When the global pandemic forced most of the world to stay home, the landscape of doing business changed drastically.
At the beginning of 2023, nearly 13 percent of full-time employees worked from home, while more than 28 percent worked in a hybrid model. Those numbers are on track to rise. By 2025, an estimated 32.6 million Americans will work remotely.
Even more telling of how different the post-COVID-19 world is, 93 percent of employers continue to conduct remote job interviews, while 98 percent of Americans would like to work remotely at least part of the time.
Boise State University’s Online Master of Business in Administration helps prepare students to transition to work remotely with courses that discuss the demands and challenges of remote work management.
With emphasis options in business analytics, construction management, cyber operations, finance, healthcare leadership, management and marketing leadership, the Online MBA provides the skills to help you succeed in a remote position.
Switching to a Remote Job
Transitioning from working in an office setting five days a week to working entirely from home is a big step that requires plenty of preparation.
The most important factor to consider is that you will have to continue to work at a high level. It can be easy to get too comfortable working from home and falling into the trap of thinking it will be a cakewalk.
A good way to combat this is to start by creating a realistic plan that allows you to settle into your new routine and thrive. Here are a few ways to prepare for success:
- Set up your home office. A dedicated workspace, whether a room, a corner or a dining room table, provides a regular place for you to work. It also creates an essential boundary between work and home life for successful remote work management, much like it would for an online student earning a master’s degree.
- Find your groove. One of the most significant ways earning an Online MBA will help you transition to a remote job is by making you manage yourself by being almost solely accountable for completing your schoolwork. Without the structure and routine of an in-person job, you must have discipline to work remotely. Being organized and creating a schedule for yourself can help streamline your remote work management.
- Prepare for remote communication. Strong, effective communication is always important, but it’s even more crucial in a work-from-home setting. Because you are no longer working side-by-side with team members, everyone must stay in the loop and on top of things. The Online MBA is also collaborative, encouraging students to test new skills, learn from mistakes and contribute new perspectives for the benefit of all.
- Stay social. Without going into an office, the element of in-person human interaction is gone. This can be especially difficult for managers in working with their teams. Make time to chat virtually with your colleagues about subjects that don’t correspond to work. Like with classmates in the Online MBA, bonding is still important in a remote situation.
- Make it your own. With working remotely still a new reality, there is no specific guideline or formula for success. It’s subjective, so the important thing is to make it work for you, which is also true for earning an online degree.
With preparation and adjustments, creating strong remote work management is achievable — especially with the foundation provided by Boise State’s Online MBA.
Want to learn more about our Online MBA?