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Choosing a career involves more than finding work you like to do. The environment where you work contributes to your job satisfaction every bit as much as the work itself—maybe even more so!
Your work environment includes the physical, psychological, and social aspects of where you work. This can encompass everything from whether the temperature is comfortable to more abstract elements like the company culture or your relationships with your coworkers.
There are many different types of work environments, and finding the one that works best for you comes with a wide range of benefits.
Have you ever tried to work when you were too hot or cold, or you could hear a loud conversation nearby? Physical discomfort and other distractions can hinder your ability to work well. However, when you’re in your ideal work environment, you’re able to be more productive because your needs are met and you’re able to focus. This, in turn, can lead to mastering not just your day-to-day responsibilities but also your professional growth.
People who work in their preferred job environments are more motivated to work hard and stay with their companies longer. They tend to be more creative and collaborative and have a deeper level of connection to the work they do. Plus, when you’re motivated and feeling positive about your work, you’re more equipped to solve problems as they arise.
If you’re in your preferred work environment, you’re more likely to be excited about your job. Since our jobs are such a large part of our lives, it’s important to be happy with where we work! Job satisfaction is typically influenced by relationships with coworkers and tangible rewards such as salary and benefits. Spending most of your week in the same place with the same people makes it crucial to pick the work environment that works best for you.
Working in an environment where your physical, social, and psychological needs are met can lead to better health due and reduced stress. Reducing stress in the workplace has many benefits, from greater collaboration across the team to employees feeling more confident in their work. Since stress can have powerful negative effects on your health, it’s important to choose a work environment that doesn’t increase your stress.
Modern work culture offers many different types of work environments to support different job functions, needs, and work philosophies. Gone are the days of everyone working in a cubicle; instead, the diverse range of environments means you can find one that suits you best.
The conventional work environment is a traditional office setting. It is highly structured and organized with regular hours. This work environment is defined by systematic rules and procedures. Legal firms, government offices, and financial institutions tend to use conventional work environments, and this job setting tends to attract people who enjoy structure.
Remote work skyrocketed in popularity during over the course of the pandemic, and this work environment is not based in a company’s main office. Employees can work from home or coworking spaces, and this style of work environment prioritizes flexibility and can reduce commuting costs. People who are drawn to a remote work environment tend to be self-motivated and organized.
A hybrid work environment blends office and remote work. Employees will often work some days in-office and the rest remote. The blend of in-office versus remote can be customized for individual job requirements, so each employee works the schedule that fits their role. Many companies in high-demand industries use this model since it provides employees with both the freedom to work anywhere and the benefits of in-person collaboration. People who favor this type of work environment tend to want the best of both worlds: the ability to work independently and the flexibility to work with their colleagues in person.
The investigative work environment focuses on problem solving and is common among STEM careers like math or science. A medical lab is an example of an investigative environment. This style of workplace is typically unstructured (compared to a conventional work environment) and allows employees broader freedom for how they approach their work. People who prefer this type of work environment might value creative and abstract thinking, and they might enjoy the challenge of problem solving in a lab setting.
The collaborative work environment is typically favored by startup companies and creative agencies. In this type of environment, coworkers typically share workspace and pool their knowledge and resources to develop new ideas. This environment may use an open office plan, and people drawn to this style of work environment might be social and prefer face-to-face communication.
A social work environment tends to focus on people. These environments revolve around teaching, guiding, or healing people, such as a school or hospital. A social work environment involves lots of social interaction, both with colleagues and the clients, students, or patients being served. People who prefer this style of job environment tend to enjoy helping others, and they demonstrate good interpersonal and communication skills.
An artistic work environment is typically unsystematic and is common among artists, writers, designers, or music producers. The unstructured format of this work environment allows for a greater freedom of expression and aesthetic, and it tends to attract people who are creative, unconventional, and self-motivated.
In an enterprising work environment, employees tend to be focused on achieving company or financial goals. Corporate, business, and sales jobs typically use an enterprising environment, which can be competitive and fast-paced. People who enjoy this type of environment might be goal-oriented, outgoing, and assertive.
A realistic work environment focuses on manual tasks that use tools and instruments. People in these environments tend to work with their hands and enjoy working outside a traditional office space. Careers in realistic work environments tend to be skilled trades like plumbing or electrical work, veterinarians, contractors, or mechanics.
Not sure what work environment you’d prefer? Take our work style quiz to find out!
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