Even though I had occasionally worked from home in my previous jobs, it was not until I joined my most recent employer that I started consistently working from home.
After graduating from my MBA, I scored a fantastic role with one of the largest global technology companies. My new role was part of a regional team, which meant that my team was spread across 12+ countries in Europe. Sure, that was exciting and I was over the moon about my new role. Little did I know what the remote working set up would actually mean and that it was going to become a lifestyle over the following 6 years.
On my first day in the new role I, of course, went to the office. How else? I assumed I was probably going to meet the team, have a tour of the facility, maybe a welcome party? 🙂 Before noon, I had received my laptop, my phone, my login credentials and then was told that the rest of the onboarding was going to be online. Moreover, we (me and the other new joiners who started on the same day) were told that we do not need to come to the office if we don’t have to – usually for meetings – internal or external. So off I went, back home, still over the moon about the new adventure ahead, but a bit puzzled. That day I went through all the online onboarding materials, as I thought there were going to be all these amazing new projects going to be thrown my day very soon.
There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning.
Then one day went by – nothing. Another one – still nothing. I had started wondering if people were aware I was already onboard. So I sent an email to my manager asking for something to do. It was then when he explained that given we have a virtual team, spread across so many geographies, everyone works from home and everybody managed their own working schedule. That I was free to start and end my day as I chose, as long as the projects and assignments were on track.
And this was just the beginning. Over the course of the following 6 years I have learned so much about remote working lifestyle and I’d love to share all of these insights with you, hopefully helping some of you during similar transitions.
Until next time,
Laura