Remote work has become the new norm, and so have remote internships. While remote work and distributed teams aren’t new concepts, transitioning to remote internships may seem daunting at first. It might be difficult to know how to do well in an online internship if you’ve only ever had more traditional work experience. Fortunately, succeeding in a virtual setting is similar to doing so in person, with the added angles of time, space, and technology!
Here are our top tips for being the best virtual intern:
1. Don’t be shy
Communication is key. When doing a remote internship, you have to go the extra mile to communicate through Slack, email, or calls. Don’t be scared to reach out to your manager and co-workers and request weekly check-ins.
Keep track of your questions and concerns, and bring these up during your meetings. If you have urgent concerns, message your supervisor early on. If you think of asking for help as something negative, you are more likely to procrastinate and miss deadlines on important tasks.
Not only do you need to have confidence to talk to your managers and colleagues, but you need to have confidence in your work and skills.
Having confidence in your work and ideas is one of the most important tips for how to do well in an online internship. Your manager won’t be sitting next to you, looking over your shoulder, and your teammates won’t gather around brainstorming together to boost your confidence in what you're doing. Be confident in your abilities, do good work, and be prepared to back it. If you can take an assignment and complete it with confidence rather than shying away, everyone will notice.
2. Do your research on your remote internship
Besides knowing the ins and outs of your company’s website, it is crucial to understand who to go to for different tasks. The best way to get a feel for how your company works is by speaking to your colleagues.
Make sure to schedule short calls with colleagues during your first few weeks. Ask them about their function in the company, how they prefer to communicate with their colleagues, and what their work style is like. It's normal for in-person interns to get to know their colleagues through quick coffee runs. Recreate that in a virtual setting to get the most out of your internship.
Once you have a clear idea of who does what and where you need to go for certain things, take advantage of the fact that you’re not a company insider. Your unique background gives you a different approach to business issues, and your suggestions will therefore be different from those who’ve worked there for years. If you can get all the facts first and then present new ideas clearly, you'll stand out.
3. Set goals and keep track of your progress
Figure out what you hope to gain from your internship. Split your greater expectations into smaller, more specific goals. Ensure to communicate your goals with your supervisor and ask about their expectations for you. This way, you have a greater purpose behind the smaller projects you are assigned.
One of our favorite remote internship tips is to keep a weekly progress journal. Keep track of your personal goals, the projects you helped complete, your routine tasks, and the challenges you faced. If your tasks require you to learn new hard skills, keep track of the time you spent learning and the progress made.
Having an overview of your growth throughout your internship can be valuable for personal reflection and will be useful when you do your check-out towards the end of your internship.
4. Be creative and ask questions
Most companies hire interns as a pipeline into full-time roles and to encourage fresh thinking and creative ideas from an outside perspective. Don’t be afraid of your creativity – bring interesting and new ideas to the table and propose solutions to problems others haven’t yet brought up. Not every idea you propose will be an instant hit, but as you get to know the company and its customers better, your proposals will become more targeted. Get in the habit of contributing and thinking outside the box as much as possible.
Additionally, asking questions as part of that creative mindset shows you are engaged, attentive, and interested in what's happening. Asking thoughtful, relevant questions in group and one-on-one settings, will get you noticed by the right people. However, asking people about themselves, their career trajectory, and advice is a great way to begin building relationships. Ask questions to find mentors, build a network, and maybe even make some friends - don't be afraid to get personal!
5. Manage your time
As a remote intern, it is easy to get caught in a cycle of working whenever you feel like it. Sometimes it seems possible to deliver your work before the deadline by fitting in your internship between other obligations.
While flexibility is one of the benefits of remote working, it should not affect the quality of your work. Set a schedule for yourself and turn off all distractions during this time to recreate an office environment at home. We recommend that you inform your supervisors and direct co-workers of your schedule. This will allow you to deliver your tasks without sacrificing your work-life balance.
You can also boost productivity by setting up an “office space” within your home. If you are the type of person who needs a frequent change in environment to stay focused, take advantage of the benefits that your remote internship offers. Having said that, don’t let yourself get distracted by external influences like social media or your family.
6. Request feedback
One of the best remote internship tips we can give is to request feedback. Being open to positive feedback and constructive criticism will enrich your remote internship experience. You will feel encouraged when you are doing well and can push yourself to improve the areas where you might be lacking. Taking the initiative to request feedback from your supervisor also shows that you are motivated to learn and improve.
