Preparing for the Future of Work Online

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Read time 6 minutes

Published on Jul 17, 2024

The world of work is constantly evolving. As some jobs become obsolete, new types of careers are being created, often in response to breakthroughs in technology. For high school and college students, the future of work looks exciting. In fact, the career you wind up with might not even exist yet.

As you prepare for college, take some time to consider your plans after college. It’s perfectly fine if you aren’t quite sure which specific career you’d like to pursue. However, it’s helpful to have a general idea of which career fields appeal to you and what your strengths and weaknesses are so that you can find the best possible fit for your talents.

What Are Careers of the Future?

One hundred years ago, people probably never could have imagined the modern office — professionals typing away at computers, videoconferencing with colleagues around the world with just a few clicks, and sending documents digitally. It’s hard to say exactly what the careers of the future will be because of technology continually evolving. But one thing is certain: the job opportunities in the future will require skilled professionals who have a blend of both soft and hard skills.

One place where this is evident is in remote work. Although online jobs certainly existed well before the COVID-19 pandemic, the necessity of social distancing for the sake of saving lives catapulted remote work arrangements into unprecedented usage and popularity. In fact, prior to the pandemic, about 15% of workers filled remote jobs. Afterward, an additional 35% of remote workers were added to the economy.¹

Although many jobs are expected to always require an in-person presence (e.g., doctors, veterinarians and electricians), there are quite a few that can be performed partially or entirely online from a remote location. This can offer considerable benefits to the workforce. In fact, 60% of professionals who began working remotely during the pandemic reported better work-life balance.¹

Remote work can also offer benefits for organizations across various industries. This includes tech-based collaboration tools that may allow for streamlined task management, project management, file sharing, brainstorming and other common necessities of the modern workplace.¹ Remote work arrangements can also benefit companies by:²

Enabling access to diverse talent regardless of geographic location
Reducing overhead (remote offices cost far less to maintain)
Enhancing employee retention

Important Skills for Job Opportunities in the Future

As previously mentioned, the high-tech jobs available in the future will likely require a mixture of both technical skills and soft skills. Of course, individual contributors and leadership alike will need the required skills to do their day-to-day work, which can vary by industry and position. However, they’ll also need technical proficiency to collaborate and work remotely, as well as the soft skills necessary to perform remote work, which include:³

Time management
Self management
Communicating virtually
Remote rapport and collaboration

Exploring these types of skills while still in college may help today’s students prepare effectively to become successful contributors and leaders of tomorrow.

Getting Remote Work Experience While in College

In college, your coursework may help you develop both technical and soft skills that can provide a foundation to pursue your professional goals in the digital workplace. However, you could also go a step further by searching for online jobs for college students — ideally those with remote professional mentorship and networking opportunities. Remote work experience can allow you to demonstrate digital work arrangement proficiency on your resume before you graduate from college.

In fact, if you’re earning your college degree entirely or partially online, you’re already taking a big step toward demonstrating to potential employers that you know how to excel with remote arrangements. An online degree may demonstrate that you’re self-motivated, great with time management and technically proficient with collaboration tools.⁴

Common Challenges in Remote Work Arrangements

Although digital job opportunities in the future may offer benefits for both professionals and organizations, they are not without their challenges. For example, some employees may feel socially isolated or overly distracted. Others may struggle to adapt to the technology platforms and tools needed to do their jobs.

There are some strategies for overcoming these challenges:

Combat cabin fever, stress and social isolation by building breaks into your schedule. Those breaks should involve going out and doing something with other people face-to-face.
Manage distractions by working in a space where you are less likely to be interrupted and by muting your phone.
Address technological issues proactively by discussing any technical issues promptly with your supervisor and/or your employer’s tech support division.
Stay motivated by finding meaning in the work you do and reminding yourself what you’re ultimately working toward: a post-graduation job you’ll love.
Seek support from friends, family and a mental health counselor as needed to handle stress and build resilience.

Balancing Academics and Remote Work in College

It’s not uncommon for students to work while in college, and this may come with challenges as well. It can be tough to juggle two major responsibilities at once. You may find yourself rushing through your assignments and not taking the time to fully understand the material because you have to get to your shift on time. Or, you might have trouble focusing on your work because you’re thinking about a major paper that’s due at the end of the week.

The first rule for working college students is that academics should always come first. This is true regardless of whether you’re working online jobs for college students or an in-person position. If you find that your grades are dropping because you don’t have enough time for your classes, assignments and studying, it’s time to have a talk with your supervisor about reducing your hours.

Remote work arrangements in college can support academic-work balance better than in-person jobs because there is no need for a commute. Simply find a quiet, distraction-free place to log on for your shift. However, it can be tough to stare at a screen for hours at a time studying and then stare at a screen for the length of your entire shift.

The following tips may help you overcome the unique challenges associated with balancing academics and remote work:

Create separation: If you’re working and studying in the same place each day, it may be difficult to separate the two different responsibilities in your mind. Try to create separation to support an easier mental shift, such as by removing your schoolwork from your desk before logging into a shift. Similarly, clear your screen of all work-related tasks before logging into an online class.
Develop a balanced schedule: Working and studying in the same place calls for a specific and well-balanced schedule. Each week, write down your shifts and class schedule and designate specified times for completing assignments and studying.
Communicate and establish boundaries: Clearly communicate your school responsibilities and time constraints to your employer. Be proactive about talking to professors and college advisors when you’re struggling with classes, and talk to the appropriate school personnel about support resources.
Follow the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look away from the screen for 20 seconds at an object about 20 feet away from you to reduce eye strain.⁵
Go low-tech when possible: Even if you’re taking online classes, you may have the option to purchase physical copies of textbooks. Try to do so whenever possible in order to give your eyes a rest from the screen. Similarly, when performing remote work tasks, look for physical tools to do certain jobs, like using a physical calculator to work on a spreadsheet instead of a digital one.

Earn Your Degree Online at GCU

At Grand Canyon University, our mission is to prepare our graduates to confidently tackle the evolving challenges of the future with a blend of soft and technical skills. Our modern degree programs, many of which can be completed entirely online or in a hybrid format, span various fields and industries. Fill out the form on this page to learn more about the degree program that best fits you and pursue your purpose at GCU.