I tried WeWork!
Regardless of all the perks of working from home in this over-a-year pandemic, my motivation at work is waning. I want to keep my eyes closed at how much fun my co-workers are having in Hawaii. This workplace can’t be more perfect. What do I do? I’m sick of walking around in my tiny apartment and gazing at my fully booked calendar.
I need to go out. I haven’t thought about WeWork for a long time even though this was my dream company at college. I imagined how fancy and relaxing it is to work in a co-working space where everyone seems collaborative and open-minded. I can feel the energetic vibes there.
A few years ago, I applied for their product designer positions at least five times. No reply. Back then, I didn’t know what kind of designer they were looking for. Of course, I didn’t know because I haven’t been working at any WeWork.
WeWork has launched an all-access plan with a one-month free trial. I signed up and picked a spot in downtown Chicago.
This is the time to check out my favorite place to work and see how I, a first-time member, feel about my work experience at WeWork.
Check-in
Warm tour to start
It’s not hard to get my key card from the help desk. The community manager was friendly. She’s like a host, giving me a tour and having a little chat to get me comfortable staying here. There were just two or three members working in the lounge. Most offices on the other side of the building were empty.
What’s the password for Wifi?
Wifi is the most important thing to remote work but I was surprised at how difficult it was to find it on the WeWork app. I thought it’s on the account tab and under support. That’s not right. It turns out on the home page, above ‘open rooms’, there is a guidance card hidden next to the guest. How am I supposed to find it as a first-time user?
I envision when I got my key card, the app should know I activated my card and prompt me with the guidance information including wifi, open hours, floor map information.
Compared to the app, the website is better at displaying essential guidance upfront. But I wouldn’t be able to carry my laptop everywhere.
Booking a room was easy. Missing room status.
I booked a conference room for a call on the website. What WeWork can do better is designing the experience when the member uses the room. On the door of that room, there’s no way to tell if it’s occupied. I guess I have to assume that people in the room have already booked it. Oh, conference rooms aren’t free to use. I spent one credit for every 30 minutes.
A common solution is to install digital signage with available time. People can check in here or through the app.
The end of the day
I stayed there for a day and then I realized other than giving me the option to use spots across the country, there’s little difference from a cool office. Nice amenities, nice people, nice coffee, nice phone booth, nice community…Where is the community??? To start-ups, it might be inspiring to work with other start-up people and possibly collaborate together. But the way WeWork designs its offices for companies to rent, I could hardly tell how it facilitates collaboration. People still work in different rooms. I wish they mingle at happy hours before COVID started.
And to me who gets bored working from home, or freelancers, why would I spend $199 per month? Better internet speed and free coffee? But going to a cafe every day only costs $150.
I can’t figure it out. I want to read more of WeWork’s stories.
