Kicking-off a New Job during the WFH Period
Based on my own experience starting a new job 100% virtually during the pandemic
Never have I imagined before that I would start a new job, with a whole new people, without meeting them directly face-to-face. I had started a new job as a data analyst in an e-commerce company at end of August 2020, and since we are still struggling with the pandemic, everything is conducted 100% virtually and we work from home (WFH) until now. In the beginning, I had so many doubts about how could I learn new things and adapt to a new environment with such a communication barrier? But fast forward to now — I have passed my probation period, and I can proudly say that I am doing very well right now!
So, how do I manage to survive with the new job, with no direct interaction with the team at all? If you are questioning the same thing, or even considering to start a new job with a similar WFH circumstance, I’d like to share several tips based on my experience which may be useful for you :)
Google is your best friend
Starting a new job means that we need to familiarize ourselves with new tasks, thus you need to ask A LOT of questions. Before WFH, we can just poke our workmates right beside us. However, now we can’t directly reach them because we don’t know whether they are available or not, so we need to note down the questions first and arrange a virtual meeting later. Often times, we need the answers fast and waiting for the meeting time causes a bottleneck in our work. So yeah, Google is your best friend!
This may be not the fastest option, compared to asking someone directly. However, I would say that there is always a blessing in disguise. Google can provide so much information, only if we have the curiosity to dig deeper.
- By googling, not only we will get the answer about how to do things, but we may also get to learn about WHY we need to do things. For example, instead of asking someone about how to make a pivot table, we may also get exposed to the concept of data aggregation when we google about pivot table.
- We can gain knowledge more than what you initially look for. When we look for an answer in an article, we may end up reading the whole article and find other interesting things.
- Improve our English reading skills.
Be proactive
Google may not provide all the information we need, especially about confidential information related to the company, such as about databases, OKRs, PIC of a project, etc. Therefore, we need to be proactive to ask questions to colleagues and don’t let questions only haunt our head. It is very normal for a new employee to ask about many things. Moreover, being proactive does not only about asking questions, but also about delivering opinions in meetings and communicating our aspirations for the company.
Join formal/informal gatherings
To blend with the new environment, we need to adapt to the culture and the people in it. Since we miss the casual chats at lunchtime or in the pantry during WFH, we need to find other moments to bond with our workmates. I strongly suggest joining any gathering and club invitations, even though they are not work-related. I have joined many gatherings, starting from sharing sessions, virtual lunch, Secret Santa, Toastmasters club, and even a group call just for playing Among Us together! :D Those activities made me interact and build relationships with many people, even with the ones I don’t work closely with.
Communication skill is important
During WFH period, we use verbal communication less and it shifts to written communication, such as email or messenger chat. Therefore, we need to prepare our writing skill as well, so that the message we deliver is clear and not be misinterpreted by the reader. If we need to ask several questions, it is better to list them down into several points, instead of writing them into a lengthy paragraph.
Instead of asking:
“Hi team, I need to ask several things regarding the analysis I am working on. I am still confused about the data source and how do we collect data from there? I also have several difficulties in defining the metrics for analyzing sales growth, I have tried analyzing the sales volume but I think the numbers don’t really make sense.”
It should be written like this:
“Hi team, I have several questions regarding the XXX analysis I am working on, can you help me with these:
- Which one is the right data source?
- How should I collect the data?
- What should be the metrics for analyzing sales growth? Should I refer to sales volume or revenue?”
This way, no question will be left unanswered and the team can help to provide more detailed answers.
Communicate expectations and keep everyone updated
During WFH, people can’t see what we are currently working on or when we are already loaded with tasks. Don’t be a yes man, but communicate your expectations instead, such as: how long will it takes us to finish a task, what or whose support we may need, is there anything we haven’t clearly understood yet. While working on a project, we should also keep everyone updated and inform if there is any obstacle or things to be clarified.
Record the small wins
We may keep a monthly (or weekly/biweekly) journal for ourself, to record what we have learned and achieved along the journey. This will keep us motivated and don’t get burned out easily. Find small things to be grateful for ❤️.
From my experience above, I hope you can relate those to your own work environment. Good luck to all of you who also started a new job during the pandemic, and also to you who are going and looking for a new job! 🙂
