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Ideas for Careers for Fibromyalgia Sufferers
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes pain throughout the body, occurring in the muscles and soft tissue near joints. Sufferers of fibromyalgia often experience other symptoms as well, such as sleep disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety and depression. They can also find it difficult to concentrate at work. If you've been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and your symptoms are making it hard to get to work every day, consider looking for a position that will allow you to work virtually.
Telecommuting
Telecommuting careers are common in this high-tech, virtual age. In many cases, companies hiring virtual workers won't require employees to be located in the same geographic area. By not limiting yourself to local companies, telecommuting can significantly expand your options during a job search. To work virtually, you'll need a computer, an Internet connection and phone service, but you might not need to purchase these things on your own. Companies often provide virtual employees with equipment.
Customer Service
Customer service agents field incoming calls, perform data entry and set up new customer accounts. These agents often work from scripted documentation, which could be helpful when fibromyalgia affects cognitive skills. This type of job is well suited for telecommuting, with the equipment needs limited to the basics for establishing a virtual office. Working in customer service might also give you flexibility with regard to working hours, because many companies need agents available to take calls 24 hours every day.
Inside Sales
If you have an outgoing personality and enjoy helping people, an inside sales career takes customer service to the next level. Inside sales people provide customer assistance, place orders to manufacturing or distribution centers, and do follow-up work, such as confirming deliveries. A sales position might also offer flexible work schedules and help you avoid repetitive manual labor tasks that could trigger muscular pain and fatigue.
Consultant
If you've established a career but aren't able to work virtually with your current employer, consider exploring options with consulting firms. Consultants often telecommute, and this career option can allow you to leverage expertise you've already developed without starting over. Consulting opportunities are common in information technologies, finance and many other industries. If you're bilingual or multilingual, you might also find consulting opportunities translating documents.
References
Writer
A careers content writer, Debra Kraft is a former English teacher whose 25-plus year corporate career includes training and mentoring. She holds a senior management position with a global automotive supplier and is a senior member of the American Society for Quality. Her areas of expertise include quality auditing, corporate compliance, Lean, ERP and IT business analysis.
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