As a fresh high school or college graduate, you’re probably job searching for your first professional job. You have now officially joined the grown-up league of employed or unemployed job market. You have strong expectations not just for your job, but for yourself.
Watching TV, movies and scrolling social media sites have given you a rather heightened perspective on what a workplace is like. Unless you favored reruns of “The Office” or marveled at the antics depicted in “Horrible Bosses.” Either way, regardless of the comedy or drama ensued, at the end of the day goals were accomplished and collegial working relationships were maintained.
Blogs of interest:
- How to avoid social withdrawal when working from home
- How to manage work life when working from home
Unfortunately, real work isn’t like how it is presented on the entertainment screen. While optimism is healthy and shouldn’t be avoided, a dose of practical thinking will help you keep that optimism going.
For remote workers, the loss of the typical office environment means there are different expectations to overcome. That being said, you still have a few worries you share with your office counterparts. Let’s talk about a few of those in this article.
-
Remote Job Promotions And Raises Are Not Guaranteed
A lot of people think their hard work can take them to new heights quickly. In fact, for a few weeks, you might be doing really well. This all-in approach often leads to disappointment when you start to feel like you’re underappreciated. After you’ve worked 8 to 10 hour days, consistently met your targets, you may be dismayed after a few months. Regardless of your output, even if amazing, you are still a new hire.
There are business dilemmas, bottlenecks, strategy disagreements. These work scenarios that you still have not encountered. That’s when you may have to face the reality that your current best is only passable compared to the veterans in your job. Don’t take that as an insult, but as a way to motivate yourself to be better.
Interesting articles:
Further, the universe may doing you a favor. When you are just starting out, are you sure you want to sit in the hot seat 24/7 ? Making monumental business decisions about the direction of your unit that impacts your colleagues? That’s a heavy burden. You’ll be graying and/or balding by the time you reach 23 years of age and not 40.
Promotions and career advancement will come if you actively campaign for it, or they may might not. Regardless, top performers are depended upon to be reliable. These work traits will be useful for adding to your accomplishments, and that is an evergreen benefit.
-
Not Everybody Will Like You on your First Remote Job
It’s not impossible for all of your co-workers to like you. However, it’s more likely you’ll have to settle for some work colleagues who like you, and other remote team members being simply indifferent. In unfortunate circumstances, you might have to deal with a peer or two who just doesn’t like you and lets you know it.
Don’t feel too defeated. In a professional space, especially in high-volume work environments, stress can lead people to do some nasty things. They might regret their harshness with you afterwards.
Related articles:
Be friendly, but not excessively so. For those working from home, building connections with your co-workers might be difficult due to the distance. In today’s digital world, however, there’s no reason to not stay in contact with them through social media, if they are comfortable with it.
Even if you don’t have to befriend everyone, you can try being on good terms with most of them. In most cases, simple tolerance is much better than what some workplaces get.
-
Not Everything You Learn in School is Useful on Your Remote Job
Sometimes it might, of course. Knowledge is a useful asset. When relevant, it is very beneficial to have. However, don’t be surprised if most of what you’ve learned in college won’t actually come up that often. In fact, one could be harsh and say a lot of what you learn in school will amount to useless trivia.
For example, as a remote worker, you may find yourself being guided through the best security practices while working from home. These are not things you will likely encounter in a non-IT course, but it’s still a learning opportunity. Not everything will stick, so just be thankful for the lessons that help. Make room for the new ones you will learn in your workplace, such as the example given above.
Schools are meant to prepare you for as many things as you can. Until recently, lessons were taught on high school and college campuses in brick and mortar buildings. This means professors and instructors teach from in person and traditional report to the office (RTO) business viewpoints.
Related blogs:
You can expect that their lesson plans and play books of the day didn’t included real world examples of professional work from home scenarios. Its up to today’s newcomer to learn by doing. Self teach through independent learning when everyone, particularly one’s supervisor is location independent.
-
Remote Work Won’t Always Be Engaging and Fulfilling
The novelty of being a new job entrant to a workplace is magical. Seeing cubicles with people working, laughing in the canteen, your first big salary, and the general excitement of being an adult. With time, that will fade and anxiety will start to set in.
This is unavoidable and some people don’t take this well. For those in an office environment, they may start seeing their cubicles as a cage, both mentally and physically. That kind of thinking is shared by many in the corporate world. Take comfort in the fact that you are not alone. For those working virtually, the isolation may lead to a deep rut of boredom. Where home and work start blending seamlessly together into a lonely blob of gray.
In such bleak times, take a break. Figure out the different types of leaves (personal-time off, PTO) you are entitled to, and take a well-deserved break. Time away from work may give your mind the space to think of a solution. Time and rest are the ultimate cures for stress.
Blogs of similar topic:
Remote workers working from anywhere or taking advantage of hybrid arrangements could pick certain workdays of the week where they will work from remote cabins in the woods, in a small rural town, or beachside hotel to reenergize.
Remote working newcomers may find working from home debilitating. Research has shown first-time entrants to the job market have a preference for in- person workspaces. If you are the lucky ones to snag a remote job, you must expect your workdays to be less than earth shattering. How to overcome those days? Choose another temporary work location like a coffee shop, café or public park from which to work to change the pace and scenery.
-
Your Attitude Matters When Working Virtually
A lot of people may believe that their value is defined solely by their work. Especially staff who have trouble socializing, interacting with others and communicating. They may view work categorically separate from establishing friendships and having fun. Therefore, they focus all of their efforts into productive output. Certainly, taking this perspective may work for some workplaces that don’t mind that sort of thinking.
However, most workplaces value teamwork and socializing within the workplace. Such activities help to build corporate cohesion and unity. Your character traits and unique personality are what makes you memorable. If all you do is perform tasks, you may as well be one of the automated computer or an AI program in the mind of others.
Recommendations for remote workers:
- 6 work life balance habits of remote workers in remote jobs
- The best apps for remote work
- 7 Effective ways to simplify your home office work life
- Workplace safety tips when working from home
This adversely affects your chances of making deep connections in the workplace. A person not well-liked or lacking social and professional networks may be passed over for promotion. That danger goes double when working from your home office, as people don’t even have a face to attach to your work. Your attitude about work matters just as much as your work itself.
Strike a balance between the two and remain present in people’s minds. Familiarity is the first step to improving your standing in the workplace.
-
Productivity and Quality Matter Especially when Working from Home
In the workplace, productivity and quality drive profit maximization. Team playing is important too. These business concepts matter more than anything else. Tangentially, they are interwoven into the fabric of your liberal education. Even extracurricular activities, sports, arts, crafts and English composition.
To finish school you had to meet minimum requirements (attendance, assignment submissions, and final exams). The same is true on the job. Attend to your job professionally attired and submit work on time. Doing the minimum on the job will not cut it. Not beyond the probationary period.
New hires need to demonstrate top quality production even while learning. You gotta achieve these minimal objectives as you show you are a solid team player pulling your weight. It’s like in school or in sports. Each team player is assigned a different task to specialize (point guard, center, goalie, quarterback, third baseman, pitcher).
As a player on a sports team, when your teammate throws the ball to you he expects you to catch it. Will you attempt to catch it? Fumble? Or duck? As a newbie worker, you may fumble more attempts than you catch. Work colleagues will chalk up a few fumbles until you get your feet wet. However, if you duck too many times, you’re a goner.
More tips for the remote worker:
Don’t make the excuse that you are new before you can match the productivity and quality of others on your remote team. Begin on day one. That’s what being a dependable team player is all about.
Show up on the scheduled video conferences, post your comments in the chat box. Volunteer to complete some of the work project’s next steps. Regularly contact your work colleagues offering to provide support. Don’t hide. Don’t disappear into the ethernet. When you are not missed, that’s the time you will be involuntarily let go to join the ranks of the unemployed.
-
Remote Co-workers May Turn to You for Technical Advice
Yes, you! Others may seek your help. Why? A common misconception many older workers hold is that recent graduates are technically and digitally literate. It isn’t fair. That’s life. Irrational beliefs go two ways. New job hires may have inaccurate beliefs about longtime workers. You may call them for the inside scoop on promotions. Who’s the golden child? What acts are positioned on the third rail?
Cybersecurity tips for remote workers:
- 10 most dangerous malware and security threats for remote workers
- Top 15 Cyber Security Tips when Working from Home
- How to keep your remote work secure
Many staff may have been sleepwalking on the job. They haven’t a clue as to the inner workings of the company. They’ve kept their head down and tend to keep it that way.
The converse could be true. Maybe you’re not technically savvy. Not digitally literate? You don’t know the latest, quickest Excel formulas and functions. Life is about transactional exchanges.
Your long term career objective should be to give more than you get. Until you have reached your pinnacle of success. As you’re starting, its ok to ask questions of your peers. But you gotta throw back a few pennies now and then.
Here’s more remote job tips:
- The shocking science behind videos when telecommuting
- How to conduct an effective virtual presentation
- 10 Tips to avoid the remote work firing line
When telecommuting, some virtual team members may be hesitant to use innovative tools of technology. They may lean on you for support, a brief tutorial or a walk-through. Don’t hesitate to pitch in. Once you are considered useful by most on the remote team, you will be perceived as a value-add not a threat or unnecessary cost.
-
Not all Remote Team Leaders and Supervisors Are Competent
Not all supervisors are as competent on the job as you may think. Just starting out you may believe they know everything. You think they are the best at what they do. What you may discover, some middle management, remote team leads aren’t the sharpest tool in the shed. So, don’t be overly reliant upon them when seeking answers to business processes, roles. job responsibilities and industry best practices.
You were hired, great! But don’t sit on your laurels. Until you are fully proficient at what you do (job tasks, role, and responsibilities) make it your aim to learn something new everyday. Make it a habit to be better today that you were yesterday. I’m reminded of the saying from a Mel Brooks movie, “Everyday and everyway I’m getting better and better.”
-
Remote Team Leads and Bosses Won’t Always Be Nice
If you are lucky, and a lot of people are, your first boss will be kind and understanding. However, the sad truth is that a lot of people draw the short stick instead. Some bosses only care about results and don’t take time to look out for your mental and physical health.
In worse cases, they may even be verbally abusive regardless of how much effort and time you put into a task or project. If the result isn’t to their liking, they may criticize you. Whether it’s valid or not, it will sting, especially for a newbie to the workforce.
Here’s a few more success tips:
- Self discipline reduces helicoptering management of remote employees
- Self-directed learning for remote workers
- Work at Home and Remote Work Networking Success
For remote workers, they may have the rude realization that some bosses think remote work means you’re always available because you are technically “at your workplace”. You might even find yourself having to work outside of shift hours. That may put a hamper on your expectation of telecommuting and traveling the world.
As much as possible, don’t dwell on such things.
Instead, think of where you might have gone wrong and get second opinions from your co-workers about the boss. You never know, maybe you’re overreacting, or your boss is just having a bad day. Regardless, a job is a job, and your boss is only human. Do your best to bring the best out of your boss. If that doesn’t work, just move on.
-
The Remote Workplace is not a Democracy
Your workplace isn’t a democracy. Corporations are in the business of maximizing shareholder wealth. If you are not a part of that story. Consider seeking employment for a nonprofit or apply for a local, state or federal government gob. Even there, these entities are run and managed based upon the entity’s survival and solvency.
In class, students can post Rate-My-Professor reviews of their disliked instructor to trash them. Sure, if your job is union eligible, meet with the union representative. File complaints. Become a whistleblower. You think that will help your cause? Nope. Nada. Nein.
Secrets for the Telecommuter:
- 7 reasons why remote workers hate commuting
- The power of positivity against a negative remote manager
Employees may not have much input into the inner workings of a corporation. This includes the opinion of your front-line boss. Remote team lead. Or supervisor. They may not have much of a say on the business processes and procedures that have withstood the test of time. Teams, units, departments and divisions, even though they have different functions, operate synergistically in unison for one common cause. What? The success of the company or entity that employs them.
If you feel out-of-place or a square peg in a sea of round holes, consider leaving. Here’s two simple rules of thumb to live by:
- The main rule. Bloom where you are planted. If that doesn’t work.
- The second rule. Go where you are valued.
Search Remotely is an online marketplace that enables remote workers to filter through thousands of remote jobs and for employers to be able to tap into our team of recruiters and source from an international talent pipeline of over 250,000 remote workers.
