You did it — you landed your first remote job! Congratulations. But now comes the part nobody warns you about: the slightly disorienting, "where do I even start?" feeling of your first remote week.
There's no office tour. No coworkers stopping by your desk. No team lunch on Day 1. Just you, your laptop, and a growing list of questions like "Am I doing this right?" and "Is it normal that I haven't heard from anyone yet?"
The good news? Your first week doesn't have to be confusing. With the right approach, you can set yourself up for success, make a great impression, and feel confident navigating this new way of working.
This guide breaks down exactly what to do each day of your first remote week — from setting up your workspace to making your first contribution. Consider this your step-by-step beginner's roadmap.
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Your 5-Day First Week Roadmap
Set Up Your Remote Environment
Your first day is all about logistics. Don't stress if you're not given major assignments yet — this is normal. Focus on getting your tech setup perfect.
Morning: Physical Setup
- Create a dedicated workspace. Even if it's just a corner of your bedroom, establish clear work boundaries. You need a space that signals "I'm working" to your brain.
- Gather essentials: Charger, notebook, water bottle, good lighting. Keep your phone on silent unless needed for work.
- Test your internet speed. Run a speed test (fast.com). If it's under 25 Mbps download, consider upgrading or finding a backup café/coworking space for video calls.
Afternoon: Tech Setup
- Test your camera and microphone. Do a test Zoom call with yourself. Check lighting — your face should be visible, not backlit.
- Log into all company tools: Slack, email, project management software (Asana, Trello, Notion), time tracking tools if applicable.
- Add your working hours and time zone to your profile. This is critical. Update your Slack status to show your timezone (e.g., "Sarah · CST · 9am-5pm").
- Bookmark important links: Company handbook, HR portal, team wiki, video call links.
Track everything: Write down every login, link, and tool you encounter. Use our free Application Tracker (repurpose it as a task log) to stay organized from Day 1.
Meet Your Team & Understand Communication
Remote teams communicate differently than office teams. Your job today is to learn the "language" of your new workplace.
Schedule Intro Calls or Send Async Intros
- If your manager schedules 1:1s: Come prepared with questions (see below).
- If it's async-first: Send intro messages in team channels: "Hi everyone! I'm [Name], just joined as [Role]. Excited to be here. I'm based in [City/Timezone] and work [hours]. Looking forward to collaborating!"
Learn Communication Protocols
Every remote team has unwritten rules. Decode them fast:
- Slack vs Email: Which is for what? (Usually Slack = quick questions; Email = formal requests)
- Meetings vs Async: Does your team default to calls or written updates?
- Response time expectations: Are people expected to reply within an hour, or is "end of day" fine?
- Status indicators: Do people actually use "Away" status, or is everyone always shown as "Active"?
Questions to Ask Your Manager
- "What should my first 1-2 weeks look like in terms of deliverables?"
- "How do you prefer I communicate progress — daily Slack updates, weekly email, or something else?"
- "Are there any team rituals or recurring meetings I should know about?"
- "Who should I go to for [technical questions / HR stuff / random blockers]?"
- "Is there a team handbook or wiki I should read?"
Start noting communication styles: Is your manager formal or casual? Do teammates use emojis, or keep it professional? Mirror their tone.
Need help mastering timezone communication? Check out our Timezone Availability Guide for pro tips.
Organize Your Tasks & Clarify Expectations
By Day 3, you should have a clearer picture of what's expected. Now it's time to get organized.
Clarify Your Priorities
- Ask: "What are my top 3 priorities for this week?"
- Get examples: "Can I see an example of what 'done' looks like for [this task]?"
- Understand deadlines: Are they hard deadlines or flexible estimates?
Create a Personal Task Board
Don't rely solely on company tools. Create your own task system:
- Use Notion, Trello, or Google Sheets to track:
- Tasks assigned to you
- Questions you need answered
- Things you learned today
- Small wins (even tiny ones — you replied to 10 messages? That's a win.)
Or use our Job Application Tracker as a task log — it's designed for job seekers, but works perfectly for tracking daily work too.
Document Everything
Remote work = documentation is king. Get in the habit now:
- After every call, summarize key points in Slack or a shared doc
- When you solve a problem, write down the solution
- Keep a "decisions made" log so you can reference it later
Learn Company Culture & Workflows
Company culture looks different remotely. There's no "feel" of an office. You have to actively learn it.
Read the Company Handbook / Wiki
- Core values and mission
- Communication guidelines (when to use Slack vs email, meeting etiquette)
- Time-off policies and how to request PTO
- Performance review process
- Remote work expense reimbursement (home office, internet, etc.)
Understand Async vs Real-Time Work
This is the #1 thing that trips up new remote workers:
- Async-first teams: Expect written updates, Loom videos, and threaded conversations. Meetings are rare.
- Meeting-heavy teams: Lots of Zoom calls; decisions happen live.
- Hybrid: Some meetings for brainstorming; async for execution updates.
Ask your manager: "Would you prefer I send you a daily end-of-day update, or should I just flag blockers as they come up?"
Note Time Zone Overlaps
If your team is distributed across time zones:
- Use our Timezone Calculator to see when everyone's online
- Block your calendar during non-overlap hours to protect focus time
- Adjust your schedule if needed (some roles require specific overlap windows)
Take Initiative (Without Overstepping)
By Friday, you should aim to deliver one small win. It doesn't have to be big — just something that shows you're proactive and reliable.
Ideas for Small Wins
- Fix a typo in team documentation
- Help test something (a feature, a process, a tool)
- Reply quickly and helpfully to a Slack question (if you know the answer)
- Finish a small task early and ask for the next one
- Create a useful resource — e.g., "I wrote down our team's tool stack in case anyone needs it"
Ask for Feedback
End your first week with a quick check-in:
"Hey [Manager], I wanted to check in before the weekend. How did my first week go? Is there anything I should be doing differently?"
This shows:
- You care about doing well
- You're open to feedback
- You're proactive about improvement
Document What You Learned
Before you log off Friday:
- Write a quick "Week 1 Notes" doc with logins, processes, key contacts
- Note 3 things you learned
- Note 3 questions you still have
This doc becomes your onboarding reference for Week 2.
End-of-Week Checklist (Print or Save This)
By the end of your first week, you should have:
Dedicated space, tested tech, good lighting
Slack, email, project management, time tracking
Know when to use Slack vs email vs meetings
Personal task board created and maintained
Calendar blocked for focus time and meetings
Delivered at least one visible win
Asked how your first week went
Created a reference doc for yourself
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FAQs About Your First Remote Week
What should I do if I don't hear from my team on Day 1?
Don't panic! Send a friendly Slack or email message: "Hi team, I'm excited to be here! Just checking in — is there anything I should be working on today?"
Many remote teams are async-first, so delays are normal. Use the quiet time to explore company docs, set up your workspace, and test all your tools.
How many hours should I work my first week?
Stick to your contracted hours unless told otherwise. Remote work doesn't mean 24/7 availability.
If you finish tasks early, use the time to read documentation, explore tools, or proactively ask for more work. Never work unpaid overtime your first week — it sets a bad precedent.
How can I make a good impression remotely?
Focus on communication:
- Respond quickly to messages (within a few hours max)
- Document your work in shared spaces
- Ask clarifying questions instead of guessing
- Deliver one small win (even something tiny)
- Over-communicate your progress in async updates
- Show reliability by meeting deadlines and being present during agreed overlap hours
Should I be on camera for every meeting?
Follow team norms. If everyone's on camera, you should be too. If cameras are optional, ask your manager: "What's the team preference for video in meetings?"
When in doubt, turn your camera on for 1:1s and important meetings, but it's fine to keep it off for large all-hands or optional sessions.
What if I mess something up in my first week?
Everyone messes up. The key is how you handle it:
- Own it immediately: "I made a mistake on [X]. Here's what happened."
- Propose a fix: "I can fix it by [Y]. Should I go ahead?"
- Document the lesson: Write down what went wrong so you don't repeat it
Remote employers value honesty and problem-solving over perfection.
How do I avoid feeling isolated?
- Join optional team socials (even if awkward at first)
- Reach out for 1:1 virtual coffee chats with teammates
- Use coworking spaces or cafés a few days a week
- Set boundaries so work doesn't bleed into personal time
- Join remote work communities (Reddit's r/remotework, Slack groups, etc.)
Your First Week Sets the Tone
Here's what most people don't realize: your first remote week isn't about proving you're the best. It's about proving you're reliable, communicative, and coachable.
You don't need to work 12-hour days or deliver groundbreaking results. You just need to:
- Show up on time (for your timezone)
- Communicate clearly and often
- Ask questions when you're stuck
- Document your work
- Deliver one small win
Do those five things, and you'll be in the top 20% of new remote hires.
Celebrate your first week. You made it through the hardest part — the uncertainty. Week 2 will feel easier. Week 4 will feel normal. And before you know it, you'll be the one helping the next new hire navigate their first week.