Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared on FlexJobs.com.
Hybrid work is among the most common — and most desired — flexible work arrangements. In fact, a recent FlexJobs survey revealed that the majority of workers want some form of remote work, with 37% reporting that hybrid jobs are their preferred work arrangement.
Good news for job seekers: Hybrid careers are on the rise in key areas. To help job seekers pinpoint which career fields offer the most prospects for hybrid remote jobs, FlexJobs is covering the top growing industries for hybrid jobs.
Hybrid work is defined as any professional-level role that blends in-person and remote work, allowing employees to work at home part of the time.
Fast-Growing Industries for Hybrid Jobs
Between March 1, 2024, and Aug. 31, 2024, FlexJobs analyzed its extensive jobs database to identify the emerging hybrid career categories with 10% or more growth:
Among these five categories, account management saw the highest growth rate (62%) in hybrid job postings over the past six months. Bilingual, HR & recruiting, and administrative fields followed, with each category growing upwards of 30% in the total number of hybrid job postings.
And while bookkeeping scaled the most modestly of the five categories, it also saw significant gains (10%) in hybrid work-from-home jobs.
The top-growing industries exclude career categories that typically lead the hybrid and flexible job marketplace, such as computer & IT, accounting & finance, marketing, customer service, and project management.
“These expanding hybrid career fields are a testament to the companies and industries embracing flexible work options for their teams,” said Toni Frana, Lead Career Expert at FlexJobs.
“With the work landscape undergoing significant transformations in recent years, FlexJobs’ latest data suggests that even amid slowed hiring patterns and a cooling labor market, the momentum for hybrid jobs and workplace flexibility is still in demand.”
How to Evaluate a Hybrid Job
As you search for a hybrid job, it’s important to remember that no two companies will approach hybrid work the same way.
To help you better evaluate if a hybrid position at a specific company is right for you, consider the following essential questions job seekers should ask when pursuing a hybrid career, according to FlexJobs’ career experts.
1. Is there a formal hybrid work policy?
Because hybrid work is new to many companies, hybrid policies may still be a work in progress. To help you determine how far along a hybrid work policy is, make sure you know some of the following before you accept the position:
- How many days a week can you work at home?
- When you come into the office, do you have to stay the whole day?
- When you work from home, can you work flexibly, or do you have to be online and available during certain hours?
Having concrete answers to these kinds of questions can help you evaluate how well a company is integrating hybrid work and help you avoid any disappointments due to miscommunication or, worse, a toxic hybrid workplace.
2. How does the company communicate?
One of the most crucial factors to remote work success is communication. From letting your boss know what you accomplished to asking and getting your questions answered, the days you aren’t working in the office are the days you’ll need to overcommunicate.
On the flip side, how a company communicates with its staff can tell you how seriously the company supports hybrid work. So, find out how the company communicates in general. Do you have to attend all staff meetings in person, or is Zooming in allowed? Are all the handbooks hard copies, or is every document available online?
A company that’s “all in” on hybrid work will likely gravitate toward virtual communication methods. A company that’s less enthusiastic about hybrid work is more likely to insist you come into the office for staff meetings or brainstorming sessions.
3. Who walks the walk?
Companies that embrace and support hybrid work allow and encourage everyone to work in a hybrid arrangement. From the mailroom to the boardroom, find out who does and does not work hybrid.
If, for example, only early or mid-level employees work hybrid schedules, it’s possible that to move up the career ladder at the company, you’ll have to be in the office more than you want. Likewise, a CEO who works a hybrid schedule is more likely to support employees no matter what kind of schedule they work.
4. What are the work hours?
One of the advantages of fully remote work is the flexibility. Remote workers often have the ability to work the hours they are most productive or when it’s most convenient for them.
That said, not all remote positions have this flexibility (i.e., customer support positions), and the same may be true of a hybrid position.
Just because a position is hybrid doesn’t mean it has flexible hours. Make sure you understand what’s expected of you schedule-wise on days you work outside of the office.
Do you have to start and end your day at the same times as when you’re in the office, or can you start and end earlier or later if you choose? Ask for and find out the specifics to help evaluate how much you’ll enjoy the role.
5. What does success look like?
Depending on how well the company has implemented hybrid work, your performance may be evaluated and treated no differently than your 100% in-office counterparts.
However, it’s also possible that despite the best intentions, in-office staff receive more praise and advancement compared to hybrid workers.
Get the specifics on how your performance will be measured and evaluated or how the company defines success for the position. If the company claims it’s a results-only workplace but can’t define what good, satisfactory, or even superior results for the position are, you may not be happy in that hybrid position.
Common Questions About Hybrid Jobs
In addition to asking critical questions of employers in your search for hybrid employment, you may have some questions about hybrid work in general. The following questions are among the most common questions posed by job seekers seeking hybrid work.
1. How hard is it to get a hybrid job?
While demand for hybrid jobs is high, this type of work arrangement is on the rise. Over the last several years, more companies have adopted a hybrid model, which is good for professionals seeking hybrid work.
When searching for a hybrid job, it’s helpful to identify companies that offer this type of work arrangement. From there, job seekers can develop a list of companies they are interested in and begin researching what opportunities are available.
After identifying some options, working on putting together a tailored resume and cover letter for each role will help ensure you are a top candidate for the roles you apply to.
Additionally, when applying for hybrid roles, keep in mind the top soft skills to include on your resume. Skills like leadership, critical thinking, and collaboration are key to working on a hybrid team. Showing a potential employer your strengths in these areas indicates to them that you have the skills required to be a successful hybrid employee.
2. Which jobs are most likely to be hybrid remote jobs?
Hybrid jobs can be found in a broad range of fields and industries, with a wide variety of companies hiring for hybrid roles. The jobs that are most likely to be hybrid work-from-home jobs are those that involve a significant amount of time on the computer but also require occasional in-person collaboration or the use of specialized equipment.
For instance, software engineers can write code or test programs from anywhere but might need to come into the office to access specialized testing environments. Marketing professionals can create content and manage campaigns from home but might benefit from in-person brainstorming sessions or client meetings.
Experience levels for hybrid jobs can also vary widely, from entry-level jobs to senior-level positions, making them highly accessible to a majority of professionals.
3. Where can you find hybrid jobs?
While the top career categories with hybrid roles offer an excellent launching point for your hybrid job hunt, they aren’t your only options.
For one, niche job boards specializing in remote, hybrid, and other flexible work arrangements are a great source of hybrid remote jobs. At FlexJobs, for instance, we post new flexible jobs daily in more than 50 career categories, so there’s something for everyone.
If you’re looking for additional options, check out FlexJobs’ annual list of the Top 100 Companies for Hybrid Jobs.