Richard Darden ⋅ Leesburg, VA IBM ⋅ 24 years experience

Martha,

I would say that given the lesson learned by the corporate world during the Covid 19 response is make your ability to work remotely an asset! Bean counters at large corporations have learned that remote employees cost less. So I would list your geographic area and state with the ability to work remotely on a full or part time basis.

Dick

Scott Covington ⋅ Durham, NC IBM ⋅ 1 years experience

Hi Martha,

Good question. I think, as always, is that the answer is "it depends." A few quick notes:

-You can search on LinkedIn - and I assume other jobs site - for a "remote" option, though not all employers are using it, I don't think.
-You could bring it up with the first conversation with the company, though that might shut doors quickly.
-You could bring it up after you've received the offer, though that might also encourage them to remove their offer.

If you are going to be doing a job that is likely to be remote due to COVID, you could also start the job, do great work for 9+ months, and then when everyone goes back into the office, address your need to stay in your current location. I can't give you the correct answer but only my recommendation. And my recommendation is that you try to research the company and policies - including talking to Veterans that already work there - to get an idea of what the best option may be, and then proceed forward. I will say, the civilian world is much more grey than the black and white we have in the military.

I hope that helps!

Armando Ramirez ⋅ Tampa, FL IBM ⋅ 35 years experience

Hello, Martha-

First and foremost thank you for your service !

Any opportunity you feel matches your skills and interests you, you should apply. You never know how flexible the company can be, especially if they really want you. We are living in a very different world today, companies have realized employees can work remote and be as or more productive. I have been with IBM for nearly 10 years, they issued me a laptop on my first day and I have worked remote and traveled the entire time.

I wish you well, may you land that perfect opportunity!

Kind Regards
Armando

Dan Dolphin ⋅ Willow Spring, NC IBM ⋅ 25 years experience

Hi Martha,

When searching for opportunities, pay specific attention to the "Location". Some say "Any City" (anywhere), some say "Multiple Cities" and will list the cities where that position would be eligible. If the employer lists the city or cities where that position is expected to be, then it is generally expected that you be in that location. I would ask this question up front about how flexible the location is. Right now with COVID, there are exceptional circumstances where most of us are working remote however, some companies have co-location requirements and expect that when the pandemic is under control, that you would return/report to the office at that location.

Net- I would ask this up front when applying. Hope this helps!

Wayne Peck ⋅ Austin, TX IBM ⋅ 2 years experience

Martha,
In my opinion, it is really tough to get a remote job like that if they don't know you. It is easier to go remote after they know you better. There are exceptions like Sales. Now, with COVID, that may be changing.

Hope that helps!

Javier Zayas ⋅ Anaheim, CA IBM ⋅ 30 years experience

One thing an old Army mentor of mine told me is that you will miss 100% of the shots you don't take. Granted, this was all about time at the range, but it also applies in the business world as well. I would suggest that is the position is one you are seriously interested in, apply for it and then have that meaningful discussion with the employer. Today's world has shown many companies that employees can be way more engaged when working remotely than even those employees who have to come into a building every day. Best of luck to you in your endeavors ma'am.