Starting a New Job While Working from Home: Tips for Nailing the First 100 Days

Starting a new job is exciting, but when you’re starting a new job remotely, it presents a whole new set of challenges.  I started almost 4 months ago at CLEAR (all remotely!) and have been fortunate to come into an organization where we have been onboarding many new hires in recent months.  Whether you are the first remote new hire or your company already has a process in place to make your transition seamless, here are some tips to help you nail the first 100 days of a new job - I hope they are useful not just for working remotely, but always!  

1)  Your Boss 

• Establish how to work together - You're not going to be seeing each other every morning so how frequently should you touchbase?  Does your boss prefer email, slack or good old text?  It might make sense to have a standing meeting every morning for the first month, even just for 15 minutes - don’t be afraid to ask!
• Over communicate - Out of Sight, Out of Mind?  Being remote can be difficult.  Make sure you communicate what you are doing as you establish what your work ethic is and what your boss can expect from you.  For the first few weeks, I like to send a summary email at the end of every day with who I met, what I learned and any questions to be discussed in my touch base the next day.
• Be deliberate in your onboarding - Ask your boss to identify and introduce you to key people early on, it won't happen as organically and you want to be top of mind. 
• Get feedback - Schedule more informal check-ins than you normally might.  After 30 days, check to see how your onboarding is going and define clear priorities for your first 3-6 months.

2)  Your Peers

• Find mentors - Your colleagues and peers are your most valuable resource for getting to know the culture of the organization.  Find a few people who can be your mentors as you come up to speed.  Or ask your team to set you up with one!
• Schedule virtual coffee chats - Meet as many people as possible and get to know them.  It won't be as fluid and casual as in the office, so you have to be deliberate.  Do they have pets?  What's their favorite COVID indulgence?  Be human and develop trust before you make your first "ask" of anyone.  
• Become a generalist - Learn about the company as a whole and not just the specific parts related to your business.  Dial-in to any meeting you are invited to attend.  Ask questions at the town hall!  

3)  Your Team 

• Accelerate transition - Don't forget your team is probably stressed about having a new person on their team and are also navigating the transition to a new dynamic.  Help your direct reports, bosses and colleagues learn the best way to work with you.
• Schedule one on ones - Get to know everyone individually and see if there is anything you need to know.  Do they have kids at home that are making it difficult to work remotely?  What do they see as their role and what do they want to be doing?  If they were you, what would they focus on?  
• Be respectful - People may be with family, busy on other calls, jamming on a project - you can't tell because you can't see them.  Always ask before you call and don't worry if you don't hear from someone for a while.
• Do everything once - Where possible, do everything yourself at least once before you ask others to do it for you!  Understand what goes into tasks so you can help manage your team or chip in where appropriate.  You won't be able to see your team cranking, so it's important to acknowledge how long things take and what goes into the process.
• Don’t rely on email - While it may be easier to ask questions over email, take the time to be walked through models and presentations verbally.  You’ll understand key concepts more quickly and develop relationships in the process.

4)  Yourself

• Be present - Being on endless Zoom calls can be tiring.  Try to stay engaged, ask questions and don't multi-task!  
• Be forgiving - You will make mistakes, have tech issues, cut out on calls and maybe even question whether you made the right decision taking a new job in this environment.  Be kind to yourself!  But also, take lots of notes.
• Admit if you don't know things - Period.
• Set boundaries - we've all heard that work/life balance is more challenging during this time.  Your first few weeks on the job are an opportunity to set expectations - do you respond to emails late at night or are you going to tackle them first thing?  Try to establish a pattern so your boss or direct reports know what to expect from you and so you don't burn out!  And make sure you take time for lunch and water breaks - block off time on your calendar, even if it gets scheduled over.  
• Always. Check. Your. Work.  This is not COVID advice, but just general advice.  Once you lose credibility here, it is very difficult to get it back.

5)  Other

• Ask if you need something - Really struggling without a printer?  Need to sign off early?  Don't be afraid to ask for what you need.  We're all figuring this out.
• Learn video etiquette - Figure out what the etiquette at your company is for video calls.  Do people keep videos on?  Do people have Zoom backgrounds?  Test your ability to use your microphone and camera, check your lighting...and always login a little early if you can! 
• Don't spin your wheels - Sitting at home without any colleagues means it's harder to ask questions or get training.  Take a stab, but don't be afraid to schedule time to get help before you spend hours by yourself trying to figure things out.
• Get outside!  If people are comfortable, suggest going for a socially distant walk or coffee.  I had a mid-year review with a team member who was a block away - we realized after that it would have been much easier to meet for coffee or a socially distant walk in Central Park!

Don't forget everyone has their own challenges during this time - do the best you can to communicate honestly and clearly about how things are going and what you need.  Lastly, don’t forget to show extra gratitude for people who answer your questions or help with your work - that’s always important, but even more important when you’re just a name behind a screen.

Good luck!