The global pandemic has made virtual interviews, working from home and remote positions a part of everyday working life in 2021. But what about internships? They’ve gone virtual, too! While this might sound a little daunting at first, virtual internships are a great way to show prospective employers that you’ve been proactive during the pandemic and are serious about developing your professional skills no matter what challenges you face. If you decide to enrol in a remote internship, you’ll also be able to develop your skills and avoid falling behind on kickstarting your career from home!
In this blog post, we’ll be looking at some of the most valuable tips to make the most of your virtual internship. Learn how to increase your productivity, build a meaningful relationship with your manager and develop the foundations of your professional network. Let’s get started!
Stick to a work schedule
While you might be given the chance to adopt a flexible work schedule and set your own hours, it’s best if you stick to a regular work schedule. This makes it easier for you to experience what most traditional in-person internships are like, and it prepares you for a typical workday in most professions.
It’s also fundamental that you establish clear boundaries between your work and personal life. With an in-person internship, you’d have a start and finish time, and the same should apply to your remote internship. Once you’ve completed your schedule for the day, disconnect and do something else.
Set goals and learn about expectations
One of the best things you can do is establish what expectations your internship supervisor has. Every time you take on a new task or become involved in a new project, ask your supervisor what goals they want you to reach and how exactly they expect you to perform. This makes it much easier for you to aim for a desired outcome and it’s an important part of developing your communication skills in a professional setting.
Setting personal goals for yourself is also a great way to get the most out of your virtual internship. This can be done with the help of your supervisor. Talk to them about what skills you’d like to learn during your internship and what areas of the company you’d like to be exposed to.
Dedicate a space for work
If you were doing your internship at an office, you’d have a designated workspace with a computer, an office chair and some personal items. You should try recreating this kind of space at home to support remote work. Doing so will help you avoid distractions, reduce stress and boost your productivity, while making it easier for you to create a clear distinction between work and personal activities. Working from the comfort of your bed or sofa can be tempting, but you’ll end up working less, becoming easily distracted and you might even develop posture issues over time.
Once you have your workspace set up, remove any distractions that are likely to disrupt your day. Your cellphone should be set to silent and you should only check emails or messages when necessary. Once you start concentrating and getting into the flow of work, you’ll be more productive than ever.
Dress for success
Ok, so you’re working from home and your supervisor or colleagues can’t see what you’re wearing. Why not work in your pyjamas all day? Sounds cozy, but studies show that it can have a negative impact on how you work. Dressing in comfortable clothes that are suitable for remote work is a much better approach. This puts you in the right mindset for a productive day, and it means you won’t be caught off-guard if your supervisor asks you to turn your camera on for a last-minute meeting. If your supervisor and coworkers see that you’re treating your internship like a slumber party, you run the risk of coming across as unprofessional and uninterested.
Ask for regular feedback
Feedback is an intern’s best tool for improvement. By regularly asking your supervisor for feedback, you’re gaining valuable insight into areas you may need to improve as well as strengths that you can further develop. Scheduling bi-weekly or monthly evaluation video calls will help you understand how you can improve as you progress through your virtual internship.
As well as asking for feedback, never be afraid to ask for help. Remember that you’re not expected to know everything, and you’re certainly not expected to get everything right on the first try. Your supervisor and coworkers will be more than happy to help you resolve problems so that you can better perform your tasks and duties. They were once interns just like you! As you’re taking a virtual internship, you’ll probably be able to reach out through online chat or video calls, so make sure you know how and where to get in touch with them when you need to ask for support.
Keep track of achievements
In addition to being a great learning experience, your remote internship is a valuable addition to your resume. Keep track of what responsibilities you have on a daily basis, what projects you work on, and your achievements so that you can add them to your resume. You can even add these achievements to your LinkedIn profile to start building your personal brand that may attract a job offer from hiring managers in your industry.
Keep in touch with colleagues after your internship ends
Remote internships are amazing for building the strong foundations of a professional network in your industry. Put some effort into getting to know your coworkers and you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how many doors open for you in the world of work. Bob from accounting might have a friend in that company that you’d love to work at, so building a strong professional relationship with Bob could land you your dream job one day.
Once your virtual internship is over, make sure you have the contact details of everyone you worked with and consider adding them on LinkedIn so that you can keep in touch even if they change jobs. Networking is an ongoing part of your professional life, so get started early and keep going!
With these tips, your internship should be smooth sailing! And if you’re looking for a top job after your remote internship has come to an end, get in touch with the Adecco Canada team. We can help you write your resume, search for positions in your local area and we’ll even prepare you for your virtual job interview. For more information on how we can help you land your next job, contact us here!