Job searching is a daunting task. Luckily, there are many work structure options available today.  Finding the correct job structure is one of the most important decisions we face when deciding which career is best for us. Since COVID-19, we have seen the options of work structures increase as many employees felt that they performed well remotely. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor, since the pandemic in 2019, “61 industries have seen an increase in productivity” since remote work became available.

While remote work has become highly popular, full-time in-person and hybrid work structures are also available. Each of these structures have their own benefits and challenges that you should consider in order to choose what work structure fits you best. These structures are extremely important to consider because to select the right job for you, you need to be aware of your career goals, health and well-being, and personal preferences.

Most of us are facing the stress and concerns of planning our post-college life, worrying about whether we will secure a job offer we truly enjoy. While this cannot be guaranteed for any of us, we can do our best by first understanding the differences between options of structures.

My article aims to provide a guide for college graduates, like myself, beginning the job searching process and wondering which structure fits them best regarding work-life balance and wellbeing.

Understanding Job Structures

1. Hybrid Work Structure 

A hybrid work structure has many benefits by combining remote and in-office work. It has become a more common structure since COVID-19 because it showed companies that their employees can do their work from home just as well as in-person.

Once the pandemic ended, the goal was to create a balance of getting to enjoy doing work at home some days while still having the obligation to physically go to work on other days. Employees can split their workweek between at-home and attending the office, typically looking like three days in the office and two at home or vice versa. North Central College student, Claira Panos, conducted a social marketing campaign highlighting the benefits of a hybrid work structure. She notes that happiness is her main priority in finding the ideal job, which she feels is most supported in the flexibility of a hybrid work environment.

Gleb Tsipursky, a cognitive neuroscientist and behavioral economist, shares the following benefits of hybrid work through Psychology Today:

• Hybrid workers get more exercise, have longer hours of sleep, and eat healthier, which leads to a healthier life.

• Workers in hybrid settings are proven to have better mental health, and there are lower rates of depression/anxiety, isolation, and loneliness in people who have additional personal time.

• Hybrid work allows organizations/companies to promote employee well-being, which is beneficial to them as they will have more engaged and productive employees.

Hybrid work structures are not for everyone, the dynamic is much different than traditional in-person or fully remote work. Some common disadvantages to hybrid work are, difficulty transitioning into this structure because it requires individuals to have balance within their priorities, it can often have a difficult onboarding process, and it makes hybrid meetings difficult when half of the employees are online and half in-person.

2. Full-Time In-Person Work

Full-time in-person work is a traditional job structure where employees are required to be physically present at a designated workplace for a set number of hours, typically the standard 9-5 schedule. There is a clear separation between work and personal life in this structure, as you would have to leave home in order to work. While you are in-person, you will have more direct collaboration and access to resources. Full-time in-person work is usually a preferred choice for people wanting collaboration and a sense of belonging in a company.

According to María Abraín, manager of legal and procurement at Lexington, provides insight on the common benefits of full-time in-person work:

• Better communication and transparency between teams as they share the same physical space and can be in face-to-face conversations daily.

• Increased knowledge of the company because being physically present allows you to immerse yourself in the company's culture.

• Better separation of work and home, as it allows people to disconnect from their work once they walk out of the doors for the day.

However, in-person work structures can be draining as they have less flexibility and make it challenging for individuals to balance personal well-being. The negative aspects of in-person work are commutes, strict schedules, and long hours away from personal life. 

3. Remote Work

Remote work is a flexible job structure that allows employees to perform their tasks from a location of their choice, typically from home, rather than commuting to a traditional office. This setup works because of digital tools and platforms like Zoom or Microsoft Teams, which allow collaboration and teamwork remotely.

Remote work offers employees more freedom over their schedules, giving them the flexibility to manage their tasks around personal responsibilities. Companies can place guidelines around your working hours or required online availability to make sure you are productive and that there is team coordination. This allows them to track your productivity through online software. Remote work is a popular choice, giving employees a more flexible and comfortable way of working.

Asen Stoyanchev, Senior Content Marketing and SEO Specialist, shared through OfficeRND some of the most common benefits of remote work:

• The ability to set schedules around when you are most productive in the day and then have time for personal tasks (e.g., a morning person may start at 6:30 am, be done by noon, and have the rest of their day to themselves).

• The option pool of jobs hiring is much larger, as you can be located wherever you want to do the job.

• Remote settings boost creativity and performance as you get to shape the job to your preference from home.

Remote work does have challenges though, like feelings of isolation, difficulties in maintaining clear boundaries between work and personal life, and fewer collaboration opportunities. Dr. Karl Kelley, an Industrial Organizational Psychologist at North Central College, says that while “no one job structure is superior to another, remote work can be very beneficial for introverts.” They often appreciate the solitude and the ability to work without frequent interruptions and in the comfort of their own space. However, Dr. Kelley also notes that this preference can sometimes lead to unintended consequences. Limited in-person interaction and remaining at home can lead to people becoming increasingly disconnected from the outside world.

For example, Claira Panos shared that she originally thought remote would be ideal for her, but through watching her mom work remotely for the past five years, she has seen how bored and disconnected she is. This changed Claira’s perspective to search for a role in-person upon graduation so she can build relationships before becoming hybrid or remote. This eliminates her concerns of loneliness and isolation.