Remote working
How to thrive during virtual induction
Joining a new company can be daunting at the best of times, but anyone onboarding during the COVID-19 pandemic will probably experience a whole new meaning to first day jitters. When I woke up on day 1 at ÷ÈÓ°Ö±²¥, whilst I was grateful for the short commute from my bed to my laptop, I was nervous about the prospect of starting a job remotely. How would I get to know my colleagues? I was conscious that, whilst Zoom interaction is great, adding a Zoom meeting into someone’s calendar is a very intentional thing to do, whilst catching up with someone at the coffee machine and having a chat about the weekend is how you can get to know many people at the office.
I had just moved into a new place, I was working through my hotspot on my phone and my desk hadn’t even arrived yet. Despite all of these environmental struggles, the induction couldn’t have gone more smoothly. There were a few of us on the 3 day induction calls. We were on pretty much back-to-back calls during the day with some breaks in between to find out more about the other new-starters. There was a lot to fit into the induction but by the end of it I felt I had an excellent grasp of ÷ÈÓ°Ö±²¥ and the company values. It was nice to feel connected and comfortable after the nerves settled. Now it was time to really get stuck into my role and I couldn’t wait.
My first couple of days in my role were so stimulating. Despite being 100% remote, I felt welcomed by my fellow Thoughtworkers. I had regular catch ups with members of my team, my training was thorough, in-depth and clear. I felt that my voice was heard from the first day I started at ÷ÈÓ°Ö±²¥. For example, I pretty immediately got stuck into working on volume 22 of the Technology Radar. I gave my ideas and feedback for online promotion and could feel that these were being considered and taken on board. As a graduate, this was something I felt was so important as imposter syndrome is very real! Despite experience or level, at ÷ÈÓ°Ö±²¥ there is a real sense of togetherness and a non-hierarchical culture. I felt I could speak out and I would be listened to.
My colleagues were all aware of the weirdness of starting a job during lockdown. Everyone was pretty much in the same boat as the whole company was transitioning to a 100% remote workforce. It was (and still is) a scary time for everyone. I felt a huge lack of control and anxiety about the state of the world. My team made sure that I knew I had somewhere to turn to if I had any worries or troubles. Just having someone mention that it must be odd to start during the lockdown made me feel a sense of relief. They got it. They understood that it was going to be tricky. I felt that I wasn’t alone, and ÷ÈÓ°Ö±²¥’ inclusive culture meant that I felt a kind of security blanket of knowing that I was surrounded by people who care about others’ mental health. This made it so much easier to reach out if I ever was struggling.
My favourite aspect of working at ÷ÈÓ°Ö±²¥ is the people. I feel that people are genuinely cared about and the culture of inclusivity is SO important today. I feel that this is something that aligns with my views and values. Despite having never met them, I do feel I know my colleagues. Many are based internationally and I have built connections with others, even when working remotely. I really do feel like a Thoughtworker. I am so looking forward to meeting up with people after the great pause and saying goodbye to COVID-19.
I had just moved into a new place, I was working through my hotspot on my phone and my desk hadn’t even arrived yet. Despite all of these environmental struggles, the induction couldn’t have gone more smoothly. There were a few of us on the 3 day induction calls. We were on pretty much back-to-back calls during the day with some breaks in between to find out more about the other new-starters. There was a lot to fit into the induction but by the end of it I felt I had an excellent grasp of ÷ÈÓ°Ö±²¥ and the company values. It was nice to feel connected and comfortable after the nerves settled. Now it was time to really get stuck into my role and I couldn’t wait.
My first couple of days in my role were so stimulating. Despite being 100% remote, I felt welcomed by my fellow Thoughtworkers. I had regular catch ups with members of my team, my training was thorough, in-depth and clear. I felt that my voice was heard from the first day I started at ÷ÈÓ°Ö±²¥. For example, I pretty immediately got stuck into working on volume 22 of the Technology Radar. I gave my ideas and feedback for online promotion and could feel that these were being considered and taken on board. As a graduate, this was something I felt was so important as imposter syndrome is very real! Despite experience or level, at ÷ÈÓ°Ö±²¥ there is a real sense of togetherness and a non-hierarchical culture. I felt I could speak out and I would be listened to.
My colleagues were all aware of the weirdness of starting a job during lockdown. Everyone was pretty much in the same boat as the whole company was transitioning to a 100% remote workforce. It was (and still is) a scary time for everyone. I felt a huge lack of control and anxiety about the state of the world. My team made sure that I knew I had somewhere to turn to if I had any worries or troubles. Just having someone mention that it must be odd to start during the lockdown made me feel a sense of relief. They got it. They understood that it was going to be tricky. I felt that I wasn’t alone, and ÷ÈÓ°Ö±²¥’ inclusive culture meant that I felt a kind of security blanket of knowing that I was surrounded by people who care about others’ mental health. This made it so much easier to reach out if I ever was struggling.
My colleagues and I after the launch of the Technology Radar volume 23
Since then, I have fallen into my role and I love it. I have faced challenges. As I work remotely, I don’t have the luxury of being able to connect with Thoughtworkers face-to-face, or able to get a fresh pair of eyes on something quickly ad hoc. However, there are perks to working at home too! I get more free time to go walking, I can play music on my speaker all day and do YouTube Pilates at lunch.My favourite aspect of working at ÷ÈÓ°Ö±²¥ is the people. I feel that people are genuinely cared about and the culture of inclusivity is SO important today. I feel that this is something that aligns with my views and values. Despite having never met them, I do feel I know my colleagues. Many are based internationally and I have built connections with others, even when working remotely. I really do feel like a Thoughtworker. I am so looking forward to meeting up with people after the great pause and saying goodbye to COVID-19.
Disclaimer: The statements and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the positions of ÷ÈÓ°Ö±²¥.
