With many people embracing remote jobs by the day, one question lingers in mind: Are they any better options? Probably the fact that some people choose to continue with their 9 to 5 jobs while pursuing remote jobs should explain something. Remote jobs may be convenient and interesting but as seen in this article they come with their fair share of challenges. The writer has been categorical when she writes:
“There is so much about freelancing that I didn’t know at the time, and, in many ways, it’s much harder than my old job. It changes the way you work and the way you live, and you have to be ready for that if you want to succeed.”
What are the Highs of In-Office Jobs?
People who are currently doing 9 to 5 jobs enjoy a guaranteed salary. Some jobs come with added benefits such as a car, mortgage, and in some cases, even medical insurance. This could be one of the numerous reasons why many people would rather continue doing the 9-to-5 routine. Life as a remote worker is never easy. In fact, people who have never done remote jobs can never understand what freelancers go through. It is, however important to note that both options come with their share of advantages as well as disadvantages. This article shall look comprehensively at the good and not so good of the two options.
Working in an office setting provides individuals with the following advantages:
1. Experience
The office is an ideal place to learn new things every day. Working in an office provides individuals with an opportunity to broaden their experience even as they strive to remain ahead of their peers.
2. Time Management
Working hours in offices are fixed. This instills discipline in individuals and sharpens their time management skills. In-office employees have no choice but to keep time and stick to a laid down schedule in order to remain valuable. An article about punctuality noted that,
“Maintaining punctuality is crucial to your life if you want to achieve anything valuable. Many people find it hard to discipline their lives, so office environment is important since it forces you to start your work on time without any second option.”
3. Networking
Perhaps the most advantageous aspect of working in an office is gaining exposure. Being able to interact with different people from different social settings gives individuals a chance to broaden their knowledge as well as grow the company. It is also ideal as it enables them to raise their profile and market their reputation.
Is Remote Working All Glitter?
While many people may want to make it seem like a glamorous industry it is important to understand that nothing good comes without challenges. Additionally, few people in this industry are willing to point out the challenges or even come up with effective ways of conquering them. As Scot Hanselman writes in his blog “Being remote is wonderful and it sucks.”
What are some of the things that no one tells you about remote working?
1. Remote Working is not easy
Just like any other career, beginning as a remote worker is difficult. The fact is that many players in the industry want to employ experienced people. More often than not, remote workers have to go for months and even years trying to carve a niche for themselves. In many cases, this will include writing articles for no fee to demonstrate to clients just how competent they are. This can be frustrating. Additionally, freelancing involves bidding for jobs and this only does not guarantee one the job. Regardless of a remote worker’s qualification, they always have to go through vetting which is also quite tedious. Only the persistent individuals tend to survive longer in this industry.
2. Loneliness shall abide
Neither remote workers commute to work (in most of the cases) nor do they have to spend the whole day confined in a cubicle. They also have the freedom to manage and plan for their time accordingly. However enticing this may seem, freelancers spend their working days all alone which can be depressing. When expounding on loneliness as a remote worker, Ellie Martin wrote:
“The truth is that freelancing requires fortitude. You must be able to stay on task without a boss looking over your shoulder and remain happy with diminished socialization.”
Individuals can opt to work from restaurants or even parks in order to beat loneliness and prevent adverse effects on their mental health.
3. Remote Working is not a guaranteed full-time job
Nothing prepares a remote worker for the prolonged bouts of lack of work that are bound to happen. This industry is unpredictable. Landing one project is not a guarantee that the next one shall come soon. As a matter of fact, many freelancers spend months without landing either a repeat client or even a new one. These uncertainties cause pay disparities which are stressing especially for non-established individuals who have not yet saved enough.
What you may not know about Cubicles
Working in an office is probably one of the highest contributors of a sedentary lifestyle. Sitting on an office chair for prolonged hours encourages laziness and can cause strain on the back and neck. Apart from this, one is likely to strain their eyes which can even cause vision damage. Additionally, chances of getting enough salary are low especially for people working in small start-up companies. Having to interact with co-workers on a daily basis is likely to cause relationship strain between employees.
Conclusion
The world is developing fast and however we look at it, cubicle and remote jobs will always be available. Choosing between the two depends on an individual’s satisfaction and liking. It is not easy to single out any of the two options as the winner since both come with advantages and disadvantages. Again, what appeals to one individual may not appeal to the other. While some people do not mind loneliness and flexibility in freelancing, others perform better when working as a team. The diversity of the job market currently enables people to choose between in office jobs, contracts, or freelancing. Individuals can even choose to multitask as they try to identify their level ground. Eventually,
“If the work is challenging, if the projects are advancing your career, and if the money is meeting your financial needs, there’s no real advantage to taking one route over another — other than going with what works for you.”
– Kathleen Mullaney Career Guidance
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