How can you best counsel for careers in remote work?

While remote work is certainly the wave of the future, employees have to become increasingly proactive is using remote work options to their advantage. Develop a strategy to engage with others on a deeper, nontransactional level. Connect with others across silos and departments. Remote work is autonomous, but career development is interconnectedness.

I often warn early career professionals about some of the pitfalls of fully remote work. Some of the best on-the-job learning and mentoring occurs informally at the place of work. It is much easier to ask your boss for quick advice in the hall than it is to request a formal Zoom meeting with them.

To provide effective career counseling for remote work, we consider these steps: 1. Understand the Individual: Begin by assessing the person's skills, interests, and career goals. Determine if remote work aligns with their preferences and abilities. 2. Research Remote Jobs: Stay informed about the various remote job opportunities available in different industries and job markets. 3. Highlight Remote Skills: Emphasize the importance of skills like communication, time management, self-discipline, and adaptability for remote work success. 4. Resume and LinkedIn Optimization 5. Networking 6. Job Search Strategies 7. Interview Preparation 8. Remote Work Tools 9. Freelancing and Gig Work 10. Remote Job Platforms

I believe fully remote work might be helpful in short term but not in long term as it doesn't give you opportunity to explore, however hybrid work model is always best option

Here's a guide to help individuals explore and navigate remote career options: 1. Aligning Passion and Remote Potential: Encourage individuals to explore careers aligned with their interests, personality, and values. 2. Defining Career Priorities: Urge individuals to identify career priorities, such as preferred work settings, the nature of services or products they wish to contribute, and the flexibility of potential work sites. 3. Researching Targeted Job Titles: Recommend researching specific job titles using resources like the Occupational Outlook Handbook or O*NET. With these steps, individuals can tailor their remote career search to align with their passions, priorities, and the evolving landscape of remote work opportunities.

Remote working (as a choice) is a mixed blessing Assuming no one else is home, remote working can provide a silence and solitude that is difficult to cultivate in a busy office. Even if we opt to work in a busy coffeeshop, the background noise is something we can choose to ignore (it's not of our business). It is not so easy to remain blissfully oblivious in the face of a chatty work colleague or a pontificating line manager. On the flip side, though, solitude might start to feel like social isolation and working alone might give rise to loneliness. Solitude also robs us of those chance meetings and social gatherings, the type of situations that lead to serendipitous ideation and co-creativity, meeting muses and bouncing ideas around.

When any of my clients express interest in exploring remote work opportunities, I make it a point to ensure that they have a comprehensive understanding of both the job's responsibilities and the necessary technical requirements. This involves assisting them in identifying the required hardware, software, and programs essential for the role, as well as helping them find the tools to master the critical skills that are pivotal for their success. I also clarify that the onboarding process, which can sometimes pose challenges even when conducted in person, might involve further setbacks and complications when executed remotely. Emphasizing the importance of awareness and preparation to tackle these potential challenges effectively is key.

Hala Helmy brings up some great insights, another I would add is how to identify which of those remote options and job postings they qualify for. Although a job posting is listed as remote, it may not necessarily be open to anywhere in the United States or beyond. There can be a misconception sometimes that remote means you can work anywhere. Some roles will require you still be in a certain state, etc. It is important to read the job ad in whole and pay attention especially to if specific locations are still mentioned along with the "Remote." Ensure to ask the questions if unsure.

Navigating the remote work sector can be daunting. As a career specialist, guide clients in utilizing online resources like job boards and podcasts to explore various industries and roles. Encouraging networking with seasoned remote workers can offer invaluable insights. Additionally, motivate them to try diverse remote work styles like freelancing or consulting to pinpoint what suits them best, facilitating a fulfilling and personalized remote career path.

Remote work is not always the best option for everyone. There is definitely a comradery and social aspect that is missing when you work remotely. If you live alone, consider if you would enjoy not being in the same room with anyone, every day without the option to have someone to have lunch with and chat. There is also a greater opportunity to learn from others and collaborate when working in person. Other factors to consider are your ability to set boundaries, structure your day, and stay motivated, with the distractions of your home available at all times. On the other hand, remote work offers greater flexibility, more time to spend with your family, less time and money spent on commuting costs. All of these are things to consider.

The pandemic proved that most professionals are even more productive working remotely than in the office, trusting your employees is one of the pillars of creating and nourishing a successful company culture!

Build a plan with the questions: Do I have the discipline to be a successful remote worker? Is this a match for my career season? What skills do I posses and where will I need to develop? What potential blind spots exist? Then ask three people who know you well these questions.

The challenge of the work/personal life balance. One I have encountered often in my own life working remotely. It can help to create routines that trigger yourself that work is now over and its personal time to aid the transition. Two ways that I have heard of include, taking a walk before and after work (just around the block, to mimic your drive to and from work) or set an end of day time and power down your work computer. The key is to set that routine. I have often said, what I miss most from working in an office was the morning drive to prepare myself and the afternoon drive home to decompress.

If work is at home, when does the work stop? Ideally, there are top down policies that set expectations around email, phone, or Slack availability. But remote workers will also have to self-monitor and have strategies in place to step away from work. "I'll just sneak in one more thing" can quickly devolve into being on call 24/7.

Alignment drives success. 1. Alignment of established skills, or current training, with job requirements 2. professional goals and personal outcomes, 3. and good manager Increases probability of: improved outcomes and quality of life(r). Justin E Carlson PhD

Eliminate all distractions in the house and get buyin from all other humans in the house that these are the rules and/or boundaries during these set hours.

Working remotely requires self-discipline. This essential skill for the job is also the best ally to manage your employability: keep on learning, get certifications and remain curious of what is expected in your sector, your job. Have a regular check on proposed MOOC's as well as on job posting that might interest you. If you see a gap with your profile or experience, go for a traning.

As a counselor, even though most of my work can be done remotely and has proven to be effective, building initial trust with clients who primarily rely on in-person interactions was challenging. However, I found that employing a high level of situational awareness and extra effort to actively listen and ask the right questions was crucial in overcoming this obstacle. Effective communication in virtual interactions can be greatly improved by ensuring that the other person feels heard and valued, as if they were in an in-person meeting.

Remote interviews bring their own set of unique challenges, the conversation doesn't feel as natural as it would in person (or as natural as any interview conversation can feel). Due to this it's important to ensure to prepare and practice with clients in the virtual environment, ensure they have practiced with the technology, examined their environment for potential issues, and come with some tools in the toolbox on how to deal with awkward silences, furthering the conversation, etc.

One thing I've found helpful is to show candidates how to demonstrate their suitability for remote work. For example, if they have prior remote work experience, showcase it prominently on their resume and LinkedIn profile. An important skill to demonstrate throughout the hiring process is the ability to communicate clearly and promptly through various digital channels. In addition, they'll want to show technical savvy and proficiency with remote collaboration tools like Zoom, Slack, Trello, or project management software.

Remote work has emerged as a transformative force, providing unprecedented flexibility and opportunities for individuals worldwide. Here are some key strategies for careers in remote work: 1. Begin by helping your clients assess their suitability for remote work. 2. Guide on skill development - effective time management, digital communication proficiency, and self-discipline. 3. Network, Connect and search for remote friendly employers 4. Prepare clients to emphasize their ability to work independently, manage remote teams, and stay productive in a remote environment. 5. Counsel on maintaining healthy work-life balance 6. Coach clients on flexibility and adaptability

After 2 years of remote everything, (meetings, interviews, schooling, working, etc.), we have all had some experience with the challenges of participating in the "zoom" space. When discussing the options of a remote position you must tell your client to be honest and reflect. How did they handle the challenges of those virtual interactions during the pandemic? Did they learn how to manage the distractions? The children, the dogs, the cats, the noise from outside, the knocks on the door, the baby crying, all of these things that aren't issues when in an office. (I can't count how many times I've seen a cat on the screen and distract both parties on the call). Once they have reflected on those challenges, then they can decide if it will work.

One of the things l found helpful was interacting with other people online and developing your skill sets. But there were other distractions like children in the space logging into the class and going out without their parents knowing.Some would log into the class and go to another site to watch films and turn off their cameras. Not listening in class and distracting other learners with irrelevant material.

Having worked remotely for 20+ years, I tried to be in the office as my career advanced. As leaders, we must recognize our biases in both in-person and remote interactions, striving not just to work but to connect genuinely. Face-to-face interaction remains crucial, especially when colleagues are in the office. Research consistently highlights its power in building stronger relationships. While our world transforms, we're still figuring out how to build meaningful online connections. You needn't be at the office daily, but recognizing the importance of physical proximity is key. In today's changing work landscape, embracing both old and new interaction methods can boost our professional relationships and drive collective success.

As a career services specialist, I aid student and recent graduates in the remote work sector by staying updated on remote work trends and mastering necessary tech tools. I assist clients in identifying and honing transferable skills vital for remote roles, guiding them in crafting remote-centric resumes and preparing for virtual interviews. I also offer resources for successful remote onboarding and fostering professional networks online. Encourage a healthy work-life balance and continuous skill development through online workshops and seminars, setting them up for a fulfilling, sustainable remote career.