How to Be An Excellent Virtual Employee

4.7 million people, or 3.4% of the US workforce, worked remotely before the novel coronavirus forced U.S. businesses to send their employees home armed with laptops and a Zoom account (U.S. Census Bureau / U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2020). Year to date, 33% of the American workforce now works remotely full-time and 25% part-time (Gallup). 

A growing percentage of companies are already on record that they plan to make up to 10% of their workforce permanently remote post-coronavirus (Statista), and technology companies like Dropbox and Twitter already announcing their share of employees working remotely will be 100%. Throw in the facts that companies save an average of $11,000 when their employees work from home (Global Workplace Analytics, 2020) and remote workers typically earn more money (FlexJobs, 2020) and it is safe to say that working from home is here to stay for the foreseeable future.

Working remotely has its benefits and rewards. Sure, it’s not perfect, especially right now with all the additional challenges posed by Covid-19, but survey after survey reveals that 95% – 98% of remote workers want to remain remote workers (World Economic Forum). If you are working from home, it is important that you learn to do it well and follow basic guidelines so that you can keep your career moving forward. Here are six ways you can do that:

1.    Maintain Visibility. Do not be out of site and out of mind. Resist the temptation to hide behind your computer screen and just respond to emails. Don’t put yourself in a silo. Be task-oriented and keep a steady and open dialogue with managers and co-workers.

2.    Be Accountable. You want your manager to know that you’re not binge-watching Netflix all day. Be proactive. Be on time. Promptly respond to communications. Make deadlines. Track and document your productivity. Go above and beyond.

3.    Carve Out An Office Space. To the best of your ability, make your home office just that – an office. You’re projecting a professional image. It’s a good idea to change out of your pajamas and swap out your fuzzy slippers. Have a printer. Have a desk with a comfy chair. Have a dedicated phone line or cell phone. If at all possible, insulate your home office from noise and distractions.

4.    Increase Your Communication. Your boss can’t see you hammering away in the office – do not assume your company can see all the amazing work you are doing. Assume the opposite and mitigate getting lost in the ether by proactively communicating with your manager(s) and co-workers. Provide regular updates. Advance the idea of formal recurring touch points. The reverse is also vitally important. Strive to know what your managers and co-workers are doing as well.

5.    Be a team player. When working from home, your level of engagement will increase through teamwork with your co-workers, whether it entails working a high-pressure business critical project with a tight deadline, or just day-to-day business. Keep in touch, and be helpful.

6.    Be video friendly. If you’re working remotely, you will be on Zoom or some other conferencing platform. Approach virtual meetings with the same common sense and decorum you would an in-person meeting (“6 Simple Tips to Shine on a Video Interview”).

Philip Roufail contributed to this article.

Scott Singer is the President and Founder of Insider Career Strategies Resume Writing & Career Coaching, a firm dedicated to guiding job seekers and companies through the job search and hiring process. Insider Career Strategies provides resume writing, LinkedIn profile development, career coaching services, and outplacement services. You can email Scott Singer at scott.singer@insidercs.com, or via the website, www.insidercs.com.