Landed a remote job? Congrats! Let’s help you put your best (virtual) foot forward.

A remote job can change your life. Why? It offers you tons of flexibility, no commute (unless your bed to your desk counts!), and the opportunity to create a better work-life balance, among a ton of other benefits too.

So if you’ve landed a remote job recently, or you want to improve the quality of your role communication-wise, we’ve come up with a guide to help you stay connected in the world of remote working.

Here are 5 simple yet practical ways to keep your remote working communication on point.

1. Does it need to be a meeting…?

Meetings are valuable, particularly if the topics involve intensive planning, discussion, or large groups of people. 

However, if you know you and the team are having a particularly busy period, why not assess whether the talking points can be communicated over a work messaging platform or email instead? 

Things that could be passed on through written communication, as opposed to a meeting, include:

• Daily work updates
• Technical questions (be open to hopping on a call if it’s complicated, though)
• Attachments to your work
  • We recommend email for this so it’s easier to trace. But again, be open to a call if you have to talk through your process.

2. Read your written communication out loud

Honing your writing skills in a remote job is imperative. Why? You need to be super clear, but not come across as insensitive at the same time.

If you’re worried you’re coming across too blunt, read your message out loud. Does it make sense? How would you react if someone asked you the same thing? 

Always aim to strike a balance when communicating a task or asking a question. For example, if you need something, ask what it is you need and if the deadline you need it for can be met or if they require any support. This shows your willingness to be a team player while communicating your needs.

Additionally, if you require help, instead of saying “Can you help with X”, soften the message slightly: “Can you help with X? Let me know what time works best for you”.

3. Add some casual chit-chat

We’re all human with very human lives! Show interest in what the other person has planned for the weekend, or share a little joke here and there. We understand that work-related discussion will take up the majority of your day, but by building rapport with others, you become far easier to approach and improve relationships with others.

If this isn’t possible on calls, ask your HR or internal comms manager to have channels set up to share fun and lighthearted things. Here at SB, we have a dedicated “share your pets” channel, among many others to share a variety of interests.

4. Be proactive

It’s easy to fall into the trap of waiting for the next instruction. Or, if you have downtime, you might just crack on rather than find ways to improve your workflow or the job at hand.

Show your team you’re proactive by offering to take the next step or sharing something that could help others. This could be news on best practices, a workflow you’ve set up, or interesting content that could inspire the team.

It doesn’t just have to be about work either. You can be proactive in letting others know in advance when you’re taking time off. Pop it in your calendar so people can be mindful when setting up meetings or messaging during your time off.

5. Be super clear

If you’re submitting briefs or need something, you have to remember that the only cues people have to go off are what you write down or show virtually.

So be sure to follow the three C’s: Clear, Consistent and Concise. Here’s what this can look like in practice:

1. Provide the project name and context around it (what is it for?)
2. List your requirements
3. Provide sources to examples (if applicable — this is great for creative briefs)
4. Provide the final outcomes you need.

We hope this guide has given you lots of info on improving your communication in a remote job setting. Sign up to Student Beans to stay on top of the latest student news and student discounts!