On my train back to Princeton, it occurred to me that not only was this my first day at the National Review office, but it was my first day ever in any office. I have worked several internships over the past few years, yet all were entirely virtual. Surely I’m not alone in this experience. I began to worry: Would it be several more years until I returned?

My impression is that the shift to remote work for older, more established employees did not significantly alter their career trajectory, insofar as they had already assimilated to the office culture, formed meaningful relationships, and demonstrated their competence. Yet young people are disadvantaged by virtual employment because they are deprived of routine access to their superiors, who are rich intellectual resources and can serve as influential mentors with respect to both career and personal development. The social isolation is knowledge isolation.

Remote work is a depressing simulation of office culture, but the emotional dissatisfaction is not the only consequence. Virtual work is the steady persecution of excellence. Journalism is a skill acquired through apprenticeship; young journalists need to learn how to write — and how not to write. When I submitted my first news article this summer, I got a 30-minute crash course over the phone, and I learned about the “inverted pyramid.” (Thanks, Judson.) I know I still have a lot to learn — but if the journalism industry continues to operate remotely, it may prove increasingly difficult to find someone to teach me.