There are important distinctions between beginning a new career remotely versus in the office.
As you won't be able to meet your new coworkers and manager in person, at least not right immediately, starting your new job remotely rather than in the office can seem like a scary proposition. It also entails adjusting to new technology or working methods without access to coworker assistance being as immediate or visible as it would be at the office.
Getting a sense of the business culture can be more challenging when beginning a new career remotely. After all, it's difficult to assess the team dynamic without having the chance to visit the workplace or personally get to know your coworkers. However, there are ways to achieve this understanding while working remotely, as will be shown by the suggestions I'll make following.
So, even though you haven't yet met them in person, here are some straightforward suggestions to assist you start your new job as smoothly as you can and establish a positive first impression with your new manager and coworkers.
10 suggestions for beginning a new work remotely
1. Ensure that you have a remote "knowledge buddy" set up.
Adjusting to numerous new methods of doing things is frequently required when joining a new firm. When you're new to a firm, procedures that can appear simple to you when you've been there for a while — like arranging yearly leave, locating the appropriate person to speak with about a specific subject, or even internal acronyms and project names — may seem entirely foreign to you.
Given that there won't be someone at the desk next to you who you can ask for advice or learn from as you work, it's probable that you'll feel even more scared by this unfamiliarity when you begin your new employment virtually rather than in person.
Dr. Maggi Evans has counseled managers to assign new hires a "knowledge buddy" who can assist in answering any queries they may have about organizational procedures or information in order to help them overcome this problem. After your first week, if your new manager hasn't matched you with a buddy, take the initiative and ask them if they'd be open to doing so.
Once you have a friend, even if they are a "remote friend," it is important to decide how to connect with them. Will you have quick catch-up calls every other day to ask them any questions you may have? Or are you just going to decide to always give them an instant message when something happens? It will assist to guarantee that this relationship works well for both of you if you both agree on how it will function.
2. Give yourself more time to prepare for first meetings.
Meetings and inductions will undoubtedly occur within your first week or so in a new position, so be sure to prepare to the same level as you would if you were meeting someone in person at work.
Even if you start a career remotely, Eliza Kirkby, Regional Director at Hays Australia, advises in this audio episode on how to maximize the first few weeks of employment.
She talks about how you should prepare for a meeting by figuring out who you will be speaking to and their position within the firm, using tools like LinkedIn and the corporate website to find out how their function will interact with yours. Prior to your initial contact with them, this will give you useful contextual information. Prior to your initial meetings, consider and jot down a few pertinent questions to ask in order to present yourself as an interested and prepared expert.
After a few days in your new position, if your manager hasn't scheduled any introductory meetings on your behalf, take the initiative to do so yourself or inquire with your boss about whether any are planned for the upcoming weeks. This will assist you in starting to build relationships with important stakeholders right away.
3. To show oneself professionally, make sure you are comfortable using any new technology.
It's possible that you'll need to learn new technology on ADVA Optical Networking SE - Finance and your own first before you have an opportunity to get to know your knowledge buddy and your new team members. If you are having a new computer brought to you in preparation for starting your new job remotely, make sure to test the hardware and software before the start date so that you are confident using the necessary technologies.
Additionally, become acquainted with any new software or equipment you may be required to utilize in your new position. You can get information about these on your job description or by asking your recruiter or new boss before your start date.
It's crucial to set the procedure for bringing up tech difficulties as soon as feasible. Knowing this information right away can help you avoid becoming stranded and possibly being locked out of your computer without a backup plan in place.
In order to be prepared for your introduction calls, make sure you tested your device's video and sound settings before your first day. This will not only show your new manager that you are proactive and prepared, as well as aid to ease any fears or jitters you may be experiencing regarding those meetings (since the technology will then be one less thing to worry about).
Remember that it's crucial to make sure you're presenting yourself professionally and truthfully during those inaugural calls by using video conferencing. This refers to the fact that many people are tempted to gaze at their own faces on screens or the faces of others they are chatting to. However, you should actually shift your attention to the camera so that it appears as though you are making eye contact with the speaker or listener. Be aware of your background during these calls as well as your posture and body language.
Finally, even if it's a big, drawn-out call, make sure you're paying attention throughout video meetings. Building a strong personal brand in your new position will be easier if you project an air of engagement and active listening rather than coming off as indifferent or even looking away from the screen.
4. Keep reminders and useful notes in plain sight.
One unmistakable benefit of starting a new job remotely is the freedom it gives you to keep notes and prompts in front of you that you wouldn't be able to refer to quite as overtly if you were onboarding in the office. You can also keep these notes and prompts on display for all of your new coworkers to see when they walk past your desk.
You may, for instance, create lists of the names of coworkers and stakeholders that you keep on your desk or that are saved on your computer, and as you get to know them better, add information like their department and/or duties.
Maybe you might go so far as to keep a journal detailing the precise subjects you have covered with each individual. This will enable you to understand each person's areas of responsibility and how your role relates to that of others.
What about noting any customs or routines you've seen among your team? Consider how your newest team members tend to communicate the best. Do you use instant messaging? or perhaps voice and video calls instead?
You may more readily obtain a sense of the team culture and a better idea of how each individual prefers to work and communicate by taking note of the communication tools your coworkers utilize for specific tasks.
Why not have a prompt in front of you that you can turn to if you experience a "mind blank" or your nerves just get the better of you at any moment if you're nervous or apprehensive about those first few video meetings in which you'll need to introduce yourself to plenty of new people?
This question can include a few bullet points outlining what you accomplished in your former position, any noteworthy professional accomplishments or educational credentials, and generally anything else you want your new coworkers to know about you.
5. Make SMART goals for yourself.
You should begin to feel at ease with your primary tasks and areas of concentration after your initial week or two and once all of your introductory meetings and inductions are over.
The next step is to collaborate with your boss to create some SMART goals for your first month, first six months, and first year in your new career. Goals that are SMART—specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-scaled—will be essential if you want to have the best chance of achieving them.
Your initial objectives don't have to be particularly big. The fact that they will keep you focused during the first few weeks and months in your new position is what matters most. This will make it possible for you to prevent "drifting" or "coasting" without the physical support of your coworkers and without the daily positive reinforcement that would come from being in the workplace.
These objectives will also help you feel more in control, become more organized, and increase your productivity, all of which will help you feel more confident in your work and leave a good first impression on your new manager.
Once your objectives have been established, make sure you schedule frequent catch-ups to inform your boss of your progress. This will go a long way toward helping you demonstrate your drive and motivation, which can be a little trickier while working remotely.
6. Uphold strict punctuality standards
Your punctuality is something to pay attention to in your first few weeks and really even after that. Although working remotely or at home via a computer might feel very different from working in an office, you should still be just as prompt as you would be if you were there in person. This entails not only showing up for work on time or early, but also making sure you arrive at meetings on time, if not a minute or two early.
While entering a meeting scheduled for 11:00 a.m. at 11:01 a.m. isn't disastrous, it can show your new manager and team that you either have poor timekeeping or, if you do it regularly, that you don't value their time. You probably don't want to make this the first impression you have on someone.
In order to maintain your cheerfulness and readiness to assist from the start, be sure to swiftly answer to any queries, requests, or messages from your boss, team, stakeholders, or clients.
7. Don't be afraid to seek clarification.
One thing you should keep in mind when you begin your new job remotely is that you shouldn't be afraid to ask pertinent questions about what your work will entail in the following weeks and months, or any inquiries regarding your new job in general.
Your new manager and coworkers will be more than delighted for you to ask as many questions as you like since they want you to succeed in your new position as much as you do. There is no such thing as a foolish question! It is more crucial that you inquire in order to ensure that you are on the right route and prevent any misconceptions.
In an article for Harvard Business Review, author and transitions specialist Michael D. Watkins outlines some of the questions you should be asking on a regular basis to ensure your success. These questions should not only be asked when you first start a new job.
These address topics including how you will add value in your new position, how you can get started right away, and the abilities you'll need to hone in order to succeed.
8. Participate in your new team.
Along with not being afraid to ask questions, it's critical that you not let the fact that you're working remotely stop you from contributing to and being involved with your new team. Make sure you're conversing with coworkers via one-on-one calls or instant messaging if you're an introvert who doesn't feel comfortable speaking up in virtual meetings. Do whatever makes you feel most comfortable.
Even though you're still getting used to your job, you'll soon feel like a part of the team and won't always be the "newbie." Don't be afraid to be yourself and interact with your new colleagues in whatever way comes naturally to you and seems right to you from the start.
Don't forget to add your new team to your LinkedIn connections. Not only will this promote deeper ties, but reading their blogs will give you a sense of their areas of specialty and the corporate culture.
Getting to know your new coworkers involves more than just talking about and doing work together. Additionally, you should make room for activities and conversations that aren't linked to your job, including participating in or hosting online coffee meetings.
Even if you can initially only connect with them virtually rather than in person, this will be essential to developing good longer-term relationships with them.
This will help you get to know your new manager and coworkers on a personal level as well as a professional one over your initial few weeks and months in the position. It will help you become used to the way your new coworkers prefer to work, interact, and conduct business. You might even learn a little bit more about them as a result.
Participate in opportunities to speak with your management and coworkers in person once it is safe to do so. By doing this, you will be able to learn more about them and develop a bond with them that is sometimes difficult to forge when people are stationed far apart.
9. If you feel unmotivated or detached, take proactive measures.
Despite the fact that none of us want it to happen to us, it is possible: what if, after the first few weeks in your new job, you feel disengaged and unmotivated and begin to question if you made the correct decision in accepting this position in the first place? Many new hires experience these typical and normal emotions, especially when beginning a new role remotely.
However, as previously mentioned by Chris Dottie, managing director of Hays Spain, there are a number of proactive measures you may take if you find yourself in this circumstance. These include identifying the underlying source of your unhappiness, being patient and kind to yourself during this period of change and adjustment, and concentrating on the advantages of your new position.
In this circumstance, I would also advise you to talk to your new manager about how you feel a little cut off from the group.
In these crucial first few weeks and months, talk about how you and your coworkers can enhance processes to increase productivity and job satisfaction. Maybe you could start having more one-on-one conversations, team catch-ups, or social gatherings with coworkers?
10. Avoid making an excessive workload a habit.
The inability of remote workers to clearly distinguish between work and home can cause them to form harmful work patterns. For instance, a study from Okta, as reported by Forbes, discovered that remote workers have been working longer hours as a result of the pandemic's pressure to succeed.
My final piece of advise to you is that it's critical to develop a dependable, fruitful routine early on in your new position so that you may attain a healthy work-life balance. One early example I would want you to set is making sure you don't respond to emails on the weekend or late at night to show that you won't be working after hours. If the nature of your position makes it challenging to establish this precedent, try to keep email checking to once every evening, and then only when it's absolutely necessary.
Similar to this, it's important to let your new manager and coworkers know when you typically take a lunch break or when you'll need to leave your 'office,' for example, to drop off and pick up kids from school. Since they'll be aware of your availability, you'll be less likely to miss calls or texts, which can be stressful for many remote employees.
Try to fit in a daily walk or other type of exercise as another method to avoid overworking. You will have the opportunity to "turn off" and rest during this time, which will also give your brain time to process all of the new information it has just received.
You might also use your regular walk to indicate the end of work for the day at that point. Or perhaps you'd want to go for a stroll before work or during lunch to help you concentrate when you get back to your desk.
Even if you begin your new career remotely, you can still succeed.
With these tips, I hope to have reassured you and shown you how it is feasible to have a successful distant start in your new position. The most crucial piece of advice is to always stay true to who you are, even when everything around you may seem strange and unfamiliar.
I can get that starting your new job remotely could seem a little awkward and intimidating. Roddy Adair, Director of Personal & Executive Assistants at Hays UK, offers this advise if you do experience self-confidence issues while working remotely. To help you stay positive during those initial weeks and months, he offers advice on how to cultivate a growth attitude, enjoy what you're excellent at, and celebrate and recognise any minor victories or encouraging words.
Don't let the fact that a new chapter in your work life is beginning dim its excitement in the least. Even so, you'll have the chance to learn about a new business, meet a lot of new people, take on some fantastic new job responsibilities, and develop new abilities. So, embrace your new beginning with enthusiasm, knowing that no matter where you are based, you will still be able to succeed and wow your new team.