Starting a new job can be overwhelming. You need to take in a lot of information, meet your new colleagues, adjust to the company culture, and thoroughly understand your day-to-day responsibilities and your role within the organization. All of this can be especially challenging when you’re working from home and can’t easily take non-verbal cues from coworkers or stop by someone’s desk to ask a quick question.
We know that if you’re used to working in an office environment surrounded by your colleagues, working from home can sometimes be a tough transition.
To help you overcome these challenges, we’ve put together a brief but comprehensive guide to beginning a new job remotely, and some useful tips to help you stay productive and organized while working from home.
Prepare for Success
Here are a few things to keep in mind as you get ready for your first day.
1. Make sure you have a stable internet connection.
It may sound like a no-brainer, but a reliable internet connection is essential to your ability to work remotely. If you tend to lose connection frequently, it’s time to change your provider or upgrade your hardware or internet plan so that you can work without interruptions.
2. Arrange your workspace to optimize productivity.
You don’t need to have a home office to be able to set up an effective and comfortable workspace. Even your kitchen table can be a good option. Just make sure that you are close to a power outlet and that your background is tidy and presentable for video conference calls.
3. Keep a routine.
If your employer doesn’t already require you to be online during a regular schedule, it can be helpful to implement a routine that allows you to take advantage of your most productive hours. A daily routine that includes work, planned breaks, and exercise can help you stay organized and motivated.
Learning the Ropes
While you might initially feel like you’re drinking knowledge from a firehose, proactively seeking out the information you need will help you avoid hiccups during your first few weeks as well as demonstrate your enthusiasm and commitment to your new employer.
1. Thoroughly read all onboarding materials.
Most well-established companies should have some kind of onboarding handbook to help you get to know their tools, processes, and policies. Make sure you read this carefully and take notes on sections that are especially relevant to your day-to-day work. Write down questions as they come up so you can get clarification later from HR or your direct manager. This may sound like very obvious advice, but paying close attention to the resources that are available to you will enable you to hit the ground running and start contributing to the team as soon as possible.
2. Practice using company tools.
It’s essential to have at least a working knowledge of the tools you’ll use on a daily basis. This may include instant messaging platforms like Slack, tools for organizations like Google Calendar, software development hosts like GitHub or GitLab, and video call software like Google Meet or Zoom. Be sure to explore these tools and their different features so you can improve your literacy in them and take note of any questions you may have.
3. Familiarize yourself with your role.
In addition to reading up on your responsibilities, you may want to set up a 15-minute coffee break/video call with someone in a similar position so you can discuss the ins and outs of the role. You can ask them what they wish they knew during their first few weeks on the job. This is a great way to not only acquire concrete knowledge about your role but to start networking and build relationships within the company.
4. Find out where to direct different questions.
An important part of finding your bearings in a new company is knowing who to ask when you have questions about company processes and tools, the client project, a tough technical problem, or administrative topics like time tracking and available vacation days.
If this information is not documented, check-in with HR or your manager within the first couple of days so they can walk you through who to ask about different topics. This will give you a better understanding of the inner workings of the company and save everyone time in the long run.
5. Identify potential mentors.
Mentorship is key to your professional growth. As you get acclimated to your new position, it’s extremely helpful to receive tips and guidance from someone who once stood in your shoes. Some companies may assign new team members a mentor as part of the onboarding process. If this is not the case, however, it’s a good idea to reach out to team members who have a more senior position in your area of expertise.
While you may initially feel shy about contacting potential mentors, you will likely find that your coworkers are happy to share their wisdom and give you some pointers.
6. Record your questions and your accomplishments.
During your first few weeks, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount you need to learn. A daily diary is a handy way to keep track of your questions as they come up so you can refer back to them when necessary. It’s also a good idea because you may need to ask questions in batches (rather than individually) in order to be mindful of your colleagues’ time.
You’ll also want to briefly record what you achieve each day so that you can efficiently report your progress whenever you check in with your direct manager. This is especially important when you’re working remotely because it will help demonstrate your work ethic and your commitment to delivering results in your new position.
7. Take the initiative.
When starting a new remote job, you’ll need to show that you can work well independently. Your colleagues may not be able to answer your questions right away, especially if you’re working across different time zones. Be proactive about seeking the information you need, and look closely at available resources before asking questions.
8. Integrating Yourself into the Team.
Perhaps the most challenging part of beginning a new job while working from home is getting a real sense of what the company culture is like and connecting with your new coworkers.
Everyone was new to the company at one point, so don’t be too shy to introduce yourself on your first day or at some point during your first week. You can say hello and share a little bit about yourself on the team channel. Or you can simply say that you’re new and are looking forward to getting to know everyone and working together. It’s a small way to demonstrate your enthusiasm and make a friendly first impression.
9. Communicate clearly and often.
Quality communication is essential to successful remote work. In the absence of face-to-face conversation, you want to make sure you communicate with your team frequently to maximize transparency and avoid misunderstandings. Pay attention to how your colleagues prefer to communicate, whether it’s through email, instant messaging on Slack or video conference calls. Following their example will help you adapt quickly to the company culture.
You’ll also want to make sure you aren’t creating communication silos. For example, sharing information or asking a question in your team’s Slack channel can be more productive than sending a private message, as this keeps everyone on the same page.
Tips for Developers Working from Home
Working from home can sometimes be tough. In light of that, we decided to share our top tips for staying productive and organized.
Tip #1: Set boundaries.
Sometimes it’s a little hard for others to understand that you need to work just as diligently at home as you would work at your office. Let those you live with know that when you are in your designated workspace, you need to be able to focus. Communicating clearly about when it’s ok to interrupt can make a big difference.
Tip #2: Establish a routine
If your employer doesn’t already require you to be online during business hours, make sure you set a regular work schedule for yourself to help you stay organized. Lots of remote workers find it helpful to get up at the same time everyday and dress as if they were going to the office. While it’s very tempting to stay in your pajamas all day, many people find it easier to stay motivated when they follow a getting-ready routine and wear their normal work clothes.
Tip #3: Schedule your breaks
Setting fixed times to take short breaks throughout the day can help you maintain a high level of productivity. It’s a good way to avoid taking too many spontaneous breaks or, on the other hand, exhausting yourself by overworking. When sophilabs’ team members work remotely, they include their lunchtime on their calendars so our team knows when they’ll be unavailable.
Tip #4: Avoid burnout.
When you work in the same building where you eat and sleep, it’s easy to let work take over and continue working beyond your regular hours. However, this is a recipe for burnout. We recommend trying to achieve a sustainable pace by intensely focusing on your work during office hours and logging off completely at the end of the day. It’s difficult to give your best effort at work when you’re “on” 24/7, so make sure you take time to rest and recharge.
Tip #5: Check in frequently.
Without the ability to swing by someone’s desk to ask a question or give an update, it’s very important to communicate constantly with your team via your regular communication channels. Let them know when you’re taking a break so they know when to expect a response from you.
