The Future of Remote Work
Avery
Avery
Avery enjoys playing lacrosse and spending time with friends in the Washington, DC metro area
With COVID forcing Americans to shelter-in-place, there's no doubt that we've had to find new ways of doing things. For many people, this meant embracing a work-from-home lifestyle. When employees were sent home in March, most people assumed this would be a temporary adjustment. However, with companies now seeing the possibilities of remote work, it may very well become the default option for many employers.
Why?
In the last few months, a few major companies, most notably Twitter, have announced that, even after the pandemic ends, they will continue to have employees work from home. Citing benefits such as increasing morale and saving money on office space, these companies have taken a huge step, one that may inspire others to follow their lead. Some analysts predict that the culture around remote work may shift dramatically and that a physical office may become a status symbol reserved for only the most essential employees.
What does that mean for us?
As teenagers, this means we may never experience the bustling office setting that we see in the movies. Instead of making awkward small talk at the coffee machine, we may spend our days working in our pajamas or attending virtual happy hours. While there are definite upsides to this model, such as increased flexibility and a better work–life balance, there will also be challenges. Fostering community virtually is far more challenging than in person; the way we collaborate and interact with our coworkers may change dramatically.
What can we do to prepare?
Like any other skill, successfully working from home will require practice. Lucky for us, we have quite the opportunity to do this as many of us face another year of online school. As you approach school this year, develop good work from home practices. If possible, avoid attending class in your bed and try to develop the discipline to get your work done, even when a nap or scrolling through Instagram may feel more tempting. Although it may be difficult, try to maintain strong relationships with your friends and teachers; fostering intrapersonal relationships virtually may be a skill that is essential to your future career.
Related Content
Categories
Discover More
In the world of COVID-19, there's no doubt that working from home is the new normal. However, most traditional high school jobs don't lend themselves well to a virtual format.
Let's be honest. Trying to find a part-time job as a teen can be overwhelming. I can't tell you how many hours I've spent on Google, searching every company I know, only to find out that most of them are only hiring college kids. If you take this approach, this process can be frustrating, to say the least.
If you're like me, you probably shudder when asked, "What do you want to be when you grow up?” I mean, how are we supposed to know? We're only teenagers, after all. However, not having a career plan can be a waste of valuable time and money after graduation...
When I finished classes last week, I doubted that anyone would be hiring high schoolers. Amid the pandemic, since traditional summer jobs are unavailable and businesses are struggling, it felt like there were no opportunities...
