Choosing Your First “Real” Job

 

Your college graduation is finally here – or at least in the not-so-distant future. After years of preparation, you’re ready to accept your first job offer and enter the field of your choice. Choosing your first job after graduation merits careful consideration, from salary and benefits to the nature of the job itself. More people choose to work remotely following graduation – but is it the right choice for you?

 

Statistics About Remote Work

 

The number of remote workers in the United States and around the world is increasing. According to Gallup, some 43% of U.S. workers do their jobs remotely, at least some of the time. Companies allow remote work because statistics back it up – according to another study by Gallup, remote workers log longer hours than their office counterparts do. This is one of the reasons why IBM, one of the companies to pioneer working remotely, allowed nearly half of their 386,000 workers to complete their tasks from home – saving nearly $2 billion in office space.

 

Technology plays a significant role in making this feat possible. Employees can access all the software and applications they need from a home computer or device. Despite the common misconception that remote work creates unproductive employees, the opposite is actually true. The nature of the job, however, might not be for everyone.

 

The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Working Remotely

 

Like so many other jobs, remote work has its pros and cons. It’s not an ideal match for everyone, since it requires superior time management skills and a demonstrated ability to work with intrinsic motivation. Recent graduates should consider both the advantages and disadvantages of taking a remote position.

 

Advantages

 

There are several pros that entice people into accepting remote jobs. Some of the most notable include:

 

You Set Your Own Hours

 

The primary advantage of working remotely is completing work on your own schedule. This means you can take advantage of when you’re feeling most productive and create your own workflow. If you’re a night owl, you don’t have to worry about setting alarms and staring at your computer bleary-eyed – simply do your best work when you function best. Remote work can be very similar to college in that you work on your own timeline – just know when your deadlines are and make sure you’re on track to finish on time.

 

You Won’t Feel Strapped To Your Desk

 

We all go through unmotivated periods and spend more minutes staring at the clock than we do tending to our work. When you work remotely from home, there’s no pressure to slug through your work before 5 pm rolls around.

 

Working remotely gives you the opportunity to take more frequent breaks and utilize your own schedule. Taking a break to get some exercise, for example, can reset your brain and help your productivity soar.

 

Disadvantages

 

At the same time, remote work is not for everyone. Some of the primary disadvantages include:

 

You Have To Rely On Your Own Work Ethic

 

You certainly learned the importance of time management when you were in college, but take a moment to think about the kind of student you were. Did you wait until the final crunch and complete everything in a rush? Or did you find it easier to tune out the background noise and do your assignments in a timely manner? Your answer could reflect how well you adjust to a remote position. First jobs require an adjustment period, so make sure your own motivation and time management skills can help you adjust.

 

You Can Miss Out On Social Interaction

 

College graduation brings a wave of changes as your friends depart across the country in search of job opportunities. This means you might have to make a new network of friends. Co-workers can be a great source for friendship, but working remotely can make it difficult to forge new relationships. Some workers report feeling isolated and even more stressed working from home, because they lack an outlet for venting about the rigors of the job.

 

Stress, Office Productivity, And Working From Home

 

Some people report less stress while working remotely because they can set their own hours, enjoy added flexibility, and don’t have the pressures of a traditional office setting. On the other hand, others report feeling more stressed when working in the same capacity, and for the same reasons.

 

When looking for jobs after college, you must consider your personality and how well you think you would mesh with a remote work environment. If you have an extroverted personality and crave structure and supervision, an at-home opportunity might not be right for you. On the other hand, if you can work independently and don’t have a difficult time motivating yourself to work, completing tasks from home can be a perfect option.

 

Talk To An Experienced Team

 

Your decision to pursue remote work after college will depend on a variety of factors – convenience, motivation, and time management skills. Consider your options carefully before pursuing any remote position.

 

 

 

About The Author:Nicola Yap lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her two cats Marcie and Lambert. When she isn’t writing blog posts, she’s probably playing video games or doing something as equally unproductive. She works as an organic marketing strategist for Eminent SEO, a full-service digital marketing agency that creates custom websites and innovative marketing solutions for small to medium-sized businesses that are looking for impactful results.

 

 

 

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May 10, 2018