Rock Your Virtual Internship: Four Tips for Virtual Internship Success
Published on February 17, 2021, at 8 p.m.
by Bella Valentini.
In a time where COVID-19 is dominating nearly all aspects of our lives, the in-person internship search will oftentimes leave you with little-to-no results and a competitive applicant pool; and if you happened to land an in-person internship this past summer, there’s a good chance it was probably canceled.
Enter the virtual internship. Virtual and remote internships have become increasingly popular within the past year, and while there are tons of pros to working remotely, successfully navigating working from home can be tricky.
Below are four tips to help you make the most of your virtual internship in an industry that seems to be running 24/7.
Make a schedule and stick to it
While many students have taken online courses this past year, the shift from a structured day of classes to an internship where there might not be a set schedule can be challenging.
The unstructured format of a virtual internship may cause you to forget deadlines because you aren’t in a physical office space every day. Creating a daily schedule and to-do list can help to minimize doing any last-minute work. Whether you use a digital calendar or paper planner, make sure to find what works for you.
Take initiative — ask how you can help
Asking your supervisor or co-workers how you can be of help before being asked to do a task will show them that you’re eager to learn and that they can count on you to help when it’s needed. Don’t be afraid to take advantage of any opportunities offered to propel your career even further.
Asking for feedback on your work also shows that you have a willingness to learn and want to grow as a PR practitioner, even though hearing feedback from your boss and team members can sometimes be tough.
Check in with your boss and team regularly
Just because you’re participating in an internship virtually doesn’t mean you can fly under the radar and not speak to your boss and team regularly. Besides helping you stay on track and meet deadlines, keeping in touch with your boss and team on a daily or weekly basis can assist you in establishing connections with them that could land you a job in the future. Your boss will also serve as your first point of reference when you have questions, so staying in contact with them throughout your internship is vital to your success.
Utilizing Zoom or other video chat services can keep you accountable by detailing the work you’ll be getting done each day or week. It can also help you create relationships with your team members despite not being able to meet in person each day.
Get moving
While you’re typically moving around throughout the day at an in-person internship, working remotely means that you end up spending hours at a time sitting in front of your computer screen. Doing something as little as standing up and walking around your makeshift office space in between meetings and assignments can get you out of a slump and bring back your focus before getting back to work.
Even though internships are different these days, these tips can ensure your success while working virtually.
