Virtual Career Exploration Night: Remote Jobs
September 24, 6pm
Representatives: National Security Agency (NSA), Medical Information Technology, Inc. (METITECH), LexisNexsis Risk Solutions, CIFAL Atlanta, & Intern Abroad HQ.
- National Security Agency (NSA)
NSAG_Recruitment@nsa.gov
Amber, NSA Recruiter
Nick, NSA Foreign Language
Lorri, NSA Cyber Engineering
Julina, NSA Math/Computer Science
- MEDITECH
Diane Winslow, Senior Recruiter
LexisNexsis Risk Solutions
Renu Midha, Talent Acquisition Program Manager
- CIFAL Atlanta
Lola Owokoniran M.P.H, Program Manger
Xiaoxiao Ji, Program Manger
Hayden Harrison, Mazen Al Sabbagh, & Tyler Behrmann, Interns.
ga.kennesaw.edu/cifal/index.php
- Intern Abroad HQ
Jessica Hughes, Internship Specialist
How has COVID changed policies on remote work?
Lola Owokoniran: We haven’t done an event in person. They changed how students work, because they’re no longer in person. However, they are able to reach people all over the globe
Renu Midha: We had a flexible work schedule, but overnight we had to go virtual. The things Lola said apply to us as well. We have 20-something intern to communicate with, but it was a positive experience. A survey was conducted that showed no employees want to go back post-COVID.
Amber: Most of the work is classified, so that makes being virtual difficult.
Diane Winslow: We had things in place for online, but we also needed to be in person too. We set up “virtual water cooler sessions” where the employees can just talk to each other. We will not stay 100% virtual post-COVID.
Jessica Hughes: We are located in New Zealand, and are used to working remote. It went very well for us. Now, we work from home 3 days and then work in the office for 2 days.
How do you battle zoom fatigue?
Renu Midha: I think it’s the same for all of us. This is the way we are having to network. It’s not like walking from one meeting down the hallway and grabbing a cup of tea along the way. I don’t get up from my chair for like three hours. I think better scheduling, flat out doing exercise during the day, and moving away from your desk. You know, on regular occasions.
Lola Owokoniran: We stared a wellness and selfcare series, for that reason, because we were all having zoom fatigue and we’re staring at the computer all day. There are so many other thoughts regarding the pandemic going through our head, and so it’s important that we cater to our health. We even had one today that talked about selfcare and tips, making sure that you family and your support. Making sure you get up and you’re moving every 20 minutes. I think it’s pretty difficult and sometimes we need to check-in with ourselves to see how we’re doing. We even like to check-in with our interns. If it’s a really busy week we like to check-in and ask, “How are you doing?”
Sheri Blight: “Diane, how is your company onboarding new employees right now?”
Diane Winslow: That is something that typically in the past, everything was in person. We just really believed your first year you needed to be in the building. We needed to make sure you were okay. Boy, have we changed our outlook. We do everything onboarding remotely. The only time a new employee comes to the office it’s to pick up a laptop. But again, we’re really worried about that contact, we really want to make sure that you feel welcome. So, we’ve always had in place a mentorship program. From the very first day you’re going to be paired with someone in your group. Onboarding itself has been pretty seamless. Most of our training that we had in place was easily adapted
