• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

The millennial generation has split, new Fed research shows: Those over 35 are edging toward boomer-style wealth, while everyone else falls behind

2

Mark Cuban says he has the solution to growing income inequality, and it's to reward every employee—from CEO to janitor—with company stock

3

Mathematicians grapple with a ‘very rapid and very unsettling change’ as AI cracks yet another century-old problem

1

The millennial generation has split, new Fed research shows: Those over 35 are edging toward boomer-style wealth, while everyone else falls behind

2

Mark Cuban says he has the solution to growing income inequality, and it's to reward every employee—from CEO to janitor—with company stock

3

Mathematicians grapple with a ‘very rapid and very unsettling change’ as AI cracks yet another century-old problem
LeadershipFuture of Work

College grads: Your first job doesn’t have to be in an office

By
May 6, 2015, 11:05 AM ET
453316791
Family lifestylePhotograph by Nick David — Getty Images
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Dear Annie: Please settle an argument. I’m graduating from college in a few weeks and have been dragging my feet about accepting a job offer — I’ve had three — because I dread the thought of being stuck in a cubicle. What I’d really like is a job that I could do from home, or even from the road if I’m traveling. Friends, however, tell me that companies where you can work from a remote location, or more than one, always require that you do some time in an office first. Is that true? — Footloose

Dear Footloose: You’ll be happy to hear that your friends are a bit behind the times. It’s true that, until recently, telecommuting was a privilege extended almost exclusively to people who had proven themselves in an office setting first, and maybe worked from home on a trial basis for a while until they demonstrated that they weren’t spending the day watching MacGyver reruns.

A few employers still approach telecommuting that way, but more and more, work is becoming untethered from the office, partly thanks to technology and partly because of Millennials like you.

“A new batch of college graduates is entering the workforce, and they’re demanding work flexibility,” says Sara Sutton Fell. She is CEO of FlexJobs.com, which lists flexible and telecommuting jobs. Fell says the number of these job postings went up 26% last year alone. FlexJobs’ database now has a database of about 30,000 companies, including positions at IBM, Apple, Amazon, Salesforce, American Express, and Aetna.

To give you an idea of the kinds of work you can do from home without doing time in an office first, here’s a current sampling:

  • Teacher. Virtual teaching positions are proliferating as more private and public schools go online. Requirements are similar to those for classroom teaching jobs: A bachelor’s degree, state certification, and at least six months of student-teaching experience.
  • Sales consultant. Here you’d be assigned to win new customers, and provide some service and support to existing ones, in a given region. Strong communication skills, problem-solving ability, and a willingness to travel required.
  • Product associate. Sometimes called product managers, these folks conduct field research for sales and marketing departments and work with external vendors. Most openings require strong research and communications skills.
  • Background investigator. You’d be working with clients to research, interview, and screen people for national security clearance. A bachelor’s degree (in any field) is a requirement, along with good communication skills.
  • Translator. Jobs are always plentiful for people who are fluent in two or more languages and have an academic background in fields like science, engineering or health care. The role requires the ability to translate specialized technical jargon.
  • Technical editor. Publishing companies and other businesses need people with backgrounds in software, engineering, and robotics to proofread and edit product manuals and other kinds of technical materials.
  • Gaming support representative. Open to college grads who are also experienced gamers, these jobs require you to provide technical support and troubleshooting to fellow gamers.

Here’s another thought: Since you mention you’ve already received three job offers, have you talked with any of those employers about your reluctance to be “stuck in a cubicle,” as you put it? Most companies (84%) now allow or even encourage telecommuting for “some or select” employees, according to the latest survey on flextime and telecommuting from the Society for Human Resource Management.

Even better, almost as big a majority (70%) say they’re fine with telecommuting “on a regular basis” for any employee who can make the arrangement work. So, assuming you’re interested in one or more of the positions you’ve been offered, why not see if you can negotiate to work remotely? The deal might call for an agreed-upon period of getting your feet wet in an office first, but even so, it’s worth a try.

Talkback: Does your company encourage telecommuting? If you’ve ever done it, how did it work out for you? Leave a comment below.

Have a career question for Anne Fisher? Email askannie@fortune.com.

Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Leadership

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • TikTok icon
  • YouTube icon

Latest in Leadership

CEOs agree there’s an affordability crisis, but how to solve it isn’t so simple
NewslettersCEO Daily
CEOs agree there’s an affordability crisis, but how to solve it isn’t so simple
By Diane BradyJuly 23, 2026
2 hours ago
Jensen Huang made his $172 billion fortune on AI chips. His family’s $75 million gift to Vanderbilt argues art decides what technology is for
Big Techphilanthropy
Jensen Huang made his $172 billion fortune on AI chips. His family’s $75 million gift to Vanderbilt argues art decides what technology is for
By Sydney LakeJuly 23, 2026
4 hours ago
Hasbro’s growth strategy isn’t just about kids anymore—it’s about ‘kidults’
Healthchief executive officer (CEO)
Hasbro’s growth strategy isn’t just about kids anymore—it’s about ‘kidults’
By Phil WahbaJuly 23, 2026
4 hours ago
Thijn Lamers is Co-Founder and President, Noah.
Commentarystart-ups
Adyen co-founder: Europe does not need more ambition. It needs to stop hiding it
By Thijn LamersJuly 23, 2026
4 hours ago
How GE CEO Larry Culp pulled off the turnaround of the century
MagazineGeneral Electric
How GE CEO Larry Culp pulled off the turnaround of the century
By Shawn TullyJuly 23, 2026
4 hours ago
buffett
SuccessWealth
‘The man who dies rich dies disgraced’: The last time America had such wealth inequality, Andrew Carnegie knew he had to give it all away
By Nick LichtenbergJuly 22, 2026
18 hours ago

Most Popular

The millennial generation has split, new Fed research shows: Those over 35 are edging toward boomer-style wealth, while everyone else falls behind
Real Estate
The millennial generation has split, new Fed research shows: Those over 35 are edging toward boomer-style wealth, while everyone else falls behind
By Nick LichtenbergJuly 22, 2026
18 hours ago
Mark Cuban says he has the solution to growing income inequality, and it's to reward every employee—from CEO to janitor—with company stock
Success
Mark Cuban says he has the solution to growing income inequality, and it's to reward every employee—from CEO to janitor—with company stock
By Sasha RogelbergJuly 20, 2026
3 days ago
Mathematicians grapple with a ‘very rapid and very unsettling change’ as AI cracks yet another century-old problem
AI
Mathematicians grapple with a ‘very rapid and very unsettling change’ as AI cracks yet another century-old problem
By Eva RoytburgJuly 21, 2026
2 days ago
OpenAI says its AI models secretly broke out of a secure test environment and hacked into AI company Hugging Face in order to cheat on an evaluation
Cybersecurity
OpenAI says its AI models secretly broke out of a secure test environment and hacked into AI company Hugging Face in order to cheat on an evaluation
By Jeremy Kahn and Emily ForliniJuly 21, 2026
2 days ago
Despite a $156 million contract, Knicks star Jalen Brunson still calls his parents for financial advice any time he makes a big purchase
Success
Despite a $156 million contract, Knicks star Jalen Brunson still calls his parents for financial advice any time he makes a big purchase
By Emma BurleighJuly 21, 2026
2 days ago
Scott Bessent casually says the U.S. has more than $1 trillion in gold—and that it doesn’t matter for the dollar
Economy
Scott Bessent casually says the U.S. has more than $1 trillion in gold—and that it doesn’t matter for the dollar
By Sasha RogelbergJuly 22, 2026
16 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.