Remote job folks: how do you network and how do you deal with loneliness
I work as a data scientist in a remote setting. I meet my team once a quarter. Here in Bangalore all my friends and my wife have work from office so I end up getting too lonely working from home. Also, this has shrinked my network compared to before. How are others in the city handling this? What forums, IRL places do you visit to counter this. Imho, This surely isn't great for long term career prospects.
Polyglot
Stealth
8 months ago
Look on the positive side. You have a job which is remote.
I am on the same boat as you. I won't saybim struggling with loneliness but I'm really missing out on networking, and work related discussions that usually happen in offices. Where you get those lateral ideas from. Being a local from here I'm not wholly open to the idea of moving to Gurgaon for work either except from quarterly visits (which honestly doesn't help with visibility that much)
I tried Coffee Mug, and cold networking with relevant folks on LinkedIn within Bangalore. Didn't find Coffee Mug that useful tbh, the networking on LinkedIn stopped but people don't really have time to meet a rando without an agenda. So stopped that now as well.
Last year I changed my approach and thought instead of socializing professionally with am agenda, let me just focus on getting out of home and meet people. So I took up volunteering, social dancing and board games events. Again, at this point I'm unable to tell how much this is/ or will help me in my career. But I feel moderately better, and not that I am an un-social persons, a lot of people skills were refreshed from doing these activities. Oh, and took 2 separate month long solo vacations as well.
On the career part I built a annual long learning plan, to keep myself skilled. Alas, I'm not a tech guy either so going to Meetups wasn't really helpful either.
Looking to see if anyone has anything to share on this here.
sudo_whoami
Stealth
8 months ago
What's Coffee Mug? Is it an app?
It was another professional 1-on-1 networking app when i came across it back in 2022. Haven't followed what it has evolved to now
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noncorporate
Stealth
8 months ago
Somebody is enjoying your wife's company co they have wfo, go out ,wfo and enjoy company of other's wife.
coderx
Student
8 months ago
Thats not fun dude
Similar :) generic coffee shop with good free wifi is what I meant.
ButteryHole
Stealth
8 months ago
Thanks for the replies guys. The loneliness here doesn't mean I don't have friends. I have a very supportive and healthy friend circle here and I am quite social. It's the work mates, you can bounce your ideas with and learn from those water cooler conversations that I am missing. It's been 3 years like this and I feel a little left out. The networking and meetups idea is good. I will try that. Sitting in coffee shop is a little not that helpful because everyone is busy in their thing and you don't get to have a comfortable chair or table. So it's not something you can do every day.
There is no true virtual replacement to water cooler conversations. I work in a similar setting. What I do is that on 1-1 calls, after the work related discussion is over, you can have a little chat with the person for about 5 mins (if the person has time).
Leverage LinkedIn for professional networking. Join Indian data science groups and forums where professionals share insights and job opportunities.
Local Data Science Communities:
Explore local data science communities or meetups in Bangalore. Attend events organized by groups like Data Science Bangalore to connect with peers.
Consider working from coworking spaces in Bangalore. They often host events, fostering a sense of community and providing networking opportunities.
Indian Tech Conferences:
Attend Indian tech conferences and summits related to data science. These events attract professionals from diverse backgrounds and offer networking prospects.
Join Indian professional associations in data science, such as the Analytics Society of India. These organizations often organize events, webinars, and networking sessions.
I have been working remotely 2yrs. Mostly I attend meetups to meet new people, the meetup space has been quite good lately. So many events around what I do. Also been exploring to join some martial art class on weekends and previously would socialize at my gym.
Also keep on meeting friends whenever they are available
All meetups through Twitter or meet-up(.)com, mostly around open source or react
Polyglot
Stealth
8 months ago
Taking up a hobby always helps. There are many running, swimming and cycling groups in the city. You will enjoy
So this man is feeling lonely and he wants to meet new folks and enjoy their company......
But he didn't feel that he could enjoy the company of his parents, family brother sister , and old friends.
And I'm pretty sure this type of person doesn't live with their parents.
And I don't know what is the difference if we are going to the office for work The same thing you have to do in remote aa well there is no enjoyment in the office if you really work at office π΅
And this guys intentionally created this post for showing side effects of remote work ....may be puppit of MNC companies or get paid for this post
Remote benefits >>> disadvantage of remote
Remote benefits >>>> office benefits
Pavi
Student
8 months ago
Go for a walk, sleep, watch movies and series. Or Google some free courses and try to get them into your resume after your 5th month it will help you to get an new job
Kamekazi
Student
8 months ago
Cool username ππ»
On a different note @ButteryHole which company are you that offers remote DS roles ? I am also searching for one. Thanks.
Red_Ranger420
Stealth
8 months ago
Same problem for me too, I also raised this question but somehow I think people didn't get the problem. All the reply was you are already very luck yo get remote job. Humans need socialization on a day to day basics. Otherwise loneliness can creep in without you knowing about it. I sometimes feels depressed just waking up working alone and then doing same stuff again and again.
I tried using We3 and Bumble Bizz, BFF to meet people. The leads to acquaintance conversion rate is 10%. Most of them are occupied with their work and I barely am able to make proper connections. Attended a few meetups, met some cool people.
kansen
Stealth
8 months ago
Coworking desk ?
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