Lockdown Reflections - Starting a new job in a pandemic

One year on from lockdown we have asked a number of staff to reflect on the challenges and opportunities of the last year. In our final article, Laura Penman, a solicitor in our Immigration team, reflects on the challenges of trying to relocate to Edinburgh from London and start a new job during these challenging times.

I joined Drummond Miller in January 2021 as a solicitor in the immigration team. My initial plan for my first day was to go into the office to collect my laptop as I planned to be in Scotland for the holiday period. However, another national lockdown meant I started my new job from my home in London, spending my first morning of work eagerly awaiting the arrival of the delivery of my laptop.

I qualified in September 2020 in London. Having lived and worked in London for 8 years, I planned to move back to Scotland after qualifying as a solicitor. I was extremely fortunate to secure a role with the firm’s immigration team shortly after qualifying, setting the wheels in motion for my move north. However, as I write this I am still in London, I have not been to the office nor have I met any of my colleagues in person.

Starting a new job always comes with a mixture of excitement and nerves in anticipation of entering a new working environment. However, this is intensified, and somewhat surreal, when you experience it exclusively from your home.

I was nervous about how I would be able to learn the new systems and processes of a new firm, make connections with my new colleagues away from the office and manage my caseload all from home. Thankfully, my experience has been positive on the whole as both the firm and my team have been incredibly supportive and understanding of my peculiar circumstances.

Here are a few things I have learned starting a new job during a pandemic:

Everyone is understanding of the challenges you are facing

The immigration team, the firm’s support teams and the firm, in general, have been wonderfully understanding, supportive and helpful in integrating me into the firm. During my first week, I had several zoom calls with various people in the firm to receive training and general information about the firm and the new systems and processes. All of my new colleagues were very understanding about the odd circumstances surrounding my start with the firm and all offered to help with anything, whether it was related to their role or not. Having everyone acknowledge the additional hurdles I was facing from starting work at home made me feel very supported.

Just ask

Following on from the above, don’t be afraid to take people up on their offers to “just ask” if you don’t understand something/can’t find something/aren’t sure what something means, etc. The countless little questions we ask at the start of a new job don’t seem as disruptive when we are asking in passing or turning to our desk neighbour. However, when having to actively call or email colleagues to ask a question, you will worry a question is “silly” and you might feel like a burden. However, those kind offers to “just ask” are genuine and I have found that everyone has been more than happy to answer my numerous questions. Plus, it better serves everyone to ask a quick question than to sit at home alone struggling to find the answer yourself and growing frustrated.

Communicate and connect with people

One of the biggest challenges in starting a job remotely is the loss of daily interaction with your colleagues. More than just work social events, those small moments of chit-chat in the kitchen while making a cup of tea or en route to the photocopier are non-existent when we are all working remotely. To alleviate this, not just for myself but the whole team, we have been having weekly zoom calls to catch up on case-working matters as well as a general catch up on our lives. Although this is no substitute for in-person connections, I would encourage anyone in my position to join in virtual socials and events to establish a relationship with colleagues which is more than a few email exchanges.

Be kind to yourself

I am often my harshest critic, especially when it comes to working. However, in these circumstances, you have to extend the understanding you would give to anyone else to yourself. Avoid getting frustrated when you do not immediately understand the new internal systems and processes. Every new job has a period of learning and adapting, and it may seem never-ending when working alone from home, but eventually, you will become accustomed to your new role. So in the meantime, be kind to yourself and don’t apply any unnecessary pressure on yourself.