Remote working is rapidly becoming the new norm, and so are remote internships. Because of the current circumstances, interns entering the job market have to quickly adjust to the virtual working world. If you are new to remote working, it might initially be challenging to stand out and make the most of your internship. To help you ease into the remote world, we put together a series of remote internship tips.
Communication is key. When doing a remote internship, you will 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.
Besides knowing the ins-and-outs of your company’s website, it is important 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 is 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.
Figure out what you hope to gain from your internship. Split your greater expectations into smaller, more specific goals. Make sure 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 the projects you helped complete, your routine tasks, and the challenges you faced. If your tasks required you to learn new hard skills, keep track of the amount of time you spent and the progress you made.
Having an overview of your growth throughout your internship can be valuable for personal reflection, and will also be useful when you do your check-out towards the end of your internship.
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 your productivity by setting up an “office space” within your home. If you are the type of person that 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.
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 on 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.
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