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In a post covid, WFH and Hybrid world

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how we can better help recent graduates navigate getting work, succeeding in their first jobs out of school, and getting perspective on how to learn and succeed in a post-covid environment of hybrid and WFH.

As someone who did WFH long before it was a thing, I’m a believer in the effectiveness of remote work. I’ve led remote teams across multiple countries launching websites in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia. I have lifelong friends built on many hard weeks and months working and building things together. I miss seeing people IRL at work too, but I also love not spending 3+ hours commuting daily anymore.

For new grads, I think about the value of real-life interactions: of seeing, observing and learning from others that you may not encounter just doing your job. Of the chance encounters with leadership and people outside your world that can inspire and teach.

WFH can be great. But it can also be isolating if you’re not yet well connected, if you don’t have the hybrid experience to make new connections, or if you’re not in an environment that does it well.

It can be extremely isolating if you’re looking for your first job out of college, and don’t know how to start.

We have an obligation to mentor those who are new to the workforce- both in breaking into a world they don’t yet feel connected to, and also understanding that it’s a world hugely different world from the one we knew, as Gen Xer’s, or even as Millennials.

So how do we help?

1. Make yourself available to talk. It doesn’t have to be a lot of time. But as my Millennial daughter reminded me- it’s hard for Millenials and GenZers to ASK. Even harder to know how to ask in a way that will get a response. They may not even have a specific question. So offer it up. Tell the Linkedin community that you’re open to this. Respond to the LI in-mails asking for a quick conversation or an informational interview, or even a (gasp) cup of coffee.

2. Do what you would do in person– take the time to reach out and ask how your team members and co-workers are doing. If you see someone struggling, ask how you can help. You have to be more intentional about this when your team is remote. It is so important for your team members and teammates know that you see them.

3. Make sure everyone you know has community support. Phyl Terry has a great community built around asking for help- it’s called #neversearchalone and I’m a volunteer for that LinkedIn group, as well.

Let’s keep the dialogue going.

For the seasoned among us, what do you think? And how do you think we can help? Gen Zers & younger Millenials, what do you see, and what kind of help do you think is needed?