How to Get the Most Out of Your Remote Internship

By Uloop Guest Writer on August 24, 2017

This story was written by Alexa Paikowski at StudySoup, a social learning marketplace that provides a full-circle online educational experience for students. Top students can upload their notes and study guides to the StudySoup Marketplace, providing their peers with helpful materials while also earning some extra cash.

Companies are beginning to embrace the rise of remote work, at least for their employees. But what about for internships? Turns out that students can gain some of the same great benefits through virtual internships.

Remote internships are opportunities that are done away from an office, usually from your own computer. Students are now free to gain unique experience outside of a traditional setting. But though there is just as much to gain, if not more, from these opportunities, students need to be sure to set themselves up for success to make sure they get the most out of their remote internship.

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Why should you consider a remote internship?

There are many reasons a college student should consider a remote internship. To start, there is much more flexibility. Unlike onsite internships, students can work from wherever is most convenient for them, whether that’s at the library, an on-campus coffee shop, or even their own dorm room.

Second, remote internships often allow students to choose their own working hours. No longer do students need to turn down an opportunity because it interferes with their class schedules. Instead, students can work at whatever time works best for them.

Next, remote internships offer students the chance to gain a unique set of skills. For instance, because remote interns set their own schedules, they become more adept at time management. Additionally, they tend to become more independent workers, more proficient in written communication, and stronger problem solvers. All of these are skills that are key to success in the workplace.

Finally, remote opportunities offer students a way to broaden their networks. Since students are no longer limited to seeking out opportunities on their campuses, or even in their own towns for that matter, they can seek out professional contacts virtually anywhere in the world. This can help open up doors to key professional relationships and even job opportunities.

Tips for getting the most out of your remote internship

The key is to treat any remote opportunity as though you’re working in an onsite internship. You can get just as much if not more out of a remote internship if you set yourself up for success from the start. Here are a few tips for getting the most out of your remote internship:

1. Make a schedule. Just because you’re not given a schedule doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have one. It’s likely you’ll still have deadlines for your work, and you’ll need to make sure to set aside time to complete all tasks on time.

Start by identifying times that you’ll be available to work. Make sure you’re not choosing any times that interfere with classes or any other commitments you already have. Next, narrow down your options further by choosing times you’re likely to be the most productive. You may have late night hours open, but if you’re exhausted after a long day of studying, you likely won’t get much done during that time.

2. Choose a workspace you can concentrate in. Similar to having a time set aside for when you can be productive, it’s essential to have a place where you can concentrate and work. Though it may sound enticing to work from your bed, this likely isn’t the best option. As a rule of thumb, if you aren’t able to study in a certain place, chances are you won’t have much luck working from there either.

The good news is that remote internships offer you the chance to get a little creative with your workspace. Try checking out some local spots with free Wi-Fi like hotel lobbies, museums, and malls. Or, if you have a little wiggle room in your budget, you can even rent a desk at a local coworking space and use it as an opportunity to network.

3. Be responsive. In a remote internship, your supervisor won’t be there looking over your shoulder to make sure things are getting done. But it’s likely they’ll want to stay in touch with you frequently to check in on things. So it’s important that your manager be able to reach you with questions and updates. They’ll likely understand that you won’t be able to respond right away, particularly when you’re in class or studying. However, they’ll still expect a timely response from you. They’re giving you the freedom to work on your own time and trusting you to get stuff done, so it’s important to let them know you’re there.

4. Communicate your goals with your supervisor. Just as you would with an onsite internship, have a clear reason why you want a remote internship. Perhaps there’s an opportunity to work with the company of your dreams or maybe you’re looking to gain a set of key skills. Whatever your reasons are, be sure to communicate them to your manager. Let them know what you want to gain out of the experience. Chances are you’ll get projects that are better tailored to your needs and may even get you exposed to opportunities you wouldn’t have if you didn’t take the time to speak out.

5. Be proactive. Remote internships offer a lot of freedom. Because of this, you have an opportunity to take more responsibility over your work. Speak up if there are certain projects you want to be included on or specific teams you want to work with. Ask for frequent feedback on your work and find out where you can make improvements. And don’t be afraid to offer suggestions and ideas. You’ll stand out to your supervisor by doing this, and it may even lead to more interesting projects or opportunities.

Looking for even more virtual internship opportunities? Check out Internships.com’s list here.

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