My Onboarding experience at TrendMiner during Covid-19

In September 2020 I joined TrendMiner as a Data Analytics Engineer. I would say this position in the Customer Success Team perfectly combines my background in chemical engineering, my interest in data analytics and my customer-focused experience.

Luckily enough, during my first few weeks it was still possible to go to the office. I had the chance to meet the team in person in Germany, and in Belgium at the headquarters. I even had the opportunity to accompany a colleague on-site to visit a customer, which gave me a valuable insight into the daily life of Data Analytics Engineer during normal times.

One month later, due to the stronger restrictions we were all asked to work exclusively from home. This was particularly challenging for a newcomer like me. When you join a new company, you learn a lot by sitting next to someone. For example, watching them perform their daily tasks, or simply by listening to spontaneous discussions in your team. These natural conversations give you a lot of insight about your team’s past and current projects, challenges, and ways of working. With the distance, this spontaneity is gone. It can take an extra effort not only to learn your job, but also to get familiar with the company’s values and challenges.

But thankfully I am lucky to be surrounded by an amazing team that made this onboarding as smooth as possible. My manager always made sure I was feeling good at work as well as on a personal level. My colleagues involved me regularly in their daily tasks through remote meetings, which helped me to learn “on the job”. I knew I could always count on them to support me whenever I had a question.

I also got to know my co-workers through various videocalls with the whole Customer Success Team or in smaller groups. But my favorite meeting was the weekly call with the other “newbies” of the company. During these calls we would simply exchange our experiences, which really helped me connect with other people who were in a similar situation.

Today I feel perfectly integrated, confident in my ability to fulfill my position, and happy to contribute to the success of the company and our customers. In conclusion it was the best onboarding experience you could wish for in these circumstances, as the people in TrendMiner always make sure that you feel part of One Team.