newsletter-ca-2022-04

How to work from home — and actually get work done

roberthalf — Mon, 02 Nov 2020 01:02:50 +0000

How to work from home — and actually get work done roberthalf Mon, 11/02/2020 - 01:02

Working remotely: What was considered a nice perk not too long ago is now a required way to work in many places across the country. With the COVID-19 pandemic, companies of all sizes are being disrupted, and many workers are suddenly adapting to new, albeit temporary, business environments.

Remote working can be a very different experience from being in the office, and the quick shift to this arrangement can be jarring. What are the best ways to stay in touch with colleagues and managers? Do you have all the right tech equipment? Is it even possible for entire teams to work efficiently, all from different locations? (Hint: It is.)

Professionals across the globe have been successfully working from home for years and have laid a firm groundwork of best practices that can help you navigate unfamiliar territory, individually and at a scale of full teams and entire organizations.

When reading the following 15 tips on working remotely, remember that they’re not hard-and-fast rules. Everybody’s situation is unique, and exceptions and bumps in the road are to be expected when so many people are adjusting to a new normal. So, don’t forget to give yourself some leeway during these challenging times. Here are tried-and-true ways to maintain focus and morale when working from home:

1. Stick to a schedule (as much as possible)

One of the biggest keys to working remotely is to maintain a regular schedule, ideally as close to your normal work hours as possible. For one, you want to be available at the same time your coworkers are to avoid delays in responding to questions or problems. It also helps prevent the temptation to let working hours blend into personal time, which can slowly drain you of much-needed energy on both fronts.

At the same time, you want to be flexible about your routines. Try to keep your start and end times fairly regular, but don’t be so rigid that you feel obligated to take breaks or tackle the same tasks at the exact same times every day. Keep it fluid. It’ll help keep you sharp.

2. Find your space

Having a workspace separate from your personal space is also vital – again, if possible. If you have a spare bedroom or any room that you use less often, convert it into your home office. Keep the door closed as much as is practical. When you’re in that room, your immediate surroundings become a constant visual cue that you should be in work mode.

If you don’t have a separate space where you can work, try sitting in a different chair or on the opposite side of the sofa. Even subtle changes can be effective for putting you in your professional headspace.

And keep your home workspace organized. Visual clutter can add to your stress level. Plus, you don’t want to be tripping over cords and cables that aren’t normally running across the floor.

3. Know your prime time for productivity

You know how — and when — you work best on certain types of projects, so let that be your guide of what to tackle when. For example, if mornings aren’t your best hours, avoid working on the most critical or challenging assignments until you’re more alert and productive, and use the early hours to handle more routine tasks. Or vice versa. You might not be able to avoid a conference call that’s outside your prime time for collaborating, but play to your strengths as much as you can.

4. Protect your work-life balance

When your office is where you live, it’s easy to let work bleed over into your off-work hours. Don’t let that happen. At least not consistently. Work-life balance is crucial for mental health and productivity. Never being completely unplugged can quickly lead to frustration and burnout. Be the guardian of your personal time and shut down your work computer or applications when your workday is over.

Resist the temptation to try to power through a project because you think you can “wrap it up in just a couple more hours.” And avoid the lure of email after you’ve shut down for the day. Use that time for yourself or your family.

Of course, there might be some nights or even weekends you need to work longer, and that’s understandable as long as it’s once in a while and not most days. And when you do temporarily shift your work-life balance this way, recognize that not everyone else is doing so.

If you need to email a colleague on a night or weekend, make it clear that you don’t expect a response during nonwork hours. As an extra precaution, add something like “— not urgent” to the subject line so the recipient knows right away that you respect their work-life balance.

5. Distance yourself from distractions

Another reason for a distinct work-from-home space is the barrier it puts between you and all possible distractions — your devices, TV, the fridge and all the other things that might be calling to you since you’re at home.

And the same goes for anybody you live with. Try to make sure significant others, kids or roommates know to not disturb you when you’re working as much as possible unless it’s something critical. Of course, interruptions may be unavoidable when everyone is inside together all day every day, so just try your best to be patient and calm.

6. Don’t neglect breaks (or your neck and back)

Just as you would at the office, take a break every so often when working from home. Stand up and leave your designated work area every few hours. Take 15 minutes to get in some quick meditation or stretching, check in with a friend or family member, or go for a walk to get some fresh air to re-center yourself. Doing so can help you return to your professional duties refreshed and refocused.

It might also be worth it to invest in a sit/stand desk or a desk riser to elevate your desktop so you can stand while you work. Options range from full standing desks to cardboard extenders that cost around $30. Though just like you don’t want to sit all day, you don’t want to stand the whole time, either. Switch it up periodically throughout the day so you’re not putting the same strain on the same muscles all day, every day.

7. Keep up appearances

At least most of the time, don’t let yourself become the work-from-home cliché of someone who’s stopped grooming and wears pajamas all day. Keeping your normal morning routine of showering and changing into work clothes can put you in the right mindset to get down to business.

8. Stay healthy

Having your entire refrigerator and pantry to snack from during the workday creates the temptation to eat more often than usual, even if in small bites. Try to reach for healthy options like fruits and veggies or other nutritious nibbles rather than chips or sweets. Or at least try to limit the less-nutritious items. And make sure you’re drinking lots of water.

Also, don’t eat at your desk or wherever your work-from-home setup is. Nourish yourself in your own space, not your workspace, to help reinforce your mental work-home boundaries.

And to whatever degree possible, try to prioritize getting enough sleep — ideally going to bed and waking up around the same time every day. Exercise is critical too. Eating well, moving your body and staying well-rested are important to do in the best of times, and most certainly right now.

9. Get outside if you can

For your mental and physical health, getting outside regularly is essential while working from home. Whether it’s for a jog around the block, walking your dog, gardening or anything else, try to take an hour or so every day during daylight hours to get fresh air. The vitamin D from the sun helps keep you healthy, and seeing the outside world can help stave off cabin fever. Just be sure to practice proper social distancing as necessary.

10. Learn to accept background noise

Keep in mind that when you’re working remotely, you can’t help some noise here and there. Loud vehicles may go by, your neighbor may mow their lawn or your kids may scream when you’re on conference calls or video chats.

It’s OK. Allow for this, and don’t try to mask it. If your pup starts yapping or another loud noise disrupts things, apologize for the interruption and move on. Don’t sweat it; many other people are in the same boat.

11. Communicate early and often

It’s easy to feel like an island when you work from home, especially in long stretches. Your coworkers may not be physically with you, but staying in close contact with colleagues is essential. Take advantage of every means of communication at your disposal.

If your team uses a group chat platform like Slack or Skype, keep it open (at least in the background) and have notifications turned on. You’ll feel more connected and won’t risk missing out on both team chatter and important updates.

For meetings, either group or one-on-one, video can do wonders for the working-at-home soul. Yes, getting on video with Zoom or FaceTime, for example, means you need to brush your hair and change out of your sweats (which you should be doing anyway — see No. 7), but seeing your colleagues’ faces and expressions while strategizing or even just chatting furthers the feeling of connectedness, helping with morale and productivity at the same time.

12. Ask for what you need

Having the right equipment is another key to working remotely. A video-capable laptop is typically the most essential tool, loaded with all the software you need for being in near-constant communication with your coworkers. At this time, a mouse isn’t the only peripheral you’ll need; also try to get your hands on a headset, at least.

If you’re lacking anything that’s necessary for doing your job or keeping in touch with the team, ask for it. Your manager and company want to set you up for success, but they may not realize you’re missing something unless you tell them.

13. Stay secure

Because you’re outside of your company’s protected network, your digital security is in your own hands. It’s typically not realistic to make your home internet connection as locked-down as your office’s, but there are a few things you can do to reduce vulnerabilities.

Change your router’s password. This helps keep people from logging in to it using the default credentials — which are easily guessed since they’re usually all the same — and taking control of your network or infecting your equipment with tracking software or malware. And make sure you use a strong password, ideally of the 16-character variety. Update all of your software. One of the main reasons applications are updated so often relates to security. Older versions often have known issues that have been patched by the latest updates. Check that you have the newest version of every program you need.

Keep others off your work devices. It’s not that you’re being mean, you just never know if your roommate or child might accidentally go to a site or download something that could compromise your entire system. It’s better to be safe than sorry on this front.

14. Limit social media

It’s easy to get caught up on Facebook when you’re at the office, and it’s even easier when working from home. Of course, while much of the country and world is sheltering in place, social media is a vital tool for communicating with and checking on the welfare of family and friends.

So, while it’s understandable that you might be on social media a little more frequently due to the COVID-19 pandemic, try to limit your posting and responding to others during work hours to what’s most important, and let the rest wait until later.

15. Try to stay positive

Even if there weren’t a pandemic upending all that was familiar, working remotely for the first time is a challenging adjustment. Not being around people and not getting the change of scenery between home and work can lead to mental and physical fatigue if unchecked. If you’re struggling, cut yourself some slack.

Try not to lose sight of that fact that nobody is perfect, and things are likely to go awry from time to time — and that’s OK. Times are difficult, but this is doable. You’re not alone in learning how to handle every new scenario that’s being thrown at you right now, and it’s important to not be too hard on yourself.

As much as you can, seek out the silver linings. Being reasonably positive-minded, in addition to following as many of these remote work best practices as possible, can help keep your morale and productivity up at the level where you want it.

How to find remote work without leaving the house

roberthalf — Mon, 12 Oct 2020 23:41:25 +0000

How to find remote work without leaving the house roberthalf Mon, 10/12/2020 - 23:41

At a time when businesses are facing unexpected disruptions and in-person meetings are off-limits, anyone who’s been searching for a new job has been thrown a huge curveball. And some professionals who had no plans to change jobs at the beginning of the year are suddenly on the hunt for a new role.

Whatever your situation as a jobseeker, there are big questions about going through the recruitment process without ever being in the same room as a potential new employer — and without leaving home. Is that even possible?

The good news is that, though your job search will look a little different right now, you can still press on.

Thankfully, technology is making it easier for people to look for work from home and companies to recruit remotely. While finding, landing and starting a job with no in-person contact is rare, each element of an all-digital job search has at least some precedent — and a set of best practices to guide you.

Here’s how to find remote work:

Find your best opportunities

Let people know you’re on the hunt for a new role. They may be aware of companies looking for talent — and might even be able to talk you up to hiring managers. Also, ask colleagues on LinkedIn for endorsements and recommendations (and remember to offer to do the same for them).

Get help from the specialists

Working with specialised recruitment firms like Robert Half is another part of the answer to the question “How to find remote work?”. Staffing agencies have their finger on the pulse of the hiring market and workforce trends. This built-in knowledge makes them a great resource for helping you find a job under uncommon circumstances.

In fact, no matter what the circumstances, staffing agencies can help make your job search easier. Once they know your skillset and work preferences, recruiters can not only recommend you directly to hiring managers, they also have close connections with local employers, often hearing of open jobs before they’re posted publicly, if they’re advertised at all.

Getting in first can be quite an advantage, especially when you have someone advocating on your behalf.

Make the call

Once an employer takes interest in your resume and cover letter, a phone interview is standard for kicking off the evaluation process. You may have done several of these before, but that’s no reason to take this step for granted.

Dress the part

Sure, the hiring manager won’t see you, but dressing for a phone interview the same way you would for an in-person meeting instils confidence and helps you come across as the capable professional you are.

Find a quiet place

Make sure the room where you take the call is free from noisy distractions — kids, pets, outside commotion and everything else. You don’t want to spend your time apologising for the background noise.

Speak up

This doesn’t mean yelling into the phone, but speak clearly, articulately and professionally. Answer with, “Hello, this is _____,” and thank the hiring manager for their time.

Don’t rush your speech and end up tripping over your words. And smile. While this may sound trite or even pointless, it really does help convey a positive tone. Thank them again when the call is ending.

Prepare yourself

A phone interview shouldn’t get into the nitty-gritty — it’s usually fairly brief. But do your research on the company and position ahead of the call, and keep your notes handy while you’re on the phone. A reference here and there to the company’s projects or history and an insightful question to the interviewer can help you make the cut to the next round.

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Be a video star

Video interviews are now common and may even become the norm for a while. The most important thing to do is treat them exactly as if you were in the same room with the hiring manager. Many of the tips for phone interviews apply — speak clearly, find a quiet spot — but there are more layers to consider.

And keep in mind that when it comes to discovering how to find remote work, video will likely be your primary tool from this point on, including all interview stages (possibly meeting with multiple people at once) and when you get the job offer and negotiate salary and benefits. Being prepared is essential.

Test your tech

Set up a video call with a friend or family member at least a day or two ahead of time. Use the same video platform you’ll use for the interview to make sure it works well with your laptop or tablet (avoid using a smartphone if at all possible). Check for audio levels, good lighting, a strong Wi-Fi signal and camera placement. Set your camera so it’s level with or slightly higher than your head for a professional-looking angle. (You don’t want the hiring manager looking up your nose!) Also ensure your face is well-lighted (natural lighting works best) and you have a clutter-free background.

Join early

If the platform allows you, log in for the interview 5-10 minutes before the start time. This ensures your tech is working properly at the critical moment — and can help you work through any nervous jitters before the interview starts.

Dress up (again)

Dressing right is even more important than for a phone interview since the hiring manager will now see you. Suit up — fully. Don’t try to pull the shorts or sweatpants trick, or you could undo all your hard work in getting to this point if you have to stand up or accidentally lean too far back in the camera frame.

Make video eye contact. In video calls, your natural tendency is likely to look at the other person’s face. To you, you’re looking them in the eye, but to them, you’re looking down. Especially while they’re talking, spend most of the time looking right into the camera. Then you’ll be looking them in the eye — and establishing a stronger connection with them by doing so.

Beware your body language

Wherever you sit for the video interview, make sure you maintain a professional posture, exactly as if you were in a chair across from the hiring manager. And your facial expressions can convey your interest and engagement to the interviewer, especially when they’re talking.

Have solutions ready

If you’re seeking a job where you’ll actually be working remotely, either permanently or temporarily, show that you have a plan for staying in touch with your colleagues and key stakeholders, and how you can navigate the potential pitfalls of not being there in person (see below). If you have confidence that you can make it work, that goes a long way toward giving potential employers the same assurance.

Start up by staying connected

What many professionals may be less accustomed to is starting a job remotely. You landed the position, but you’ve had zero face time with your new team members, the IT staff and, well, anyone who wasn’t in your interviews. It can feel like you’re alone in unfamiliar territory. But you’re not.

Make sure you have a direct line to IT, admins and anyone else who can help you get set up remotely or call on in case problems arise. Especially in the first weeks, try to connect via video whenever possible so people see your face, expressions and mannerisms. This helps them get to know you and establish a personal connection.

Stay in regular communication with as many people as is practical. In addition to recurring team or project meetings, set up one-on-one calls — audio and video — with your supervisor and any team members you’ll be working closely with. And make at least some of these touch-base calls weekly, at least with your most frequent collaborators.

Messaging platforms like Skype can be crucial during when working remotely. Whichever platform the company uses, have it open at all times and visible whenever possible so you don’t miss alerts.

Be an active chatter. Don’t just passively watch everyone else communicate. Send messages to ask quick questions about a project or company standards, update people on your progress, and respond to others’ messages frequently to keep yourself visible and involved in the conversations. Do the same with email and any other ways the team keep in touch.

How to find remote work?

The two most important factors for all-online job searches are communication and professionalism. Stay in touch using all channels at your disposal, and treat every typed, audio and video interaction as if you’re all in the same room. You’ll not only feel more connected to your new team and company, you’ll actually be so.

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