Advice For Remote Starter

Question

Hi all! I've just accepted a new job offer and will be starting on the 21st. I'm a bit nervous to start in a fully remote environment! The company has an excellent and robust onboarding plan but I'm wondering if anyone has advice or could share from first-hand experience? Thanks :)

Barb Hansen · Answer

I have worked in fully remote teams for years and here are some tips that I used over the years:

1. Ask your manager how they want you to communicate with them over your first few days, or weeks. Do they want you to send questions via email?  Are they going to schedule a few quick chat videos with you?  Are you all on your own?  Is there a co-worker who you can be paired with?

2. Keep a list of questions that you need answered so you can be very efficient during your meetings with your manager or co-workers

3. Ask your manager if anyone else at the company is new or is joining just after you, and if yes, reach out to those new employees.  Sometimes it's nice to have a cohort of newbies that you can lean on and share information

4. When you get introduced to the team (by video or by email) follow up with your own short 'get to know you' meeting with your co-workers.  You don't need to chat with everyone during the first week but take the initiative to set up quick phones or video meetings with your co-workers, just like you would drop by your co-workers cubicles/offices to just to introduce yourself and chat.

5. Once you get a lay of the land, I would reach out to co-workers on other teams.  When you have a call/video chat about work spend a few extra minutes and chat about the weather, their pets, what else they do for the company or offer up your experience to help them etc.  It seems like obvious advice but if you focus on taking a few extra minutes to learn about your co-workers, it will help you feel like you belong and expand your network in the company.

6. If your company offers educational opportunities, then I would sign up for a few classes as soon as you can. HR-sponsored classes can be a great way to not only learn but to also meet people from other teams.

7. And give yourself a break. Starting a new job is stressful and everything is more stressful during this pandemic. :)

Advice For Remote Starter

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