Remote Onboarding
30/04/2020

A new face on video calls

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Just imagine – you’ve applied for a job, signed the contract and are looking forward to meeting your new colleagues, seeing your new office and getting started. And then comes the coronavirus pandemic. You spend your first working day at home, get to know your colleagues via video call and even your work has suddenly changed.

This is the reality for many people employed by Burda just a few weeks ago. Today, Judith Kokus, Senior Web Analyst at BurdaForward, tells us about joining Burda at this turbulent time. 

How were you welcomed to your new team, what were your first days like at Burda?

“My first week began in the company office, so I did have the opportunity to meet most of my colleagues, at least briefly. I received a lovely bunch of flowers and was provided with technically sound hardware. After that, we moved to home working pretty quickly and all meetings and on-boarding events immediately switched to digital-only.”

What did you expect when you signed your contract, and how did it compare to reality? 

“Actually, one of the reasons I moved to Burda was to have more flexibility in when and where I chose to work. Obviously, I couldn’t have expected things to become so flexible so quickly. My tasks haven’t really changed at all and luckily I can work from home without restriction.”

Did you have to learn any skills in record time to adapt to the new working situation? 

“Quickly switching between work and stand-by mode. My husband and I are looking after our children in shifts, so our working hours are sometimes a little unusual, but our work/life/family balance is great.”

What three things are you missing while working from home, and what three things would you like to take into the office when the pandemic is over? 

“I’m working in my basement at the moment, so I miss daylight. I also miss having informal chats with colleagues and lunches that I haven’t cooked myself. What I like about working from home is being able to focus without major distractions and organising my work in flexible blocks. And I might bring my sitting ball into the office to help maintain my mobility.”

What are you looking forward to the most when we’re all back in the office? 

“A good laugh, lunching together or, even better, going for a beer after work!”

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