We now live in a world where we can collaborate with our colleagues from virtually anywhere. Thanks to remote work in these unprecedent times, employees can work safely from their own home office. That being said, remote work can oftentimes be a learning curve for many individuals who are beginning their career virtually. Adapting to new technologies and software, learning how to develop professional relationships virtually, and finding ways to feel connected to your company while working from your home office are just a few aspects of the WFH learning curve.
While in college in early 2020 when I made the transition from in-person to WFH, it was a 180-degree shift in how I worked; all while learning by trial and error. A solid onboarding experience can make all the difference in having a successful integration into your new remote position. While coming into my new role with Perficient, I was integrated into my team with a well-structured onboarding experience that highlighted the ins and outs of learning everything I needed to know – all while in a virtual setting.
Madeline McDermott, Industry Marketing Coordinator, recently began with Perficient and is navigating the WFH learning curve after graduation just like myself. Seeing that our onboarding experiences have been a one-of-a-kind integration, I wanted to hear her experience on beginning her career in a virtual setting.
Madeline, how was your experience onboarding with Perficient in a completely virtual environment?
Getting acquainted with a company completely virtual comes with its challenges. Perficient has made the onboarding process as smooth as possible. My direct supervisor, Eugene Sefanov, Industry Senior Marketing Manager, has taken special care to introduce me to everyone. He has ensured that I know the correct people to contact with particular questions and needs. Working in a large company, this is key.
The talent acquisition specialists hosted a new hire orientation session our first day on Teams. They reviewed some of the programs we will be using, as well as giving ample time for us to ask questions.
Virtual onboarding and working from home certainly has its pros and cons. A huge perk of virtual meetings is that they allow people from all over the world to come together easily. I’ve gotten to meet people in the company I otherwise probably wouldn’t have had the opportunity to meet.
BONUS: Explore our remote team culture
I definitely would love to someday meet everyone in person, of course. But the people at Perficient have been really conscientious of the fact that it is hard to start a new job from home and have gone above and beyond to make me feel very welcomed.
What tips or advice can you share for anyone who is onboarding into a remote role?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions! Everyone here is so informative and willing to help. Asking questions and being open is the easiest way to learn.
Similar to Madeline’s response, I’ve quickly noticed that communication is key to a successful integration, especially in the virtual setting. Because we have the technology (such as Microsoft Teams) to efficiently communicate with team members across the company, the answer to your questions are just a few clicks away – utilize this to your advantage! Because we are communicating with team members online, we still want to build those professional relationships with our colleagues. While attending virtual social events might be intimidating at first, these are excellent ways to build those personal connections with your team!
BONUS: Check out other colleague thoughts and tips on starting remotely!
Building a schedule that is best for you can be a critical factor into your productivity. Some great tips I’ve found:
- Make a plan and keep it simple.
- Recognize what may distract you and how to overcome it.
- Get you key tasks done first.
- Don’t forget to schedule lunch and breaks!
- Create an end of workday ritual.
Setting up your home office or workspace can make all the difference in productivity and efficiency. Dual monitors, a comfy chair, noise-cancelling headphones are just a few of the necessities before you start adding those personal touches! The best part about your home office is that you can build it to fit your individual needs.
Again – it’s a learning curve. After your first few weeks, you will start to notice ways to adapt and things you can do to increase productivity and efficiency. Coming into your first full-time roll after college can take time to get the hang of. Not to mention when it’s all virtual! But by asking all the questions you have, learning something new each day, and continuously putting your best foot forward – you will get the hang of things in no time.
Final thoughts to help you navigate your new virtual position…
As you come into your new virtual role, remember that you are entering into a completely new work environment. We are all continuously learning and adapting, so be patient while you learn all the ins and outs as you successfully become integrated into your new role with Perficient.
At Perficient, we continually look for ways to champion and challenge our talented workforce with interesting projects for high-profile clients, encourage personal and professional growth through training and mentoring, and celebrate our people-oriented culture and the innovative ways they serve Perficient and the community.
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