Building your network remotely

In this short video, Katy talks about some of the things her employer, RSM UK, put in place for new graduate recruits working remotely.

As you’ve already learned, connecting with colleagues is one of the challenges of working from home and this can be a particular issue for new members of staff, especially those with limited experience of the workplace.

For new graduates, your first few years in work are all about meeting people, building connections and reflecting on how you want your career to develop. In a workplace where everyone is there in person, it’s easier to bump into people in communal areas or meetings and start a conversation.

When many of the staff are working remotely this becomes much more difficult, and you will need to be more proactive about obtaining introductions to the people you want to learn more from.

Building a relationship with your manager

For new graduates in the remote workplace, building an effective relationship with your manager is really important. The Indeed Editorial Team outlines five positive characteristics that are equally relevant whether face-to-face or online. They are:

• Respect
• Empathy
• Appreciation
• Trust
• Helpfulness

Effective communication is key to demonstrating these characteristics, and that is where the challenge lies when working remotely. Regular conversations with your manager, through the use of video conferencing tools, emails or even an old fashioned phone call, are important. Ask if you can have a quick check-in meeting twice a week and use video conferencing if possible so you can get to know each other’s body language and facial expressions as you would if you were meeting in person. This should allow you to build rapport more quickly.

Finding a mentor or buddy

A buddy might be someone who was recently in your shoes as a new recruit and can answer any questions you have about how things work day-to-day, how the team socialises together, etc.

When you’re a new member of staff, a buddy is a good starting point, particularly if you are working away from the employer’s premises, as they can give you the introduction that you would otherwise have had through simply observing what goes on.

A mentor is usually someone more senior who is willing to support your career development within the organisation and perhaps beyond. This could be a useful person to talk to about growing your wider network.

In large companies, there might be a mentor or buddy system in place already, but in a smaller company you might have to ask for it.

Building your wider network

Although it can sometimes feel daunting to introduce yourself to new people, networking is a great way to expand your knowledge of a sector or topic, and you never know when the connections you make might be useful in your future career. You’ll explore how to network in more detail in Week 2.

‘I’ve used lots of tricks to build my network remotely since COVID hit. I’ve joined work-related LinkedIn and Facebook groups, followed interesting people in my sector on Instagram and signed up for any free virtual webinars that I can – making sure I ask good questions and chat with the other attendees. I’ve even been known to contact the occasional YouTuber with a question about their video. It all helps to build connections and get your name out there.’ Parminder, BSc Construction Science

A good tip if you’re keen to expand your network this way is to have your camera on at video conferencing events. If people see your face, they are more likely to respond if you send them a message either during the event or afterwards.

Another useful tactic is to keep in touch with people you were at university with – you never know where they will end up!

Over to you

Take a few minutes to explore the networking events offered by your university’s alumni office. There will be a range of activities, both in person and virtual, ranging from expert-led panel sessions to virtual speed-networking!