What to expect when starting a remote job

Since the pandemic working from home has become the new normal. And as a result, there's been a rise in fully remote jobs. It's been interesting to see some large organisations declare that they won't be returning to office life, like Spotify and Twitter.

The growing trend for remote jobs has shown that the world of work isn't waiting for things to go back to normal. Just as you shouldn't put your career on hold, if you're waiting until things go back to normal, you could be doing yourself a disservice. There are so many great jobs out there which you can work from anywhere (even if that is just from your living room for now).

I joined Escape the City in December as their Social Media and Content Manager. It's a completely remote role, which was perfect for me, having recently moved from London to Spain to pursue a freelance career. You might not think a fully remote job is for you, but I hope my experience will give you food for thought about why remote jobs are actually pretty great.

Leaving your old job might not feel very ceremonious.

Handing in my notice and having the last day of my previous job was very... quiet. It was just another email; it was just another day. But to be honest, I was quite glad that there wasn't an embarrassing speech where everyone gathers around your desk. Just some short drinks over Zoom, and it was done. For someone who doesn't like to be the centre of attention, it was a perfect send off!

Your first day isn't as nerve-wracking.

The first day of a new job can feel exciting but also a bit daunting. You have to think about meeting lots of new people, not forgetting their names, make sure you're not late, and picking the right clothes all to make a good first impression.

What's great about working remotely is that a lot of that doesn't apply. The trains not running doesn't really affect you when you're moving from upstairs to downstairs. And you can go to work without your shoes on. A lot of the pressure from things that could go wrong are removed, which means you can focus on getting to grips with the role itself.

When applying for a regular job, you might look forward to going into a new office. You might even choose a job based on its location and feel excited about exploring a new area. With a remote job, you aren't missing out on these things. You can choose exactly where you want to work from (once the pandemic is over), whether it's from a co-working space, your garden, or from a beach!

Onboarding will be different.

I wasn't sure what to expect with remote onboarding. In previous jobs, my first weeks have been filled with meeting people I was working with, an induction with IT, Health and Safety etc. Having this done remotely was quite different. My induction was relatively simple as we're such a small team at Escape. Just a few video calls with different members of the team, and it was done. You can always find out ahead of time to find out what the virtual onboarding situation would be.

Meeting colleagues and making friends remotely can be challenging.

It's strange to think some of the people I speak to most I've never met in person, and I might never meet them. When working remotely, you don't get to learn colleagues working habits (are they chatty? Do they arrive early or late? Does the team socialise at lunch?). However, you do learn different kinds of things that you wouldn't necessarily learn face-to-face. We see each other's pets, kitchens and housemates.

In some ways, it can help with building relationships as people are more relaxed in their home environment. On the other hand, I can see that it would be harder to make real work friends. With screen fatigue being a real issue, very few people want to have lunch together or hang out over Zoom.

With a new job, you want to make a great first impression - show you're capable, enthusiastic and a team player. It's a bit more difficult to do that remotely when people don't see what you're up to behind the scenes. You can go at your own pace with learning new skills or getting to grips with processes on the bright side. Where someone might hover at your desk in-person, or you might feel embarrassed to ask something, you can send a quick message over your communications platform of choice (Slack is ours).

While it's been difficult in many ways, the pandemic has given remote teams a sense of comradery. Everyone is navigating remote working together, and that gives a feeling of togetherness. If you feel disconnected from your team, let someone know so that it can be addressed.

It's easy to work longer hours, so set working boundaries.

It's easy when working remotely for work and home life to blur. Let your colleagues know when you're checking out for the day and when you're taking a break. You can also let them know if you need to get your head down for a few hours to avoid too many emails and instant messages when you're trying to concentrate.

You probably will get screen fatigue.

One thing I wasn't expecting was so much screen fatigue. Even though when I was working in an office, I was staring at a screen all day; there were still meetings and time away from your desk at lunchtime. When working remotely, I find I have to be strict with myself to make sure I get breaks away from a screen.

Learn about what tech they use.

You may well be sent tech, such as a new laptop, from your new organisation before your start date. Take some time to get used to the new tech so that it's not holding you back from completing your work and you can represent yourself well. It's also a good idea to find out any programmes you might be using regularly so that you can find out how to master them. Unlike in an office where you can quickly ask someone to show you, you have to take matters into your own hands when working remotely.

Find your flow.

It sounds simple, but find out your best working conditions and stick with them. Do you work best when sat in silence or with people around, from your sofa or a desk? Do you need several short breaks or one long break? I've found my working from home habits to be quite different from my office working habits. Take some time to learn them and implement them so you can avoid unproductive days.

You can and will be able to do a great job in a remote role, just as you would in-person. What's most important are the skills you can bring to the organisation. You can search for part-remote and 100% remote roles on Escape the City.