Navigating a career path remotely

February 28, 2023

Navigating a career path remotely

Over the past few years, many of us have experienced the conveniences and challenges that come with working remotely. While some companies have begun returning to traditional office settings, others have opted to remain remote. These remote companies fit into two categories: remote first, and remote friendly.

Remote First vs. Remote Friendly

The blog, Ambition & Balance by Doist, notes; a remote-first company doesn’t just allow employees to work remotely—it will empower them to. Remote-first companies make asynchronous communication the default, where employees can check and respond to messages at a time that best suits them in their particular time zone. Meetings, tools, and processes guarantee remote teammates equal opportunities to contribute ideas and access information. In fact, the company may not have an office at all. When it comes to promotions, remote and co-located teammates are all on an equal footing.

In contrast to a remote first work place, VM Ware points out that, “a remote-friendly organization typically enables some employees to work outside of the corporate office for various reasons, but still conducts most of its daily operations in person. A remote-friendly company might allow employees to work remotely a certain number of days a week, or hire remote staff for specific roles, but this is not the overall organization’s primary mode of working.”

InsurePay is a remote first workplace.

Remote First Employees Face Unique Challenges

When working remotely, establishing and maintaining visibility within the company is one of the most difficult things to combat. According to TopResume, it’s important to “build those connections that you need to make yourself a visible presence in the company. By developing meaningful relationships within your company, you can also better combat the remote work isolation that often contributes to burnout.”

Additionally, it’s much easier to get stuck on autopilot and become complacent while working remotely. While some employees are wholly satisfied in their current roles and have no ambition to further their careers, there are others who continually strive for something bigger and better.

So, how does one navigate a career path remotely?

Be Seen & Stay Relevant

The adage, out of sight, out of mind, rings true for remote workers. It’s easy to fall between the cracks in a virtual world. However, it is fully feasible to “climb the corporate ladder” as it were, while working remotely. This can be achieved by having a goal, being visible, and advocating for yourself.

Become your own advocate

Have a clear vision or goal for your career.
Identify with company values.
Maintain open lines of communication.
Connect with your colleagues.
Track your progress.
Discuss your expectations and goals.
Learn new skills.
Be responsive.
Network outside of the workplace.
Boost your value.

Invest in Yourself

Find a mentor who can guide and help you further develop yourself. Whether you’re refining your current skills or learning new ones, a mentor can be a great tool to have in your arsenal. Mentors drive personal growth and can boost your career by helping to unlock your potential.

Be proactive. Ask for what you want and solicit feedback. According to Glassdoor, it’s important to “get ahead of a structured review process by asking for feedback proactively. Inquiring about your performance and asking for feedback helps you grow in your position by giving you a sense of what’s working well and what needs improvement. It also shows your manager that you’re being diligent about evolving in your role.”

Persistence Promotes Success

Not all attempts are successful on the first try. Be persistent. Take a step back and look at the whole situation. Is there room for growth? Areas that need improvement? This is the perfect opportunity to adjust your approach or modify your career goals if circumstances have changed. According to Morning Coach, “being persistent means having to keep on doing things until you achieve success but doing the same thing repeatedly while expecting a different result can prove futile. So you have to incorporate some things in being persistent to ensure that success comes your way.” Trust the process. Sometimes, pivoting from your original plan is all it takes to overcome a challenge and gain the confidence needed to succeed.