Time to Read: 6 mins
Starting a New Job and Onboarding Remotely Summary:
- Before you start a remote job, there are various things you can do to set yourself up for success within your first week.
- Companies should consider all factors of their remote onboarding process to eliminate potential hiccups for new employees.
- Building relationships at a new job is different when you are remote, but there are ways to connect with your coworkers even from a distance.
It is no secret that your first day at a new job will look a little different being remote.
Although there may be some hurdles doing it all remotely, there are ways both you and your company can ensure a seamless transition into your new role. That way, you can focus on assimilating, building relationships, and growing in your career.
Before Your First Day
First and foremost, congrats on your new remote job! Before your first day, you should be well-informed and aware of the details so you will be set up for success from the get go.
Equipment and Supplies
Since you will be working remotely, you will obviously need a computer to work on. Confirm the details with your employer prior to your start date. Will you be working on a company provided computer or your personal device? Will the computer be shipped to you, or do you need to go somewhere to pick it up? Aside from computers, is there any other equipment or software you need to adequately do your job? Find out what will be provided to you and how.
If you need to provide a shipping address to receive your equipment, make sure it is accurate and anticipate the shipment to avoid any mishaps or delivery delays.
Confirm with the hiring manager that any passwords and programs you will need for the first day are set up and ready to go if possible.
Setting Up Your Workspace
To successfully work from home, you will need to set up a proper workspace. Although the flexibility of working remotely allows you to work from the couch (or even the pool) if you want to, it is also important to have a proper desk space.
You should have a comfortable chair and adequate space to set up your necessary equipment and materials. Figure out where things will go and how to stay organized. That way you will be ready to tackle the copious amounts of information you’ll be receiving in your first weeks. An organized space will make it easier to adjust to the new job duties and give you one less thing to stress about. For more tips on how to improve your work from home space, read here.
Mindset & Routine
Working from home is a whole different ballgame, especially if you are more familiar with working in an office or school setting. Often times, being in an office and surrounded physically by coworkers gives you a boost of motivation and the limited distractions keeps you on track.
Being home and at the mercy of your own mind to keep you focused and on task, you will need to establish ways to motivate yourself.
Schedule yourself breaks and a lunch block, move around your house, or adjust your workspace throughout the day to stay motivated. Adapt your habits from the office to your home. You can even try listening to music to boost your productivity. For more tips on how to stay focused and increase your productivity working at home, read here.
Company Onboarding Process
As a company, there are various factors to consider to ensure a smooth onboarding experience for your new employees. Are you a fully remote company or do you have employees working on-site as well? If so, how are their onboarding process different, or are they the same? Does anything within the onboarding process need to adapt to accommodate a remote experience? Has anyone from your organization gone through the process themselves from the perspective of a new employee doing this remotely? Consider all of these things when creating your onboarding experience to create a painless start for your new employees.
As an employee onboarding to a new job, there are things to keep in mind yourself. Make sure you know who your point of contact is should any questions arise. Onboarding can be a tedious process, so take your time and be thorough so everything is done the right way from the start.
Building Relationships Remotely at Your New Job
Without coffee runs, team lunches, and break room chats, there is no doubt that making friends with your coworkers is a little harder being part of a remote team. Even though you may be missing out on the in-person exchanges, there are still ways to build relationships with your team, even through the computer.
Schedule Meet and Greets
Within your first couple weeks at your new job, make it a point to schedule quick 1on1 calls with everyone on the team. These can be short 30 minute calls where you both introduce yourselves and go over your job duties. It never hurts to get to know who you will be working with and how your job responsibilities will overlap.
Communication Preferences & Standards
At the beginning, most of your communication will probably consist of email and calls. As you dive into your responsibilities, take note of how other staff members communicate with each other. Do they strictly use email/ phone calls? Or do they utilizes chats and text messaging to communicate more casually? Different employees have varying preferences, so try your best to adapt to the communication style of those you will be directly working with.
One of the biggest perks of working remotely is being able to run out for a quick errand or appointment midday and still be able to finish all your responsibilities. If you do have to leave for any reason, make sure you communicate to your staff when you will be out. The last thing you want at your new job is people thinking you are unreliable or hard to get a hold of.
Attend Virtual Events and Participate in Small Talk
Try to join any large group meetings early so you can engage in small talk with the staff beforehand. These conversations give you a glimpse into everyone’s life outside of work and provide you with a chance to share more about yourself.
Most remote companies try to have virtual events or happy hours to get the staff together for something fun. Try your best to attend all the events and participate in the activities. Similar to small talk, these events will help you learn more about everyone in the company and help you build relationships with them.
In Conclusion
Starting any new job can be hectic, especially a remote one. Luckily, there are many things both you and your company can do to ensure you have the best experience as a new remote employee. From setting up your work space and preparing for your first day, to onboarding remotely and building relationships, although different, it is very possible to have a smooth start.
If you think a remote job is for you, explore our remote job offerings on our Job Portal!
