Whilst the job market has taken a hit, many are starting new roles where employers recruited them during lockdown. These individuals will need to face novel challenges during the onboarding process in light of the current pandemic, especially at companies who are working remotely for the first time and ironing out procedures.
Firstly, it may be hard to make an impression on your colleagues virtually or to build a social network; it is easy whilst working remotely for communication to become solely work based. This means you will miss out on those organic chance encounters in the office which help build relationships that go beyond business.
In addition, introductory training may not be as thorough as it could be in person, and indirect mentoring could be harder to come by. With this in mind, here are a few ways to alleviate the challenges presented by remote working, and to make the transition into a new role as smooth as possible.
Don’t Be A Ghost
Firstly, announce your arrival to the team in an email and suggest creating a group chat (or ask to join an existing one). Show that you are eager to engage socially with your colleagues — and chances are they will welcome it with open arms. Short greetings at the start of a work meeting or quick phone calls probably won’t do much to establish anything beyond a working relationship, so set some time aside on a Friday to get to know the team and tell them a bit about yourself. Alternatively, connect with individual team members by suggesting a 20 minute lunch call or get creative and start an office fantasy football league. Regardless of the method, announce yourself and take an interest in engaging with others.
Make Contact With Your Manager
Make a point to have a one on one call with your manager if they do not already offer this as part of the onboarding process. It’s important to establish a good relationship with them going forwards and to understand their expectations — especially if your role was not intended to be remote. This will also be an opportunity to discuss preferred methods of communication with your manager in the current situation (email, mobile or video call) and to put a face to the name. You could also use this time to get the contact numbers of all relevant departments including IT and HR.
Set Up A Workspace (Not Your Bed)
Laying in bed on your first day and listening to training videos or introductory meetings might lead to you zoning out and missing important details. Instead, act as you would in your first day pre-pandemic; set up a desk space and put on work clothes to get into the right mindset for the new role. Moreover, looking presentable and eager to learn will make an instant good impression on your new employer. Setting aside space and dressing the part also helps to create a barrier between work and leisure which promotes healthy work life balance, and helps you switch off mentally outside of business hours.
Speak Up And Ask Questions
It can be easy to nod in affirmation on team Zoom meetings and then to feel lost once set to work alone. To avoid this, make sure to ask questions and take lots of notes in your first few weeks. Moreover, just because you’re remote, it doesn’t mean that you are on your own; seek tuition and ask for support when needed from those around you. If something is not clear in an email, call and ask them to clarify.
Suggest Changes If You See A Problem
If the company you are starting at is still adapting to employees working from home, then pinpoint problems — and suggest solutions — as and when they arise. As a new starter with fresh eyes you might be best placed to give feedback on how the company could respond more effectively to the current demand to work remotely. Don’t be afraid to raise concerns and to offer constructive criticism; in the long run it will help the company help you!
Written by Ross Carver-Carter
Ross is a Politics and International Relations graduate with a passion for promoting mental health literacy in the workplace and beyond. He has written extensively on wellbeing and the reality of living with a mental health disorder.
