Starting a Job During the Pandemic

Starting a new job can be challenging alone, but doing it amid a global pandemic can cause even more difficulties. Over the past 13 months, I was lucky enough to have an account coordinator position at an integrated marketing communications firm. And though I'm grateful and enjoyed my work, the transition to my first full-time, post-grad job was a lot different than I expected.

I was still in the on-boarding process when our CEO announced the company would be working from home. My 4 day experience in the office was put to test as I attempted to finish my training remotely and without the immediate help of my colleagues or manager. As time went on, I learned a thing or two about not only starting a new job, but also working from home. Looking to make your own transition to a new job a little easier? Check out some of my tips below.

Over Communicate

One of the biggest challenges when starting a job remotely is not being able to walk up to your supervisor and ask questions, update them on your work or collaborate in a conference room meeting. Always over communicate so your team knows where you're at with a task. It may take them a little more time to respond to your email or message, but keeping them updated helps everyone stay on the same page without being in the office.

Go to the Virtual Happy Hours

Because you're working from home, you're not able to see or interact with your coworkers as often as you would in the office. Something that helped me get to know my team, other than working with them every week day, was to go to the virtual happy hours. This is a chance to unwind and interact with your colleagues in a more casual setting.

Know When Enough is Enough

I initially struggled with balancing my workload when starting my first full-time position. I knew agency life has ups and downs when it comes to workload, but there was a time I was working 10 -12 hour days for months on end. What made it worse was that I didn't have the breaks I would normally have when working in an office. There was no quick chat with a coworker, or a break to grab coffee or lunch. I finally realized the importance of setting boundaries, which not only improved my mental health, but also the quality of my work. Working over time is sometimes a must, but also know it's okay to take a quick walk in between meetings or get away from the computer for 45 minutes during a lunch break.

Schedule Check-in Meetings

I can't stress enough how beneficial weekly check-in meetings are, especially if you're working remotely. Every Monday, I'd have a 10 to 30 minute call with my boss to discuss my workload and any questions either of us had. These meetings ensured we were on the same page and elminated any confusion over timelines, instructions and other tasks.

Prep for Video Calls

Whether your company is using Teams, Webex or Zoom, try and prep for any calls that require you to be on camera. Understand the expectations before hopping on the call. Is it just a team call where you know coworkers will be in sweatshirts and lounge attire? Is this a client call for a new project? Asking questions like these will help you know what to wear when you're on camera.

Also, take note of what will be in the background of your video. Tidy up your room or learn how to use different backgrounds in your video conferencing platform.