Online vs. Onsite Jobs: What's the Best Choice for Recent Graduates?
- giuliapedrinivisio
- Aug 4
- 5 min read
Updated: Sep 19
Author: Giulia Pedrini
Introduction
The rise of online work can be attributed to the pandemic in 2020, which forced billions of workers to remain confined to their homes. Companies were thus forced to reinvent all those jobs that could be reinvented because they did not require changes to raw materials or machine maintenance, etc. Office jobs thus became work-from-home jobs. Through PCs, tablets and phones, it has been possible to revolutionise the world of work while protecting people's health.
As a result, a new way of working has emerged for all desk jobs, which will continue even after the end of the Covid-19 pandemic. This revolution raises the question: is it better to work online or onsite? Let's analyse the pros and cons.
Pros of Online Jobs
Online work certainly has advantages for both the employer and the employee. In fact, workers have noted the following advantages:
● no more time spent travelling between home and work
● more time to devote to family and leisure
● greater flexibility in working hours (not always)
● savings greater comfort, due to the convenience of being at home
● develop greater IT skills
As for the company, there are also advantages for employers, such as lower costs related to transport reimbursement or meal vouchers for lunch.
As far as the company is concerned, there are also advantages for employers, such as the reduction of costs related to transport reimbursement or meal vouchers for lunch. In addition, some start-ups were created solely with the possibility of working online, removing all property-related costs from the balance sheet. This means that the costs of rent, maintenance, furnishing the premises, water, gas and electricity bills, and much more disappear.
Cons of Online Jobs
As with everything, online work also has disadvantages for workers. These disadvantages usually appear in the long term, so at first they may not seem apparent to a worker, but then they emerge:
inability to separate private life from work life
family tensions related to the need for a dedicated workspace
working hours that are too flexible, which can be confused with an increase in working hours
finding suitable tools with the right level of technology (if not provided by the employer)
One thing to bear in mind is the sense of isolation and detachment that this way of working creates in a person. Especially after the pandemic, we have become used to living in our own “bubble”, cutting off relationships that we considered secondary. Wrong!
It is precisely our relationships, both primary and secondary, that shape our character and personality. Relationships with family, friends, partners, but also with work colleagues, employers, and the environments we were used to frequenting. Without our social network, we would be robots, and this way of working certainly takes away a good part of our training as “social animals”, which is what we are as human beings.
Onsite Jobs
As mentioned in the previous paragraphs, working from home has countless advantages, but it also has some significant disadvantages. For this reason, when recent graduates are looking for work, they must consider all possibilities, not just those that appear to be the most comfortable. This is also because these possibilities are often more comfortable for the “body” and more uncomfortable for the “mind”!
In fact, working in an office allows workers to be immersed in a structured work environment designed to be suitable for the type of work carried out there. So, unlike our homes, these offices are designed in terms of lighting, furnishings and location to support the work carried out. Furthermore, the presence of colleagues fosters a sense of community that improves the performance of individual workers and teams alike.
Another consideration is the separation of personal activities involving family and friends from professional activities related to work and colleagues. This consideration highlights the importance of dividing physical environments in order to also divide “mental environments”. This is because when working from home, we often find it difficult to maintain concentration and focus exclusively on work because we are distracted by our partners, children or housemates who require our attention. And not being able to give that attention often creates strong tensions!
In addition, working in the office allows us to form secondary relationships that expose us to perspectives different from our own or those we are accustomed to. Although we may occasionally encounter colleagues who are not particularly pleasant, even these relationships contribute to our personal growth and professional development. All relationships should be cultivated, especially the challenging ones!
How Should Recent Graduates Choose?
Deciding whether to choose an onsite or online job is an important decision and, like all important decisions, it requires careful analysis of our needs, but also our desires!
The following aspects should also be taken into consideration in this analysis:
the role you want to fill, because this could determine whether greater physical interaction or presence on site is necessary
our personality and character, because we may be more stimulated in an office environment with other colleagues, or we may prefer the calm of our home office
our home environment, because there may not be space for a dedicated remote working area
family or personal needs, because our family may need us to be at home to pick up the children from school or to help elderly parents.
Each of us is different and has different needs and desires. The important thing is not which choice you make, but that you make an informed choice!
Conclusion
In conclusion, there is no correct answer to the question posed in the first paragraph; there is only our answer, which is different for each of us. Both modes have advantages and disadvantages, which are reflected not only in our work performance, but also in our personal well-being and family relationships. For recent graduates, the choice between online working and onsite working should be based on a careful evaluation of their needs, lifestyle, and personal and professional goals.
The important thing is not to follow the trend of the moment, but to make an informed choice that takes into account who we are today and who we want to become tomorrow. Being flexible and open to change, without losing sight of what motivates and fulfils us, is the key to getting off to the best start in the world of work.
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