Until recently, everyone worked from home and there was a level playing field when it came to getting noticed. With the new federal vaccination mandate coming into force from January 2022, however, employees will have to work in the office again, either full-time or in a hybrid work module.

So where are people working in a completely remote setup?

As of 2021, around 18% of people worldwide will be working remotely, full-time. While there are definitely some advantages – like skipping morning traffic on your commute and not having to worry about what to wear every day – there is also a downside.

While you may be working hard, exceeding expectations, achieving all of your goals, and more, can it be difficult for your boss or supervisor to track your progress? It can be difficult to move forward in your career without having physical contact with top management.

According to a recent study, almost 38% of teleworkers received no bonus and were less likely to be promoted to a virtual workforce. So if you want to stand out, get the praise and promotions you deserve while working remotely, you need to make sure that you and your work are seen and heard. And you must do all of this without sounding arrogant or receiving constant praise to do your job.

Fortunately, we’ve put together some tips and hints to help you stand out from the crowd and get the promotion you deserve, even in a remote work environment.

Build a strong network

As with work in the office, networking is crucial for people to notice you. However, it can be difficult to develop a relationship with your team if you don’t work in the same room and work across zip codes and continents. Here are a few ways you can build stronger relationships with your distant coworkers:

Express gratitude

Everyone likes to feel valued, especially in a remote setup where it’s twice as difficult to get noticed for a job well done. So make sure to thank your co-workers for helping you, however small they may be.

You can go even further and mention how they helped you at your next group meeting. It’s a small gesture, but one that will stick with them and the next time they notice you’re doing a good job, we guarantee that they will be the first person to speak to you. And it’s always much better for someone else to praise your work than to blow your own horn.

Participate in Group activities

In an office setting, people band together after work by going out for a drink or a nice meal. However, building strong bonds can be difficult in a remote company where people rarely stay in the same city. And we get it; Nobody wants to be stuck at the screen after an already exhausting day.

However, it is important to keep in touch with your colleagues beyond work. It’s also important to have regular non-work-related meetings and chats to build a meaningful relationship.

Some companies already have activities to collaborate with colleagues. At Wishup, for example, we have regular group activities on Friday nights – games, quiz nights, or even something as simple as watching a movie or hosting a music night! If your company doesn’t already have a group engagement activity, you can initiate one and earn additional Brownie Points.

Find a mentor

Mentoring is vital to growth in any career area, and working remotely is no exception. Find someone who can guide you and give you solid advice and feedback so you can grow better in your job.

This could be your manager or a senior executive who has experience managing remote employees. Ideally, look for someone who will introduce you to more people in the industry and help you with any opportunities that arise.

Although face-to-face meetings may not be possible, you can schedule regular video calls and still develop a solid relationship with them.

Work on further training

Working from home will save you hundreds of hours in traffic jams and tiresome commutes. Instead, use this time effectively to learn and acquire new skills that will help you grow professionally. While some companies offer in-house workshops, seminars, and courses, it is your responsibility to invest time and effort in your free time as well.

There are many great platforms out there that offer both free and paid courses to help you improve your game – some of my top picks are Coursera and edX.

Take initiatives and ask for more responsibility

Another great way to learn new skills and show initiative in your company is to volunteer in other departments as often as possible. Of course you always have your plate full of your tasks, but working with other teams will help you expand your knowledge, discover new interests and expand your network.

Ask your manager to put you on company-wide projects, or take the initiative and identify areas of your company that could be improved and suggest new projects that could benefit the company. When it comes to working remotely, you need to seize every opportunity that presents itself or create new opportunities for yourself.

Be clear about your goals

A great way to let your manager know about your progress and hold yourself accountable is to let them know of your intentions and goals in the company.

Let them know your goals for the year and how you plan to achieve them. This way, all of your progress will be checked. This will also help you stay more motivated knowing that someone is tracking your performance. In addition, you can schedule weekly / monthly meetings with your manager to discuss the progress of your goals.

When you talk about a promotion, your manager will make a better decision because he or she has been actively involved in your career development.

Track your progress

In a large, completely isolated company, it is often difficult for managers to keep track of everyone’s performance. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it yourself.

Create a weekly ritual in which you write down things you have achieved, goals you have achieved, and everything else that has happened during that work week, including where you feel you are could have done better. This will help you discuss specific points when the time is right for ratings or promotions, and help you understand where you are missing and how you can improve.

You can also use this time to jot down ideas for your department and your business and, when the opportunity arises, to suggest them to your manager.

Play to your strengths

It is challenging to stand out on a team where everyone is doing an exceptional job, and twice as hard in a remote setting because you don’t have personal time with senior management.

One way to stand out is to play to your strengths. Find out what is unique about you and your work style that only you can bring with you. For example, you can be excellent at organizing so you can take the initiative to organize meetings or other events. They could be great at presentations too, so make sure you volunteer the presentations if there is a big client pitch.

It shows management that you are trustworthy and can take responsibility. You’ll also be the first person they think of the next time an important presentation comes up.

Ask the question

You have built your network, shown initiative and taken on more responsibility than you should. You have also documented all the good things you have achieved in your job and are on good terms with your mentor. What’s next?

Sometimes you need to take the first step to start the conversation about a promotion or raise. Ask your manager when is a good time to meet with them.

Also, be prepared for your intentions – what exactly will you ask for, a raise or a promotion? If you ask for a raise, how much? When it comes to a promotion, what exactly would you like to add to your list of daily tasks?

Also, make sure you have a document or presentation to show the work you did to deserve that raise / promotion. If a presentation is not an ossicle, be sure to send your manager your updated resume with all of your recent accomplishments.

Strive for the recognition and advancement you deserve.

While working remotely requires going the extra mile to get noticed, the reward is well worth it. Expand your network, track your progress, look for challenges and opportunities, and develop your skills, and you are guaranteed to grow successfully in your career.

If you are looking to grow in your professional career, register today to be hired as a Virtual Assistant at Wishup by clicking here or emailing us at [email protected].