How to make the most of a virtual internship

A virtual or remote internship is a unique opportunity for you to work without visiting a physical
office. Virtual internships require increased planning and consideration by both the intern and
supervisor, but they can still be a great way to gain skills and make connections.

Set goals and learn the expectations Maintain and emphasize communication with your
supervisor and colleagues
Before the internship begins, speak with your supervisor
about what you hope to gain from this experience and Communication is different when you’re working
what their expectations are for you as the intern. Be remotely. Most will happen through chats, email and
proactive - contact your supervisor before the internship to comments in project management systems, so you can’t
discuss your projects and goals. rely on in-person connections to clarify something.

It is important to understand your supervisor’s working Ask your supervisor how they prefer to communicate. If
style and goals as you consider your own. Don’t be afraid face-to-face is best, schedule video chats. If they prefer
to ask if they don’t tell you. Getting set up at an internship email, consider sending weekly email recaps of your
(also known as on-boarding) can be a challenging progress. If a supervisor prefers phone calls, schedule
experience when you’re working virtually, so discuss the regular phone calls with them in addition to other
plan with your supervisor and think about what you need communication methods.
to help you be successful. Work with your supervisor to
schedule check-ins throughout the internship to ensure you Always have an agenda ready with a list of items you
are making progress toward the goals you discussed. would like to discuss during the meeting. Sending your
agenda ahead of time is also a good way to help your
Keep a record of your achievements throughout your supervisor come prepared with the answers you need
internship so you can refer back to them. These will ahead of the call. Prioritize topics that are time sensitive
be valuable when you look to update your resume and or urgent to ensure you address those first.
LinkedIn profile to prepare for your next internship or job.
Ask for on-going feedback - and don’t be afraid
Learn the office culture to ask for help

Before your internship starts, learn as much as you can An internship is an opportunity to learn. Your supervisor
about the organization’s mission to the work styles in does not expect you to already know all the answers.
the office. This will prepare you to handle work tasks Ask your supervisor how they prefer to receive questions
and navigate dynamics with others on the team. Ask (e.g., by email, phone or chat). Encourage your
questions about how people communicate with one supervisor to provide feedback after a presentation or an
another, how decisions get made and what the office assignment so they know you’re interested in growing. If
goals are as you learn what is important. they don’t offer it directly, ask for it.

It’s easy to feel alienated if you’re separated from the Ask them to schedule a mid-summer evaluation — even if
team so participate in office activities as best you can, it’s informal — to learn how you can close out the second
including team chats and connecting individually with half of your internship. Ask your colleagues to provide
colleagues. It’s common for interns to invite colleagues feedback, too. And remember to be patient - your
out for coffee in a traditional office setting, so do your manager or colleagues may not always respond to you
best to accomplish this task remotely through video chats right away or be available to answer your questions as
or other methods. This is a great opportunity to learn soon as you ask them.
more about different career paths, get advice and tap
into other people’s networks.

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Meet deadlines and manage your time effectively And finally, cut yourself some slack

When you are working from home, you won’t necessarily Working remotely can be a big adjustment if you’ve
have someone checking in with you every day. Keep never done it before, so don’t worry if you need to take
track of important dates and assignments and be sure to some time to get used to it. You can ask for support from
submit work in a timely fashion. Complete assignments your manager or mentor, or make an appointment with
on time and let your supervisor know if you have time to an adviser from the Center for Career Development to
take on more projects. discuss any challenges you’re having or how to make the
most out of your summer.
Limit distractions and treat your working time seriously.
Set aside a dedicated time to get work done and do what Intern Checklist:
you can to limit distractions. Many interns find it helpful
to build a work plan with intermediate project milestones Set goals before the internship and communicate
to track their progress and adjust course if needed them with your supervisor
between meetings with supervisors.
Learn the expectations for the internship
Create your own professional environment
Set up on-going meetings with your supervisor
Even if you are not in a traditional office, making an
Ask for feedback from your supervisor and colleagues
effort to dress professionally will help you stay motivated
and get into a work mindset. Set up a workspace in Make time to meet with other colleagues to make
your home that will serve as an office. It is especially connections and learn the culture
important to maintain a professional setting when you’re
Find a way that works for you to manage your to-do
video chatting with colleagues or clients. Consider list and keep track of deadlines
your background during a video chat and limit any
unnecessary noise. Act like you’re going to an office - set up a workspace
in your home
Don’t take on more than you can do
Communicate if you have too much — or not enough
It can often seem like there is no end to the work day — on your plate
when you are working remotely. However, that doesn’t
Set up time to meet with an adviser from the Center
mean the expectation is that you work more hours than
for Career Development if you need support at any
if you were working in an office. It is your responsibility
time before, during or after your internship
to strike the right balance and communicate with your
supervisor if you’re feeling overwhelmed and have too
much work to do. Ask for feedback from your supervisor,
a mentor or other colleagues on how you can be more
efficient.

Helpful Resources for Students

10 Remote Workers Weigh in On What Makes Them Successful

Top 4 Tips for Acing a Virtual Internship