Jesse Sasomsup is the founder and president of Earnest Homes, a Los Angeles-based residential property driven by technology.
As a business owner whose company has been remote since 2017, I know the benefits of virtual work firsthand. Remote work gives employees greater flexibility and gives employers the ability to acquire talent by hiring anywhere (they aren’t confined to candidate pools in one part of the country), among other advantages for both parties.
Nowadays, remote work is more prevalent than ever due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Many people who were launched into remote work in 2020 had previous experience working in person from an office—which is critical in forming essential skills such as interpersonal communication, collaboration and conflict resolution. But many of the youngest generation in the United States workforce, Generation Z, did not have much, if any, in-office experience when they started working remotely. And complicating matters is that with the rise of artificial intelligence, Gen Z is at greater risk of not developing crucial skills.
Interestingly, Gen Z employees themselves aren’t too keen on the idea of remote work overall. According to a 2021 survey by Ten Spot, an employee engagement platform, “Gen Z workers are the least likely to want to work remotely full time, as only 30% want to do this. It’s a stark contrast to the more than half of Millennials (51%) and Gen X (52%) who want to work remotely full time.”
Despite the advantages of remote work, I advise Gen Z to consider kick-starting their careers with in-person roles.
In-Person Work Streamlines The Development Of Key Skills
AI will eventually replace most computer tasks. But there are key skills AI can’t replace, like emotional intelligence and creativity. Working in person streamlines the development of those key skills.
For instance, when you work in person, you can learn how to become a savvy communicator and collaborate more rapidly than if you work remotely. When you’re face-to-face with your manager and colleagues, you can pick up on body language and facial expressions, which are integral to becoming a better, more emotionally intelligent communicator.
As for collaboration, in-person work is better suited for it—as well as the spontaneity that often fuels it, such as brainstorming sessions and lunchtime conversations. Consider this: Research published in Nature in 2021 examined how remote work impacted collaboration and communication between information workers. The researchers found that “firm-wide remote work caused the collaboration network of workers to become more static and siloed.” They also found that synchronous communication declined, and asynchronous communication grew. Combined, they explained, “these effects may make it harder for employees to acquire and share new information across the network.”
By working in person, you’ll also get a close-up view of the ins and outs of running a business, such as what constitutes a successful corporate culture, what the most effective management styles are, what kind of processes maximize productivity, etc. These insights will be useful as you progress in your career, especially if you one day choose to start your own business.
What’s more, when you work in person, you can get trained and course-correct faster if you fall off track. When you’re interacting with your manager and colleagues in person, there’s more back-and-forth and a better flow of information during training. And if you make mistakes along the way, there’s a greater likelihood that your team members will pick up on it and help you. By contrast, when working virtually, it might take longer for someone to realize those errors (if they notice them at all), which will hinder your professional development.
There Are More Mentorship Opportunities With In-Person Work
Mentorship is a vital part of career development, especially early on. Good guidance can clarify where you want your career to head and will help you grow as a person and professional. It can also increase your job satisfaction. A survey conducted by CNBC and SurveyMonkey found that mentorship “has an outsize impact on a worker’s career across several measures,” specifically, 91% of workers with a mentor “are satisfied with their jobs, including more than half (57%) who are ‘very satisfied.’”
While there are certainly avenues for mentorship in remote workplaces, in my career, I’ve observed that a lot of mentorship is spontaneous and organic, and develops naturally in an in-person environment. Socializing with a colleague in the hallway or grabbing lunch with your team could help you connect with someone who can become a lifelong mentor.
If An In-Person Role Isn’t An Option, Make The Most Out Of Remote Work
If your current job is remote, or you’re not able to take on an in-person role for various reasons (such as having to take care of a family member or living in an area where there aren’t in-person opportunities for your industry), make the most out of remote work to develop the knowledge and skills you’ll need to thrive wherever you take your career next.
In my experience, the best remote workers are curious and execute fast. They ask good questions, are engaged with their work and genuinely want to learn more about their craft and the business. They act on tasks quickly; they have a healthy sense of urgency about completing their tasks. Be curious and execute quickly, and you’ll stand out from the crowd.
Ultimately, whether you’re currently in an in-person or remote position, work hard and never stop learning. The first 10 years of your career are the time to set the foundation for what the rest of your professional life will look like. Put the right building blocks in place, and you’ll gain the experience you need for lifelong success.
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