It’s no secret that workplaces in the past decade have trended toward remote and hybrid setups. Most offices now allow employees to spend a portion of their working week at home – and a growing number of employers require people to work remotely. This arrangement saves companies money and resources while allowing employees to test their productivity in a flexible space.
But what happens to the up-and-coming generation entering the workforce? How can we teach young people to prepare for the realities of remote work, giving them a head start on flourishing in the modern working world?
This article discusses how young people (from high school to post-secondary) can hone their remote work skills to hit the ground running.
Build Strong Digital Communication Skills with Online Forums and Clubs
One of the linchpins of remote work is the ability to communicate respectfully, tactfully, and clearly in an online setting. While many young people are fluent in “text speak,” a relatively minor number are practiced in professional online communication.
To hone this skill, consider joining online forums or clubs that regularly participate in spirited debates, informational exchanges, or writing practice. Several subreddits are good for practicing these skills; just make sure to avoid the overly informal, crass, or unhelpful Reddit communities. Likewise, organizations like NaNoWriMo, Toastmasters (yes, they have an online presence), and online book clubs are great places to start.
Develop Time Management Habits and “Focus Block” Routines
Remote workplaces (indeed, most workplaces) require you to be proactive about time management. This may seem a foreign concept to students accustomed to teachers telling them what to do, where to be, how to accomplish tasks, etc.
Time management starts with a solid system. Consider apps like Notion, Trello, or Google Calendar to organize your tasks and deadlines, slowly becoming less reliant on external authorities (like teachers) to manage your schedule. Similarly, create a daily checklist and review your progress each evening.
Finally, implement a ‘Focus Block’ routine: try Pomodoro sessions or focused study blocks with built-in breaks to simulate a structured remote workday.
Take Courses at an Online High School
One easy way to prepare yourself for the realities of a hybrid or remote work environment is to take online high school courses. When you finish your courses from home at an online school, you partake in a model similar to remote work. Your courses are flexible and self-paced, but still feature required tasks and collaborative projects.
Importantly, online learning teaches you to complete tasks independently, without much teacher supervision, which is vital for remote workplaces. It also forces you to develop those time management skills listed above and allows you to strengthen digital communication and collaboration skills.
Familiarize Yourself with Remote Work Tools and Tech Basics
At most remote or hybrid workplaces, you will encounter the same tools: Google Workspace, Microsoft Teams, Slack, the Microsoft Office Suite, and/or Google Office Suite.
Why not familiarize yourself early? There’s no stopping you. Download free tutorials of these ubiquitous tools and explore them until you feel comfortable. Along the way, you’ll learn how to populate spreadsheets, toggle between tasks, and troubleshoot common issues that arise.
Young people can start preparing for remote work whenever they want. By mastering online communication, developing tech fluency, and managing time independently, you’ll give yourself a leg up in entering the competitive world of the modern workplace.
