{"id":1513,"date":"2021-01-07T14:54:30","date_gmt":"2021-01-07T14:54:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uniofglos.blog\/alumni\/?post_type=project&p=1513"},"modified":"2024-04-11T11:06:58","modified_gmt":"2024-04-11T11:06:58","slug":"top-tips-for-starting-a-new-job-remotely","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.glos.ac.uk\/alumni\/2021\/01\/07\/top-tips-for-starting-a-new-job-remotely\/","title":{"rendered":"Top tips for starting a new job remotely"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Kayleigh Jacobs-Rutter, is a creative copywriter at <\/em>Hallam<\/em><\/a>. She graduated from University of Gloucestershire 12 years ago, and offers her advice for new graduates who may be struggling to adapt to this new remote working world<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I started my new job at Hallam around four months ago, in between this year\u2019s two lockdowns. To say it\u2019s been strange is an understatement – it\u2019s probably the weirdest new job experience I\u2019ve ever had!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Permanent working from home isn\u2019t forever – but it definitely has lasted longer than many of us thought it would back in March. For graduates who want to meet their colleagues, and experience the world of office work, this can be a nerve-wracking time, especially when mixed with the standard imposter syndrome felt by all of us at the start of a new job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But it does get easier! Read on for my eight tips on starting a new job remotely:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1 – Everyone finds it strange at first<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you start a new job, you\u2019re used to going up to your new colleagues and being introduced to them physically. Small talk happens naturally when you pass people on your way to get a cup of tea or coffee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s difficult to force personal interaction when you\u2019re new and working from home. Getting used to messaging people when you\u2019ve never met them and working out how to approach them is very odd.  But people understand this, and everyone is out to help each other. It\u2019s going to feel strange at the beginning – but it will get easier in time!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2 – Cherish the extra focus time you have right now<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a writer, I\u2019m used to having time to focus on my writing, and then coming together with my team to share our work as a group. In fact, working from home has been a blessing for focusing without feeling like I\u2019m blocking people out with my headphones. You have far more opportunities to quietly get on with work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is why, with more flexible working, I believe more people will opt to work from home when they want to focus in the future. I\u2019d suggest every team has daily demonstrations or stand ups where you can come together and chat through the work you\u2019ve done, to keep the collaboration running.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3 – Suggest an open online \u2018room\u2019 for the office experience<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have a Google Hangouts \u2018room\u2019 that we often leave open all day, so if someone wants to talk about something non-work related, or has a work question, you can easily do it within the room. This has given me a great opportunity to chat and say hi to people. We also have a lunch time \u2018cafe\u2019 which is, in a similar vein, an online room for people to have their lunch and chat like they would in an office, if you choose to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4 – Make an effort to ask people about themselves<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you\u2019re in the office, many of us have that tentative period where you don\u2019t really know how to approach people. That\u2019s exactly the same when working from home. I\u2019m quite personable, so I have missed talking to new people, but it\u2019s hard to talk to people outside of your direct team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you get the opportunity to chat to new people, make an effort to ask them questions about themselves. A simple \u2018how are you doing\u2019 or \u2018what did you do this weekend\u2019 can spearhead the conversation onto something more personal. The more you find your feet and get used to people, the easier it\u2019ll be to chat to people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even if you\u2019re talking about work, ask your colleagues how they started learning that system you\u2019re struggling with, or how long they\u2019ve been at the company. Try  and act as if you\u2019re physically together when on calls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5 – Don\u2019t be afraid to ask questions about new technology<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m a massive technophobe. And at Hallam, we use a multitude of different systems to get our work done. In my first few months, I\u2019ve had a few mishaps with technology. But our technical director and office manager have always been there to help me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll eventually get the hang of the different systems, but don\u2019t worry about things not working. Your first few weeks will all be around training you on how to use the systems anyway, and it\u2019s better to ask a question than just sit quietly and make an assumption, only for your issue to then get worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6 – Make sure you have a daily routine<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If I don\u2019t have a routine, my world falls apart. The nights are getting longer, so it can be hard to get up before work starts, but I recommend acting as if you\u2019re going to the office anyway. I\u2019ll call my mum to catch up while I\u2019m eating breakfast in the dining room, and read the news. Some people work fine in their PJ\u2019s or joggers,  but that\u2019s not me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I always get dressed for work in jeans (never loungewear!), because that\u2019s what works for me. I still wear my slippers though!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7 – Track your progress<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m a big fan of making lists. Making a list of what you need to do that day, week or even month, and having things to physically cross out can be fulfilling and really help you to be more productive. You\u2019ll also eventually realise that you\u2019re picking things up as you go along, and finding difficult tasks get easier as time passes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lists will help you to track your progress and be aware of the work that\u2019s coming up. You can also move your work around if needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8 – Don\u2019t know what career path you want? Read, ask, and read more<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many of us struggle to know what job to go into after completing our degree. If you don\u2019t know what specific job to do, you should read as much as you can. Read widely about different career paths, and consume newspapers and online articles about people in different fields that might inspire you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, in my field, we have people who did journalism, English literature, English language, creative writing, linguistics and even marketing degrees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 There are so many different niches and approaches to take, as well as different roles you can experience, so it\u2019s important to get a broad knowledge of absolutely everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, you\u2019ve already made a great decision at UoG<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I loved going to University of Gloucestershire – I\u2019d probably say it was the best decision I ever made. I did really well there, loved my tutor, and the staff. So if you\u2019re reading this, you\u2019ve already made a fantastic choice in going to this university!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the meantime, keep looking forward. Life will eventually get back to some sort of normality, and you will meet your colleagues. Hopefully these tips will help you in the transition phase. <\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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