Guide to starting a new job fully remotely

There’s no denying it – a new job in post-pandemic times is usually a remote or semi-remote job (hybrid model). It’s worth preparing for the new challenges. Many people across the globe are taking advantage of the “work from home” opportunity. I have prepared 7 points that will give you a look at what to focus on when starting to work remotely as well as what you should pay attention to and improve if you already work this way.

1. New job, new people, new rules – try to get to know them 

A new environment is a source of uncertainty, especially if it is a change of not only the environment but also the mode of work to 100% remote. During the first days, it is worth asking about the rules of communication and cooperation with the team members, leader, or manager. Such things are usually presented during onboarding, but if not, do not be afraid to propose regular 1:1 meetings with the leader, or 15-minute coffee sessions with the team. Donut meetings are also a great way to meet new people at your new job, don’t be shy and participate in it!

2. Create a well-functioning remote job workspace

The right workstation will keep you comfortable and productive during your working hours. When you create a well-thought-out workplace based on specialist recommendations, it will reduce eye, neck, and back discomfort as well as it can boost your mental health. A dedicated office can also improve your focus by reducing distractions.

Sometimes we don’t have enough space to dedicate a separate room for our home office, but be creative – sometimes a curtain separating your desk from your bedroom or living room makes it easier to draw the line between home and work.

3. Set the work-life balance

Be intentional about planning your time off. Don’t develop a habit of overworking. Although it may be difficult to find the balance between work and home, you should do this to avoid developing unhealthy working habits. Take care to set office hours on your calendar, and turn off notifications on your Slack or email when you’re out so it feels like it’s time to “get out of the office”. Maintaining your well-being and mental health is extremely important especially when the boundary between living at home and remote work is so close.

4. Remote job communication 

Communication, when you work remotely, is a bit different than face-to-face communication. Try to streamline your communication. Sometimes it’s worth it to rally for a short call and get things done much faster than typing long text messages. Slack – one of the most popular remote tools – introduced quite recently Huddle option for quick calls, which also offers among other things screen sharing

5. Work breaks at the home – is it legal?

At the beginning of the COVID-19, many workers were confused about their breaks.  Some people were unable to leave their desks and ate their meals in front of the computer. After all, at the office breaks are more natural – there’s always someone to catch you for a meal or a quick chat. But remember to take care of your work hygiene. If possible – walk away from the computer for mealtime and relax your eyes by looking at the further points outside the window. Set a “lunchtime” status for your remote job break and give yourself a well-deserved rest!

6. At the home office, be like a human being 😉

It may sound mundane, but make yourself known to others! If you can put your picture on your online communicator – do it 😉 It’s much better to communicate with a person that we can “see”. The same counts for webcams at meetings. Although this is also a big cliché, it makes a difference. Verbal and non-verbal speech together form a coherent whole and it’s much better to give presentations and talk to a person, not to a talking computer!

7. Home office vs. productivity

Last but not least, the topic of productivity. Is it at all possible to be productive in a remote job? Of course! Unfortunately, we needed a pandemic to find out. We can have many distractions such as the courier, that neighbor who has renovations 365 days a year, or the laundry that you should put away a few days ago. How do you help yourself with this? With the equipment – good headphones that will protect you from your neighbor, a workstation that is separate from the rest of your home and guarantees focus, and perhaps trying the tomato method of working in 25-minute blocks of time. 

Start a new job fully remotely

Remote work has become the new normal but not every company appreciates its benefits. Some demand that current remote workers must return to the office. We don’t endorse this approach at Applover and instead, we give full flexibility to choose the most suitable option – whether it’s the office, fully remote, or hybrid work. Whatever you prefer, I hope this guide will help you. After the successful recruitment, it’s all about a well-thought onboarding process.