Over the past eight months, the corporate world has flocked from brightly lit open-plan offices to the safe haven of Zoom. Morning commutes are slashed, employees are negotiating million-dollar corporate budgets from the comfort of their bedrooms, and after-work happy hours have huddled into Zoom rooms with zany backgrounds. It’s a tough transition, and research tells us it isn’t a temporary shift: according to Global Workplace Analytics, “25-30% of the global workforce will be working from home multiple days a week by the end of 2021.” With change on the horizon, it’s imperative for professionals young and old to invest in building habits and skills that present their best virtual selves to employers and colleagues.
Essential Equipment
A tidy Zoom presence hinges on up to date hardware. First thing’s first: update Zoom. Then, ensure the webcam on your computer, laptop, or tablet is high quality and clear (check by starting a new meeting room in your Zoom client!). Typically, an HD webcam (720p or higher) should do the trick. If you’re in need of an upgrade, check out this comprehensive guide from Wirecutter. A good microphone is also a must-have for crisp sound quality, whether it’s built-in or external: here’s a handy guide to optimizing your microphone set-up from DIY Video Studio! Finally, if you’re a manager working with a large team, a student taking tons of class, or a client-facing employee, chances are you’re spending many consecutive hours in your digital workspace. To save your back, try investing in an ergonomic desk chair. Once you’re equipped with the essentials, turn your eye to your workspace. Here are some questions to ask yourself before you hop online and let the world into your room: is your room/office tidy? Are they well-lit? Are the walls and background professional? If you can answer yes to all of the above, you’re ready to make a good impression online.
Act [and dress] the Part
You may be working from home, but you’re still at work. It’s essential that you dress the part. So if you’re interviewing or presenting, you’re still dressing to impress. Even if it’s business as usual, look to your managers to set the tone and formality (and if you’re not sure what’s appropriate, ask). Whatever the job, choosing workwear over sweats can help you focus, be more productive, and retain a sense of normal.
And while it might go without saying: though you’re on your computer, the people in front of you on Zoom should still be your number one priority. It might be tempting, but avoid browsing the internet, checking emails, catching up on assignments, and responding to texts. Splitting your attention will lead to information gaps, and chances are your co-workers will take notice if your eyes are darting up and down Etsy. Pre-call, try minimizing your internet windows and switching your phone to do-not-disturb (bonus points for leaving it in a different room). Finally, remember to take breaks. Sitting in front of a computer screen for hours at a time can be both physically and mentally straining, so build time in-between calls to stop, stretch, and snack. Go outside to get some fresh air, listen to music to keep your brain fresh, or try meditation. And if outside isn’t in the cards, check out these at-your-desk workouts from Very Well Fit!
Communication & Etiquette
While Zoom has brought international video-collaboration to the mainstream, in doing so, it’s opened the door for muting snafus, waiting-room-foibles, and technical difficulties galore. To ensure you’re hearing your team members, absorbing the meeting essentials, and respecting everyone’s thoughts and time: mute responsibly, keep an eye on the gallery in case co-workers are dying to jump in, and make judicious use of Zoom chat for questions.
So you got a snazzy microphone, you dressed to the nines, you silenced your phone, you muted your mic, and then your computer froze mid-meeting: what now? After your call is complete—follow-up! Now more than ever, intentional communication and follow-up through email and Slack are essential to avoid key details slipping through the cracks. At the end of the day, it’s on the employee to be more diligent than ever. So step up!
For even more insight into proper Zoom etiquette and strategy from the source itself, check out the Zoom “How-To” Blog!
The Benefits of A Virtual World
Transitions may take work, but there’s always a silver lining. An increasingly digitized workplace provides amazing freedoms like nonexistent commutes, lunchbreaks in your own kitchen, and the coveted ability to work from anywhere in the world with an internet connection. Above all, a shift to remote work provides access to a smorgasbord of international work opportunities. In our own experience with Ampersand’s first Beta Cohort, we’ve connected students from California, Louisiana, Texas, and beyond with internships a country away. Location is no longer a barrier. Moral of the story: put in the work to make a strong digital impression, and the work-from-home frontier can open doors you never expected.
