Behind the bar: How coworking can educate members for a hybrid economy

An analysis of job postings commissioned for a study by Bentley University found that more and more employers are looking for multifaceted employees, capable of working hybrid jobs. As we’ve explored, freelancers can position themselves in a hybrid job economy by demonstrating adaptability, collaboration and multidisciplinary thinking. This is driving workers to seek a mixture of communication and technology skills and invest in training outside of traditional university degrees.

One of the things that makes coworking spaces great is their ability to be a natural haven for skills and knowledge sharing.. So I’ve spoken with Tobias Schwarz from St. Oberholz, Katy Zühlke from Betahaus Berlin and Katja Theida from JuggleHUB to understand how coworking is helping members develop their careers in a hybrid economy, and beyond.

In-house Education

Bentley University’s study found that employers are looking for candidates with a mixture of hard and soft skills. Freelancers need to invest in further education and also demonstrate teamwork and strong communication. Coworking spaces with in-house education programs give their members access to skills, for both personal and professional growth.

Betahaus runs its education program Betahaus Academy in their Berlin and Hamburg spaces. These academies offer over thirty courses and are available to Betahaus members and the public. The courses range from hard, technical skills, such as front-end design and marketing with data, to softer skills, such as business networking and upside down thinking. Katy, Head of Coworking and Community, here at Betahaus Berlin, says it’s important to provide courses that apply to people’s interests outside of work, “we don’t just focus on how to get better at your career, but also what extra skills people would like to learn.” Having a mixture of courses gives people a chance to work together and explore their different interests and passions. Katy explains that the creative courses help people take a break and connect, “it’s not just about how to build your profession but also about how to work in a team, be creative or to just take a break from behind your laptop.” According to Katy exploring different interests and passions is also good for workflow, “if you feel better as a person you can also work better, so at some point it comes back to your work life.” For freelancers looking to recertify or add a new skill to their resume, the academy offer certificates at the end of courses geared towards hard skills.

Bentley University’s analysis found that 71% of in-demand skills, like big data analysis and social media, are required across more than two job categories. Similarly, in a hybrid economy, the most successful candidates are the ones who voice their soft skills, like teamwork, communication and critical thinking. Education programs within coworking spaces allow freelancers to recertify with market demands, while also giving space to demonstrate soft skills and abilities.

Workshops and events

Freelancers who want to remain ahead in a hybrid economy need to demonstrate adaptability within their field and stay informed about a range of ever-changing jobs. Workshops and events in coworking spaces let members stay on the pulse of a range of industries. By drawing in specialists and experts, spaces are able to host talent that isn’t always in house.

For Tobias, Coworking Manager from St. Oberholz, this helps members stay on top of trends, “events and workshops can help you to stay up to date, but also to learn about changes in other fields and maybe connect different dots.” Furthermore, as jobs become increasingly integrated, these platforms give space for members to pair up and host events themselves. Tobias says this is something that is happening at St. Oberholz already, “we are negotiating a series of events with one of our member teams about their topic, HR tech, and we are looking how we can integrate the services of a member who is doing great workshops about new work.” This kind of partnership is helpful for freelancers, as it opens a way for them to put into practice the kind of multidisciplinary thinking and collaboration that will help them thrive in a world of hybrid jobs.

Beyond the professional

Workshops and events are also a great way for coworking members to network and connect in other ways. Hayley Harrington, a freelance creative strategist and member of St. Oberholz, says events also act as a platform for sharing interests, “not only do events and workshops provide an outside of work context to get to know the people you’re sitting laptop to laptop with during the week, they can also provide a scaffolding for learning about shared interests.”

This is a guiding principle for Katja, co-founder of JuggleHUB, a family-friendly coworking space. She doesn’t agree with the image of coworking as a place where you just go to rent out office space, or just network:

“Coworking…[is] a greater concept, a way of working together — and living together, too. Coworking spaces give everyone the room and freedom to learn, to think outside the box, to listen and talk to others, to be inspired, to move out of your familiar environment and feel at home.”

JuggleHUB helps members connect and exchange through regular events, like a monthly ‘Eat & Greet’ breakfast or the series ‘MentoringMoms’ for those currently looking for an entry into a career or want to re-orient themselves.”

Katja says members are able to connect in meaningful ways as coworking spaces are rooted in mutual respect, “The question ‘what do you do for a living’ doesn’t feel weird around here because people really want to know the answer.” Promoting an open exchange is important for freelancers wanting to stay ahead in a hybrid economy.

Events and workshops act as a platform to connect members and allow freelancers within coworking spaces to share their insights and knowledge- while also inviting specialists to present developments in ever-changing fields. Coworking spaces are giving freelancers in a hybrid economy the chance to learn from one another and develop their careers in a supportive environment.

Community acting as talent pools

Siloed jobs are becoming extinct in a hybrid economy, and companies are now looking for integrated roles, as Bentley’s study shows. Postings for web designers is a clear example, as they have decreased by 8%, however the need for these skills has increased in marketing/PR jobs by 11%. Meaning it is important for freelancers to specialise in different fields and view jobs through different lenses.

Coworking spaces house a rich tapestry of talent from a variety of different fields. Tobias explains that this creates a diversity in perspectives which is helpful for members: “There is a saying in German, ‘you can’t see a forest if you’re looking only at the trees.’ This is saying that you sometimes can’t always see what’s in front of you and it helps to change your perspective.” “It is easy to seek out and talk with someone who will have a different perspective from the beginning,” says Tobias, as a way of explaining how this sharing of different views also promotes skill sharing within communities, “the diversity of the community is valuable for members that want to exchange skills.”

Members of coworking spaces have a mixture of talent at their fingertips, however Tobias advises it’s best to let these situations come to you naturally: “it’s hard to become a member with these skills in mind, so you wouldn’t join a space because you want to learn programming, but what I can always guarantee is, something will happen.” Coworking communities encourage freelancers to think in a multidisciplinary way. Members have a range of experts on hand to consult, a key resource in a hybrid job economy where specialising in multiple areas is expected.

Coworking your way into a hybrid job

A mixture of workshops, events and in-house education programs are a great way for coworking spaces to give hands on education and information about changing industries. In an economy where skills and knowledge are the foundation for success, coworking spaces are arming their members with the tools to develop hybrid careers and become truly multidisciplinary.