How do you prepare for virtual or hybrid work?

1 Assess your skills and goals

Before you apply for a virtual or hybrid role, or request one from your current employer, you need to evaluate your skills and goals. What are your strengths and weaknesses as a remote or hybrid worker? How do you communicate, collaborate, and manage your time and tasks? What are your career aspirations and how do they align with the expectations and culture of the organization? These questions will help you identify your areas of improvement and showcase your value proposition.

2 Research the organization and role

Once you have a clear idea of your skills and goals, you need to research the organization and role you are interested in. How do they approach virtual or hybrid work? What are their values, vision, and mission? What are the main responsibilities and challenges of the role? How do they measure performance and provide feedback? How do they support learning and development? These questions will help you understand the fit and potential of the opportunity.

3 Prepare your tools and space

Another important aspect of preparing for virtual or hybrid work is to ensure that you have the necessary tools and space to work effectively and professionally. This includes having a reliable internet connection, a suitable device, a headset or microphone, and any software or platforms that the organization uses. You also need to have a dedicated and comfortable workspace that is free of distractions and noise. This will help you create a positive impression and avoid any technical or environmental issues.

4 Practice your communication and presentation skills

Virtual or hybrid work requires excellent communication and presentation skills, as you will need to interact with different audiences and formats. You need to practice your verbal and non-verbal communication skills, such as speaking clearly, listening actively, using appropriate tone and language, and maintaining eye contact and posture. You also need to practice your presentation skills, such as using visual aids, engaging your audience, and handling questions and feedback. This will help you demonstrate your confidence and competence.

5 Build rapport and trust

One of the biggest challenges of virtual or hybrid work is to build rapport and trust with your colleagues, managers, and clients. You need to show that you are reliable, accountable, and collaborative, as well as friendly, respectful, and supportive. You can do this by being proactive, responsive, and transparent in your communication, by delivering high-quality work on time and within budget, by acknowledging and appreciating others' contributions, and by seeking and offering feedback and guidance. This will help you establish and maintain positive relationships.

6 Seek opportunities and challenges

Finally, to prepare for virtual or hybrid work, you need to seek opportunities and challenges that will help you grow and advance in your career. You need to be flexible, adaptable, and curious, as well as willing to learn new skills and take on new responsibilities. You also need to be proactive, innovative, and resourceful, as well as ready to solve problems and overcome obstacles. You can do this by exploring new projects, initiatives, or roles, by networking with different people and groups, and by asking for feedback and mentoring. This will help you showcase your potential and value.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?