PARK: Face-to-face time in office is key to building your network
Column: The Queue
After March 2020, almost everybody got used to connecting online. Classes were taught through Zoom, and the corporate workforce turned remote. I am currently in the process of recruiting for internships, and the words "remote" and "hybrid" are two that I see often.
More than three years after the pandemic began, approximately 35 percent of jobs can be done remotely full-time.
I understand the practicality and convenience of working remotely. You are untethered to live where your workplace is, giving you full geographical freedom. You can travel as much as you would like, which is an item on many people's bucket lists. You do not have to wake up hours before work to prepare a lunch, get ready or even hit the gym, which you could easily do during a lunch break if you work from home.
As students, many of us have never experienced a corporate workplace environment. We spent our formative educational years online and currently lack the communication and in-person connections that are crucial for professional settings. Networking, while it can be developed virtually, is a critical skill, and going without it is detrimental to reaping the full benefits of one's young career.
Approximately 85 percent of jobs are filled via networking, according to a report by Forbes. It is important to set ourselves up as best as possible when fresh out of college. This means establishing ourselves within our first jobs and meeting a wide variety of people in order to create a broad network with interpersonal work relationships that can help us advance in our careers.
In our 20s, we may not yet see how a good network could set us up for a truly successful, more than 30-year-long career.
I am currently interning, and while I only go into the office once a week, one of the top company leaders is always in the office. She makes it very easy to chat with and say hello to, making herself very accessible to managers, division leaders and interns.
Had I not introduced myself to her in person during my first week of work, I would have been extremely intimidated before my first one-on-one with her, which ended up being a virtual call. When I go to work in person, I try to make the most of my time interacting with industry professionals who can teach you a lot in even a short conversation.
Working remotely and virtual interactions can also give a false impression of yourself to your coworkers. I get much less nervous about interviews or meetings with recruiters when they are online. I get to take them in the comfort of my own space and look at a slightly fuzzy screen instead of standing in a small office space wearing a stuffy suit. But sometimes, I find myself being in a much too lax state for a really important interview, perhaps not taking things seriously enough until it is too late.
In-person work is crucial to experience at least once. You learn much more than just what you may learn from a desk job. Interpersonal and communication skills along with a good sense of productivity, are qualities that can be best developed by simply immersing yourself in such an environment.
Missing out on such an experience is something I would regret, and I am grateful to experience a hybrid working style so that I can understand the pros and cons of both lifestyles. Now, I can choose which working style works best for me in order to create the life and career I want for myself.
The world is evolving, and I think remote work is a very great thing for some people's lifestyles. For example, mothers who want to stay at home with their children can work remotely and find time to be both a mom and an employee.
Work-life balance and flexibility will always be important and something I hope all companies provide for their employees, but the choice to work in person, if you have it, is something I will always encourage people to take.
Starting our careers in remote work is convenient and extremely attractive. Many may choose to do so in order to live at home and save a good portion of money.
On the other hand, we should also understand the repercussions of doing so and truly weigh out the pros and cons when choosing the working style of our first professional jobs.
Annabel Park is a junior at Rutgers Business School, majoring in supply chain management and minoring in economics. Her column, "The Queue," runs on alternate Tuesdays.
*Columns, cartoons and letters do not necessarily reflect the views of the Targum Publishing Company or its staff.
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