Starting a new job can be incredibly daunting, especially if it’s your first job. The hard part is over and done with though. You 

, wrote the 

 and 

, aced your interview, and landed your 

!

Effective communication skills are one of the most important skills employers look for. To make things even more complicated, there are a lot of remote working job roles, and it’s become harder to communicate effectively. Since you have just started, now is the time to figure out what you need to do, to make sure you are making the most of every conversation.

Communicating in person when working in an office should feel a lot more natural than if you’re working remotely and dealing with coworkers online.

Whoever you’re talking to, pay close attention to what anyone is saying. While this might seem like a super obvious thing to do, it can be hard to keep up with things. If you recognise you can’t remember everything you’re being introduced to in your new job, we recommend making notes after every conversation outlining key points spoken about. Always share any ideas or questions you have on what you’re talking about, it displays a proactive interest into the conversation.

Learning about different aspects of your job or your new company through communications, taking on board what others talk to you about, will earn the respect of your colleagues, and will springboard your progression within your team.

Being a responsive team member, and a fast communicator, shows your team your effectiveness and efficiency. If someone sends you a message, or asks you a question, if you have the time to, why not respond straight away. If the response is going to take a fair amount of time, let them know you’re working on it and will get back to them soon.

Prioritise incoming emails and messages if you receive a lot, so then you don’t miss out on replying to something that is important. Whether you’re dealing with emails or instant messages (on slack, teams etc…) respond to messages quickly and try not to leave people waiting for a response.

Keep calm and stay confident in any conversation. It’s definitely easier said than done, especially for those of you in a new job, but we have a few tricks to hold yourself more confidently. Maintain eye contact and hold a straight up posture when you communicate. Engage with what people are saying, and ask any relevant questions. People like to engage with coworkers who have confidence, so it is worth trying hard to develop this.

When you’re engaging with others in the workplace, keep a positive and open attitude. Try to understand your colleagues’ perspectives, and why they have certain opinions. Have empathy and understanding for what they are talking about. If someone is expressing their emotions, acknowledge their feelings and let them have their talk. Try and encourage positivity, and be enthusiastic to share real advice. You’ll receive in return support for when you are finding yourself in tricky situations.

Working remotely makes communicating a little bit different to figure out. Everything’s through emails and instant messages. But whether you’re in an office or working fully remote, digital conversations are key to any business operation.

Now, this is probably easier said than done, especially if you’re someone who doesn’t necessarily like to ask for help, or you don’t want to seem like you’re bothering someone. However, when you’re working from home, you need to make sure that you are kept in the loop with projects at work and what is expected from you.

Especially if it is your first week, make sure you get a good idea of what’s needed from you. Always ask for timelines on tasks, don’t wait around for people to notify you at a later date. Depending on the relationship with your new team, it’s a good idea to send updates on any projects to those involved. Try not to leave people waiting for, and save the chance that they will chase you. This just helps you and the people you work with stay organised and on target, even if you’re not going to be seeing them often.

When you’re messaging your co-workers or your boss, take a clear and concise approach. Proof read all emails and updates you’re giving people, so you save your co-workers from having to wade through loads of information to get to the important info.

Each workplace will have a different way of working and different platforms to use, whether that’s emails, slack, teams messages. Some people might prefer to communicate over email, or others might like to be sent an instant message. Remember, however you talk to your colleagues you should respect people’s boundaries. Most people won’t appreciate being contacted after office hours. If you’re catching up and sending an email out of hours, consider scheduling emails to be sent at 9am the next morning.

If you’re working with people from around the world, be mindful of people in different time zones. The last thing you want is to wake colleagues with work related emails, if it’s in the middle of night in their local time.

It can be hard to portray yourself how you want when you’re sending emails or messages. When we type things instead of saying them body language can get lost in translation, and we can sometimes send the wrong tone of message. Just be mindful of this when sending a message or email, it’s sometimes better to go on the side of caution and professionalism, rather than trying to be the funny one.

Consider setting up calls so that you can get a better idea of what you’re working on, and communicate more clearly. This avoids misunderstanding things, as mentioned in the point above, saving from any wires getting crossed. If you’re working on a project and you need to plan and organise things, give your colleagues a call. You’ll get a much clearer idea of how to move forward, and your colleagues will be impressed with your level of organisation and proactiveness. Additionally, any meetings you are in take notes and keep organised. It can be hard to remember all points mentioned when there’s a lot of info to work through. 

If you’re working a hybrid job, you’ll find it easier to communicate with people, as you’ll see them and be on a more personable level with who you’re talking to.

Keep people up to date of when you’re in the office and when you’ll be working from home. Consider putting these dates on your calendar. Your colleagues will want to know when they can speak to you in person, or if they need to communicate online. Equally, you’ll be able to keep up to speed on when your colleagues are in the office, and when you can set up in person meetings with them. 

When you’re in the office and aren’t working from home, be mindful of people’s time. Hybrid working means when colleagues are in the office, they are likely in for a reason, and prioritising face to face meetings that can’t be conducted when working from home. If you need to see someone in person, it might be worth letting them know in advance so they can schedule their day. Just because they are in the office doesn’t mean that they are always free.

No matter what kind of a job you work, you’re going to need to be a good communicator. Over everything, stay engaged with people and be proactive, no matter whether your job is all remote or fully in person. Communicating skills are something you develop over time. In your new job, don’t stress, you’ll do okay. People are understanding of your situation. It’s a learning process, but these are the basic communication skills that you should stick to when you’re starting your job.

No matter what kind of a job you work, you’re going to need to be a good communicator. Over everything, stay engaged with people and be proactive, no matter whether your job is all remote or fully in person. Communicating skills are something you develop over time. In your new job, don’t stress, you’ll do okay. People are understanding of your situation. It’s a learning process, but these are the basic communication skills that you should stick to when you’re starting your job

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