Are remote jobs the future?

Now that the dust of 2020 is beginning to settle, you might presently find yourself at a crossroads in your career, wondering if remote jobs are here to stay and whether you should pursue one. Since lockdown restrictions first came into play, the number of work from home jobs in the UK has tripled since January 2020, with the vast majority of businesses having some sort of remote working policy in place. So it’s clear that online jobs have had a huge surge. But what does the future hold?

Let’s take a look at how the world of remote working has transformed so you can decide if it’s right for you!

“Experts predict that by 2025, 70% of the workforce will be remote.”

How has remote working developed in 2021?

Before the pandemic, companies had toyed around with the idea of remote working, but it wasn’t that common. If you found a company that offered remote working, it was like you’d struck gold! But the ‘stay home’ orders in 2020 forced businesses to close their office doors and consequently birthed a whole new way of working – and it looks as though it’s here to stay with a massive 74% of companies planning on making remote working permanent even after the pandemic.

Which companies are offering remote working options permanently?

By the looks of things, remote working is here to stay. Not only that, experts predict that by 2025, 70% of the workforce will be remote. Here’s a list of just some of the companies who have adopted a permanent approach (whether it be optional or hybrid) to remote working already:

• Shopify
• Quora
• Fujitsu
• Hubspot
• Pinterest
• Microsoft
• Facebook
• Twitter
• REI
• Dropbox
• Nationwide
• Salesforce

What are the best jobs for remote working?

With all the hype around online working, it’s important to understand which jobs and industries will be rich in remote working opportunities – because not every job is suited to it! But it’s not so much about the job title, but more about the tasks associated with the role. Research shows that if you want a work from home job, your best chance is if you find a role which involves one or more of the following tasks: 

• Updating knowledge and learning
• Interacting with computers
• Thinking creatively
• Communicating with and guiding colleagues or clients
• Processing, analysing, interpreting information
• Performing administrative and organisational tasks

Which jobs don’t support remote working?

There are some tasks that don’t tend to support remote working because you simply need to be onsite to do the job properly. Take a look at these tasks to avoid if you want to work remotely:

• Controlling machines and mechanical equipment
• Handling and moving objects
• Assisting and caring for others
• Measuring products or surroundings
• Selling to or influencing others

Advantages of working from home

Let’s take a peek at some of the reasons to love remote working:

• No commute stress – gone are the days of having to spend hours crawling in traffic, whilst worrying you’re not going to make it to work on time
• Not spending money on travel – remote working allows you to save money as you spend less on fuel and travel
• More time since no commute – when you work from home, you can take your mornings a little slower since you only have to travel to your home office
• Comfortable clothing – say goodbye to suits and tailored clothing, and say hello to your favourite sweats
• Better work-life balance – with no long commute home, you have more time to spend doing the things you love whether that’s exercise or just having extra time to spend with the kids

Disadvantages of working from home

It’s important to understand that remote working isn’t all rainbows and sunshine. Here’s why:

• Not the same team culture – there’s no doubt that team culture isn’t the same when working from home. You could feel isolated from others and a little lonely at times
• Lack of recognition – when you work from home, your boss can’t always see how hard you’re working which can cause you to feel underappreciated
• Distractions – there are plenty of distractions at home like pets, kids and the TV, so you need to be super disciplined to stay on track
• Delays in communication – communication between colleagues can be delayed with online working which can make simple tasks more complicated
• Poor wifi – if your WiFi isn’t in tip top shape, it can be disruptive to your work. What’s worse is that it’s down to you to fix, not your employer

The world is your oyster

There’s no doubt that the future of remote working is looking bright – but it’s not for everyone. Some people prefer to be in vibrant office environments surrounded by other team members, whereas others thrive working alone in a home environment. The good news is that you pretty much have your pick of the bunch since there are plenty of opportunities both on-site and remote.

If you’re still figuring out your next steps, don’t miss our blog on defining your dream job, and if you’re ready to start applying for jobs, read our CV writing guide.