Joining a new company during a time of such uncertainty comes with a whole new level of stress and anxiety. In order to ensure the best experience for both you and your employer, there are a few things that you should keep in mind during this early onboarding stage. By taking the following advice to heart, you will set yourself up for success – which will come in handy when you are finally able to go into the office.
Have the right set up
If you are going to be as effective as possible at work, you need to make sure that you are equipped to do so. The equipment that you need will depend on your particular job role. For example, you may need a laptop, extra monitor, phone, and/or headset. Your company should provide you with everything that you need, even when working from home. Have this discussion before your first day, in case any orders need to be placed or shipped, so that you can hit the ground running.
Act like you are going into the office
When your temporary office is your living room couch, it can be tempting to stay in relaxation-mode from the hours of nine to five. Maybe that means rolling out of bed minutes before your first meeting or wearing pajamas throughout the day. As comfortable as that may sound, it may actually do more harm than good. By establishing a regular morning routine, which includes having a good breakfast and getting dressed for the day, you signify to your brain that you are ready for work. This helps wake you up and keep you focused and motivated.
Keep yourself accountable
When everyone is working virtually, you might find that people reach out less than they would in person. This can be particularly discouraging if you are just starting at a new company. If you want to prove your worth early on, try to take a proactive role that can help keep yourself accountable. This includes trying to anticipate the company needs to make up for the lower-than-usual level of communication. You should also regularly follow up with your manager, asking for feedback on tasks after they are accomplished. Doing so will help solidify your new position and ensure that you are on the right path moving forward.
Starting any new job is difficult. When working remotely, you will be faced with a novel set of challenges that you would not necessarily encounter if you were actually heading into the office each day. By following the advice above, you can prove your worth early on, which will carry over when you finally get to meet your supervisors and managers in person.
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