Working remotely can be an incredible opportunity to establish a work climate that is more productive and custom-fitted to your necessities. That doesn't mean it doesn't have any disadvantages. Here, we'll share a couple of insider tips about what working remotely is really like and some ways to address some of the tougher parts of this lifestyle.
It is very hard to find a Remote Job
It is pretty obvious by now, that finding a job within a distributed team takes considerably more time and effort. Only a handful of companies such as small startups and agencies are looking to work with entry-level employees with no previous experience working remotely. For these, your only choices are internships and non-paid positions.
Companies that actively hire remote software engineers and are known for their remote work culture commonly look for experienced senior professionals. That's why you'll see so many employers ask for 5+ years of hands-on experience. Plus, the competition is fierce for younger workers since you're going against people with 10 or more years of activity in the workforce who are looking for a job where they can not worry about their daily commute.
Also read: The Essential Remote Recruiting Guide For Employers
Networking is Far more Difficult When Remote
Without day by day interactions with coworkers, you miss out on formal and casual networking opportunities. For instance, it's a lot harder to get some answers concerning potential promotions or positions that may suit your abilities through word of mouth, and you’ll have to rely more heavily on impersonal channels, like job boards, to find additional work or new positions. It also becomes more difficult to get references since numerous remote workers just have minimal contact with administrators or businesses.
Fear not! There are a couple of things you can do to make networking somewhat easier, even if you are constantly traveling from place to place. If you’re near a large city, check to see if there are any meetups where you can get together with professionals in your field or connect with other people who are part of a remote team. LinkedIn groups are another option when you’re looking to interact with professionals just like you and the best part is it’s all online so you don’t even need to leave your home office.
Remote work can Take some time getting used to
There are several "shocks" you'll experience in your initial months of working remotely. Time regions are entirely different, it can take hours for somebody to respond to your inquiries, you'll need to manage pressing issues alone, you might find yourself slacking or indefinitely postponing your duties... And so many more difficulties you might have not have stumbled upon before.
Most people face these struggles successfully though. A lot of the individuals who as of now work inside remote teams claim they wouldn't go back to regular office jobs despite all hurdles. The challenges remain more difficult to face for remote employees who are part of teams that aren't fully distributed. These workers are faced with extra communication issues and feeling disconnected or often even left out of the whole picture and team meetings.
It can be Hard to “Switch off”
When you work in a traditional office, it's anything but difficult to separate between your work life and your home life. Your work obligations end when you leave the workplace every day and you can focus on personal things in your life like family, friends, and health when you get home.
As a remote worker, the lines between work and home life are blurred. It tends to be hard to stop your work thoughts when you work from your dining table or your lounge. It’s often harder for remote workers to relax after stressful days since you can’t just forget about your worries at the office.
To adapt to the difficulty of separating your personal and work life as a remote worker, you’ll have to build a few tailored skills. In addition to making an effort to give yourself time off, you need to work on being more mindful about how you are feeling and use devices like exercise and fun outings to minimize your stress. Moreover, it assists in establishing a different work climate in your home. You can put aside a room that functions just like your office and lock the door when you're done for the day so you aren’t tempted to keep going inside that room and continue working. In the event that you don't have an additional space to make into an office, you can put aside a peaceful, quiet space or corner in your home that you can retreat to in order to unwind once you’re done working.
