5 tips for starting a new job when you’re working remotely

Starting a new job can be challenging at the best of times, but a big career change can be particularly difficult when you’re working from home. Whether your employer is offering remote job opportunities due to the pandemic, or your company has transitioned to a full-time WFH model, here are some remote work tips and onboarding strategies that will set you up for success when taking on a new role.

[Photo Credit: Gorodenkoff]

1. Set up your home office
Before your official start date, connect with your hiring manager or human resources department to inquire about what type of office supplies you’ll need in your new role. Will a laptop, phone and other hardware be delivered directly to you at home, or will you need to visit an office location to pick them up? Ideally, you’ll want to get your home office up and running before starting your new remote job so that you can test your devices and troubleshoot any technical issues ahead of time.

2. Learn the company systems
With a new job comes a host of new platforms and programs to learn, but it can be difficult to adjust to different workflow when you’re on your own. Get prepared by arranging an onboarding session with your manager to walk through how to connect to your company’s network, set up your email, and download any required conferencing tools. Make sure you have access to all the software and tools you’ll be expected to use daily and establish who you should contact if and when a tech issue arises.

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3. Mirror your team’s communication style
To get up to speed on your new workplace culture, you’ll need to understand the company’s day-to-day communications styles. Do your coworkers use messaging platforms like Slack or Microsoft Teams for internal discussions? Does your manager favour email, or prefer you pick up the phone to chat through questions one-on-one? Are there strict 9-to-5 office hours that you should abide by, or is it okay to ask questions after-hours? Having a sense of your colleagues’ preferred communication platforms and styles will help with your transition and foster productive relationships with your team, even when working remotely.
 
4. Connect with colleagues
Getting to know your new colleagues can be challenging when you’re working from home. Without in-person meetings, casual water cooler encounters, and after-work social gatherings, you’ll have to make an extra effort to get to know your coworkers in a virtual way. Introductions might take a little longer when your new job is remote, but do your best to put yourself out there and remind people who you are.  Introduce yourself by name when participating in group discussions, contribute to conversations on internal messaging channels, and turn your video on during team meetings to help people put a face to your name.

5. Set healthy boundaries
When starting a new role, you might feel pressured to put in long hours to prove yourself and impress your new colleagues, especially when remote work makes it easier to start early and log off late. But this can set a bad precedent that will impact your mental health and productivity in the long term. Use this new remote job as an opportunity to establish clear boundaries that allow you to work effectively and avoid work-related stress while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Take a midday break, don’t send emails in the evenings and on weekends unless absolutely necessary, and respect your coworkers’ personal time, so they will do the same for you.