Dead or Alive?

Is the traveling 40/hr week consultant or contractor dead?

Meanwhile, Valentine working at some CMO in the Nevada desert yells out, heck no Roger!!! I had to fit Kevin Bacon and Tremors in here somewhere. I digress...

OK, I get it.

Sure, traveling fulltime onsite consulting and contract assignments are not extinct, but my own personal qualitative data tells me that those WHO were both qualified and "open" to the idea pre-Covid are now often sitting in the Remote work hot tub between projects. Simmering.

Afterall, why take a job that inconveniences pretty much everything in your life when you could work from your home? Sounds right (if you can find it!).

Convenience always wins and today even the mere thought of convenience is winning. Why take a gig that upsets your whole life to its core when you can wait for a remote job opportunity that may come in your inbox? Instead, the individual jumps back in the hot tub from the freezing bitter cold and feels better. No work, no paycheck, no new resume builder, and no new references/mentors. The thought of working from home and "waiting" simply feels better. Is it though?

What happened to strapping on the boots to make a buck and meet new people and learn?

Listen, not everyone can leave their family or current situation and live on the road. It doesn't work for all. I get it. But does it ever work until you need it to work? Does it only work if you want it to work?

There weren't droves of people wearing consulting pants flying around the country and living in hotels away from their families on purpose for a paycheck in 2019 either. It used to happen more though. Has technology and the acceptance/adoption of tech made it more possible to work remote and work effectively? Yes, and yes. Has it also created longer out of work stints, less income in some cases, less ambition to meet new people and take a chance, etc.? There's an argument there.

A friend of mine recently met someone who hadn't been contacted in two months about a local job. They were frustrated and talking about it out loud. Pre-Covid, would this person go to where the work is? Hmmm...maybe or maybe not. Instead, this individual will not move for work, but they are now willing to discount their hourly rate/worth to find and attract work. Again, convenience wins....

I would love your thoughts and input here.

What are you seeing out there?

How has your perspective changed on the need/want to travel for work since Covid?

How does seeing friends and past & present colleagues who are working remote help shape your opinion?

What are your clients seeing and doing today to find and have talent delivered in tough geographic markets?

If you made it this far, thank you for reading and message me anytime :)

-Roger Neild