A Guide for Remote Interns-Pandemic Edition
Congratulations! You landed a remote internship! But there’s a global pandemic and the whole world is chaotic.
Internships are often the beginning of your career or part of your transition into a new industry. As a college student, you have the opportunity to gain valuable experience, make connections, and get a clearer idea of the job you may want in the future. Working remotely is a wonderful option, however, it does require a certain skill set to succeed.
The pandemic has caused a lot of companies to go remote. This basically happened overnight in some cases. If you’re a college student or transitioning into a new industry, I would bet you’re already busy. Plus, there’s the added stress of dealing with the pandemic. Overall, don’t beat yourself up when it comes to your goals and expectations. The job search process is difficult to navigate and getting an internship during a time like this is impressive. Here are some of my key tips if you have a remote internship during COVID-19.
Always Communicate
Solid communication is the first and most important tip I can offer before starting a new virtual internship. Why? Reason one is you’re an intern, and interns are always learning new things. Reason two, you’re working remotely. Virtual work requires clear communication to work. Establish your methods of communication (email, Slack, Skype, Zoom, Gchat, and many more) at the beginning of your internship. Your channels of communication will vary depending on the company, but it should be agreed on and accessible to each person who works there. While being a remote intern keeping a status update is recommended. Whichever days you work, you should communicate with your superior and any fellow interns you’re working with. Sometimes people tend to stay quiet when they’re confused, yet a virtual internship isn’t the time to do that. During this unique time, you should also be open with your employers about your current situation. COVID-19 is impacting our lives in a lot of big ways. If your life changes, make sure to express this to your boss. I know it may feel uncomfortable, but people should be more understanding during this time (If they’re demanding or dismissive, then this is a major red flag).
Have a question about an assignment? Reach out
Emergency in your life that will impact your work? Reach out
Need to collaborate on a project? Reach out
These potential questions you have are opportunities to learn and also teach you about maintaining a healthy work environment. I’ll be honest, sometimes your technology might not work. This is why you should have multiple ways to communicate. That way you have back up plans and can continue working.
Find an office space
A lot of times people refer to remote work as “working from your bed” or “working in your pj’s”. And while technically you may be able to do that, I don’t recommend you do, unless you’re sick. But with COVID-19, I would say you can stay in bed if that’s the best you can do. However, working in bed (like I occasionally do) could make it more difficult for you to turn your work brain off. Having a workspace or even a work spot on the couch, can be helpful and remind your body you don’t have to think about work all the time.
Why Olivia? I love my bed too, but it’s not the best place to work. Part of getting into work mode is feeling like your at work. We need to be in the right mindset so we’re not wasting time. Your office space can just be your typical desk or any safe space with good Wi-Fi.
For your remote space, I suggest a desk and comfortable chair, a quieter environment, and the ability to jump on a call or video chat if needed. The pandemic has caused some people in more crowded living situations to take calls and video meetings from bathrooms or outside. It’s definitely more unconventional, but do what works for you.
Sometimes you’ll have to get out of your normal environment to do your best work. You can work in your dorm or apartment or you have the option to explore the world within the safety precautions of your area. If the weather was nice, I would try to find a good space outside.
Set a Schedule
While we’re talking about structure, let’s talk about your schedule. Establishing a schedule to complete the work for your remote internship is also key. I’ll admit, I’m a Planner Addict and proud member of #PashFam. Even as the pandemic is happening, I feel like my planner gives me the structure I need.
With my remote internship, I had a set amount of hours I was expected to work. I put my availability into a Google Calendar, which was shared with all of my bosses. Because I’m also a proud member of #PashFam my work schedule was also outlined in my planner. With my Passion Planner, I could block out time in the day for each task. As a student juggling a full-time class schedule with a part-time job, internship, decent workout plans, and social life it was a dream planner. I liked to sit down every Sunday and outline my tasks for the week. Using my planner let me know how to pace my work and get a sense of my workload per day. This is also great when you want the night off or a day off to do something else. The schedule ensures you get all your work done and still have time to spare.
