Ben, Lauren and Nazia are first-seat trainees in Corporate, Real Estate and Assets and Structured Finance respectively who joined the firm virtually in August 2020. Starting a new job can be tough at the best of times with partners to impress, legal jargon to learn and colleagues to befriend. How did these new WFW trainees, some fresh from law school, get on?
How did you feel when you knew that the start of your training contract would be virtual?
Nazia
A little bit nervous! The only way I knew some of the other trainees was through the LPC (as I hadn’t done a Vacation Scheme at the firm), so I was nervous that it wouldn’t be easy for us all to get to know each other properly. But on the other hand, the idea of logging off and already being at home was certainly a positive!
Ben
I was apprehensive at first. I had completed the end of the LPC virtually and felt that the Teams' seminars had taken away from group learning and the possibility of meeting other WFW trainees before our induction. Although WFW had moved away from being fully virtual in early August, the fact our year would be the first to have a virtual-ish start was slightly unsettling.
What worked well with a remote induction?
Lauren
Fortunately, the first three weeks were very structured and it was clear a lot of planning and preparation had been done ready for our start. With my trusted timetable, I always knew what I was doing, when, and with whom. Having the Professional Skills Course as part of the induction worked really well because we not only got a law school refresher, but got to know the other trainees better too.
Nazia
I thought the various speakers and hosts were great – so engaging and enthusiastic One of the PSC tutors, in particular, stood out – he was generally really funny and had so many anecdotes from his experience of training City lawyers. He helped break down corporate jargon and explained how the city, its banks and companies operate . I was impressed by the way the sessions were tailored to replicate a real-life classroom with virtual whiteboards and team-based tasks.
What challenges did you face during your induction?
Lauren
Learning virtually will always be a slightly different experience, especially when you’re also trying to get to know so many new names and faces. One challenge of being remote is that you need greater self-motivation and engagement, and also confidence to put yourself out there when in break-out rooms or even to ask questions during virtual presentations. For some reason, it can feel so daunting to un-mute yourself!
Nazia
It took me a while to figure out an effective working-from-home routine that would enable me to focus and interact via a screen all day. Although the latter half of my LPC was delivered online, these classes were only two hours in length – so I underestimated the importance of breaks and lunchtime walks once I was working full-time as a trainee.
How has your first seat been going?
Ben
The best part so far has been the people I’ve met, as this was one of the things I was most nervous about when I learnt I would be starting my training contract remotely. Thankfully everyone has been very friendly and welcoming. My new colleagues have been open to explaining tasks over a Skype or Teams call rather than using email – the chattiness at the start of a call allows you to get to know people better.
Lauren
As everyone had been working remotely for some months before I joined, I felt the firm had good practices in place and people had become used to it and could share their top tips. My colleagues have been really encouraging and often reach out to me on Skype to discuss any work they’re giving me and reassure me that I can do the same. The friendliness of the department translated across all my virtual interactions and I feel really welcomed.
What has been the hardest part of remote working?
Ben
The IT systems were a hurdle for me as, apart from a (very simple) payment system at the pub I used to work at, my exposure to technology had been mostly limited to Netflix. To start with, I was worried about asking too many questions which led me to take 20 minutes even to figure out how to attach something from our document management system to an email. Thankfully, I'm less scared of asking questions and more used to the IT systems now!
Lauren
Because we aren’t in the office, it’s not possible to turn to someone briefly to check my understanding or to quiz them on something I may have overheard. At the beginning of my seat, this often led to overthinking a task, an email or technical issue, all because I was concerned about calling someone up and interrupting them. It’s also quite easy to feel ‘out of the loop’ when working remotely if you haven’t necessarily spoken to someone on Skype that day, which is why it’s important to keep in touch with the people in your team.
Now you’re more settled, how do you strike the right work balance?
Ben
I've enjoyed the flexibility of choosing where to work. I find that changing up my physical surroundings makes me more efficient than if I were to work from the same spot every day. I've tended to go into the office a few days a week (apart from when lockdown restrictions didn’t allow this) and I'd like to continue doing this if flexible working were to stay. However, nothing beats "real life" social interactions; as much as I like my flatmates, it's nice to see new faces.
Lauren
I believe a combination of going into the office and working from home is a good balance for me. To be able to do both at the moment feels like a novelty, and I find that I look forward to my days in the office and at home in equal measure. The office means more socialising, asking questions more easily and being in a focused ‘work’ environment. Being at home allows for added morning walks, lunch-time work-outs and spending more time with my flatmates in the week. However, I’ve noticed that it’s easier to sit at your desk and let the hours creep by when you work from home - especially given it’s dark by 4pm now!
What advice would you give to other new starters joining remotely?
Ben
When you are in the office, make an effort to go around and speak to others when you’re not busy, especially those in different departments. Working from home has meant that it’s not unusual to go without seeing some people for weeks, so I’m trying to make the most of the opportunities for in person interactions I get.
Nazia
Upgrade your WiFi if you can! Like Ben, I would also recommend making an effort to meet and chat to people in person when there is the opportunity to do so, as I think you can learn so much through osmosis. As a trainee, you only have four months to get as much as possible from each seat so working from home means having to be more proactive than usual. Take every opportunity to “meet” people through virtual coffee calls and other social events. When you can, it is also a good idea to block out time for a lunch break as working from home can often lead to a long day with no clear start/stop.
Lauren
Everyone at the firm acknowledges what a bizarre circumstance this is and is understanding of the challenges starting a new job remotely brings. It’s good to develop routines and rhythms when working from home that separate when you work, and when you stop; it really does help to create structure so that you don’t fall into the routine of always being present and available at all hours (although, as with working in the office, there will be times you need to work some long days). Also, a Skype call with someone can go a long way to brightening your day.