Is Remote Work a Good Fit for You?

Remote work is all the hype now. And to be transparent, we love remote work. We love the flexibility, the lack of commute, the option to customize the office experience, the ability to work around life, the potential to work from wherever, and more. But all that said, remote work is not a good fit for everyone.

So how do you know if it’s right for you? Here’s a list of questions to ask yourself:

• Do you already feel socially fulfilled, or feel comfortable building your own social circle without relying on co-workers?
• Do you have an environment conducive to solo work and remote meetings, or feel confident you can create one?
• Do you consider yourself a self-starter and problem solver? 
• Are you comfortable with moderate levels of ambiguity, decision making, and ownership?
• Can you stay focused and manage your own timelines to be productive and meet deadlines?
• Can you maintain a routine in the absence of external motivators? For example, eating on time, staying healthy, and getting out of the house?
• Can you be intentional about when your workday starts and ends? Are you able to “disconnect” fully after the end of the workday?
• Can you set work goals for yourself, and hold yourself accountable?
• Are you intrinsically motivated? Examples of intrinsic motivation include personal growth, a desire to be productive, or belief in an altruistic mission.
• Do you get energy from within (ex. being productive, developing satisfying outcomes, gaining new insights) as opposed to interacting with people?^* 

If you answered ‘yes’ to five or fewer questions, you may still be compatible for remote work. But you will want to take proactive measures to craft a custom remote experience that suits you.

If you’ve answered ‘yes’ to most of the questions above, congrats! Remote work is probably a good option for you. Welcome to our world!

*In a remote position, you may still have substantial social interactions (especially for roles that require significant collaboration) – however, the style will be different. In a good remote environment, you will still get to know your colleagues, develop relationships with co-workers, and potentially spend a good part of your day interacting with others via meetings and other collaborations. This is often more than enough if interacting with others is important to you, but not your primary source of motivation and energy. If you feel jazzed from the “the hustle and bustle” of the office, remote work will probably not be a good fit for you. If you’re not sure, taking the StrengthsFinder assessment is a great way to determine where you get your energy from.