Balancing Convenience and Challenges in the Digital Workplace

About half-way through my first summer internship program at Lithia & Driveway, I was growing tired of getting ready early in the morning, sitting in my stuffy work clothes, and packing a lunch every day. My initial introduction to a corporate office was not entirely conventional in that only one member of my team actually worked in the office. My supervisors were all remote employees. When I was given the opportunity to work from home one day, I was thrilled. I rolled out of bed minutes before my meeting, wiped my eyes and started my workday all from the comfort of my own room. Throughout the summer, I had a handful of opportunities to work from home, each one more relaxing than the last.

When I was offered a job with The KNOW Women, a digital publishing and media company, I assumed that I would feel the same comfortability while working remotely at my university. However when I started, I quickly felt the common pains of remote work. Forbes describes that Gen Z employees do not feel as connected with their supervisors and peers. According to their article on remote work, nuances of office culture are lost when all interactions occur between screens. Not only did I struggle to form a personal connection with my boss, I was often confused about the tasks I were meant to perform. Details were limited and I felt like I was badgering my coworkers by sending them chats throughout the day.

As I frantically applied to internships for the summer before senior year, I was entirely unsure where I would be located for the duration of my break. I applied for every Marketing internship I could find on Handshake, LinkedIn, and Indeed. Finally, Telesign reached out to me for an interview. I immediately clicked with my supervisor during our interview and, after weeks of waiting, was offered a position as an Integrated Marketing Intern. While I was slightly hesitant about working in an entirely remote setting, I was eager about the flexibility I would have during my summer.

The first few weeks of my program proved difficult to focus. I was given a list of videos to watch and vague guidelines regarding onboarding resources. During my free time, I felt guilty about checking my phone or completing household chores while on the clock. I knew this was too be expected as an intern, but I still had a hard time coming to terms with my new office setting.

As the summer progressed, my work load steadily increased but I was missing the office camaraderie that I had experienced at my previous internship. While my time at Telesign offered me several networking opportunities and fruitful relationships, I learned that I am meant to work in an office. The remote work life is often glamorized and my experience has helped me understand the important nuances and interpersonal skills that come with working with a team in person.