What Students Should Know About doing a Virtual Internship

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Why not attempt a virtual internship now that you're probably getting accustomed to studying from home?

Since the implementation of the lockdown, traditional in-person internships are no longer a realistic choice for most students. Consequently, since the beginning of the coronavirus epidemic, virtual internships have grown in popularity as a fantastic alternative. But what exactly is a virtual internship? Which firms provide them? Are they as well-regarded by employers as in-person internships? We chatted with Ed Holroyd Pearce, co-founder of virtualinternships.com, to find out the answers to these and other concerns.

What is a virtual internship mean?

A virtual internship is an experience placement that students may do from the comfort of their own homes. Students engage with their employer using a variety of channels, including Skype, Microsoft Teams, email, webinars, and Slack, during their internship.

"The intern will meet remotely with their supervisor to discuss tasks and progress," Holroyd Pearce added. There may also be critical periods for online coffee breaks or catching up with coworkers."

Virtual internships (remote internships) can look excellent on your CV and provide you with relevant job experience that you may use when applying for and interviewing for graduate positions.

"Virtual internships are for anybody and everyone," Holroyd Pearce said.

They provide "the chance to obtain vital employment skills" to students who cannot finish a typical internship.

How long are the virtual internships?

"We feel that a meaningful remote work experience program should last around 120 hours," Holroyd Pearce stated.

"At Virtual Internships, we've created programs that are four, eight, or twelve weeks long and demand 20 to 30 hours of labor every week," he said. Host firms' initiatives will be constructed with this basic level in mind."

Which industries provide them?

A broad range of businesses provides virtual internships. "We collaborate with companies in 18 job categories," Holroyd Pearce said. Virtual internships work with both startups and major, well-known corporations.

According to Holroyd Pearce, many individuals are unaware of the breadth of virtual internship opportunities. "When people think of areas that could be able to give virtual jobs, they think of marketing and general business," he says, "but there are so many more."

Many industries provide virtual internships, such as fashion and green technology,...

The coronavirus epidemic has shown that many occupations can be done from home. "A considerable share of conventional industries' workers are working from home." "It can and is being done," Holroyd Pearce adds.

What are the advantages of doing a virtual internship?

The internship is located in a different time zone. The flexibility is in "working hours, project timeframes, and how individuals interact."

Here are a few more advantages of a remote internship:

Spend less money and time: Unlike typical internships, you will not be required to commute, and you will be able to work from anywhere in the globe, saving you money on rent and travel expenses.
Improving your resume by Working from home can help you improve your time management and self-discipline while also providing you with job experience.
Increase your cross-cultural and global awareness: If you work for a multinational corporation, you will meet individuals from all over the globe.
Increase your contacts and develop a feeling of community: This will be accomplished via online coffee breaks and weekly drop-in sessions.

Are there any disadvantages?

Numerous variables, including determining the disadvantages of online internships:

1. The firm's ability to communicate with interns

If your manager does not provide clear goals, you do not get frequent feedback, or you feel unable to answer a question, the internship will not be as simple as you had imagined.

In the interview, discuss these components of the role: inquire about how your progress will be tracked during the internship and what will be required of you.

2. Your Motivation

If you have trouble staying motivated on your own, you may struggle with a virtual internship, which requires self-discipline and self-motivation.

Your internship may assign you certain work hours or request that you accomplish a particular number of weekly tasks. In any case, set your working hours and adhere to them, just as you would if you were in person.

3. No prior experience in an office setting

For companies, one of the critical benefits of in-person internships is that graduates get experience working with a team in an office setting, something virtual internships do not provide.

Despite this, you may collaborate in a team setting using online networking tools like Skype and Microsoft Teams.

Are they as well-regarded as an on-site internship?

In a nutshell, they are. "Those who were already acclimated to remote working did better during the epidemic," he said, "and it's true that firms now reward staff who can work efficiently from home."

Will I be compensated?

The firm ultimately determines this. Although many more prominent companies may compensate students for their time, other NGOs and startups may not be able to do so but will provide a unique experience to help them advance in their careers.

Despite this, you should remember that typical internship expenditures, such as rent and transportation, are not a concern in a virtual internship.

"The flexibility of virtual programs enables students to obtain useful experience and develop a solid résumé while continuing to live their regular life," said Holroyd Pearce.

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