Hilary Chung: How to Get the Most Out of Your Virtual Internship
In a virtual internship, you lose out on the benefit of making close connections with your team, being able to visit their desk when a question pops up, and developing a closer relationship with the management team. But, there are still ways that you can make the most out of your virtual internship.
Find Time to Make Meaningful Connections:
Making connections is made easier in a virtual environment when meeting someone is just one click away. People like to talk about themselves and their career paths, so try to reach out to as many people as you can in order to explore your interests while making meaningful connections on the way. You can start with people in your team, and extend outwards to others that work with your team.
Maintain Regular Communication with Your Manager:
Without being in person, it can get difficult to feel connected with your manager and miss the benefit of going over to their desk for questions. Talk to your manager to set up regular meetings, whichever mode of communication they prefer, to recap the progress of your projects, the challenges you have faced and questions that may rise during the week. If a virtual meeting is preferred however, be sure to be prepared with notes, ideas, and questions.
Ask for Feedback:
When it comes to a virtual environment, you might think your project is done after you have sent out the final version. To get the most out of your internship, let your manager know that you would like to have feedback so that you can improve your work and continue your professional growth. This might mean setting up a midpoint and final feedback meeting or hopping on to a quick call to review changes. Be sure to ask for feedback in advance since putting others on the spot might result in getting less authentic feedback.
If you have any internship or career search questions, please email careerconsultant@scu.edu.