Madison Mills, Editor.
My first co-op term was anything but conventional. I imagined I’d be waking up on my first day, putting on my new blazer, and picking up a coffee on my morning commute. In reality, the only coffee I was drinking that morning was freshly brewed by my mom’s Keurig.
Due to COVID-19, my first co-op at Taste of Nova Scotia was adapted to be a remote position. Despite its initial challenges and technical difficulties, I learned how to be a successful co-op student while working from home.
Stick to your morning routine
Start your day with a routine as if you were heading to the office. Get out of bed early, get dressed, and take some time to review what you’re working on. This helps wake you up and keeps you motivated.
Designate a workspace
Having a space dedicated to your work is necessary while working from home. Not only does it help separate work from play, but it keeps you organized.
Create a schedule
It’s easy to get stuck in the mindset that you should be working 24/7 when you’re working from home. To combat this, create a daily schedule similar to one that you would have if you were in the office. Make sure to schedule in short breaks and don’t forget to take your lunch break away from your workspace!
Stay connected
Something I struggled with during my co-op was creating connections with my co-workers online. Don’t be afraid to reach out to your team with questions and concerns when necessary – they want to help you!
Speak up
Similarly, make sure you take initiative as you would in the office. During meetings, volunteer to help with projects and always ask if there is anything you can do to help your co-workers. While it is harder to see what people are working on when everybody is working remotely, it makes it that much more important to take the initiative to get involved.
Working from home provides a valuable experience, and if done right it can be extremely successful. Using these tips, you’ll manage to impress your employers from the comfort of your own home.
