Into the Unknown: Onboarding Early Career Professionals in a Remote Work Environment

This paper explores the impact of COVID-19 pandemic from perspective three individuals, all whom are early-career professionals: Julia, a term librarian for an academic library who began her role as was causing widespread change; Christine, recent graduate started job search during pandemic; and Kevin, current Master Library Information Science student completed his co-op in entirely remote setting. their perspectives on precarity work environment provides reflections working setting pandemic. To bring together key themes experienced throughout this period, several recommendations offered to managers librarians they navigate new landscape. For employers, advertising employees, organizing onboarding, ensuring concerted efforts introductions recommended. librarians, forming communities practice building relationships battle feelings isolation not belonging The precarious roles most find themselves is unlikely improve shared intended provide transparent view into experiences early career what have learned, how maximizing time environment.