4 Ways CONMED Made My Virtual On-boarding A Success During COVID-19

By Sarah Bell (CONMED Campus Recruiter)

Starting your first job can be both exciting and overwhelming. Starting your first job in the middle a global pandemic—now that’s a different story! That’s how my journey here at CONMED began.

Due to the serious impacts of Coronavirus, my onboarding process was different than most. While the original plan was to train alongside my manager, Julie, for several weeks, I found myself in a much different situation. Due to social distancing and new work from home policies, I began my first day as a Campus Recruiter at CONMED from the comfort of my own apartment. I was unsure of what to expect about starting remotely, but to my delight I was welcomed in [virtually] with open arms. Onboarding a new hire amidst a global pandemic isn’t easy, but here are four ways CONMED and my team made my virtual onboarding experience a positive one!

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1. “The [Virtual] Door is Always Open”

One of my concerns about starting my new career remotely was how I would navigate without the ability to lean on officemates for any questions. Fortunately, throughout my first month, my team eased any concern I had by not only answering any of my questions, but also by frequenty checking-in on me to see how I was doing. Moreover, they continuously make me feel included during virtual team meetings and always make sure I am familiar with topics being discussed and have the chance to contribute ideas. Although we are all working remotely and I am unable to walk over my colleagues' desks to chat, I still feel like their "doors" are always open by utilizing online tools & technology to communicate.

2. Utilizing Technology to Interact Virtually

Utilizing various online communication tools has been vital in my onboarding experience. As someone who enjoys interacting with others and building relationships, I questioned how interacting with my team would be impacted with the shift to remote work. I learned on my first day that this concern was unfounded. During the first few days, Julie and I utilized FaceTime often, where she walked me through several trainings and showed me different resources and tools for my learning. Although we were not in-person, using video tools helped us to connect and begin to build our professional relationship.

Like many, my team has also used the video offering features of WebEx and Zoom. We use these weekly for virtual meetings, which I enjoy because it allows me to see everyone and learn more about each of their roles within the company. While I have not met anyone in-person yet, I still feel like I have been able to begin building a connection with each teammate.

3. Having FUN!

During this unique time, my team has done a fabulous job at prioritizing communicatin with each other through FUN and creative activities. For example, we focused on fitness and were challenged to do a plank each day. We sent updates and pictures in our team WhatsApp Chat where family members & friends even jumped in on the challenge. Additionally, we held a team virtual happy hour on a Friday afternoon. It was refreshing to get to know everyone on a more personal level.

4. The Power of Company Culture

One of the primary reaons I joined CONMED was because I was attracted to the company culture. When searching for a career, it was important to me to find a company that genuinely cares for its employees and a team that values collaboration and comradery. Although I have not been working in the office, I have still been able to witness the fantastic culture at CONMED. I have seen departments working together on multiple projects as well as employees stepping-up to assist in areas needed outside of their usual work responsibilities.

CONMED employees are also coming together to post pictures/videos during the pandemic on our internal communications platform. Employees are getting involved all around the globe! Some share pictures of their virtual team meetings, book suggestions and one team even put together a funny video! It has been remarkable to see updates all throughout the world on how CONMED employees are adapting to work during this time of social distancing.

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As I reflect on my first month at CONMED, I feel incredibly grateful to be a part of a company and team that even in an uncertain time, has made it a priority to put their people first. My team has done a tremendous job making me feel welcome and ensuring my transition has been smooth despite the current environment. If you are looking to join an amazing team at CONMED, I encourage you to join the CONMED Talent Community to learn more about the company and receive job updates when positions open that match your area of interest!