| Full-time

I've been working for CACTUS full-time for over a year now and I'm so glad I decided to give this a shot, despite being very far away from the actual "office." The telecommute option allows me to work from the comfort of my home, right by the beach. And I definitely don't miss the long commute or the traffic! I am much more productive and less distracted when I'm in my own workspace (with my dog curled up at my feet). Most of my team telecommutes and our meetings usually take place over conference calls, with each of us sitting (maybe in our pajamas) in different parts of the country. I don't see much of a difference between the opportunities that CACTUS provides to those who work from the office and those who work from home—we can choose our own preferred schedules, and training sessions, seminars, and group discussions are inclusive, irrespective of where you work. Also, anyone in the office is just a text message away!

I am an Indian classical musician and live out of a suitcase almost year-round as I travel across the country. CACTUS offers me the freedom to choose my workspace and pursue my interests. I've had the opportunity to apply my materials science expertise and language skills to help clients realize their academic publication goals and streamline our operations to delight clients. I've grown from being an individual contributor to managing, mentoring, and expanding our pool of hundreds of academic editors and reviewers, as well as overseeing daily operations. I've participated in CACTUS's fitness challenge from the pristine beaches of eastern India on call with colleagues, devised operations strategies with the magnificent forts of Rajasthan in the background, and much more. With CACTUS, every day is dynamic and stimulating.

I work from home for CACTUS and yet never feel disconnected from my team. We have daily stand-ups and skype calls. IM messages are our bread and butter. We often meet together at the head office during important events and celebrations, and CACTUS is extremely hospitable, providing us with accommodation. I have met amazing people here, who inspire me to improve every day. At CACTUS, I have found my "frolleagues" (CACTUS speak for colleagues-turned-friends) to be understanding and accommodating of personal commitments. This is the best place to enjoy a progressive professional career while staying at home and taking care of my family, which matters most to me.

The work-from-home option offered by CACTUS provides me with the invaluable opportunity to indulge in three of my passions: science, language, and travel. This essentially converts the whole world into my home/workplace (as long as I have access to the Iinternet, of course!). The superlative employee development programmes offered by the company and frequent peer discourse on emerging trends in research, science communication, and industry are extremely enriching and engaging and have helped me grow personally and professionally. I also love that no matter what the problem may be, my team is just a Skype message away with a solution!

I've been with CACTUS for almost 3 years. I was initially apprehensive about working from home. However, I found that I could communicate with the team quite easily via Skype. I have never felt disconnected from the team; I join all of the team meetings. Moreover, I have the same benefits and perks as an employee working from the office. Another plus would be the flexible hours. And since I can travel to Mumbai when I want to work with the team and to be part of CACTUS events, I feel I have the best of both worlds.