Joining a New Company Remotely During COVID-19: New Clion Perspectives
The situation surrounding COVID-19 is fast evolving. In mid-March, that meant Clio, like many companies, made the decision to quickly pivot it’s entire 500-person global team to work remotely to protect employees, their families, and our communities.
As a technology company, Clio was well-positioned to quickly respond to this rapidly changing environment. While the transition hasn’t come without challenges, all Clions have stepped up and adapted remarkably well — particularly hiring managers, people managers, and the new team members whose onboarding experiences were suddenly 100% remote.
In this three part series, we share the perspectives, learnings, and surprises that arose throughout the remote onboarding process from new employees, their managers, and Clio’s people operations team. We hope this helps others navigate change during this time.
Shinead Dsouza (Art Director), Manu Mathew (Data Migration Specialist), and Wren Peters (Junior Product Designer) joined Clio on March 16th for what turned out to be a completely remote new employee onboarding experience. As a Manager of Talent Acquisition at Clio, I spoke with them to hear about their perspectives. Here are their stories:
Rylan: So you signed an offer. You were getting ready to come to the office to start your new job on Monday — and that’s when you got the email letting you know that Clio would be 100% remote, meaning you’d be starting your new job from home. How were you feeling?
Shinead: I was actually away in Tofino the week before my start date. I was pretty removed from the news and updates about COVID-19, and when I got the call informing me that Clio was going remote, the seriousness of the pandemic settled on me. I felt both heavy and relieved at the same time; heavy because I was anticipating serious lifestyle shifts upon returning home, and relieved because Clio was taking the health and wellbeing of its Clions seriously and the health and wellbeing of Clions’ communities seriously. I was a little bummed that I wasn’t going to meet the marketing and marketing design teams in person and was curious to find out how processes, meetings, and workflows were going to adapt to being remote.
Manu: I felt assured that the company had the infrastructure and facilities needed to set me up for success even if I was starting remotely. Although I had questions about how this was going to be done, I trusted the team and was never worried.
Wren: You know, I was actually really excited. I got the phone call on a Friday morning, had my hardware delivered by the afternoon, and put a home office together within the hour. Packed with my work tech equipment was a welcome box full of goodies and a handwritten card that made me feel welcome and appreciated. I figured if the team could be this organized during a time where things were changing by the hour, that I had every reason to feel confident diving into this role remotely, knowing the team had my back.
“I figured if the team could be this organized during a time where things were changing by the hour, that I had every reason to feel confident diving into this role remotely, knowing the team had my back.”
Rylan: First days can often feel like a bit of a blur. How did yours go?
Shinead: My first day was capital ‘A’ awesome. All the teams involved hustled to get themselves set up to welcome a new cohort — including an awesome delivery of all the tech I would need and a welcome package. It felt so seamless that at one point during our afternoon Zoom session, I forgot I was at home! The teams involved made it really easy for us to get our tech set up, participate in online meetings, and ask questions in Slack throughout the day. Day one was also when I received my launch plan from my manager (Clio’s Creative Director). Our launch plans are essentially what our first 30, 60, and 90 days will look like at Clio and mine was so well set up. My manager has and continues to provide tons of support!
Manu: I spent the majority of my first day going through Clio’s online training, setting up accounts and software. I also received a brief introduction to the team members.
Wren: Blurry starts are pretty standard, and my first day was no exception. In between meetings, I answered a few welcome messages and introduced myself to the team. I’ll also admit I got lost a few times trying to find my way through support documentation. However blurry, I don’t think being remote really impacted my day one experience; whether you’re in person or remote, so much of the onboarding experience is done online anyway.
Rylan: Now that you’re two weeks in, what’s stood out to you most?
Shinead: The get shit done attitude. It was truly remarkable to watch the marketing and design teams get right into a remote sprint to get a new project up and running. And, while this was happening, everyone was so supportive of me being the new Clion on the block. Additionally, I was blown away by how rapidly team-building initiatives were put into place to ensure that we didn’t feel isolated or disconnected, such as the internal Morning Cup of Clio video webcast, and the virtual front desk set up by the employee experience team to answer questions, to name a few.
Manu: The welcoming nature of every Clion stood out for me. Even from other departments, Clions proactively reached out to me with a welcome note and an offer to help, which I truly appreciated.
Wren: Hands down, the level of humanity and leadership that everyone has shown is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before. From conversations I’ve had company wide, ranging from conversations with development managers to onboarding specialists, everyone cares deeply about what they do and each other. One of my favourite ways to connect with the team is through our video webcast, Morning Cup of Clio. In just two weeks, I’ve tuned into a surprise concert, trivia, show-and-tell (with an emu, dinosaur teeth, and a giant wrench), and face painting on St. Patrick’s Day. Now that’s how you get a team of 500 people connected and engaged with each other.
“The get shit done attitude. It was truly remarkable to watch the marketing and design teams get right into a remote sprint to get a new project up and running.”
Rylan: What’s been the hardest part of starting fully remotely? How has the team supported you through this?
Shinead: I think I’m stating the obvious when I say this, but it would be nice to have an in-person connection with my team. Being able to hang out and have organic conversations with the design and marketing teams in particular is definitely something I’m looking forward to when we’re back in the office. I love a good desk pop-by or kitchen conversation — moments where you get to talk about your weekend or something that’s going on in your life outside of Clio. Zoom has been a live-saver, and team members have been super willing to meet for quick chats over video! Though, I will say it’s less organic when you’re trying to figure out your bluetooth headphones, or your internet connection isn’t great and is causing a lag, and the ‘oh shoot … I think you froze’ moments. Although that would be hilarious if that happened in real life.
Manu: Sometimes questions can only be addressed when the other person is free. Also, the questions and answers posted in Slack chats could be perceived differently by each person, and having to set up meetings to clear up confusions can be time consuming. However, the team has supported me in getting the clarity I need.
Wren: Naturally, there is something about in-person connection that just can’t be replaced with technology. As an introvert, being remote has really challenged me to not be shy about booking 1:1’s or joining remote meetings. I do some of my best work by hanging out with a few other people in a lounge space, where I can either show someone a quick mockup and get feedback, or simply vibe in quiet productivity together. The design team has done a great job of getting together a few times in a standing Zoom call, where we can riff on projects we’re working on, ask questions, or generally shoot the breeze. Knowing that I can roll into a call and connect with my team without a fixed agenda has been a great way to stave off the remote blues.
Rylan: When this comes to an end and we head back to the office, what are you most nervous about? What are you most excited about?
Shinead: I’m definitely most nervous about booking meeting rooms and using the printer/scanner/copier. Those things are my enemies. I am most excited to generally see people and hang out in person and get to know all the doggos! I’m also excited to get to know my team; I’ve put lots of faces to names and I’m looking forward to learning whether they like coffee or tea; ruled, blank or grid paper (always grid paper); who only wears black; sweet or savory; who uses dark mode … it’s amazing just how many things about a person you can take for granted if you’ve never met them in person!
Manu: I do not think I’m nervous, but I am excited about meeting my fellow Clions and about partaking in Clio’s free daily salad bar.
Wren: When we head back to the office, I anticipate in some ways it will feel like a first day all over again, just in person; I’ll need to figure out where everything is, who to talk to about random things, and where the best snacks are kept. One of the things I’m really looking forward to is spending time with some of the product designers who work out of HQ. Everyone has a different skill set, and I’m really excited to see more of how other designers approach problems and work within their own triads.
Rylan: What would you say to someone who’s thinking of moving to Clio but hesitant to make a move right now?
Shinead: I have never felt more taken care of at a company than I have at Clio. During this turbulent time, Clio has truly put their people first and in turn, their people are truly putting the customer first. This company is an ecosystem of success.
Manu: Clio has put the facilities in place to help you perform the job and be successful. The fact that the company is doing well financially in a tough period across the globe speaks volumes in terms of job security. So, trust the system and take the leap of faith. Clio is one of the best companies I have worked for so far.
Wren: I think now is a great time to consider what kind of environment and support you need to do your best work. From even before day one, I have felt supported by a group of people who are excited about what I can bring to the team, as well as who I am as a person. Remote or not, Clio is a space where you can do some of your best work, and be fully supported every step along the way.
Rylan: Final question; Overall, how has your time at Clio been?
Shinead: All things considered, it’s been a 10/10. To the teams who have completely shifted their processes around in a very short amount of time to flawlessly accommodate newcomers (insert Beyonce gif here), I can’t thank you enough. The design and marketing teams have been so welcoming and, even from a distance, there is a genuine feeling of warmth and support.
Manu: There has been a steep learning curve from the time I started, but my fellow Clions have always been there for me when I need them. In short, it has been a smooth ride so far.
Wren: Honestly, I’m having a blast, and no, they didn’t pay me to say that 😉 I’ve wanted to work at Clio for a long time, and my onboarding experience has in every way validated that desire. The team is caring, smart, customer-focused, and making a big impact in the world. It’s exactly where I want to be.
Did you enjoy the post? Read from the other perspectives, linked below:
Part 1: Joining a Company Remotely During COVID-19: New Clion Perspectives
Part 2: Joining a Company Remotely During COVID-19: Manager Perspectives
Part 3: Joining a Company Remotely During COVID-19: Onboarding Team
