We all remember those questions from sixth grade—if you could make a million dollars, what work would you do? The question, aimed to make us realize that happiness is more important than how much money you make, is a lovely idea, but it seems we end up in positions we don’t like working with people that don’t get us.
If we were to put a 2020 spin on that question, we would ask: What type of company do you want to work for, one where you can work from home or one that forces you to commute to its office? Depending on your answer, would you expect the same salary if you worked from home or went into the office?
As remote work comes more prevalent, the question of salary might come into play. Top tech companies like Twitter have led the way to permanent remote work. Facebook says it will make pay comparable to the region in which you live. Non-tech companies, like Nationwide Insurance, have adopted a primarily work-from-home model after the success of remote during the quarantine.
Remote Work Gives More Access to Top Tech Jobs
Before 2020, if you landed a job at a top Silicon Valley company, you moved to the Bay Area or to one of their satellite offices in large cities across the world. Now, these companies might be getting more resumes from applicants across the globe as these positions open as remote work. A graduate from a Chicago coding bootcampis no longer limited to jobs in the Windy City.
The barriers to getting tech jobs are lessening as well. You no longer need a college degree to start working in tech. You can become a UX designer with no degree. Nearly all coding bootcamps are available online, giving more flexibility to those who want a tech career to pursue their dreams without having the added costs of traveling to school.
Tech Companies Are Always Looking for the Top Talent
This geographic expansion from employees will drive competition for jobs at the top companies. Competition is likely to increase salaries because those at the top of their profession will take the best offer. Remote work also removes the relocation package typically offered to tech workers, which may entice companies to pay qualified employees even more.
Tech workers are looking for the next big challenge or getting hired on early at a company that will release its shares publicly or be bought up by a larger company for the payout. Turnover is high in Silicon Valley, which means plenty of open doors for newcomers who have just graduated from a data science bootcamp.
Tech Jobs Aren’t Going Away
Tech jobs are among the fastest-growing job sectors, some positions with over 10 percent growth per year. Some new free-to-use job boards are now dedicated to helping businesses find excellent talent for their good paying work from home jobs. This growth presents opportunities for you to get a high paying job and the chance to work remotely. Part of this reason is the push for every company to have an app. Grocery stores push you to use their app for coupons, and gas stations want to track what additional purchases you make after you fill up.
Tech companies are using their platforms to jump into other fields. It’s hard to think of one thing you can’t buy on Amazon. Amazon is putting its foot into everything, from cloud computing to delivery services. Its scope is much broader than more traditional companies like IBM or Samsung. As tech companies reach for other industries, they will undoubtedly need more tech workers to accomplish the work.
An opportunity this opens up for career changers is the need for coders with experience from a diverse set of industries. Tech companies aren’t always looking for recent grads or computer geniuses. There are ample opportunities for career changers to attend coding bootcamps. An insurance agent who wants to take classes online to learn how to code can attend Hack Reactor to learn to be a hireable tech worker within a year. Their experience in the insurance industry can put them on an inside track to work on an automated actuary program or disrupt a different sector by applying actuarial sciences to process.
Remote Work Opens Doors
The history of remote work is short, but the coronavirus has been its biggest proponent. It has allowed workers from big cities and small towns to apply to companies across the country. Remote work removes a barrier to those with the desire to stay in their hometown and work for the best companies.