Remote Jobs – Interview with People Operations

by | Dec 15, 2020

Remote Jobs - Interview with People Operations
9 min read

Each month we interview someone in the team to show off their skills and experience working remotely with In Marketing We Trust. Today, we’re doing it a little differently. Instead of our wonderful People Ops Executive, Maria, interviewing someone in the team, I — it’s me Kirsty, your friendly neighbourhood Editor in Chief — am going to be interviewing Maria.

This interview will give you some insights on what it’s like working remotely with In Marketing We Trust but also more insight into how to start working with us at IMWT with some tips on how to get a remote job and how to impress Maria when interviewing for an In Marketing We Trust role. See our available positions here.

Remote Jobs - Interview with People OperationsIt’s commonly known that the beginning is the hardest. What was the hardest thing for you to overcome when starting at IMWT?

When I started at IMWT, the most challenging part was adapting and creating processes suitable for the remote workspace. As this was my first entirely remote role, it took a bit of time to get used to the environment,  getting to know the business and learn more about the team, in order to drive outcomes that matter. 

What was your first remote job? How was it?

This is it and it was truly a challenge! I was still in the European time zone at that time; which made it more difficult to meet and collaborate effectively with my colleagues and, as a consequence, I had to remind myself to be patient when it comes to learning all the ropes of the new role and of the business. 

Also, I had to learn to properly plan every day ahead, experiment with work environments and make sure that I am ‘working out loud’ and communicating clearly and effectively.

What motivated you to pursue a remote job?

I started searching for a remote role while working in a big corporation and living in Prague, as I wanted to get the opportunity to explore more countries and places, while also looking for a new challenge. At the time, I had not fully decided that I wanted to pursue a remote role for an extensive period of time, I was trying more to get my feet in the water and experiment with a change that would allow me to travel more. Suffice it to say that my perception changed quite a lot during these years and I wouldn’t currently see myself getting back to the office setup.

Remote Jobs - Interview with Maria - People OperationsWhat are your best tips on working remotely?

  • Know thyself might be a cliche, but it is one for a reason – learning what works for you will be crucial in establishing a consistent working routine, keeping yourself motivated and making sure that you maintain a healthy work-life balance. 
  • Know at the beginning of the day what it is exactly that you’ll be working on. Having a clear understanding of the main tasks that need to be handled will leave room for less distractions during the day. And, to quote some of my great colleagues: “Lists, lists, lists”.
  • Communicate clearly and effectively.
  • Expect the unexpected – this one is a classic and probably a favourite of mine. Working in a dynamic and fast-paced environment will sometimes require flexibility. Plan ahead, but make sure you can pivot when needed.

What’s it like managing the operations of a fully remote team and how does it differ from working together from one office?

The short answer? Great and different!

Usually, in a remote working environment, culture doesn’t ‘just happen’, which gives remote companies both the challenge and the opportunity to be more intentional about it.

Making sure that everyone is stirring in the right direction, embodying the culture values and getting constant and consistent feedback are some of the pillars that contribute to an efficient remote environment. As opposed to an office, some of these processes are more structured, in order to get proper alignment, visibility and to facilitate effective knowledge sharing.

What is the most challenging part of your role?

When I started at IMWT, the most challenging part was adapting and creating processes suitable for the remote workspace. As this was my first entirely remote role, it took a bit of time to get used to the environment, to get to know the business and learn more about the team, in order to drive outcomes that matter. 

What is the most rewarding part of your role?

Having the opportunity to create a better work environment, to contribute to an amazing working culture and to collaborate with amazing people are just a few of the parts that make my role truly rewarding. 

I started working in HR because I wanted to have a positive impact on the people and culture of the organisations I was a part of. This aspect did not change, as it’s still the main engine that drives me in my day to day work.

Remote Jobs - People Operations Interview with MariaWhat are your best tips for someone looking for a remote role?

  • Research! With the current digital shift that we are experiencing, there is also a massive increase in remote work opportunities and resources. From remote internships, articles, learning from others to remote-only job boards, there are a plethora of opportunities that one can explore. 
  • Make sure that a remote job is for you – having to set up your routine, manage your schedule and miss on the face to face interactions are some of the things that, usually, go hand in hand with a remote job. Sure, there are tons of benefits that can come from this switch but it is important to assess if it is suitable for you.

What are your best tips for someone looking to work at IMWT?

  • Echoing on the above – First of all, research. From our core values, internal culture, technical requirements to the type of clients that we work with, it is important for every candidate looking to work at IMWT to understand and assess if this is the right setup and environment for them. As we tend to engage with all of our team members long-term, we want to make sure that we are a mutually good fit.
  • Be prepared – and really, I cannot stress this enough. 
  • Be passionate about what you do.
Kirsten Tanner
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