Remote internship: A new journey in a digitalised world

Once upon a sleepless night, I stumbled upon a new opportunity online: a remote internship. The position was nowhere near as good as the internship abroad I dreamt of, but amid a pandemic, it was still better than nothing. I applied out of curiosity and – surprisingly - was accepted. This is what I have learned during months juggling a job, an online semester, and a virtual internship.

Work from home as a student

A remote internship – also called a virtual internship – is a product of global digitalisation. Aided by the most advanced technology, a remote internship offers students the opportunity to work from home as an official long-term employee. Most remote internships follow a simple formula: no strict operating schedule, a regular team meeting, and a social platform as your virtual office. The reasons for this loose operation are the ongoing pandemic and an international team. COVID-19 has forced many companies to reinforce their online resources with cloud computing services - like Google Drive and Outlook - and social media – like Slack. These reinforcements enable companies to globalise their teams without much trouble. However, they also create some new issues for students who are about to enter the digitalised workforce.

Schedule

Most virtual teams have no strict schedule. In other words, you can work part-time, study, and do the internship all at the same time. However, anyone who has spent several semesters studying online knows exactly the danger behind a loose schedule. Procrastination is tempting when you do not have a physical reminder – like going to the office and being stared down by your boss. Without self-discipline, a remote internship can quickly spiral into a nightmare of endless tasks submitted at the last minute. And you remember as a student how successful those last-minute essays usually were.

Work-life balance

This is directly related to the schedule. As mentioned above, the benefit of having a flexible schedule is that you can work whenever you have time. However, since you are working and – presumably - studying from home, the struggle to keep a work-study-life balance is real. Many professionals have the same problems with home offices, not just students. It is hard to separate your work and private life when both take place in the same room. The only solution is to install your schedule and follow it.

Experience

Theoretically, a virtual internship provides the same working experiences as a normal internship. But things do not always go as expected. In a remote internship, it is harder for your supervisor to reach and train you thoroughly as they normally do. Likewise, when you have a question, it is also harder to reach your supervisor. This can be frustrating and discouraging at times, especially when the deadlines are looming over your shoulder, and your boss is still offline. However, this also means a chance to prove your resourcefulness to the company. With various resources on the internet, it does not take long to find a solution to your problems. Depending on your line of work, resourcefulness can be beneficial. Additionally, you will also learn various other skills, such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and optimising limited resources.

Communication and networking

The truth about internships - that many students do not appreciate - is their main goal: a networking opportunity. It is your time to branch out your connections and build a professional network that would benefit your future career. During a normal internship, many companies hold team building and networking events to encourage interns to reach out. With the current pandemic, no large events can take place on-site, which online events cannot substitute. It is intimidating to reach out to your colleagues when the entire team has their cameras off during meetings. Any students, who have already gone through several online semesters, know how draining and difficult it is to start a meaningful connection via an online platform. So, unless you take the initiative and work for it, your chance of expanding your professional network in a remote internship might be very slim.

Career prospects

This links directly to the communication and networking aspect. Companies often use internship programs to train and filter out potential future employees. In other words, your future employer judges not only your performance but also the relationship you have with your colleagues – and by extension, with the company. Without an army of colleagues to back you up, it might be difficult to impress your employer with your solo performance. After all, no one wants a party pooper to join their team. Therefore, if this is a position you want to pursue in the future, you should probably start chatting with your teammates, probably after meetings, or connect them on LinkedIn.

Finance

Finally, a remote internship saves you a lot of money. For many students, this might be the decisive element. Working from the comfort of your home, you do not need to pay for a visa application, plane ticket, accommodation, etc. It lifts a huge financial burden that troubles many students who do not always have hundreds of euros ready at a moment's notice. The downside is since you pay almost nothing for the internship, most virtual programs will be unpaid. However, companies do offer other employment benefits, such as professional connections, recommendation letters, and university credit. Just like a normal internship, a virtual one has its pros and cons, and it is probably not for everyone. Regardless, a remote internship is still an interesting opportunity that you should consider for your future.