Working online – a new era of trust – trust 2.0

by Jillian Zavitz

In this day and age, the Internet and working online – actually doing EVERYTHING online is becoming more and more common place.  People tend to rely on the Internet for much more than just finding information.  People are developing friendships, relationships, breaking down barriers and borders, experiencing new things that only 5 years ago were impossible to experience.  Yes the Internet has changed our lives and there is no looking back.

Working online is no exception.  Online work or as I like to call it ‘e-jobs’ is fast becoming more and more popular and can actually replace traditional “office” work — and is a viable option for many people.  But – with this – comes a new era of trust. Ironically enough – we are limiting ourselves and our opportunities by setting up boundaries and always thinking the worst without any concrete reason why.

Online companies have been painted with red — for those few that have taken advantage of people in the beginning — it has stuck and has caused people to be extremely cautious in all dealings online.  Online companies have to work twice if not three times as hard to prove themselves — and even then – people are skeptical.

is no exception — we are an online company – but we are also a very REAL company. I have many people ask me to validate our credibility — and on one had yes I understand why they are asking — but on the other hand I wonder what it is that they are looking for that they cannot find on the website.

When comparing sketchy online English language providers (yes there are a bazillion out there) the first red flag that should come up would be in the name (personally non-biased opinion here – TalktoCanada.com rocks as a name – and does not have anything sketchy about it at all).  After that – content, web page presentation, and access to information usually will either encourage you to sign up or apply for a job — depending on the sketchy factor.

After that – it’s up to you to put your trust in someone that you’ll meet via Skype or WebEx or the telephone.  And that is a new kind of trust.  The new era of trust 2.0 as I like to call it.  I’m not going to lie, I too was skeptical at first — not really understanding this wonderful online working world — but being open to trying it out.  2 and a half years later — I trust my little working world at TalktoCanada.com more so than I would a traditional company.

I trust as I never have before — and it goes both ways.  In these 2.5 years I have yet to “meet” any of my co-workers – but despite that I’ve been able to trust them and them me through this crazy invention called the Internet.  We share stories, experiences, and plans for the future.  We put our livelihood in the hands of someone  that although we talk with everyday and have “thousands” of emails from — have yet to meet.  It’s surprising — but it’s new — and it’s the direction in which thing are headed.  You can either jump on or jump off — there is no half way – - But I recommend taking that plunge and trying it out.