Remote work is a disaster for young professionals
We sold you a dream and delivered a dud.
Covid hit, and work-from-home went from 0 to 100 overnight.
Now, young professionals feel isolated, miss out on mentorship, burn out from blurred boundaries, and struggle to get onboarded or feel part of the culture.
Remote work sounds great. No commute, flexible hours, work from anywhere.
But here’s the truth: If you're early in your career, remote work is a trap.
Offices are underrated.
Not for the snacks.
Not for the open floor plan.
For the osmosis. For the overhearing. For the accidental mentorship that happens when you sit near someone better than you.
Proximity is power.
If you're 25 and alone at home on Zoom all day, here's what you're missing:
Hearing how a senior rep handles a tough objection.
Watching how a manager preps before a high-stakes meeting.
Learning not just what gets done but how people get it done.
Being seen and remembered by people in power.
Overhearing how priorities shift in real-time.
Stumbling into impromptu conversations that become opportunities.
These things don’t show up on your calendar, but they have a tremendous hand in shaping your career.
Remote is a feature for seasoned people, senior people, and rare talent.
Once you’ve built your network, your skillset, your confidence, and your instincts, remote gives you leverage.
But for someone early in their career? You don’t need leverage. You need proximity.
Remote work is a gift, just not one you should unwrap too early.
The shortcut to a better career is to sit next to someone great.