Virtual Internships vs. In-Person Internships: Which One Is The Best For You?

The pandemic has normalized virtual classes, training, jobs, and even internships. Companies like KPMG, Clifford Chance, IBM, Hogan Lovells, etc. are all offering fully virtual internship opportunities.

With the emergence of internship programs built for the virtual world, it begs the question: which one should you choose?

What are you supposed to get out of an internship, anyway?

An internship is a great stepping stone for college students. It exposes us to the work environment many of us have only studied.

Coming out of an internship, you’ll have developed skills, networked and established connections, and contributed to a company in a meaningful way.

Do you get the same benefits in a virtual internship?

A strong internship program should be able to help you develop skills and do meaningful work regardless of your physical presence.

Networking gets a bit tricky. You can use LinkedIn and other internal means of communication to start conversations. But it will eventually boil down to what you and the person you’re networking with prefer. A face-to-face conversation can be more memorable. However, an email can be just as memorable if written the right way. So yes, you can build a network too. But you’ll need to play a more active role in doing so for a virtual internship compared to in-person networking. 

Virtual internships are also more flexible and you won’t have to worry about commuting. You can also intern in cities without living there, which opens up a lot of additional exciting opportunities. 

However, they can also be less structured -- which is not always everyone’s thing. and you will find yourself having to self-motivate and push yourself.

How do I make the most of my virtual internship?

In order to ensure you get the most out of your virtual internship, remember to do the following:

• Define exactly what you want out of the program: Is there a specific skill you’re looking to sharpen? What is it? What level are you on with it and where do you want to be? Set goals and expectations that are non-negotiable to you.
• Apply to good programs: This sounds obvious. But the key here is to know how to pick a good program. We recommend doing the following:
  • First, know that not all remote opportunities are open for you. Some posts will be listed as ‘remote, Spain’ or ‘remote, UK’ etc. This means that they are looking for people to work remotely in locations within the specified region. You would want to search for the words ‘remote, USA’ or ‘remote, anywhere’.
  • Keeping that in mind, begin your search. You can find virtual internships on many legitimate websites. We recommend the following:
    • LinkedIn
    • WayUp
    • Chegg
    • InternLeaders
  • Read through program descriptions and structure and ask yourself questions like:
    • Is there a lot of fluff (many words with little to no actual information) in this program’s description?
    • Are you struggling to get straight answers on what you will be gaining from the program?
    • Refer back to your goals. Does the program give you what you are looking for? 
    • Who will be your supervisor? What can you expect to learn from them? Does that sound good to you?
  • If the program has been done before, don’t be afraid to Google the previous cohort.
    • You might find old LinkedIn posts and/or discussions on forums about their experiences.
    • You can even reach out to them with questions you want to ask about the program.
  • Submit an effective and customized resume in your applications.
• Once you’ve been selected, start off on the right foot.
  • Speak to your supervisor about your goals and expectations
  • Learn about the office culture and establish a networking plan that aligns with it (For example, if everyone prefers Teams messages - try those! If everyone prefers emails - try those!)
  • Maintain checklists, use virtual calendars, or share a timeline with your supervisor to keep yourself disciplined and moving forward
  • Communicate if you feel like you are doing too much or too little (no one is watching you stay up all night working! You have to communicate respectfully for your manager to know)
  • Be receptive to feedback from your supervisor and peers -- it is the best way to grow and learn quickly
  • Last but not the least, create an office. Just because you are not in a physical office space, doesn’t mean you can’t make yourself one! Use cheap stationery like notepads, pens, sticky notes, etc., and dress professionally if you like. It may help make the experience more immersive

Overall, with the rise of high-quality virtual internships, the option to intern remotely has become a tempting one. If you choose to do your internship virtually, using the tips and tricks stated above will help it become an experience you carry with you for a lifetime.

Happy interning!