{"id":5649,"date":"2020-04-01T18:04:01","date_gmt":"2020-04-01T17:04:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cybersmart.com\/?p=5649"},"modified":"2021-10-01T10:57:17","modified_gmt":"2021-10-01T10:57:17","slug":"cybersmarts-remote-team-a-new-approach-to-onboarding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cybersmart.com\/blog\/cybersmarts-remote-team-a-new-approach-to-onboarding\/","title":{"rendered":"CyberSmart’s remote team: a new approach to onboarding"},"content":{"rendered":"
Starting a new job can be nerve-wracking at the best of times. Who do I go to with IT questions? What’s the code for the printer? Is that a bottle of Veuve Clicquot on your desk?<\/span><\/p>\n Ben Koppelman, CyberSmart\u2019s new Research and Innovation Lead, faced some slightly different challenges this week as our first employee to undergo a completely remote onboarding as our team continues to adapt to its new work environment during COVID-19.<\/span><\/p>\n Today we get Ben\u2019s reflections on getting to know his coworkers virtually (<\/span>\u201c<\/span>I have no idea if anyone in fact wears trousers. Maybe it’s pants only?\u201d) and speak with our Chief Operating Officer, Dennis Palmer, about CyberSmart\u2019s onboarding process in the time of remote working.<\/span><\/p>\n Just like in person, providing remote new starters with the tools they need to work and collaborate effectively is a key part of the onboarding process. As a \u2018remote by design\u2019 company, Dennis says most of these procedures functioned as they normally would. Each new joiner is issued with a laptop fully configured and tested to enable voice and video calls plus a pre-loaded diary with their induction invitations.<\/span><\/p>\n This was especially important jumping right into a remote setup. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201c<\/span>I was reassured by all the kit I was given including a new laptop,\u201d says Ben. \u201cI’m having problems with my own computer at home (it’s a bit old) and so it was good to feel confident that all the virtual meets could go okay.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Thankfully, we are all getting a hang of this remote thing together (if you haven’t heard yet, CTRL-SHIFT-U is the shortcut to unmute. You’re welcome).<\/span><\/p>\n \u201c<\/span>The biggest challenge is the lack of immediate physical introductions. We covered this by insisting that all the induction sessions were conducted using video calls that gave all participants the opportunity to \u2018see\u2019 each other,\u201d says Dennis.<\/span><\/p>\n Of course, adds Ben, \u201cit\u2019s always easier to read people in person and understand existing relationships- in-jokes, personalities\u2026and<\/span> I was wary about technical glitches but pleasantly surprised that Google Hangouts proved to be reliable with the right functionality.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\nThe Setup<\/h3>\n
Getting to know you<\/h3>\n