If you’ve just gotten a new job where you’ll be working remotely for the first time, you might find yourself feeling a bit nervous about the prospect. Working on-site can be much different from working at home, so it’s worth thinking about how this might go for you to ensure that you’ll be able to find success in this type of environment.
To help you see how this can be done, here are three tips for starting your first remote job.
Create Your At-Home Workspace
When you’re going to be working from home, you’ll want to make sure that you have a workspace that you can really focus in.
If you have a space that’s meant to be a home office, this will be a great place to set yourself up for your new remote job. But if you don’t have a space where you can close the door and designate it as your office, you’ll want to find an area within your home where you’ll be able to get your work done. This could be at a desk in the corner of your bedroom, at your kitchen table, or on a lapdesk in your living room.
Keep in mind, however, that once you start working, you might find that you don’t work well in the space you’ve set up and need to make some changes. This is normal and can even be helpful for keeping you engaged in work if you have some changes to your environment every once in a while.
Know What The Expectations Are
When you’re working remotely, there’s going to be far less oversight than there would be in an office setting. So to help ensure that you don’t wind up falling short of what’s expected of you, you’ll want to speak with your boss about what the expectations are.
Depending on the type of work you’re doing, you might be able to just work until your work is done for the day, like if you’re working as a bookkeeper or on a project. On the other hand, if you need to be available during all of your work hours, you’ll likely be expected to be on the clock for specific hours during the day.
Make An Effort To Get To Know Your Coworkers
Many people have a hard time working remotely because the social aspect of being at work can often be lacking. So if you’re wanting to build relationships with your coworkers, you’ll need to make an effort to do this.
During meetings, commit to making comments and responding to others. Find a way to connect to people on a personal level when you’re chatting or emailing back and forth. By being genuine in these ways, you can still get to know your coworkers and feel a sense of community with them.
If you’re starting a new remote job soon, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you get ready for this change.