Change can be one of the most challenging things that we do in life. Starting a new job is always difficult but starting a new job during a global pandemic is a whole other story. When starting a new job, there are always things to worry about. What am I going to wear? What will my colleagues think of me? How can I avoid embarrassing myself? Some of these questions remain even when working from home, but some change. Instead of worrying about what I would wear, I may worry about my dog barking during a meeting or if my wall decorations look okay on video. Starting a new job working from home has been a unique experience that has come with both challenges and opportunities.
Figuring out how to communicate effectively while working from home was perhaps the most difficult obstacle to overcome. Working in a different location than your client or colleagues created multiple hurdles. The first hurdle is it’s challenging to effectively communicate. When asking a question, it is simpler to point out your problem to your supervisor, as opposed to describing it, and hoping they can see what you are seeing. It is also easier to communicate with your client about specifics of your requests in person versus email. The second hurdle was not one that I anticipated. Part of the excitement of starting a new job is meeting all the people at your new company. Learning about them, their hobbies, and getting to know their individual personalities. While working from home, you miss creating those connections with your coworkers. Personally, this was a difficulty that I did not anticipate when starting at Selden Fox.
Remote Work Benefits
However, starting at a new job during a pandemic had its positives. Working from home has the benefit of zero-commute time, which is always nice. It also gave me a greater appreciation for when we would be able to go out into the field. Having to go outside and face the bitter mid-western winters is something I would never relish, but when it meant, I would get to work face-to-face with my team members and have in-person interactions with the client, the chilling winters didn’t seem so cold (cheesy, I know, but true!). Chicago traffic is never easy to handle, but only having to deal with it on a limited basis made it much more bearable.
Starting a new job during the pandemic has given me several takeaways. The first is that remote communication can be more problematic than in-person. It takes more effort on everyone’s part to work effectively. The second is to appreciate each day for what it is. Working remotely and in person both have their distinct positives. It is nice to be able to eat lunch at home, and have a 10 second commute, and while working in-person does not have those strengths, in-person opportunities facilitate stronger relationships between your coworkers and clients.
Time Mananagment
The last takeaway I have from my first year at Selden Fox is that there is always something productive we can do with our time. Working as an auditor, especially in the first year, there will be time when a client engagement finishes early. Managing that time to make it productive is beneficial. That time can be spent studying for the CPA, becoming more proficient with software, or researching future clients so that you are better prepared. This global pandemic was tough, and hopefully something that the world never needs to face again. It has given me experience facing challenges I never thought I would face, and I truly believe it has better prepared me for my future.
Article by Kollin Kaczynski who joined Selden Fox in the fall of 2020 as an associate auditor.
