WiPA Blog: 3 tips for starting your next remote job

A Women in Public Affairs blog by Executive Committee Member Priyanka Patel

25 August 2021

More and more public affairs jobs are embracing remote working. But that means many of us are getting our heads around new ways of getting to know our colleagues.

 If you’re lucky enough to be starting a new role remotely - WiPA have crowdsourced some of the best advice from across the network, so you’ll be well-equipped to start off on the right foot.

Be proactive

Your first few weeks are the perfect time to be proactive about getting to know your colleagues. 

At the beginning, make sure you keep introducing yourself in meetings so people remember who you are and what you’re working on.

Book in virtual coffees with all your team members and key contacts across the organisation. Put regular chats in the diary to build familiarity - they don’t have to be long. And you don’t just have to stick to work chat, don’t be afraid to ask people where they’re from and what they like to do in their spare time.

 Try and video call rather than sending messages in your first month to build up face recognition

Build connections

With fewer opportunities for watercooler conversations when you’re working from home, it can be tricky to know how to make friends, or how to get to know people beyond the projects they’re working on.

If you’re organising a meeting - build in time for some informal chat at the beginning of calls to build relationships.  Could you ask a creative icebreaker or check-in question to kick off the meeting and help you get to know your team better?

 Think about creating and sharing a personal  User Manual with the people you work with regularly. This could cover everything from how you like to work and communicate with others, to your favourite reality TV programmes to talk about and birthday cake preferences!

 If you live near any of your colleagues, see if you can arrange a walk and talk in the park. If you’re someone who has started a new job during the pandemic and are yet to even see the office - ask your peers to meet you there so you have a buddy to show you around.

 See if there are any extra curricular groups you could join - is there a women’s network? Has someone organised a book club or lunchtime desk yoga session? Now’s the time to find out.

Look after yourself

The first few months of a new role can be exhausting. Processing new information and trying to impress can mean you put looking after yourself on the backburner.

 Remember to take regular breaks from your screen and make sure you log off and switch off.