Alhamdulillah, after three months of job hunting, I finally got another chance to contribute and make an impact. I accepted an offer as a Senior Frontend Engineer from a growing startup that provides services to help anyone create their own commercial store with ease.
This is a big opportunity for me, but it also presents challenges that I haven’t faced before. Two key aspects of this job are:
- The position is remote, and the company is based in a country far from mine, Saudi Arabia.
- The company's service is in a new area for me, as I have never worked on an e-commerce application before, although I have experience with B2B apps.
From an engineering perspective, these highlights imply the need to get familiar with RTL web development, internationalization, and localization. But the real challenge will be tackling the non-engineering aspects like adapting to the work culture, overcoming language barriers, and gaining e-commerce domain knowledge. It's clear that technical skills alone won’t be enough, so I’m also need to work on non-engineering things to ensure a smooth transition into my new role.
Here are some non-engineering essentials I’m focusing on to be better prepared for this new journey. If you currently looking for or just accepted to remote job, these things might be helpful.
Culture Adaptation
Entering a new environment inevitably comes with cultural differences, especially when it involves a different country. Understanding the culture of your new workplace is crucial for ensuring smooth communication and collaboration.
To adapt more quickly to the new culture, beyond just reading or watching videos, I’ve found it helpful to connect with and learn from people who are already working in that environment. Since last week, I’ve started reaching out to individuals who work remotely or onsite in the country where I’ll be based. Some useful channels for this include software engineering groups, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
By asking about their experiences, I gain personal insights and practical tips for interacting with colleagues across cultures. These conversations provide a deeper, more relatable perspective on what it’s like to work in a different cultural context, and how to navigate it successfully.
Domain Knowledge
Stepping into a new domain, especially one like e-commerce that I haven't worked in before, requires a solid understanding of the industry’s specific challenges and best practices. To bridge this knowledge gap, I’ve focused on immersing myself in relevant resources that can provide insights into the field.
One of my main strategies is reading blogs from companies that are leaders in the SaaS e-commerce space. These blogs often share valuable lessons learned, technical challenges, and innovative solutions that are directly applicable to my role.
Language
Since my new company is based in Saudi Arabia, learning Arabic could be a valuable long-term investment. Although English is the primary language used within the company, I believe that understanding Arabic will not only help me connect more deeply with colleagues and the local culture but also enhance my overall experience working there.
Moreover, Arabic holds personal significance for me as it is the language of my religion. By improving my Arabic skills, I’m not just preparing for my professional journey; but also enriching my spiritual life.
To study Arabic, I’m using language learning apps like Memrise and Duolingo to build a solid foundation. These apps are great for getting started, while YouTube videos (podcasts, daily conversations) help me see how the language is used in real-life situations. Once I have a good grasp of the basics, I plan to enroll in a private course to clarify any learning mistakes and practice more intensively with a mentor.
Documentation Framework
I love taking notes on everything, including my work. This habit started about 1.5 years ago, introduced by my friend to the Second Brain concept by Tiago Forte. The idea is that our "first brain" should focus on generating and processing ideas, rather than storing them. The "Second Brain" serves as an external, digital storage system for our ideas, important information, and notes.
To maximize the benefits of note-taking in my new job, I’ve developed a framework outlining how and what I should document. This framework helps me keep my notes organized, ensuring that I capture key details about projects, tasks, and learnings in a consistent and useful way. By structuring my notes effectively, I can easily reference past work, track progress, and share insights with my team, ultimately making my work more efficient and informed.
I'm using Obsidian as my main note-taking tool. I love Obsidian for its simplicity and extendability, which make it perfect for capturing my notes effectively. Here's how I generally organize my work notes:
- Daily Work Log: This contains my daily activities, including what I’ve done, who I’ve interacted with, any news, updates, or insights from the day.
- Weekly Work Log: I use this to recap my weekly work. It's helpful for performance evaluations and serves as a weekly reflection. In my weekly summary, I capture challenges, impacts, blockers, and what I can improve on in the coming week.
- Organizational Notes: I maintain dedicated note blocks for organization-related information, such as administrative details, contacts, technologies, my ideas, and a Kanban board to track my tasks. This is just my flow for taking notes, feel free to adapt and create a system that suits your own needs!
Equipment
Working remotely makes it essential to have the right equipment to support effective communication and productivity. For me, the essentials include a good microphone and headset—I’m currently using Type-C EarPods, which offer clear audio for meetings. For video calls, I rely on the Logitech C922 Pro webcam, known for its excellent quality. To further improve video capture, I plan to invest in portable lighting to ensure my setup looks professional and well-lit.
Additionally, having a good and stable internet connection is crucial for uninterrupted work and seamless communication. With the right equipment and reliable connectivity, I can stay engaged and connected in a remote work environment.
Preparing for a new job goes beyond just technical skills; it’s about understanding the culture, domain, and effective ways to manage your work. By focusing on these non-engineering aspects, I hope can make a smoother transition into my new role.