The atmosphere around job hunting has been even more intense than usual lately, with people losing jobs and companies stopping hiring. We thought we’d share some good news from people who have found new jobs in this difficult time to rekindle your faith that it can be done!
Isabella, 23, started a new role as Food Quality and Technical Lead at HelloFresh in July. When asked how she prepared for her role, she said, “The company I work for was really great at preparing material based on my learning style. Before I began I was asked questions on how I enjoy learning and what type of learner I am. They were able to cater my onboarding experience to my preferred style which really helped me get to grips with their working ways quickly.”
Beata from London has also landed a new role during the pandemic. She has yet to begin hers, but we asked her what she is doing to prepare for it. “I’ve been reading up on the organisation I will be working for. It will not be a remote role, so I’ve been looking at what the best commute options will be both in terms of how long it will take and how easy it will be to social distance.”
She also noted that lockdown brought with it increased responsibilities at home that she had to find a way to manage when starting a new job. “I thought about my house and family’s routines, and tried to arrange them so that I do not have additional responsibilities and stresses once I start work in a new place. For example, I thought about doing weekly shop and meals for the week ahead during the weekend, and allocated different days for different house chores, as well as involving family members to ensure that the responsibilities are shared. Communication was important, figuring out who would be doing what and when clearly before I start my job so it’s not something I have to think about when trying to get to grips with a new role.”
While some people have enjoyed working remotely in terms of not having to commute at early hours, one of the biggest downsides of it have been the loss of socialising opportunities with colleagues. No more shared lunch breaks or Friday drinks has been hard for many. But Isabella told us, “It’s a strange situation, you’d think it would be impossible to bond with people you haven’t met in person but weirdly I think I have been able to. I set up regular video calls with all my colleagues and try to discuss things other than work...often food.”
Luckily, Isabella did have some experience of working remotely that helped her to deal with starting a new job entirely remotely. “In my placement year during university, my role allowed me to work remotely for a day or two a week. I believe having this sort of independence early on in my career gave me the skills to continue carrying out my responsibilities at home to the same level I would in the office.”
What, then, is the hardest part of starting a new job from home, even for someone who has worked remotely before? “Asking questions,” Isabella said. “Even though everyone on my team is extremely friendly, I found it difficult to pick up the phone or send an email for every little query I had. I’d wait til I had a few questions before calling to make it worth their while, but this got easier with time as I realised they truly didn’t mind the dozens of phone calls a day.”
As for the best thing about it? “It’s definitely having more time for me. Whether that’s going for a walk, taking the time to make a homemade cake and meal or getting into a new TV series…the reality of travelling into the office is that I wouldn’t have had the time to, so I’m really relishing it.”
For Beata, starting a new job in person has its own challenges. “I am yet to learn the Covid protocol in place,” she said. “However, I am excited about the challenge, working with new people and learning new skills. While it makes me slightly nervous, I have faith that there are good safety measures in place and that once I get used to it, it will be fine.”
We asked Isabella if she has any tips for people preparing to start new jobs remotely - what to expect, how to prepare, etc. She told us, “Just go in with an open, positive mind. The company knows you may take a little longer to understand everything, it’s a new experience for lots of people and for them so just go at your own pace. And make lots of notes! I’ve discovered Google Keep, an app to capture them, and I find it really handy to organise your to do lists, reminders and things you’ve learnt in a really cohesive way.”
So, let this be proof that it is possible to get a job during this pandemic, and let it be the motivation you need to keep going, no matter how disheartening things may get. Maybe next time it will be you telling us about your new job...and maybe we can help you get there.