Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

buildyourown t1_jeahb7k wrote

Let me add this. I think wfh jobs aren't a great idea early in your career. Your entire career trajectory is based on relationships. Those relationships are hard to build remote. Take the job. Suck up the commute. I also advocate for moving out. Get roommates. Again, relationships.

89

bakerzdosen t1_jealja4 wrote

As someone who recently started a higher paying job with a better company and with better co-workers entirely because of relationships I’d built over the past ≈15 years, I second this advice.

25

Dandan0005 t1_jed4bgb wrote

Same.

I love wfh, and I’m a big proponent, but without the connections I made in office early in my career, I would not have the job I have now.

With that said, 45 minute commute each way can be brutal. I’d be on the lookout for something higher paying closer to home, or look to move closer.

6

DJ_DD t1_jeaq6gh wrote

Think this entirely depends on the profession. I do web development - when I was in the office all my working relationships were through digital messages/online meetings to team members across the country. It’s the exact same now that I permanently work from home.

But to piggy back on what you’re saying - things like tone of voice matter way more when the work is entirely digital. No one can see me, so how I sound is the major influence for how they’ll perceive me.

25

enjoytheshow t1_jeaup0y wrote

Yeah it really depends on the org and position. My best network was made remotely with a big tech company. I met most of them in person 1-2 times in 2 years. My small company I worked for in person, all of those people in that network… still work for the small company.

8

Actually-Yo-Momma t1_jebsanm wrote

I would be so poor and lazy if my first real job out of college was 100% remote

9

CCJonesy t1_jebpfuq wrote

This is ridiculous. I work with an international team and we are very tight-knit. You just have to put yourself out there and not be anti-social just because you’re on a computer. I’ve used references from coworkers on the other side of the world and expanded my network more than any pointless water cooler conversation ever could. Remote work makes employees enjoy more free time at home too, so it doesn’t feel like as much of a hassle when coworkers in town want to meet for lunch or dinner.

2

NorwegianPearl t1_jee68f4 wrote

I mean y’all can both be right in the correct context. Not every job or culture functions that well remotely. In my old job I was able to work remote, but I just got a raise and promotion this past year more or less because I ‘am around’. Obviously there’s a little more to it, but I was building relationships at the plant, helping out troubleshooting with things outside of my scope, and just giving the plant a feeling that engineering cares about what’s going on. That would not have happened if I stayed remote.

2

DD_equals_doodoo t1_jee7fej wrote

I think the issue is that fresh grads (people in their first jobs) generally don't understand professional norms and that is a function of lack of experience (not their fault). Having fewer examples around that help establish professionalism can cause issues. While many people can manage remote work just fine, many people cannot. Companies are calling employees back into offices for this reason (and others) - it isn't because of the reddit excuse of "real estate."

1

Andrew5329 t1_jecz7py wrote

> Get roommates. Again, relationships.

I'm with you so far as the physical presence, having done both and now gone back to hybrid (few hours remote, then on-site for about half the day) the rapport I have with my colleagues is almost entirely based around in-person interaction. I don't think anyone calls or IMs people to chitchat the way you do when you bump into someone in-person. That matters.

That said, living with a roommate is probably going to be irrelevant to OP's career. Unless you're rooming with strangers, which is ten flavors of gross.

2

mrdannyg21 t1_jed9f4a wrote

Really well said. I love love love remote working but everything you said is on point. Forming important relationships early in your career is much harder (not impossible) working remotely. Your 20s can be a very important time to explore jobs, people, places, living situations and learn about yourself - everyone is different but most of us can’t get a detailed understand of who we are and what we want out of life by staying too comfortable at home or remote working.

1

[deleted] t1_jeb9j5f wrote

[deleted]

−6

TrafficScales t1_jebk1px wrote

As a software engineer I’d like to caution against this perspective a little bit… it’s certainly possible now to build a career and network through fully-remote positions (especially if the entire company is fully-remote), but for mixed/optional WFH positions I have seen extreme and obvious career benefits for people who are friendly/social/helpful in the office.

It’s not so much that remote employees are at a disadvantage in software positions, but more that in-person employees have the opportunity to capitalize on being in-person, which can go a long way.

11

buildyourown t1_jebjjpm wrote

It's antiquated boomer middle management talk to say nobody can work from home because you don't think they will work. That's not what I'm saying at all. Relationships exist in every job in every industry. When people blame nepotism, what they really hate is that somebody got an opportunity they didn't. When I need to hire someone, I ask around. "Do you know anyone who would fit this role". Etc. Maybe it's someone you play golf with. Maybe it's an old coworker. You don't make those connections at a wfh job.

10