Starting a New Job Remotely
The Andrews & Cole Team
Starting a New Job Remotely
Usually, your first day at a new job is exciting. You dress up, arrive early, meet a ton of new people, grab lunch with your coworkers, and learn a lot. But in this Covid-era world, nothing is normal. And while starting a new job virtually may seem daunting, there are several ways to make the transition into a remote role easier.
Communicate. When you are working from home, especially when you are a new employee, it is difficult to get to know your colleagues. But it is not impossible. Make sure to introduce yourself via email or on video conferences and check in with colleagues and supervisors regularly. It is also a good idea to schedule frequent meetings with your manager. If you are proactive in communicating with your team, you will feel comfortable with your teammates in no time.
Get acquainted with new technology. And do this before the morning of the first day. Since technology is your only link to the rest of your team, it is imperative that you set aside time before your first week to set up your laptop, and any other software or technology you may need. If you need help, reach out to the company’s IT department. There is no shame in asking for help ahead of time.
Ask questions. It is easier to ask questions when you are in a physical office than when you are working remotely. But just because you are at home does not mean that you cannot ask questions. In fact, you probably should ask more questions since you will be juggling so many new tasks without any in-person guidance. If you are the type of person who feels self-conscious about asking too many questions, find several “buddies” who can help get you up to speed.
Set up a home office. Creating a workspace free of distractions is an easy way to make working remotely feel more normal. While you do not have to claim an entire room in your house as your office, you should set up a designated space where you can “go to work” each day. You will be more productive if you at least feel like you are working in an office as opposed to working from your bed or couch all day.
Track your tasks. Working remotely means that completing your tasks might take longer than in a normal office setting. When working in a physical office, you can always ask someone nearby for help with completing a task. But at home you are responsible for keeping track of and completing your tasks, even if people do not respond to your questions right away or offer help. Keeping a log of your daily tasks and moving those that are not completed to the next day’s log is a great way to help you stay on track.
Communicate. When you are working from home, especially when you are a new employee, it is difficult to get to know your colleagues. But it is not impossible. Make sure to introduce yourself via email or on video conferences and check in with colleagues and supervisors regularly. It is also a good idea to schedule frequent meetings with your manager. If you are proactive in communicating with your team, you will feel comfortable with your teammates in no time.
Get acquainted with new technology. And do this before the morning of the first day. Since technology is your only link to the rest of your team, it is imperative that you set aside time before your first week to set up your laptop, and any other software or technology you may need. If you need help, reach out to the company’s IT department. There is no shame in asking for help ahead of time.
Ask questions. It is easier to ask questions when you are in a physical office than when you are working remotely. But just because you are at home does not mean that you cannot ask questions. In fact, you probably should ask more questions since you will be juggling so many new tasks without any in-person guidance. If you are the type of person who feels self-conscious about asking too many questions, find several “buddies” who can help get you up to speed.
Set up a home office. Creating a workspace free of distractions is an easy way to make working remotely feel more normal. While you do not have to claim an entire room in your house as your office, you should set up a designated space where you can “go to work” each day. You will be more productive if you at least feel like you are working in an office as opposed to working from your bed or couch all day.
Track your tasks. Working remotely means that completing your tasks might take longer than in a normal office setting. When working in a physical office, you can always ask someone nearby for help with completing a task. But at home you are responsible for keeping track of and completing your tasks, even if people do not respond to your questions right away or offer help. Keeping a log of your daily tasks and moving those that are not completed to the next day’s log is a great way to help you stay on track.
Andrews & Cole is a certified woman-owned boutique executive search and consulting firm with a focus on accounting and finance professionals. Clients range from start ups to Fortune 100 in nearly every industry. www.andrewscole.com
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ANDREWS & COLE
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