Due to the imperative social distancing guidelines, many work from home. All that is required for professionals to work remotely is a strong internet connection. Sounds heavenly, doesn't it? There is no longer a need to commute to and from work on a daily basis, and there is more flexibility for how you schedule your time.
Remote working has become the new normal. Businesses that were able adapt accordingly thrived in 2020, but those that struggled to transition faced great losses, and some even had to shut down.
The best thing about remote working, which is also the reason as to why it is so popular, is the fact that people are able to choose how they would like to work. There are numerous advantages to working remotely. This is just a highlight of what are the best aspects to working from home.
Increased productivity: People who work remotely at least once a month are 24% more likely to be happy and productive. People are able to work when they feel most productive or creative, so they may be able to accomplish more work.
Less travel: Since people work from home, they spend significantly less time on the road.
Large talent pool: The number of people who work from home has increased by 140%since 2005. With the freedom that comes with remote working, one is able to be more creative and nurture talents in specific fields. Also, recruiters can find talented employees who live farther away.
Saving on equipment: Employers do not need to spend large sums of money on technological equipment, as the employees can use their own.
Mental health: Forty percent of people feel that the greatest benefit of remote work is the flexible schedule. Professionals are able to work on their mental health, for they are free to work at a pace that suits them. They can easily schedule breaks in between their work to focus on themselves.
Better service: This mostly applies to those who work one-on-one with their customers. They are able to meet with the client whenever it is convenient for the two of them, and the consultant is able to better understand the needs of the client - resulting in better goods and services.
Access to the job market is unlimited: Sixteen percent of companies exclusively hire remote workers. Since remote workers get most of their jobs online, they have an unlimited job pool. Thanks to today's technology, one can meet with people from all over the world and work on various projects.
Much like any other alternative system, remote working too has its downfalls.
For instance, it is easy to get distracted: When working from home, one has to have self- discipline. Since people do not have anyone checking in on what they are doing nor are they working alongside others, it is up to them to create a conducive environment for working.
Lack of relationship with co-workers: It is difficult for workers of the same company to develop relationships while working remotely, as they hardly interact with each other. It is difficult for employers to manage the employees who work remotely: It is hard to evaluate their productivity because they cannot monitor their subordinates' progress in real time.
Lack of work/home balance: Without having a definite workplace, some may find it hard to separate their work lives from their personal lives.
For those interested in working in STEM, below are some careers in which one can work remotely.
Software engineering: This is a very broad field that includes web development and mobile app development. The job entails listening to your employers/ customers needs and implementing them in the application or website, which can be done remotely. It is no wonder that 35.5% of software engineers work fully remotely while 12% work partially remotely, whether freelance or for a single employer.
Data Science: One will need specific training and computer language competencies. Data scientists use computing frameworks to analyze large, raw data sets and develop actionable insights in a variety of industries.
Web designer: The job of a web designer is to design websites before they are made, that is the graphics, color schemes, layout, buttons, and more. In order to work as a web designer you do not need to be in a physical space with others thanks to platforms such as zoom. The web designer can use such applications to talk to the customers and the app developers with ease.
Mechanical Engineering: It is one of the broadest engineering fields. Mechanical engineers can easily work remotely as their job is to design and oversee the manufacture of different kinds of machines. However, they can not always work remotely full-time because overseeing the manufacturing process may require them to be at the company physically.
Chemical Engineering: Chemical engineers design processes and equipment for large- scale manufacturing, plan and test production methods and byproducts treatment, and direct facility operations. As such they may choose to work partially remotely while designing the process but will need to work at a company's lab while testing out and manufacturing the products.
Computer Engineering: They research, design, develop, and test computer systems and components. They may choose to work from home or work at co-working spaces in order to be able to better work with others on their various projects. When we begin to return to normalcy, even though some will go back to the office, others will continue working from home. Remote jobs may continue to increase. When taking into consideration the various advantages and disadvantages of remote working, it is imperative for everyone to make career decisions that are right for them.
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