Benefits of Online Education for Remote Work & Work from Home Jobs
byKristina Cappetta
5 min to read
Statistics show that in 2023, nearly twenty-two million adults worked from home full-time. Remote work rose in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic with many companies hanging on to the model. While this can be more convenient for many, remote work requires a slightly different skillset than your traditional 9-5. Online learning may be able to help students develop these transferrable skills and better prepare for remote work opportunities in the future.
What are Transferable Skills for Remote Work That are Built Through Online Learning?
Transferable skills are those developed in one area that can be used in another. Many times, transferable skills are carried from a learning space to everyday situations. Online learners will see that the skills they use as part of their daily school lives can help them secure and be successful in future remote work opportunities.
How Online School Prepares Students for Remote Work
There are several benefits of an online education that can make remote work easier.
Time Management
One of the benefits of online education is learning time management skills. Taking classes online requires students to keep track of their assignments and class hours. While they are given solid due dates for assignments and are still required to attend school for a set number of hours each week—just like with remote work—online school students have more flexibility when it comes to completing their classes during the school day than students who attend classes in person. If students are not good at managing their time with their other activities and responsibilities, they may not meet their deadlines.
Self-Motivation
Online learners have a leg up on the work-from-home competition because when people work from home, they are expected to be productive without having a supervisor next to them 24/7 checking to see if their work is getting done. A work-from-home employee needs to stay focused on their tasks and not become distracted by social media, phone calls, home chores, or other tasks that can lead to an unproductive workday. Similarly, online schools ask for students to be self-starters, which can help them prepare for remote work.
Teamwork & Communication
Being able to work with others in an online environment requires having excellent communication skills and self-awareness, as remote workers often need to collaborate on a project without being physically together. Luckily, this is a skill that online learners likely have already mastered before they enter the workforce. When students are receiving an online education, they are learning how to work as a team without having their teachers or classmates directly in front of them. Instead of waiting for someone to notice they may be struggling on a topic or if they need to collaborate on a project, online school students may feel more comfortable reaching out to others themselves.
Technical Skills
Remote work requires many of the same technical skills as remote learning. Online learners must know how to use certain computer programs, scheduling tools, be able to chat online, and know how to share vital information if they want to succeed. Those working from home often use similar platforms such as Google Meet, Slack, and Zoom to attend meetings and stay connected to their co-workers.
Organizational Skills
Organizational skills are a vital part of online learning. Part of staying organized is maintaining an adequate workspace. Having an organized and an adequate home classroom can help your student be successful now and in their future job. Whether it be a dedicated desk in the living room or a flexible workstation they set up each day, students who have experience learning from home are more likely to have already spent time perfecting the balance between work and living in the same space.
Work-Life Balance
Online learners see how important it is to have a work-life balance. They know how to give themselves enough time to get their work done, but also have enough downtime so they don’t get burned out. When people work from home it can be hard to draw this line because work is always there, making it difficult to determine when the workday stops, and personal time begins. Online learners know how to enjoy the flexibility of at-home productivity and setting boundaries on their day so they can still have time for friends and family.
Working Flexible Hours
One of the benefits of an online education is that students can be anywhere and access their lessons online. They can also complete their assignments when they are most attentive, especially if they are not wide awake at 8 am. This flexible schedule that online learners are using now can help them prepare for remote work since one of the benefits of remote work is that employees can live hundreds of miles away from their work headquarters and coworkers and still get the job done. While this may mean making some adjustments for people living in different time zones, those who have learned from home and have taken advantage of the flexibility online school offers, will be accustomed to organizing work around their everyday lives.
Why is Remote Work So Popular?
Remote work allows employers to save money on office space and recruit from a broader pool of applicants. Employees can enjoy a remote working schedule because they don’t have to worry about a commute and have greater flexibility. The benefits for both the employer and the employee have made remote work attractive to many.
Examples of Remote Work Jobs
While remote work may not be appropriate for every industry, there are plenty of jobs that can be done from home. Here are some examples:
Web developer
Data scientist
IT manager
Marketing manager
Translator
Career coach
Writer
Customer service representative
Virtual assistant
All these remote jobs involve several of the transferable skills that an online learning environment nurtures. If a remote job is in your student’s future, they will see the benefits of online learning as they pursue their career.
Is Remote Work Here to Stay?
Statistics show that remote work isn’t going away anytime soon, with 22% of American jobs being performed remotely by 2025. Hybrid work, a schedule that combines remote and in-person work, is also popular, with a Gallup poll showing that 54% of people who can work remotely do so in a hybrid environment. So the skills your online learner picks up today may give them an advantage in the remote working world of the future.
If you are interested in learning more about the benefits of online school, download our free eGuide to see if remote learning is the right fit for your student.
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