When Turning Down Remote Isn't Crazy

The other day, I came across a tweet by a recruiter that caught my attention.

He had hooked up one of his candidates with a job that paid more than what they were asking for.

But because the job wasn’t remote, the candidate turned it down. This person had been out of work for about a year.

This is what sparked the topic for today’s issue - remote work.

A lot of people want to work remotely. And I can’t blame them, it’s an appealing arrangement.

No long commutes. No dressing up.

Plus, as someone who's helped countless clients navigate career transitions, I know first-hand it can be a lifeline for those with caregiving responsibilities, live in areas with limited job markets, or need flexibility that a traditional office can't offer.

Remote work isn’t all roses and butterflies

But here's the thing: just like traditional in-office setups aren't perfect, remote comes with its own set of challenges that often get swept under the rug in all the hype.

Some food for thought.

While the flexibility of a WFH gig is great, you’ll eventually crave the energy of a shared workspace. Those water cooler chats with coworkers? Gone.

The impromptu knowledge gained on the job by learning from more senior colleagues. That’s gone too.

And despite the saved commute time, work-life boundaries become blurred. Emails at midnight will be the norm, because...what else are you doing?

That’s not to mention the isolation, the Zoom burnout, the fact that your office is also where you eat, sleep, and binge Netflix.

But most important of all, remote work can impact your career. The lack of in-person collaboration and networking can impact your ability to build relationships, and the fact that you’re out of sight and out of mind means that you may get passed up on promotions.

Case in point…

I once worked with a mid-career digital marketing specialist , let’s call him Alex. He initially fully embraced remote life. No commute, quiet workspace.

But his work started to feel stale. Bouncing ideas off colleagues in real-time, the energy of a design team, even the shared frustrations – it all fuelled his creativity.

He worked with me at a junction in his career and ended up finding a hybrid role. We talked a year later and he said that while WHF was great, he got exposure to a level of responsibilities that wasn’t offered to him while remote.

It’s your career, and your call

As a resume writer, I want my clients to land jobs that they both love and fit their lifestyle. But figuring that out takes more than just browsing online listings for the word "remote."

It’s important to ask yourself tough questions, such as:

• Do you thrive on the buzz of a shared space with constant collaboration, or crave quiet focus for deep work?

• If your commute time went away, would it be replaced by better self-care? Or would that time be filled by scrolling social media?

• Do you pick up new skills best with in-person mentorship, or are you more of a DIY learner?

Remember that the decision to work remotely is highly personal and will depend heavily on your individual needs, skills, and career goals.

Just like every other aspect of your career, it should be made strategically. It's okay to be excited about the prospect of remote work, but don't let the hype prevent you from considering its potential drawbacks (they exist).

At the end of the day, make sure you're choosing remote work because it really is the best fit for you, not just because it's trendy.