Internships are a great opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience during their college career. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many of these opportunities have shifted to virtual experiences in order to adhere to social distancing guidelines. Remote internships are likely a new experience, even for working professionals and experienced interns. Keep reading to learn more about what you can do to make the most of a remote internship.
The first thing you should do is try to prepare in advance to start off on the right foot. Contact your internship supervisor prior to the start of your internship to make sure you have completed all the necessary steps to move forward.
Interns should try to go the extra mile and avoid doing the bare minimum. Try to seek out supplemental experiences and new opportunities to learn. Touch base with your supervisor consistently to discuss your workload, the progress you have made on various projects, and additional tasks you can take on to maximize your learning experience. If you have any downtime, research topics that relate to the work you are doing to stay engaged.
It is inevitable that you will have questions during this new experience. It might feel intimidating at first, but do not be afraid to reach out to your supervisor with questions. Particularly during a remote experience, it is important that you are clear on how to perform certain tasks because you won’t have in-person guidance at your disposal.
Internships can be an important step in your professional journey. Supervisors can write letters of recommendation and serve as references for future positions, so building relationships during your remote experience is especially important.
If you are struggling to adjust to a remote internship, you are likely not alone. For many companies and institutions, remote experiences are a relatively new phenomenon, and your supervisor is likely struggling to adjust as well. To make the most of this and smooth out any potential challenges, strive to keep the lines of communication open from day one. Keep your supervisor and fellow interns up to date on any difficulties you are facing and what is working for you.
While many students didn’t envision a remote position when applying for fall internships, these roles are still an excellent opportunity to expand your skillset and explore career paths that interest you.