How to Prepare for Your First Week Working Remotely
A first-week plan: access, rituals, questions, and how to show up in writing when there is no office tour.
She Works Remotely · Published September 20, 2026 · Last reviewed September 20, 2026
The first week is about access and first deliveries, not about decorating a home office. You need logins, a named buddy if they have one, and one piece of work that proves you understood the system.
You do not need SWR tools on day one of employment — but the same habits you practiced for interviews (short updates, questions in writing) are the job.
Who this guide is for
People who just accepted a remote offer
Anyone whose onboarding will happen in Slack and a laptop shipment
Before day one
Confirm equipment, time zone expectations, and where to send a “I’m locked out” message. Read whatever handbook they sent. Set calendar working hours.
Days 1–5
Write a daily note: what you learned, what is blocked, what you will do tomorrow. Ask where decisions live (doc, ticket, chat). Deliver something small and visible: a completed training module, a shadowing summary, a cleaned ticket.
Practical examples
End-of-day message
Today: finished SSO setup, shadowed two support tickets, drafted a note on the refund policy. Blocked: still waiting on the analytics role. Tomorrow: complete the product tour and take three tickets with review.
SWR recommendations
Keep your SWR profile updated if you are still looking, but do not job-hunt on the company laptop against policy.
If the offer process felt like a scam at any point, reread the scam guide before you share more documents.
Checklist
Working hours on the calendar
One channel for blockers
Notes file for passwords they asked you to store in their approved vault only
A question list for your manager
Mistakes to avoid
Staying silent all week because you “don’t want to bother anyone.”
Installing random software a stranger in chat sent you.
FAQ
What if I have nothing to do?
Say so with a proposed next task. Idle and invisible is worse than asking.
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Platform editorial
Written by the people building She Works Remotely. These guides explain remote job search, resumes, and interviews, and how to use SWR’s own tools. We do not invent experts, employers, testimonials, or statistics.