Jessica Howington* shares seven simple tips to help employees stay front of mind for promotions when working in a virtual office.
While working from home may provide you with the flexibility you need, maybe you have concerns about potential career growth.
After all, without being face-to-face with your boss, how will they know how hard you’re working every day?
And how can you stay top of mind when it comes to promotions or a raise?
Here are a few simple tips you can implement to impress your boss from the virtual office.
- Check in
By working from home, you can cut a lot out of your workday—stress, a long commute, unproductive working hours, and more.
However, one thing that shouldn’t be cut out is a check-in with your boss.
Make sure to stay in contact regularly.
This can be through email or a chat platform, but to make a bigger connection, set up a regular time to talk with your boss.
Weekly or biweekly one-on-ones are a great way to keep communication flowing and share information.
- Face time
The whole out-of-sight, out-of-mind concept is a common challenge when working from home.
However, there are several methods to get in some face time.
For those that are working a hybrid job, putting in a bit of time at the office or a conference when your boss is present can help create this space.
If the company is fully remote, videoconferencing software is a great way to get in some face time, or even a yearly retreat to reconnect in person.
- Connect with the team
Making contact with your boss is essential, but by also making contact with your colleagues, you are sending a message to your boss that you are a part of the team and invested in the team’s success.
Additionally, connecting with your teammates allows for a better working environment for all parties involved.
A strong, cohesive, and collaborative team is necessary to be successful when working from home.
- Get to know your teammates
Don’t just make networking connections, make real personal connections.
Take the time to set work aside and learn more about your boss and coworkers, and share some of yourself with them as well.
Making a more emotional and personal connection will create better work relationships (even friendships!) and help your boss remember you when you work from home.
- Take initiative
A big part of working from home is getting your work done without others telling you to do it.
Simply taking initiative and doing both large and small tasks assigned to you without being asked leaves a lasting impression.
Your boss learns to trust you and can see firsthand your ability to successfully deliver results.
When in doubt, ask questions.
Taking initiative to learn sends a strong message to your boss as well.
- Be proactive
As an at-home worker, you need to be proactive when it comes to spotting problems and creating solutions.
When you spot a problem, think of the different ways it could be solved or processes streamlined.
Then, present it to your boss.
Showing up with solutions, rather than problems, should be the goal.
Sometimes, however, this isn’t realistic, and that’s OK!
- Timeliness matters
Whether it is work assignments, videoconferences, phone calls, or simple emails, be prompt and timely.
Your boss will be left with a good impression if they know they can count on you to show up on time and put forth your best effort.
When you aren’t able to be as timely as you normally are, make sure to communicate openly with your boss.
Impress the boss from your virtual office
As a remote employee, your boss won’t see you every day.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t put your best foot forward! By being timely, checking in regularly, and taking initiative, you can stay top of your boss’s mind come promotion time.
*Jessica Howington is the Senior Content Manager for the award-winning site FlexJobs.
This article first appeared at flexjobs.com
