Many tech professionals see the opportunity to be a remote worker as a dream come true. You can eliminate costly and tedious commutes, working in a comfortable environment, and enjoy an additional level of flexibility most office-based employees don’t receive.
However, working remotely comes with different challenges, and it isn’t necessarily the right move for everyone. To help ensure you are successful in a remote position, here are three tips you can begin using today.
1) Discuss Expectations Early and Often
You can’t be successful if you don’t understand what your manager or the company is expecting of you. When you work remotely, there isn’t as much direct oversight regarding your job, making it easy for something to filter if you don’t understand exactly what you need to accomplish.
To begin, you need to make sure you and your manager are on the same page regarding your schedule. This can involve set hours or something more flexible, such as the completion of specific tasks or making a certain amount of progress on a daily or weekly basis. To meet these requirements, you may need to establish a check-in system or schedule times to provide updates regarding your work.
You also need to clarify if there are certain team-oriented activities, such as meetings or planning sessions, for which you must be virtually present. If so, determine how you will participate, such as if you need to attend over the phone or using video conferencing and make sure you keep the details in the calendar invite or somewhere else highly accessible.
2) Establish Methods for Communication
When you are a remote worker, it’s easy to feel disconnected from co-workers. Much of this can be alleviated if the right communication and collaboration tools are in place. Discuss all of the available solutions with your manager and determine which methods are best for which activities. You may also need to find out if your co-workers have certain preferences for communicating, so you know how to reach the people you need whenever the need arises.
You also need to make sure your written and phone-based communication skills are up to par. In most cases, you’ll spend most of your time speaking with managers and co-workers through email or using instant messaging systems. With that in mind, you need to be prepared to convey critical information concisely while maintaining a professional tone. You also need to ensure you’re able to speak clearly over the phone, especially if you are on speaker phone in a conference room. When you communicate in writing or through voice-only options, people don’t have visual cues to help them understand you, so you must take that into consideration.
3) Get Regular Face Time
It is easier to connect with people when you can see them, at least occasionally. Luckily, video conferencing technology is more robust than ever, so it is fairly easy to schedule time to see your manager and co-worker on a regular basis. Consider having key conversations using video chat or attend team meetings using the technology. That way, you can feel like a more cohesive part of the team, and everyone else will feel the same.
Are you looking for a new job?
If you are interested in learning more about working as a remote worker or would like to explore job opportunities in your area, Resolution Technologies can connect you with some of today’s leading employers. Contact us today to see how our services can help you be successful in your next position.
