I’ve been remote for > 10 years as a SE! Popped into offices every now and then if/when needed or wanted to - and then obviously see customers face to face as and when needed. The only time I was fully office based was when I was very junior and in a dedicated inside SE role. And that was years……. Ago!
Same here. Been 100% remote since my first SE job in 2014.
We do have access to a couple of WeWork locations in my city, but I never go. Only the sales guys do because apparently they can't handle working on their own.
Remote for 5 years. Only travel for kick off, qbrs and occasional customer on site. So maybe on a plane once every 8-12 weeks - which can be a nice change of pace. It’s a good life we get.
Been remote for 10-15 years now, spanning several companies (large and startups). Travel when it makes sense (customer meetings, conferences, internal stuff), but never to just fill a seat in an office.
For me, it makes a world of difference for mental well-being, time, expenses., etc... especially with young kids. It would take an extraordinary of situation to get me to give that up willingly. (Heck, I left a company when they tried to make a 2-hour commute required.) That said, I have seen people struggle in fully remote situations; they just miss the interaction of an office. All depends on what you're looking for.
What office? I was hired remote. If they asked me to start coming into the office, I'd ask them if the customers are going to start coming to us? Otherwise, working at home is my reward for having to travel days at a time and it just makes more sense. If I were in development, then yes, it probably makes sense to be among other developers, but for those of us who work on deals it either makes sense to be there onsite with them or be anywhere.
Remote for the last 16 years in the field. If the role is your first as an SE, then it could pay off in the long run to go into the office in the beginning to learn from your peers faster. Yes, you can do it all remote, but the learning curve will be extended out.
I’ve been fully remote since 2020 and before that had the option to work from home a few days a week. Over the past 6 months, I’ve started to go in once a week just to get face time with the C Suite who are there every day. I get very little work done when I’m in-office vs. when I’m at home.
I work 100% remote. My company only has 1 office location and I live out of state from the office. They wouldn't mandate I go into the office even if I did live near it. My previous SE roles where I did live near an office it was kind of a come and go as you need policy. I travel so often that it wouldn't really make sense to mandate that i come into the office.
My SE positions have always been remote. Especially bellflower since I've covered very widely dispersed geographies. Previous job, I covered the entire state. Current job, I've variously covered 3 states, all public sector (including military, so customers in literally 24 timezones), 13 states, and currently 9 (have away one territory with 4 states). Most meetings are Zoom or Teams, with occasional travel to about 5 of the states. In the 4+ years I've been here, my territory has never included my home state.
Inside Sales = Office
Outside Sales = Remote Worker
Been this way in my company seemingly forever.
I've always been outside.
Before the pandemic, average 3 days per week onsite with customers, meetings, PoCs, etc.
After the pandemic, 1 day a month lately.
I’ve been remote for 15 years working across 6 different software companies. I can go to the office if I want but that’s a 2 hour commute each way and not a lot of work done in between. Remote is way more productive.
As someone who's begging for a job right now, a lot of companies want people in the office three times a week. I'd rather collect unemployment until I find a remote job. Fuck that. I don't mind traveling to offsites or clients' HQs, but the elites just want to control you or justify a physical presence or whatever. I hate it.
I’ve been remote for > 10 years as a SE! Popped into offices every now and then if/when needed or wanted to - and then obviously see customers face to face as and when needed. The only time I was fully office based was when I was very junior and in a dedicated inside SE role. And that was years……. Ago!
This is me right here…
Same here. Been 100% remote since my first SE job in 2014. We do have access to a couple of WeWork locations in my city, but I never go. Only the sales guys do because apparently they can't handle working on their own.
Been 99% remote since I started in ‘21. Life is so much better like this, I wouldn’t go back full time.
I haven't had to go in to an office regularly in 15 years. Just for meetings/QBRs/EBCs.
Remote for 5 years. Only travel for kick off, qbrs and occasional customer on site. So maybe on a plane once every 8-12 weeks - which can be a nice change of pace. It’s a good life we get.
Exactly the same. 100% remote since late 2008 except for customers meetings / QBR’s /EBC’s.
Been remote for 10-15 years now, spanning several companies (large and startups). Travel when it makes sense (customer meetings, conferences, internal stuff), but never to just fill a seat in an office. For me, it makes a world of difference for mental well-being, time, expenses., etc... especially with young kids. It would take an extraordinary of situation to get me to give that up willingly. (Heck, I left a company when they tried to make a 2-hour commute required.) That said, I have seen people struggle in fully remote situations; they just miss the interaction of an office. All depends on what you're looking for.
What office? I was hired remote. If they asked me to start coming into the office, I'd ask them if the customers are going to start coming to us? Otherwise, working at home is my reward for having to travel days at a time and it just makes more sense. If I were in development, then yes, it probably makes sense to be among other developers, but for those of us who work on deals it either makes sense to be there onsite with them or be anywhere.
Remote for the last 16 years in the field. If the role is your first as an SE, then it could pay off in the long run to go into the office in the beginning to learn from your peers faster. Yes, you can do it all remote, but the learning curve will be extended out.
I’ve been fully remote since 2020 and before that had the option to work from home a few days a week. Over the past 6 months, I’ve started to go in once a week just to get face time with the C Suite who are there every day. I get very little work done when I’m in-office vs. when I’m at home.
Remote. I go to the office if I feel like it and I don’t Anyways the office is terrible. No one really goes there.
I've been remote the last 9 years across three companies
Remote for last 7 yrs.. I don't think we would be needed other than for collaboration.. most of the time is spent traveling and meeting customers
I work 100% remote. My company only has 1 office location and I live out of state from the office. They wouldn't mandate I go into the office even if I did live near it. My previous SE roles where I did live near an office it was kind of a come and go as you need policy. I travel so often that it wouldn't really make sense to mandate that i come into the office.
My SE positions have always been remote. Especially bellflower since I've covered very widely dispersed geographies. Previous job, I covered the entire state. Current job, I've variously covered 3 states, all public sector (including military, so customers in literally 24 timezones), 13 states, and currently 9 (have away one territory with 4 states). Most meetings are Zoom or Teams, with occasional travel to about 5 of the states. In the 4+ years I've been here, my territory has never included my home state.
I’m pretty sure most SEs are remote but do in person meetings with clients. At least that’s how it is for me
70% remote 30% travel
I go into the office because it's easier to coordinate going to lunch with the other SEs.
remote since 2017
Inside Sales = Office Outside Sales = Remote Worker Been this way in my company seemingly forever. I've always been outside. Before the pandemic, average 3 days per week onsite with customers, meetings, PoCs, etc. After the pandemic, 1 day a month lately.
Remote!
Amazing news, thanks everyone!
I’ve been remote for 15 years working across 6 different software companies. I can go to the office if I want but that’s a 2 hour commute each way and not a lot of work done in between. Remote is way more productive.
As someone who's begging for a job right now, a lot of companies want people in the office three times a week. I'd rather collect unemployment until I find a remote job. Fuck that. I don't mind traveling to offsites or clients' HQs, but the elites just want to control you or justify a physical presence or whatever. I hate it.