Internships are an excellent opportunity to grow your career in your area of study. It is the next step after or towards the end of your college or degree program. Usually, internships were based at an office within the organization that offered the internship program. However, thanks to the new normal caused by the global pandemic, the world has had to adjust to a new way of getting things done. This article will examine the benefits of remote internships for college students.
Internships were also not left behind, and now virtual internships are a standard option for many students and graduates. What exactly is a remote internship? A remote internship is everything a regular internship is, but done virtually. This means that an intern works anywhere but at a desk or office in the organization of attachment. Assessments, meetings, training, and any other task that you would usually do face-to-face are now conducted via virtual apps using internet-enabled devices.
Characteristics of a Remote Internship Program
The use of online platforms for online collaboration
Since you will carry out all tasks online, various tools and platforms play to ensure that these tasks are assigned and delivered without a hitch. These project management tools allow interns to ask questions, submit assignments, and virtually collaborate on various projects as seamlessly as they would in a normal situation.
A virtual internship coordinator
Since virtual internships will not offer you a physical connection with your organization, they will appoint a virtual internship coordinator. The primary role of this individual is to resolve any issues that arise. An internship coordinator also offers one-on-one support to enrich your virtual program.
Online simulations to mimic real-world situations
Without these real-world situations, an internship would not offer you all the skills you will need for a job in the future. Therefore, a great online program will create virtual simulations that will allow you to put your learned skills and experience into practice. Additionally, online simulations go a long way in preparing you for real-life situations in your future job.
Online assessments and surveys
An internship program is an excellent opportunity to test your mettle in the industry you hope to work in the future. With online assessments and surveys, your supervisor will mentor you in the right direction with the requisite skills.
11 Benefits of Remote Internships If You Consider Applying For One
- Work from any location
- New skills on your resume
- Flexible schedule
- An enhanced balance between work and life
- You can work with a global team
- The savings are great
- Healthy work environment
- You can create an office you love
- You will work independently
- It contributes positively to the environment
- Growth of your leadership and teamwork skills
- Embrace remote internships for career growth
Work From Any Location
The first and most obvious benefit of a remote internship is the freedom to work from anywhere. As long as you have a reliable internet connection, you can turn any location into your office. This means that you can choose an ideal location and turn it into your office. For most people, home is the most perfect and convenient location.
Working from home saves you a lot of time that you would otherwise spend in rush hour traffic to and from the office. Additionally, your productivity is bound to skyrocket since you will be working in an environment you like and control. Finally, the freedom to work from any location comes with many benefits, such as great meals, your coffee pot, and such small but undeniable pleasures.
New Skills on Your Resume
For a long time, digital literacy has been a great addition to your resume. However, thanks to remote internships, you will now have to grasp technical skills that apply to the digital space. Unlike a regular office set-up where the IT guy would handle any IT issues, you would have to learn how to sort these issues independently. It does sound daunting, but these new IT skills are going to give your resume an extra advantage in the long run.
Additionally, there are other great benefits of remote internships, such as good time management. You will have to manage your time well without the need to clock in and out. All your assigned tasks within a given time frame will be your sole responsibility, with less to zero micromanaging. This skill goes hand in hand with self-motivation since you may have to work in your home with many distractions.
Flexible Schedule
Another benefit that everyone loves is the flexibility that remote opportunities afford you. Since you don’t have to maneuver any morning traffic, your mornings will be more relaxed. You will even be able to fit in personal routines to your schedule without rushing, such as exercise, a healthy breakfast, and maybe even some meditation.
With a flexible schedule, you will have a more productive day without the stress associated with beating rush hour traffic from work. Besides, turning on your computer in the morning is more straightforward than rushing to make it in time to the office.
Enhanced Balance between Work and Life
Working remotely gives you ultimate control over your work, life balance. This ultimately means that one part of your life will not suffer at the expense of another. In addition, working in an environment that you choose and control means you are in charge of your day. For instance, your morning routine can remain the same without being affected by outside factors such as weather and traffic.
Furthermore, making more healthful meal choices means that you will be in great shape to work. Another benefit that you will reap from an enhanced work-life balance is better sleep, increasing your productivity levels. Being around your family as you work may be hectic but gives a sense of satisfaction because you are with loved ones all day. Finally, you can get your chores done as you work, helping to keep both aspects of your life in excellent order.
You Can Work With a Global Team
Working in a remote internship position at the comfort of your home office doesn’t mean that you cant have a global experience. On the contrary, you can still enjoy an international internship position remotely and immerse yourself in new cultures as you work with a worldwide team. The opportunity to learn a new language and experience new practices and cultures is still as rich as being at an actual station abroad.
Thanks to new, immersive technology, your remote internship position will offer your a global perspective despite it being remote. You can still enjoy learning new cultures, gaining experience all while working from your home office.
The Savings are Great
This is probably one of the most notable benefits of remote internships. Interns are usually on a budget, and navigating the commute to and from work can eat into your shoestring budget in no time. A remote internship opportunity cuts out any expenditure that would usually go into commuting, not to mention morning coffees at the coffee shop next to your office.
Time savings are also a notable feature of an online internship. Since meetings are held virtually, you do not have to spend time walking from one meeting room to another or visiting clients at their offices. The more time you save, the more productive you can be at your job since you don’t have to pencil in meetings all day long.
Healthy Work Environment
Working in a physical office has its upside and downside. The bright side of working in an office with your colleagues is the opportunity to socialize during breaks. However, networking and socialization have a dark side; office politics. Almost every office has its politics, and these can create a toxic work environment.
Lucky for you, a remote internship opportunity cuts out all the office politics since you have control over whom to socialize with. Cutting out all the drama and negativity that comes with office gossip and rivalries makes for a more healthy work environment for you.
You Can Create an Office You Love
Creating a home office can be loads of fun. You have all the creative license to turn it into your happy space. A space that will allow you to be the most productive you could ever be. All those knick-knacks you always wanted on your office desk can now find a place in your home office desk.
Since your home office is for sole use, you can personalize it as much as you would like to. However, even as you have fun with it, remember to keep distractions to a minimum. Keep it as professional as you without constraining your style.
You Will Work Independently
Working independently is another crucial benefit of remote internships. Not having to worry about a supervisor walking down to your desk is a great relief. However, with the freedom to manage your time comes a great deal of responsibility on your shoulders. Your supervisors will expect much more from you since they will not be on hand to control or micromanage you.
Being able to work independently will help you to be a great time manager too. However, the freedom that comes with working remotely will require lots of discipline from you. To get out of bed and clock in while you could sleep in is training you to work well under minimum supervision. Admittedly, working independently is a perk, but it does come with discipline as the extra responsibility.
It Contributes Positively to the Environment
A remote internship position gives you the privilege of contributing to reduced carbon emissions. How so? You may wonder. By working from a home office, you won’t have to drive or take the bus to an office. Additionally, you will reduce all those takeaway coffee cups get each morning since you are now brewing your coffee at home.
No matter how small your contribution is to a greener earth, it counts. The sense of satisfaction derived from this small act could spur you to be conscious about your habits. Such habits may have become a routine that you can now modify to become more environmentally conscious.
Growth of Your Leadership and Teamwork Skills
Remote internships require you to work from the comfort of your home office, where there is minimal to zero supervision. This is an excellent opportunity for you to grow your leadership skills. Your supervisors will require more independence and autonomy from you, allowing you the freedom to choose how to handle your projects.
Additionally, you will hone your teamwork skills in a remote setting. It requires more effort to collaborate virtually as opposed to face-to-face collaborations. Your participation will be easy to note since missing virtual meetings is an absolute no-go zone. As you get used to be available for every session, this will become your usual way of operation even when you get an onsite job later in your career.
Embrace The Benefits Remote Internships for Career Growth
The benefits of remote internships are great for your career growth going forward. In fact, the benefits listed above barely scratch the surface of what you gain with a remote internship opportunity. Once you complete a virtual internship program, you will have gained a wealth of other skills that would ordinarily not be learned in an ordinary internship. A remote internship on your resume will put you head and shoulders above the competition since it is evident the wealth of experience gained there.
In the 21st century, more and more careers are going into the virtual space. So go ahead and take that internship position that you were mulling over since it is virtual. You will be amazed at how many other excellent benefits you will reap from this remote opportunity.
