Want to work remotely? Don’t compromise
Maybe you haven’t heard, but working from somewhere besides the same office everyday is more than just a fad. Despite some of the old guard (looking at you IBM) pulling back, remote work really is thriving.
The thing is though, there’s a big difference between working from home every Friday and not stepping foot in an office for weeks or months at a time. Both have value, but if you’re looking to work 100% out of the office your job hunt needs to differ from the traditional. If you haven’t heard the term “remote-first” before, it’s time to get familiar.
Remote-first doesn’t necessary mean that everyone in the company works remotely. In fact, in my experience it’s rare to find a 100% remote company that’s fewer than a handful of people. Sure there are exceptions, but the reality is that most companies want an office of some sort, and there are going to be a mix of remote and in-office colleagues that need to work well together. For example, Stack Overflow, based in NYC, has several offices yet has a great reputation as a remote-first company. In a post on their blog, Alyssa Mazzina sums up remote work perfectly.
Remote-first means working remote is the default. It means making sure your remote employees are as much a part of the team as those in the office.
So, let’s step back. I’ve had a job where I worked in the office most days and spent the occasional day at home. Currently I work 100% of the time, spare a visit to an office every few months, from my apartment in Brooklyn. A company that “allows” remote work without it being the norm should be a full stop in your job search if you’re looking to work as I do.
Assuming you believe me that remote-first is the way to go, how do you find a company that walks the walk? In all honestly, it takes a lot of extra leg work in a job hunt. There are some decent remote centered job boards and communities, but beware: the “allows remote” jobs sneak in. If you’re on the hunt, consider the following:
- Read through the blogs of companies that claim to offer remote work. If they are remote-first, they’ll often write about it. Their employees often will as well!
- Network. We tend to network with those in our industry or profession. How about networking with those who work remotely regardless of what they do? You’ll get the inside scoop on how well it works at their company. Search out Meetups or events at co-working spaces that are tailored to remote workers.
- Ask the hard questions when you interview. Perhaps you’re interviewing for a role where you’re told you can work remotely. Don’t ask “are you remote-first?”, but rather specific questions about what tools they use to communicate and collaborate, how meetings are run, how many employees work remotely 100% of the time, etc. Ask to have a 1:1 call with at one or two of their remote team members and get it straight from the source.
Wanting to work remotely is going to cut down your options, and only considering true remote-first opportunities will cut out even more. Regardless, for a company to get remote right they must ensure a great culture and structure. Isn’t that the kind of place you want to work whether you’re in the office or 3000 miles away?
