A question I am often asked, by candidates, family, and friends is, what is remote working really like? I recently started thinking about the stereotypes that are associated with remote working that can seem off-putting so I thought I would put together my experience joining Mason Alexander for anyone out there nervous about making a move to a remote or even hybrid opportunity.

Time Management 

Mainly, I have two hours back a day (10 hours a week) from not having to commute! Although I have yet to find something productive to do instead, I am loving not having to de-ice the car and hit the road at crazy o’clock to spend an hour in a car followed by another hour in the evening! Instead, I am getting a good breakfast that I can take my time eating. This point plus avoiding traffic has positively impacted my health and well-being.

Social Interaction

I grew up “working” alongside my nana in her shop before being old enough to work there. I then worked in retail roles for years through college and have worked in recruitment for over 4.5 years so you could say I enjoy social interaction!

Transitioning to fully remote did seem daunting at first but after meeting Mason Alexander’s team members in the interview process, I could see how well they operate remotely. Our internal messages are always on fire with internal posts where we interact across the group. There are no disagreements over air conditioning, fridge space, or “loud phone users”, the list goes on. These all contribute greatly to the team's morale. 

Office Setting

This brings me to my next point. Working remotely allows you to create the work setting you prefer. If you prefer quietness or playing low music, it is up to you how to create the setting you prefer. (As long as it is safe and healthy!) 

Company Meetings

The day-to-day interactions are almost always scheduled so there are no unplanned interruptions standing over your desk or talking to you across the office. There is a great sense of respect across the group for each other’s time during the workday. Individual teams meet regularly, and managers conduct regular check-ins with their team members on any day-to-day activities that may require support. We also receive business updates regularly and have many social calls set up each month.

Switching off After Hours

Self-discipline is required here. Setting yourself a 15-minute reminder ahead of when you are to finish work will prompt you to finish off any urgent tasks that can’t wait until the next morning. At Mason Alexander, we have a Wellness Hub with a digital gym and meditations to help the team unwind after work.

Career Progression

For me, a home bird, not having to move to the capital to progress in my career was something I greatly appreciated when joining Mason Alexander. There is so much talent out there that companies are missing out on as they don’t offer the remote option. 

Like everything, there are pros and cons, but from my experience, there are far more pros! Mason Alexander has so many great initiatives in place to encourage the team to check in and chat in a social capacity rather than it always being about work – from coffee mornings to buddies and much more! I can’t be giving away all of MA’s secrets – you will need to join the team to find out the rest!

If you’re interested in joining the Mason Alexander team, please feel free to reach out to me directly through my email below, or check out our Life at MA page to learn more.

📧  l.ryan@masonalexander.ie