expands on why co-working spaces are great for building relationships that will benefit your startup:

“You can build relationships that can help you and your startup at a coworking space. As you are building your company, you probably don’t have enough cash to hire more people to your team. Thus, you will be relying on freelancers to do most of the work you cannot do on your own.”

Now that you know why renting out a co-working space could be invaluable for your startup, check out our co-working space here and claim your desk.