5 Tips for Starting a New Job Remotely
Working from home (WFH) has seen a sharp increase in popularity and desirability. But what about starting a new job remotely?
From ditching the commute giving you that extra hour in bed to wearing what you like, many people have preferred the new working environment. As Eskenzi reported, 90% of respondents would now prefer to have the option to work from home.
Starting a new job remotely may be a completely new experience for you and you may be getting those first day nerves about starting work from your kitchen table! So, to help you settle into your new role, here are 5 tips for starting a new job remotely.
1. Organise and prepare your workstation
Now you are working from home, instead of purchasing your new work lunch box or a pair of shiny shoes, prioritise your workstation. You’ll be spending the majority of your day here so make sure you have a dedicated space for your new ‘office’. Also, make sure it is nice and comfy otherwise you might start to notice some back niggles occurring. If you are unsure about how to set up your workstation correctly, here are the NHS guidelines.
2. Get to know the technology
With more remote working taking place, companies have started to utilise a variety of technology and tools. Get to know the specific technology that they like to use and make yourself familiar with their onboarding materials. Don’t forget, YouTube has a tutorial for pretty much anything and LinkedIn Learning offers a variety of video courses taught by industry experts in software, creative and business skills.
3. Create a schedule
Working from home can provide flexibility to your working hours so it is easy to not have a definitive start and end to the day. That is why creating a schedule is so important, especially when you first start. Set yourself a ‘switch-on’ time and a ‘switch-off’ time. Don’t forget to have a lunchbreak and step away from the screen as well as regular breaks to stretch those legs.
4. Create connections and schedule introduction calls
As you are no longer in the office, you need to be more proactive about building relationships with colleagues, albeit virtually! Introduce yourself on team calls or send a message through your online communication tools such as Microsoft Teams. This may be nerve-racking at first, but it will help both you and your team member to get to know each other.
5. The importance of a to-do list
Writing down a to-do list will help to boost your productivity and develop a routine for your day. More importantly, reflect on what tasks you have accomplished each day so that you can keep track of your productivity levels. Make sure you write your to-do the list before finishing your working day including any questions you need to ask your Manager or stakeholders the next day.
Although starting a new job remotely may seem daunting at first, at the end of the day remember to enjoy it. You have done the seemingly impossible to achieve a new role in this tricky job market and are navigating your way through this challenging time. So, remember to enjoy it and celebrate the new beginning on a daily and weekly basis!
