By: Sabrina C. Spitznagle, Principal & Founder at Loop Legal Search
Chicago Legal Recruiters – Your Recruiting Connection
Starting a new job is exciting, but it also can be quite scary and challenging – even during the best of circumstances. Throw in a worldwide pandemic that forces you to start your new job remotely and physically alone, and the process becomes even more challenging to navigate. Start by taking some deep breaths and remind yourself that you are incredibly fortunate to have found a new job during this time (especially if you are a lawyer!). Then, follow these tips to set yourself up for success, make an outstanding first impression, and start off on the right (remote) foot.
1. ORGANIZE YOUR HOME OFFICE SPACE.
Be as prepared as possible to hit the ground running on your first day. Take the time to make your home office comfortable, organized, and clear of clutter. Just as you prepared for your virtual interviews, make sure your background is professional and tidy for your upcoming Zoom meetings. At least for your first few weeks, keep your pets, children, and roommates out of view and hearing (if at all possible) during any work Zoom meetings. While I am sure that your dog and child are the cutest things in the world, not everyone will have that same opinion. Until you know the culture and expectations and have made that outstanding first impression, it is best to err on the side of being uber professional (e.g., no kids or pets on day 1).
2. BE TECH READY.
Make sure your technology is in good working order, and test your internet speed to ensure that your connection is fast enough for your needs. To increase your speed, you can call your internet service provider (many are offering higher speed plans for little to no increase in cost – if yours does not, consider switching providers); restart your router; buy a new router; move your router (the closer it is to the computer you are using for work, the faster your connection will be); use an Ethernet cable; and install an ad-blocking plugin to block ads that can slow down your connection.
3. COMMUNICATE, COMMUNICATE, & COMMUNICATE SOME MORE.
Updating your partners and colleagues regularly and being available and responsive to them is always a good idea, but it is critical when working remotely. When you are working in an office, it is much easier for the partners to see who gets in early and stays late; and it also is much easier for you to get to know the culture and how things are done, and to pop by someone’s office to ask a question or discuss a case you have been handed. Because you are not physically in the same space, you MUST regularly email, call, and/or schedule Zoom meetings with the people who are assigning you work. Ask when and in what format they prefer to communicate and go from there. Likewise, if a partner calls you, call them back – DO NOT email them (unless they specifically asked you to respond to them that way). While this seems incredibly basic, I can’t tell you how many times partners complain to me about associates not responding to emails or voicemails and not meeting deadlines. Respond to your emails and voicemails in a timely fashion – even if you don’t have an answer, explain what you are doing to get an answer and provide a timeline of when you will be able to get back to them. Communicate with whoever is assigning you work well in advance of your deadline to make sure you are on the right track, clarify their expectations, and ask appropriate questions. If you are not able to meet a deadline for some reason, talk to the person who gave you the deadline well in advance of the deadline and figure out a plan. Finally, always ask for feedback so you know what you did well and what you can do better the next time.
4. PROACTIVELY SEEK OUT A MENTOR AND CREATE CONNECTIONS.
Without question, it will be much harder to get to know your new colleagues when you are working remotely. Although it will be more difficult and you may need to be proactive, it is just as important – if not more important – to establish those working relationships and develop a support network. If you are not assigned a mentor, seek someone out. Use Zoom or video conferences to introduce yourself to your new colleagues and partners. Even though you can’t go out to breakfast, lunch, or dinner, schedule virtual meetings and do your best to become part of the team. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Keep these tips in mind even when this crisis is over (which will hopefully be soon!), as many of them apply whether you are starting your new job remotely or in person. Do you have any helpful tips to share regarding starting a new job remotely? If so, please let us know – we’d love to hear about them!