5 Tips to Make the Most out of a Remote Internship
It’s officially fall, which means that fall internship season is in full swing. Obtaining and navigating internships can be tough. When you add in a pandemic and the need for remote work on top, and you may be wondering how to make a remote internship count. We spoke with our team and reflected on our own internship program to share ways to make the most out of a remote internship experience. Here are our top 5 tips that can help you succeed at your internship.
1. Remote internships are still worth it
First and foremost, definitely still try to have an internship. A lot of people are wondering if remote internships are worth the effort because you are not getting a traditional office setting, but here’s why it’s still worth it.
The company where you are interning might not be hiring now, but they will be sometime in the future. And when they do, you will have a leg up over other applicants because of the connections and experience you have. Even if you don’t end up working for that company in particular, any experience you gain is valuable. There are even advantages to interning remotely that are not normally the case. For example, if there is an organization where you really want to work but it is in a different city, you can still do the internship from wherever you are.
2. Over communicate with your supervisor
When you do get the internship of your dreams, (yes, it can still happen!), one of the most challenging parts of completing a remote internship is communication. But there are still ways to make communication smooth. Firstly, ask how your supervisor prefers to communicate. Is it Slack, text, email or another way? Establishing a primary method of communication will be so important during your internship.
You also should remember your supervisors are working on projects at the same time you are. It can be easy for them to get caught up in their work, and, if you are not consistently communicating your progress to them, they will look up after a few hours and wonder what you have been doing. Updating them on when you take your lunch break, when you’re back and when you’re finished with assignments can be really helpful. Also, because they are working on different projects, give them context when you are asking questions so you are on the same page about what assignment you’re working on. This will alleviate many questions and save them time, which will be appreciated and definitely noticed.
3. Be Proactive
A great way to be proactive is to ask questions immediately when you receive an assignment. Some questions you can ask are, what is the deadline, format of the work, and how does your supervisor want to receive the work (Word Doc, Google Drive, etc)? Another way to be proactive is to always be working on something. While waiting for an answer to a question, you can be working on a side project that was given to you prior. If you haven’t been given any side projects, ask for one! Even remote, there is still opportunity to contribute your ideas and do projects that you want to do. Another way to help get answers faster is to find the answer, then ask for confirmation. Use resources like Google or any how-to guides your internship provides to get an answer, then ask for a simple yes or no confirmation from your supervisor.
You can also stay proactive on what is happening with your clients or your industry. Set up Google Alerts, follow your clients on social media or just keep up with the industry, and then you can send articles about clients to the rest of the team. This helps keep everyone informed, and shows you are invested in your internship outside of normal work days.
4. Manage your time
Remote internships provide a unique opportunity for interns to get a more realistic view of the job. At home, you have to stay motivated without anyone checking up on you frequently, and you have to keep up with projects independently. That being said, attendance at your internship during your hours and at all meetings is still mandatory. And it always stands out to your supervisors if you always get your work in on time. Submitting things early is even better.
5. Stay Human
One aspect of an internship that people are particularly concerned about losing with a remote internship is the connections. Connections to your supervisors and your fellow interns can be so valuable going into your career and in your life. But connection is still possible even over a computer screen.
Ask your supervisor how their day is going or how their weekend was. Then, remember what they said and send them an article about it or ask questions about it later. It’s important to remember that they are people too, so they’d probably enjoy the break from work talk too! These little things are not always emphasized, but they can really help you stand out in your internship.
Even though internships this semester don’t look like they normally do, stay adaptable and you can still get everything out of one that you hoped.
Xo, SecretLifeofaPRGirl
