News flash: Recent research from LinkedIn shows that working from home peaked in 2022. In fact, more than 85% of current job postings on the platform are either completely onsite or have a hybrid requirement. It seems that remote-only options are drying up.
This research is backed up by the long list of major corporations requiring their employees to return to the office. But it’s not just large companies enforcing this work arrangement. Many small businesses are also prioritizing onsite work for positions in all departments.
While many employees would enjoy working remotely (or continuing the practice), it can be isolating. It’s difficult to brainstorm over a video call, but more than that, it’s nearly impossible to build quality interpersonal relationships. Those “water cooler” conversations that pop up or the ability to stop by someone’s cubicle to chat are the things that make onsite work arrangements valuable.
Not to mention the training opportunities that come from the ability to shadow a colleague. It’s especially important for new graduates and others entering the workforce to learn how an office environment works. A large part of gaining insight into a business and increasing your business acumen relies on interaction with others.
Remote employees often only interact with their direct supervisor and their immediate team. Working from home eliminates the chances of running into someone from a different department and making both professional and personal connections. For all these reasons and more, companies nationwide are calling their employees back to the office for some much-needed face time.
Because of this shift in workforce trends, hiring managers are focusing on finding candidates who will happily come in to the office. They’re not likely to take a chance on someone who will not be amenable to showing up in person. If your LinkedIn profile says that you are only interested in remote roles, be prepared to wait a while for an opportunity.
The twist to this trend is that many employers will make accommodations for candidates that they are very interested in hiring. They might be willing to turn an onsite role into a hybrid one just to take advantage of a stellar candidate. But they’ll never find you if you’re tagging yourself as remote-only.
Expand your chances of getting called for an interview and be open to onsite opportunities. Don’t exclude yourself from consideration before they even review your resume!