Working online from day one of your contract can feel quite daunting. Unlike people who were working in offices before and transitioned into a remote space, starting in a non-physical office can be a bit scary. However, I believe that if you get in the right mindset from the beginning, you can make the best out of it.
When I applied for a summer internship with the Careers and Employability Service, I knew it was going to be entirely online. I thought there were going to be many pros, for example working from the comfort of my home, and having the unique opportunity to hang the laundry in between meetings (very handy!), but I knew there were also going to be cons. For example, I didn’t know I wouldn’t meet my colleagues in person until one month after we’d started working together!
I admit that when I landed on the online work platform on day one, I was quite nervous. While it is easy to memorise the layout of an office and to navigate where everything is, working online can feel like there are no boundaries, and you can get lost very easily.
The nerves were soon gone when I met the team, and everyone made me feel welcome. I met my supervisors first, who set up a Teams meeting to discuss the project in general, and then I met the rest of the team on the following day. After that catch-up on day one, I felt like I was really an active part of a wider project.
Since our first meeting, my supervisors set a great example by creating a relaxed environment, in which staying on top of things could be combined with not loading yourself with stress. And to calm my fear of getting lost in the web, they showed me around (virtually), pointing out the resources I could benefit from and the key ones I had to learn how to access. Most important of all, during the first week we had a chat about the end goal of the project, and sketched a clear itinerary together on how to get there.
This clear goal-setting chat, even if it happened in front of a cold screen instead of a warm cup of coffee, was what kept me going for the entirety of week one. While I was still exploring my surroundings, I could rely on the comfort of knowing what was expected of me. My mind couldn’t roam free to corners of anxious thoughts of ‘I should be doing more’ or ‘I am not doing enough’. Clear goal-setting, together with support, really benefitted my mental health and boosted my motivation.
Precisely because of this mindset I entered, I believe I learned some of the best lessons in week one. First of all, before tackling the project, I had to find a physical space that I would associate with motivation and productive work. I knew I was going to work remotely for the entirety of the project, so I carved a little office space out of my living room, equipped with a comfortable chair, a desk and my laptop – bonus points for a full, pretty bookshelf in background, you don’t want a video meeting to catch you unprepared!
Secondly, I had to be ready to ask questions, even the ones I thought were silly. I believe it is essential, when starting a new job, not to be afraid to ask questions. Going hand in hand with that, communication is another key element which allows you to adapt well from the beginning.
This is something that applies to all jobs and to all circumstances, whether it is an Aberdeen Internship or a full-time career after graduation. Communication is the key not only for successful work from home, but for every type of work. Reaching out to discuss things that concern you or that you don’t quite know how to operate yet (totally normal when you have only just started!) can help you adapt better and feel like you can make a difference.
When you feel safe and grounded, and you reach that point at the end of the week in which you are confident about what is going on, that’s where the real creative part starts. If you lay a strong foundation from the start, you can rest assured you are not only going to be motivated during your project, but most importantly learn valuable lessons and acquire skills that are going to support you for the rest of your career.
