What is one tip for recent graduates entering this increasingly popular hybrid workforce?
To help you enter the hybrid workforce, we asked HR leaders and small business owners this question for their best advice. From flaunting remote working skills on your resume to asking interviewers about work environments, there are several tips that may help you break into the new hybrid workforce as a recent graduate.
Here are fourteen tips for recent graduates entering the new hybrid workforce:
- Flaunt Remote Working Skills on Your Resume
- Consider the Lifestyle You Want
- Make Connections
- Police Yourself to Stay Focused
- Stay Up-To-Date on Digital Work Tools
- Be Prepared to Work Harder to Earn Your Boss’s Trust
- Find a Mentor
- Apply to Jobs Regardless of Location
- Consider In-Person Positions
- Be Prepared to Learn
- Read all Training Materials and Ask Questions
- Polish Your Writing Skills
- Look for Teams that Collaborate Across Departments
- Ask Interviewers About Work Environments
Flaunt Remote Working Skills on Your Resume
My tip for recent graduates entering the hybrid workforce is to mention your remote work skills on your resume as well. I know you try to brag about the expertise you have achieved, projects you have completed, and rewards you have earned. But, don’t forget to mention your hybrid or distributed work expertise. How you can manage a remote team or work in a remote work environment and how you can maintain your productivity in the hybrid ecosystem are a few attributes to mention on the resume. The hybrid work model is going to stay here for long and you need to prove to your employer that you are comfortable and suitable to sustain in this kind of ecosystem.
Caroline Lee, CocoSign
Consider the Lifestyle You Want
Consider what kind of lifestyle you want, and whether you want to work in an office or at home. You could also consider whether you want to work some days in an office and some days at home. As you are applying to jobs, make sure to find more details about the work models of these jobs. Then you will be able to assess which jobs will work better with the lifestyle that you want.
Matt Miller, Embroker
Make Connections
One of the most important tips for graduates, or anyone, entering into the hybrid workplace is to make and maintain quality relationships at work. It is so easy to stay isolated in your own bubble when working from home, but challenge yourself to interact or work with one new person on your team each week. This is a great way to immerse yourself in the company culture, build relationships for the future, and show to your team how valuable you are as a teammate.
Joe Spector, Dutch
Police Yourself to Stay Focused
With people working from home, being able to police yourself and stay focused will be more and more important. It can be easy to get distracted while working from home, so staying aware of how often you are getting distracted will help you be a better employee in the long run. Eliminate things that can cause you to lose focus and decrease your productivity from your workspace. Keep your workspace organized so you can easily find what you need to get your work done.
Brett Sohns, LifeGoal Investments
Stay Up-To-Date on Digital Work Tools
Since the pandemic began, there has been a huge demand for remote work software solutions. Learn about innovative digital work tools that you can incorporate into your virtual workspace to increase productivity. You’ll really come off as an experienced employee when you share your expertise with your team and managers. TheVerge.com is one of my favorite websites for staying up-to-date on the latest tech trends.
Stephanie Venn-Watson, fatty15
Be Prepared to Work Harder to Earn Your Boss’s Trust
Employers today are more accustomed to managing on-site teams, and many of those in charge of hybrid workplaces are new to handling remote staff. In such a situation, I’ve observed some skepticism among managers of WFH employees about their reliability, with some going as far as comparing remote work with paid vacation. While seasoned workers may have established a good relationship with their direct reports and working off-site might not be as problematic for them, I think recent grads will have to work harder to get their bosses to trust them.
I strongly recommend that new employees at hybrid workplaces stay available online during work hours, be prompt in answering questions, and make an extra effort to participate in group discussions and meetings to reassure their managers about their activity. Similarly, trusting your employer, manager, and supervisor is equally important to stay engaged and productive in the long term.
Anjela Mangrum, Mangrum Career Solutions
Find a Mentor
Recent graduates should look for a mentor that can guide them to success. Some new hires may feel out of place and unsettled in a remote/hybrid work environment. This is especially true for entry-level workers as this may be their first job out of college. An employee that can show them the ropes of the company’s mission, values, and method of working will not only help them get acclimated but make them feel like a part of the team. Daily Zoom calls, as well as weekly in-person meetings, will be extremely beneficial in the beginning stages, and can then transition to every other week or monthly get-togethers. Everyone should feel included in the workplace – and a mentor can lead the way.
Sara Adam Slywka, Nestig
Apply to Jobs Regardless of Location
Don’t let location deter you from applying for opportunities. Businesses are increasingly satisfied with hiring a remote employee, if that applicant shows great potential. With hybrid models increasingly becoming normalized, location is no longer the deterrent it once was for hiring. So don’t be shy when applying for positions–as long as you feel qualified and the position looks appealing, you should send in an application.
John Jacob, Hoist
Consider In-Person Positions
Recent graduates should not assume that remote work is best for them. Those in-person, spur-of-the-moment conversations that happen in an office setting are almost impossible to replicate on Slack channels or Zoom meetings. Some companies, like ours, insist on employees being present whenever possible. College graduates should embrace such an opportunity because there is no better experience than being around experienced individuals with different points of view. In an office setting, you’re more engaged and more motivated, and you don’t miss critical conversations that happen when the camera isn’t on. You’ll wind up being a more effective worker in the office.
Scott MacDonell, Bambee
Be Prepared to Learn
The job market is changing and with it, the way we work. With so many new opportunities in the hybrid workforce, it’s important to be prepared to learn new things on the job. This means being open to new technologies and ways of working and being ready to hit the ground running on day one. In a hybrid workforce, you need to be proactive in order to get ahead, take every opportunity that comes your way, and use it as a learning experience. Keep an open mind and be willing to work hard and you’ll be successful in this new type of workforce.
Peter Lucas, Relocate to Andorra
Read all Training Materials and Ask Questions
The best advice for recent graduates entering the remote workforce is to read everything relating to a new job from start to finish and ask questions when appropriate. A new handbook, training manual, etc. is one’s most important tool with remote work. Taking in as much information as possible about the role and supplementing it with questions when a meeting does occur ensures the best understanding of the new position. Curiosity from a new employee will never be frowned upon.
Loic Claveau, Prometeus Labs
Polish Your Writing Skills
Working in a hybrid environment means that you will certainly communicate with a part of your team solely online. This is why improving your written communication skills is essential. From writing formal emails to managing to convey your point clearly and concisely, it all makes a difference in communication where nonverbal cues are removed.
Georgi Todorov, thrivemyway
Look for Teams that Collaborate Across Departments
“Could you give some examples of how my role impacts other roles or departments on the team?” This interview question will help a recent graduate discover if different departments are working well with one another despite all of the recent changes. With hybrid work, many departments are siloed from each other, which can cause confusion or tension. It’s best to try to enter a role knowing that product, design, sales, marketing, etc. are all working fluidly. The applicant can also ask how team wide decisions are made, and how major changes are announced. These questions will also show the interviewer that you are invested in the company overall.
Carla Andre-Brown, Mailbird
Ask Interviewers About Work Environments
While hybrid work models have become more common these days, this is not to say that every company has mastered the art of managing a hybrid work environment. When you are interviewing for a job with a hybrid work model, ask the interviewer questions such as “What is the work environment like?” and “How much are remote employees included?” so that you can get a sense of what it would be like working at this company, whether in person or remotely.
Drew Sherman, Carvaygo
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