3 Benefits of Starting Your Career in Person

Your first job or internship can lay the foundation for the rest of your career. It’s where you learn how to work efficiently and what it takes to be successful in the workplace, where you develop healthy work habits, and where you begin to build out your professional network.

Much of that learning happens organically, such as by watching others around you at work, and through casual, daily interactions with your managers and coworkers. While there are perks to remote work, it can be a big challenge to try to mimic those important experiences in an isolated setting like an at-home office. To get the scoop on the benefits of in-person work, we spoke with Olivia Hazell, former teacher and currently a recruiter at Success Academy, a nationally renowned network of public charter schools in New York City. Read on for her advice on why you might want to pursue a role that isn’t fully remote for your first job.

You’ll receive real-time feedback on your work

Arguably one of the biggest perks of working in person is that your manager and coworkers are easily accessible, and can serve as valuable resources as you take on new and challenging assignments. This is especially true as you are just beginning to learn unfamiliar processes, because you’re bound to run into issues while you navigate new waters. It is much easier to knock on your manager’s door for assistance, or tap a coworker on the shoulder for a second set of eyes, than it is to take the time to schedule a Zoom call or try to explain your issue with a written message — especially if you need a lot of help with a particular assignment.

Plus, that immediate feedback might lead you to advance in your new role much quicker than you would have if you worked virtually, Olivia said. For example, new teachers at Success Academy receive hands-on guidance from their co-teachers and school leadership in person everyday, which fast-tracks their progress and comfort in the classroom.

“You get to watch first-hand how experienced teachers teach, and you get the opportunity to take on more responsibility within the classroom as you are ready,” Olivia explained.

As someone new to the workforce, it’s also a helpful skill to learn when you should ask a manager or coworker for feedback. When you work in person, you can easily get an idea that someone is busy or doesn’t want to be bothered. Maybe your boss has an open-door policy, but it’s clear that when it is closed they are on a call and can’t be disturbed, or when your teammate has her earbuds in, you know she’s in the zone. From behind a screen, it can be hard to learn your fellow employees' working styles and preferences, and it can be nerve-wracking to ask for help from a co-worker when you aren’t sure whether, or when, they are available to assist you.

It’s easier to feel a sense of community and part of the company mission

One of the greatest motivators for showing up and doing your best at work is the sense of community that you feel at your workplace, and the drive to support the organization’s larger mission. And it’s much easier to feel like a team-player when you are physically surrounded by others working toward the same goal. When teams are remote, it can be hard to visualize and understand how different parts of the company work together.

“When considering a role, you want to ensure you feel a part of a bigger team and really understand the impact of your work. It can be hard to really immerse yourself in a position without having the full context,” Olivia said.

For some roles, that sense of community is truly integral to the company mission, she added. In education-based positions, for example, it’s important that every player — from teachers to administrators — understand how their role fits into the larger goal of creating a positive educational experience for students. That can be difficult to internalize without being able to see the diverse group of employees working side-by-side.

One way companies help foster this sense of community is by hosting company-wide events for employees to spend time together away from their desks, such as lunch-and-learns or after work happy hours. While many companies offer remote activities for employees, when you join an event virtually you miss the opportunity to chat with individual coworkers one-on-one, and it can be challenging to speak up in a group on Zoom as a newer team member.

You can more organically find mentors, and build relationships with your co-workers

As you start your career, it can be extremely helpful to have a mentor — or a few mentors — that can guide you on the unwritten rules of the industry or company. They can also serve as a soundboard for your concerns about your current role or career path, and help you explore your options. Outside of a formal mentorship program your company may provide, you can identify your own mentors by paying attention to those in the company who are passionate about their professions and are doing work you find interesting. And your best chance at finding the employees who are happy to help early career professionals like yourself is to roam the office and participate in company events.

That being said, it can be a big challenge to find a mentor when you are working virtually, because you don’t have the same opportunities to meet in a casual setting, Olivia noted.

“Mentors can really help as you grow in a role. In person, there is not always a need to add a video conferencing link or check for an open calendar slot to have a potential mentor support you or give you coaching,” Olivia said. “This allots for the ability to grow in your role at a faster rate and potentially communicate more frequently with a manager or company leader.”

The same goes for building relationships with your coworkers. It’s much easier to build strong connections with fellow employees in the office kitchen or during coffee runs than it is in the short time you have to chat before you begin to talk business in your Zoom meeting. Not only will those relationships help you grow your professional network, but your coworkers can turn into life-long friends. As a teacher, Olivia shared, the workday can be much more enjoyable and meaningful when you get to know your grade team in and out of the classroom, and you can lean on each other for support throughout the school day. “In person, there are countless ways you can collaborate with peers to really improve collectively as a team,” Olivia added.

As you begin your first role, you will have a much easier time laying the groundwork for a great career if you can develop a strong connection with your supervisor, a motivation to work hard, and a network of mentors and professionals. And while you might be able to achieve those things from home over time, it is much easier to grow and advance the relationships you develop to your higher-ups, company, and teammates when you are working in person. As you weigh your options for employment, and the opportunity for in-person, remote, or hybrid work, consider the benefits of kickstarting your career by surrounding yourself with driven individuals that you have so much to teach you.

Looking for opportunities to jumpstart your career in person? Click here to learn about the exciting roles at Success Academy.