How to have a successful virtual internship

Virtual internships are a valuable opportunity for you to gain professional experience and expand your skill set without having to leave your home. They do however require more planning. Here are some tips on how to succeed during your internship:?

1. Create a work space?

Whilst working from your bed might be tempting, it might not be the most productive thing to do. Create a space that will serve as your “office”. By creating a designated workspace, you allow your mind to associate that space with work, which helps you get into the work mindset.? When choosing your space, choose the place with the least distractions and noise.? If you will be taking video calls, try and create a professional background - having your BTS poster in the background might not be the best idea.?

2. Communicate?

Communicating in a virtual environment is very different to when you are in person but it is critical that you maintain good communication with your team.?Familiarize yourself with the communication tools that will be used throughout your internship and ensure that you remain online in all those platforms during your working hours.?

3. Participate?

Participation is important if you want to have a successful internship. Going in and? ? ? ? ? ? out of zoom calls can feel monotonous and whilst you might be tempted to just sit and listen or perhaps you are busy cooking your noodles during the call, this might not be the wisest decision. Make sure that you are giving your input during the meetings and use this as an opportunity to share your thoughts and ideas. Finally, stand out by taking initiative.?

4. Maintain a schedule/ routine?

Whilst you might not have to be online from 9-5, creating a routine will help you stay productive and have some balance. When working from home, it can be easy to overwork as you don't necessarily leave the “office”. But by creating a schedule, you will add structure to your day and ensure that you are not overworking (or underworking).?

5. Create a routine that fits your lifestyle.?

One of the most important things to add to your schedule are breaks. Maybe go on a walk or catch a coffee at your nearby coffee spot. Try and stretch during your breaks and get some sun.?Keep in mind any deadlines and meetings and plan accordingly.?

6. Learn the culture

It’s easy to feel alienated from the company when you are not surrounded by the team. By learning the culture you can feel more connected to the company and your team. Try and attend online company events and participate in activities that they may have outside of work.?

7. Set goals

Before your internship starts, speak to your supervisor as to what is expected of you and what the deliverables are. Set your short term and long term goals - this will guide you throughout the internship. Consider your time constraints when setting up these goals. Schedule regular check-ins with your supervisor during your internship so that you are making progress towards the goal.?

8. Ask for feedback?

An internship is a great opportunity to learn. Asking for feedback will help you improve and make the most of your internship experience. Be open to criticism and take it as an opportunity to learn, use and implement criticism constructively.

9. Take it easy?

Working remotely is an adjustment. Remember that you are there to learn and your supervisors are there to support you. Be kind to yourself and reach out if you need help.?

Making the most of JTerm - advice from the diiVe team:

Elspeth - CEO and Co Founder

At diiVe, your team will be working across timezones so it is essential that you manage your time effectively. Be very strategic in your collaborative meetings - come into it with an agenda of what needs to be discussed and focus on the tasks which require everyone’s collaboration rather than individual tasks. Set an appropriate amount of time for the meeting (e.g one hour) and try to stick to it.?

Devon?- Program Manager

Be intentional about building personal relationships with your teammates. Don’t only focus on being professional and the tasks that you need to collaborate on but rather get to know each other to enable effective collaboration - chat about who you are, what you like, have a laugh, play a game etc. This will have a positive impact on the project you are working on and will allow you to create new friendships that will last beyond your time at diiVe.?

Jazlin?- Program Coordinator

Lean in to this experience with an open mind and the drive to want to learn and grow both professionally and personally. Make connections that will last long after your internship is completed. Be uncomfortable and ask the questions you might think are silly. Use every moment of your diiVe internship to learn, connect and grow, and in this unlock another dimension of what you are capable of.