Internships are great opportunities to learn new skills and get valuable work experience. With COVID-19 forcing employers to embrace teleworking, virtual internships have become the norm across many industries. While I am not an expert on online internships, I have learned some tricks after completing two during the past year. The following are my four best tips to make the most of your virtual internship experience.
Set up a workspace at home.
While your house or apartment is not an office, setting up a dedicated space to concentrate on your work assignments is essential to stay focused and succeed. A home office can be as simple as placing a desk and a chair in an area where you stay for a long period without being distracted by noises or interruptions. Besides, even though no one sees you, that doesn’t mean you have to wear pajamas all day. Dressing professionally can help get in “work mode” and give you extra motivation to get you through the day.
Stay Organized.
Doing a virtual internship while taking classes and doing household chores can get quite overwhelming. That’s why it is important to stay organized to balance all your responsibilities and complete your deadlines on time. My best recommendation is to use a planner (a traditional or an online one) to keep track of all the tasks and projects you need to complete. It is a good practice to review your planner at the beginning of each week to get a good picture of all you have to do. Also, prioritize assignments considering their importance and deadline, so you can finish the more urgent ones early.
Earn college credits.
Besides expanding your knowledge and gaining new skills, internships are also great opportunities to get college credits. Rutgers students can earn 3 credits towards their major or general elective requirements through the Career Center or Business School internship course. These classes are relatively easy, and they only require students to complete 120 hours in their internship position and short assignments related to their internship experience.
Network and build relationships.
One of the most rewarding and valuables parts of an internship is the connections and relationships you make. A good connection can be the key to a full-time offer or another opportunity. A good way to start is communicating regularly with your supervisor and coworkers through emails, phone calls, or zoom meetings to get to know them better and build a positive presence in the company. You can ask them about career tips and advice, and contacts within the organization that can help achieve your professional goals. Meeting more people in your company will not only help you expand your network but also make your internship experience more enjoyable.
Written by Cris P., a Rutgers—Camden Undergraduate Student and Raptor Ambassador.